Coal and Cotton, Boothstown, Greater Manchester
This high-quality pub offers a premium experience and has a strong drinks offer with its own gin distillery on site. You can’t beat the wow factor of the working gin distillery in the middle of the bar.
While guests can buy their own bottle of gin to take home they can also experience one of the range of its speciality cocktails and broad drinks offer.
An outside area boasts a 50-foot stretch tent with festoon lights while inside a range of seating areas cater for a variety of customers.
The pub supports the local community sponsoring the Worsley Wanderers ladies football team and the Obsidian Morris dancing Troupe.
The Pityme Inn, Wadebridge, Cornwall
This pub appears as an oasis slightly off the beaten track in picturesque Cornwall.
Run by former BII licensees of the year Jason and Chris Black it offers something for everyone from holidaymakers to locals. A strong food and drink offering as well as accommodation pulls in those looking for a holiday break. The onsite village store is a lifeline for locals offering everything from essentials to its popular homemade ready meal range.
Recent investments in the garden area means it trades every inch of available space with an outdoor kitchen and bar as well as new garden pods for outside dining for up to six people.
The Lion, Treorchy, Wales
Situated at the heart of this busy village in the Welsh valley’s is The Lion.
Run by licensee Adrian Emmett, the pub is a chameleon, changing throughout the day from hosting ladies on their weekly coffee catch-up, to showing sport, being the meeting place for local groups to even being the centre point for successful high street initiatives such as the Christmas Parade.
If you want to borrow a book or listen to a reading a red telephone box at the front of the pub hosts ‘Live at the box’ while the opening of its new sustainable fruit and veg shop ‘Green Valley’ has tapped into demands for local, sustainable produce.
Dog & Parrot, Eastwood, Nottinghamshire
Situated on the high street of Eastwood just outside Nottingham is the Dog & Parrot.
The well-presented micropub offers a safe inclusive space with a range of locally sourced craft beers. Community is its ethos and you will often find local groups such as the dementia group having a get together in the venue.
As well as being at the helm licensee Kathryn Boam, who runs the pub with husband David, takes her role in the community seriously being deputy mayor of Eastwood and a local councillor. Plans for a new charity community fund at the pub will also help people in the local area in need.
The Last Post and Memorial Bar, Thornaby, North Yorkshire
There is always a warm welcome for everyone at The Last Post and Memorial Bar in Thornaby.
Last year’s winner in this category is known for its support for veterans and those in need. Whether it is a homeless person using the shower on site and needing a free meal or someone suffering from PTSD or stress needing a quiet room there is a safe space at The Last Post.
This pub is unique as it has its own museum upstairs which educates and showcases memorabilia from the previous wars. The pub ansd museum is often on people’s bucket list for a visit and boasts visitors from all over the world.
Tom Browns, Dorchester
Dorchester locals love heading to Tom Browns for a warm welcome and a pint of local beer, cider or craft ale.
And anyone wanting something different on the food side are in for a treat as the pub has partnered with neighbour Hamza Bakkor to offer Syrian and Middle Eastern cuisine.
Events are the focus for the bar, which hosts the annual charity duck race and funday to raise funds for Young Lives Vs Cancer and The Giant Hokey Cokey to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Any groups or members of the community needing a space are given the function room for free for events such as local band practices, birthdays, kids birthday parties and a variety of meetings.