Meet the finalists for Greene King Pub of the Year

One of the very first of Greene King’s new Hive operations, this is a cracking community pub that has seen a massive turn around in reputation under the expert hands of Ray and Bonnie.

Offering a great mix of food, drinks and community events, this is a pub that has gone from being one to avoid to one that needs to be visited, and has rapidly established itself as one of the best venues in the local community.

Sport is a strong focus here, but so are families, with a large outdoor space and dedicated play area to keep the children entertained.

On the edge of one of Scotland’s popular tourist destinations, the Balavoulin has been transformed by new operators Straun and Angie Robinson. With great food, drink and accommodation on offer, this is a business that has come out of the challenges of the pandemic and hit the ground running. While the couple are experienced hospitality workers, the pub is their first site and they are clearly determined to make their mark.

Straun, Angie and the team have worked hard to build up a great reputation that draws visitors to their site from across the town and further afield, and one that offers welcome respite to tourists looking to take in the stunning scenery that abounds in the area.

Operated by the talented guys behind the Brucan Pub Company, the Greene Oak is a real feather in both the businesses, and Greene King’s cap, having built an impressive reputation across a relatively short space of time.

With a fantastic food offer and great selection of drinks, this is a site that stands out for its looks alone, with an immaculate and adaptable interior able to flex and cope to meet any demands, alongside a stunning beer garden which has recently see the addition of an attractive stretch tent to enable year round al-fresco trading for the business. A strong focus on working within the local community has made this site a destination-business for anyone in the Windsor area.

Being first-time pub operators and new entrants to the hospitality sector entirely has certainly not held Steve and Maria back from creating the kind of pub that would make other towns and villages weep with jealousy.

The Stag Hotel is an impressive operation throughout, both internally with a well presented mix of tradition and modernity, through to the stunning rear garden which extends impressively across the back of the business, offering everything from dog baths, to a huge aviary featuring a broad range of feathered fun.

This is a site that has quickly built a strong connection to the local community through a range of initiatives and is a real asset to the residents of Lyndhurst.

A previous winner in the Great British Pub Awards, this is a fantastic site run superbly well by multiple operator Dianne Irving and her team, a real stand out on the Carlisle pub and bar scene.

An exceptionally strong food and drink offering is paired with a real sense of community, and the pub works hard to engage across a broad range of events and initiatives, from traditional quizzes through to bug hunts for children during the holiday period.

With a strong emphasis on training and development Dianne has build a superb team across her business which help to deliver an exceptional pub experience.

Stepping into this stunning Cotswold public house is like stepping back in time, with a roaring log fire and small, beautiful rooms embracing you, regardless of the time of year. Thick stone walls and traditional features abound, but beyond that, this is a thoroughly modern operation, offering a great range of drinks to thirsty visitors, and a cracking menu that changes on a regular basis and offers everything from fine dining to first-rate pizzas.

Investment into the accommodation offer means this pub offers a little bit of something for everyone at an exceptionally high standard.