The Tollemache Arms in Harrington, Northamptonshire was presented with the overall title at the awards having been initially named Best Country Pub earlier in the night, on Tuesday 17 September at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse.
The prestigious ceremony was attended by hundreds from across the pub sector where winners were announced following a rigorous judging process.
Licensees Joe Buckley and Flo Pearce took on the pub nine years ago, creating the successful operation it is today.
Recent work at the pub impressed judges with investment both inside and out. ‘The Tolly’ as it’s known, is also home to an annual music and drinks event, hosted in the pub’s huge tent in the beer garden.
Homegrown suppliers
Events like these are key to the beautiful thatched site, which also prides itself on using homegrown suppliers as well as considerable investment into training and developing its team to deliver the best experience to guests.
Other category winners at this year’s Great British Pub Awards included Heston Blumenthal-owned pub the Hinds Head in Bray, Berkshire, which took the title of Best Pub for Food while fellow Berkshire pub the Swan in Windsor was named Best Community Pub.
The Best Sustainable Pub award was presented to the Pig’s Head in Clapham, south-west London. Fellow pub in the capital the Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich was crowned Best Pub for Entertainment.
Norfolk was home to two of the winners as the Gardeners Arms/Murderers in Norwich was named Best Pub for Sport and No.Twenty9 Bar and Restaurant was crowned Best Pub for Dogs.
Staffordshire’s the Tamworth Tap took the award for Best Pub for Beer and the outside area of Leeds-based pub the Myrtle Tavern wowed the judges as it was crowned Best Pub Garden.
Outstanding operations
Almondsbury Creative in Bristol was named Best Pub for Families while the Bull & Swan in Stamford, Lincolnshire won Best Town Pub.
Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser, which organises the awards, said: “We’re delighted to be revealing the best pubs in the UK.
“These operations are outstanding, and we are extremely proud to be able to shine a light on them and the sector which is such a vibrant part of the UK’s culture. I’d urge everyone to visit these incredible pubs.
“Our Great British Pub of the Year, the Tollemache Arms, showcases a quintessential British pub – a place for every occasion and everyone – run by two dynamic operators that have turned it into a site to be proud of.”
The awards are kindly sponsored by Booker Makro, Coca Cola Europacific Partners, Diageo GB, Molson Coors, TNT Sports and SIBA, alongside pubco partners Admiral Taverns, Greene King, Marston’s, Punch Pubs and Stonegate.
The 2024 Great British Pub Awards winners in full:
Best Country Pub
The Tollemache Arms – Harrington, Northamptonshire
Best Pub for Beer
The Tamworth Tap – Tamworth, Staffordshire
Best Pub for Dogs
No. Twenty9 Bar and Restaurant – Burnham Market, Norfolk
Best Pub for Entertainment
The Trafalgar Tavern – Greenwich, south-west London
Best Pub for Families
Almondsbury Creative - Almondsbury, Bristol
Best Pub for Food
Hinds Head – Bray, Berkshire
Best Pub Garden
Myrtle Tavern – Leeds, West Yorkshire
Best Pub to Watch Sport
The Gardeners Arms/Murderers – Norwich, Norfolk
Best Sustainable Pub
The Pig’s Head – Clapham, south-west London
Best Town Pub
Bull & Swan – Stamford, Lincolnshire
Best Community Pub
The Swan – Windsor, Berkshire
Admiral Taverns Pub of the Year
The Royal Oak – Brandon, Warwickshire
Greene King Pub of the Year
The Cott Inn – Dartington, Devon
Marston’s Pub of the Year
The Griffin – Loughborough, Leicestershire
Punch Pub of the Year
The Red Lion – Cranford, Northamptonshire
Stonegate Group Pub Partners Pub of the Year
The Gloucester Old Spot – Bristol
Great British Pub of the Year
The Tollemache Arms, Harrington, Northamptonshire