Quintessential country pub hailed best in the UK

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