What the 2024 GBPA winners had to say

Some 17 business were honoured in a range of categories such as Best Pub for Beer, Best Pub to Watch Sport and Best Pub for Dogs.

The Tollemache Arms was named Best Country Pub before it went on to be presented with the Great British Pub of the Year award.

The Northamptonshire-based business is run by Joe Buckley and Flo Pearce who took the site on nine years ago.

After being named the best pub in the UK, Buckley told The Morning Advertiser ​it was phenomenal to win.

He added: “We are lucky to be inspired by so many of that room, it’s unbelievable [to win]. [We are] super proud of our team.”

The staff were highlighted as a key driver to the pub’s victory.

Operator impact​

Pearce said: “The secret of our success is surrounding ourselves with incredible people, our team [who are] inspirational.

“We are surrounded by people who want to do stuff and change the industry and are so grateful to be surrounded by people like that.

“We will have a big party when back at the pub with the team.”

The Best Pub for Beer title was taken by the Tamworth Tap in Staffordshire, which is also a former winner of the Best Pub Garden award.

On their win this year, operators George and Louise Greenway said: “It means the world. We are shell shocked. You think it would be amazing but don’t build your hopes. “When our name came out, we were expecting to hear another pub’s name.”

Bristol’s Almondsbury Creative was presented with the award for Best for Families. The pub has been shortlisted previously and offers guests a huge breadth of events with something for everyone.

After being named as a winner, operator Garth Jackson said: “[I’m] a bit speechless. It was our third year being a finalist and I didn’t think we would win, I can’t believe it.

“It’s about it the focus on the whole family, not just kids but teenagers, mums and dads, grandparents.

“The majority of events we run are for everyone and means they stay longer, which makes business sense too.”

Great honour​

The Pig’s Head in Clapham, south-west London was named the Best Sustainable Pub.

When presented with the award on stage, owner Maria Hunter told the audience: "We all have a responsibility to do better for the future. We have small children and want to leave them something better behind."

She went on to tell The Morning Advertiser ​:“I was so surprised, it feels amazing. Everyone in the team works hard to be sustainable and I’m so pleased to be recognised by The MA​, it’s a great honour.

“We had a company before and we wanted to do better. Sometimes it’s more expensive and takes longer but it is worth it.”

Moreover, the Red Lion in Cranford, Northamptonshire was awarded Punch Pub of the Year.

The site is part of Greedy Gordons Pub Group, which is run and managed by head chef Richard Gordon alongside business partners Sonya Harvey.

They told The Morning Advertiser​: “It’s an amazing and career changing to win an accolade like this. To come this far means everything to the team and everyone across the company. This goes to the staff.

“We are blessed with a good team which reflects in the customer service.”

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