Hand & Flowers crowned top gastropub 2012

The pub in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, which scored its first star in 2006 and its second last October, rose from second place last year to be top dog in the Budweiser Budvar Top 50 Gastropubs Awards​, in association with the Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA).

Chef proprietor of the Greene King pub Tom Kerridge told guests and fellow finalists it was an honour to be named the best gastropub in Britain. “It feels amazing to have won after being runner-up last year,” he said. “You all know how much hard work it is to even get one Michelin star, so getting two last October was amazing.

"We have broken the mould now and it is a great time for British pubs, proving how great British food is. I hope other pubs will follow because a lot of you out there really aren’t far behind us.”

The Michelin-starred Harwood Arms in Fulham, London, took the number two place, up from four the previous year and the two-year reigning champion the Star at Harome, North Yorkshire, ranked at number three.

Five special awards were won with the Canton Arms at Stockwell, London, receiving Highest Climber, having shot up the list from 50th place last year to number 17. Simon Farrimond of the Angel at Hetton, North Yorkshire, won Front of House Manager with Alex Pastrav of the Victoria in East Sheen, London being highly commended.

Gastropub Chef of the Year was won by Jason King of the Wellington Arms in Baughurst, Hampshire, and the Business Innovation award went to the Pigs in Edgefield, Norfolk, with the Bell at Alderminster, Warwickshire, being highly commended. The British Larder in Bromeswell, Suffolk, won Newcomer of the Year, with the Exeter Arms in Easton-on-the-Hill, Northamptonshire receiving a highly commended award.

The PMA collected votes from over 500 top gastropub operators, pub company chiefs, food writers, food guide editors and top chefs to collate the UK’s top 50 gastropubs. Winners were chosen through judging and site visits by industry experts.

1. Hand & Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire — Up 1
2. Harwood Arms, Fulham, London — Up 2
3. The Star at Harome, Helmsley, North Yorkshire — Down 2
4. The Anchor and Hope Waterloo, London SE1
5. Jack In The Green Inn, Rockbeare, nr Exeter, Devon
6. Royal Oak, Paley Street Berkshire
7. Hinds Head, Bray, Berkshire
8. The Hardwick, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
9. Pipe and Glass, Beverly, East Yorkshire
10. The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent
11. Gurnards Head, Treen, Cornwall
12. The Olive Branch, Clipsham, Rutland, East Midlands
13. Pony & Trap, Chew Magna, Somerset
14. Wellington Arms, Baughurst, Hampshire
15. Masons Arms, Knowstone, Devon
16. The Bull and Last, Highgate, London
17. The Canton Arms, Stockwell, London
18. The Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon
19. The Stagg at Titley, Herefordshire
20. Lord Poulett Arms, Hinton St George, Somerset
21. The Garrison, Bermondsey, London
22. Three Fishes, Mitton, Lancashire
23. The Albion, Clifton, Bristol
24. The Eagle, Farringdon, London
25. The Mall Tavern, Notting Hill, London
26. Fox and Grapes, Wimbledon Common, London
27. Beckford Arms, Fonthill Gifford, Wiltshire
28. The Black Horse, Ireland, Shefford, Bedfordshire
29. The Avalon, Balham Hill, London
30. Ye Olde Sun Inn, Colton, nr Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
31. The Angel, Hetton, North Yorkshire
32. British Larder, Bromeswell, Suffolk
33. The Gun at Docklands, London
34. The Wheatsheaf, Coombe Hay, Somerset
35. The Holt, Honiton, Devon
36. The Nut Tree, Murcott, Oxfordshire
37. The Victoria Inn, Perranuthnoe, Penzance, Cornwall
38. Drunken Duck, Ambleside, Cumbria
39. Kingham Plough, Kingham, Oxfordshire
40. The Queens Arms, Corton Denham, Somerset
41. King William, Bath
42. Freemasons Arms, Wiswell, Lancashire
43. Purefoy Arms, Hampshire
44. Magdalan Arms, Oxfordshire
45. Sands End, Wandsworth, London
46. The Fox, Willian, Hertfordshire
47. Masons Arms, Cartmell Fell, Cumbria
48. The Stag, OffChurch, Warwickshire
49. The White Horse, Parsons Green, London
50. The Thomas Cubitt, Belgravia, London