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16 Regional Finalists Named in Search for 2026’s Best British Pub

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  • CAMRA has revealed 16 regional winners for the 2026 Pub of the Year competition.
  • Shortlisted venues include community-saved pubs like The Northumberland Arms and The Olde Cross.
  • The overall winner will be announced in January 2027 after narrowing to a final four in October.
  • UK pubs are closing at a rate of nearly two per day, with 161 losses recorded in Q1 2026.
  • The 2025 winner, the Tamworth Tap, previously achieved a record-breaking three consecutive titles.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has announced its 16 regional winners for the 2026 Pub of the Year competition, highlighting the resilience of local establishments in a challenging economic climate. The shortlist features several venues that were saved from permanent closure by dedicated community campaigns, demonstrating a shift toward community-led ownership in the hospitality sector. This selection marks the first stage of a national search, with the 16 regional champions set to be narrowed down to a 'final four' in October 2026 before the overall national winner is revealed in January 2027.

Among the notable finalists is the Northumberland Arms in Marple Bridge, known locally as 'The Thumb', which was saved from closure in 2017 following a campaign by residents. Phil Jarvis, manager of the Northumberland Arms, described the pub's shortlisting as 'surreal' and noted it is currently 'thriving' as a wet-led establishment. Similarly, The Olde Cross in Old Ryton Village, Tyne Valley, has reached the regional finals after successfully reopening as a community-owned pub following its closure in 2019. These successes come at a time when the broader industry faces significant pressure; according to reports in The Mirror, British pubs are closing at a rate of nearly two per day in 2026, with 161 closures and approximately 2,400 job losses recorded in the first three months of the year alone.

Andrea Briers, the National Coordinator for the competition, oversees a diverse range of finalists including the Turks Head in St Helens, a Tudor-style pub dating back to the 1870s, and the Steam Packet Inn in Scotland. Other regional winners vying for the title include the Railway Arms in East Anglia, the Malt Shovel Tavern in the East Midlands, and the Cockpit in Greater London. They hope to follow in the footsteps of the Tamworth Tap in Staffordshire, which was crowned the 2025 National Pub of the Year after an unprecedented trilogy of national titles.

Industry leaders have expressed concern over the sustainability of the sector. Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), warned that high tax burdens and regulatory costs are currently wiping out pub profits. While Andy Slee, Chief Executive of the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA), noted a slight slowdown in brewery closures, he emphasised that market access remains a major hurdle for independent producers. Despite these figures, industry bodies have noted a 'Burnham bounce' in optimism following government suggestions of potential business rate relief for hospitality venues. Since CAMRA was founded in 1971, the number of UK pubs has fallen from 75,000 to fewer than 45,000.

Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said, "Supporting community-run pubs not only preserves local history but also ensures that these vital social hubs remain accessible for residents during challenging economic times."

Comments+20 points
BonzoBanana

I'm terrified of independent pubs nowadays. I much prefer Wetherspoons with clearly laid out prices. So many pubs too that look independent are foreign owned and part of a large chain and I would rather buy from Wetherspoons who are British and have fair prices. I do go to Hungry Horse occasionally and I think they are Chinese. I only go to Hungry Horse as the prices for food are so cheap and you can obtain giftcards at heavy discounts. So many pubs appear to be independent but end up being part of these larger foreign groups which I try where possible not to support especially as they often charge the most for food and alcohol.

  • Greene King: One of the UK's largest pub and brewing companies (owning roughly 2,700–3,100 pubs, restaurants, and hotels including the Belhaven brand) was acquired in 2019 by CK Asset Holdings, a Hong Kong-based multinational property and investment group controlled by the Li Ka-shing family. [1, 2, 3, 4]
  • Star Pubs & Bars: Operated as the pub division of Heineken UK, this major leased pub chain (managing around 2,400 pubs) is directly owned by the Dutch multinational brewing giant Heineken N.V. [1, 2]
  • Stonegate Group: As the UK's largest pub and bar company (operating over 4,500 venues including brands like Slug & Lettuce and Popworld), Stonegate is ultimately owned by the London-based private equity firm TDR Capital, but the corporate group is domiciled and structured overseas through entities registered in the Cayman Islands and Luxembourg. [1, 2]
  • Admiral Taverns: Operating a large estate of community pubs across the UK, Admiral Taverns is ultimately controlled by Proprium Real Estate, a US-based real estate private equity fund (with holding structures linked to the Cayman Islands)
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