The coveted list of the UK’s top 50 gastropubs has been announced, featuring Gloucestershire’s beloved The Woolpack in Slad, near Stroud. This traditional Cotswold pub, with a rich history spanning 300 years, is in the running for the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs 2026. The ultimate winner will be unveiled on January 26.
Ed Bedingot, editor of the Morning Advertiser—the organisation behind the awards—praised the finalists, saying, “This year’s selection highlights pubs that deliver exceptional food and dining experiences regularly. We commend these establishments for their dedication and excellence.”
Other notable finalists include Somerset’s The Queen of Cups and The Three Horseshoes, Devon’s Cornish Arms in Tavistock led by former Great British Menu contestant John Hooker, and three top spots in Cornwall featuring celebrity chef Paul Ainsworth’s The Mariners in Rock, Adam Handling’s Tartan Fox near Newquay, and The Gurnard’s Head.
READ MORE: Cheltenham Police Confirm Peaceful Outcome of Rival Protests
READ MORE: “They showed immense character and resilience” – Gloucester City manager Daf Williams hails penalty shoot-out victory over Worthing
The full alphabetical list of finalists showcases a diverse and distinguished range of pubs from across the UK, including:
Heft (Cumbria), Parkers Arms (Lancashire), Pipe and Glass (East Yorkshire), The Abbey Inn (York), The Angel at Hetton (North Yorkshire), The Baring (London), The Bell (Oxfordshire), The Black Bear Inn (Monmouthshire), The Broad Chare (Newcastle), The Bull (Oxfordshire), The Bull & Last (London), The Canton Arms (London), The Coach (Buckinghamshire), The Cornish Arms (Devon), The Crown (Berkshire), The Devonshire (London), The Dog at Wingham (Kent), The Fordwich Arms (Kent), The French House (London), The Gunton Arms (Norfolk), The Gurnard’s Head (Cornwall), The Harwood Arms (London), The Hero (London), The Highland Laddie (West Yorkshire), The Kentish Hare (Kent), The Kerfield Arms (London), The Killingworth Castle (Oxfordshire), The Kinneuchar Inn (Fife), The Knave of Clubs (London), The Loch & The Tyne by Adam Handling (Berkshire), The Mariners (Cornwall), The Marksman (London), The Mason’s Arms (Oxfordshire), The Merry Harriers (Surrey), The Queen of Cups (Somerset), The Rat Inn (Northumberland), The Red Lion & Sun (London), The Rum Fox (Lancashire), The Shibden Mill Inn (West Yorkshire), The Silver Cup (Hertfordshire), The Sportsman (Kent), The Star (North Yorkshire), The Tamil Crown (London), The Tartan Fox (Cornwall), The Three Horseshoes (Somerset), The Unruly Pig (Suffolk), The Waterman’s Arms (London), The White Horse (Cheshire), The Wild Rabbit (Oxfordshire), and The Woolpack (Gloucestershire).
This list represents the pinnacle of pub dining in the UK, highlighting a combination of traditional charm and outstanding culinary quality.