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Daily Record
Daily Record
Lifestyle
Lucy Farrell

The 31 best pubs in Scotland are named - is your local on list of finalists?

A list of 31 Scottish pubs have been selected ahead of a prestigious national award ceremony which will name the best in the UK.

From the Highlands, to the Western Isles and all the way to Inverclyde, there is no shortage of great local pubs in Scotland.

And now The National Pub & Bar Awards has revealed a list of finalists across every region in Scotland and the rest of the UK who will go on to compete for the crown.

The organisation today unveiled its list of 94 finalists, with a 31 pubs in Scotland shortlisted ahead of the official award this June.

Every year, the awards selects venues which then go on compete for regional and national titles, highlighting their contribution to the hospitality industry.

Overjoyed pub and bar operators were informed of their achievements ahead of the grand final awards ceremony, which takes place in London on June 28.

There, the county winners will discover which pubs will be taking home a regional title, as well as which site is to be named the UK’s best - leaving with the overall National Pub & Bar of the Year accolade.

You can read below for the full list of Scottish winners, all listed by region and council area.

The best pubs in every Scottish council area

The Ben Nevis bar in Fort William is named after Scotland's tallest peak (Anthony MacMillan/Glasgow Live)

North West Scotland

  • Highland - The Ben Nevis Bar
  • Na h-Eileanan Siar - The Cross Inn
  • Stirling - The Cross Keys, Kippen

North East Scotland

  • Perth and Kinross - BrewDog Perth
  • Orkney Islands - Helgi's
  • City of Aberdeen - Siberia Bar & Hotel
  • City of Dundee - The Barrelman
  • Aberdeenshire - The Boat Inn
  • Fife - The Criterion
  • Clackmannanshire - The Mansfield Arms
  • Moray - The Old Mill Inn
  • Angus - The Picture House
  • Shetland Islands - The Welcome Inn
  • West Lothian - Platform 3
  • East Lothian - The Bonnie Badger
  • Scottish Borders - The Bridge Inn
  • Midlothian - The Bridge Inn at Ratho
  • City of Edinburgh - The Scran & Scallie
  • Falkirk - The Wheatsheaf

South West Scotland

  • Renfrewshire - The Boarding House
  • East Renfrewshire - The Cartvale
  • North Lanarkshire - The Electric Bar
  • City of Glasgow - The Gate
  • North Ayrshire - The Red Squirrel
  • South Ayrshire - The Smoking Goat
  • East Dunbartonshire- The Stables
  • Dumfries and Galloway - The Steamboat Inn
  • South Lanarkshire - The Strathaven
  • East Ayrshire - The Weston
  • Inverclyde - Tokyo Joe
  • West Dunbartonshire - Tullie Inn

Entries for the awards have been open since the start of the year, with hundreds of venues outlining the details of their operation. This includes summarising the work that goes into design, training, team welfare, sustainability, food, drink, marketing and many other areas.

“We were overwhelmed by the level and quality of entries this year,” says Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub & Bar magazine, which runs the awards. “It just goes to show what magnificent work is going on across the UK hospitality sector.

"With outrageous energy costs, recruitment shortages and a punishing taxation system, these businesses are once again facing tough times. Now, more than ever, it’s vital that people support their local pubs and bars.

"So, ahead of the long Easter weekend, why not check out the finest in your county?”

At the grand final, other awards will be handed out including the Pub Brand of the Year, Bar Brand of the Year, Pub Chef of the Year and Sustainable Pub & Bar of the Year.

The 15 Regional Winners will then be announced ahead of the esteemed National Pub & Bar of the Year award, which in 2022 was won by The Frogmill in Cheltenham.

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