Eight gastropubs from London have been named in an annual list of the 50 best across the UK, including a new entry for Kentish Town local The Parakeet.
In top spot — and, having also won in 2022, for the second time — is The Unruly Pig in Suffolk, a countryside bolthole serving cod’s roe tartlets, cuttlefish ragu, and hare Wellington. Following in second place is The Cornish Arms, notable not just for its food but for being in Devon.
The capital also put in a good showing. Highest on the list in London is The Red Lion & Sun, in at number six, up from 10 last year. It is the second year in a row the Highgate local has been named the capital's best gastropub.
Fulham’s Michelin-starred Harwood Arms, long a fixture in the top 50, has shifted up to 12 from last year's 13, while The Baring in Islington is at 26. The Parakeet, new to the list, placed at 36, a particularly impressive showing for a pub that has not yet been open a year.
The others to feature are The Bull & Last in Islington (31), The Cadogan Arms in Chelsea (40, and also new to the list), and the Canton Arms in Stockwell (46). Mayfair stalwart the Guinea Grill also made the list at number 44, having dropped from number 22 in 2023, and number 7 in 2022.
Oddly, Soho's French House, where the excellent upstairs restaurant is overseen by chef Neil Borthwick, hasn’t made the 2024 showing (it made 47 last year). Neither has The Eagle (48 last year), widely considered to be Britain’s first gastropub, and still going today. Other London spots overlooked in the top 50 include the Tamil Prince, the Marksman, the Drapers Arms and the Pelican, though all are in the 50-100 ranks.
A ceremony for the Top 50 Gastropubs, a list traditionally voted for by industry figures, food experts and journalists, was this year held at the Parkers Arms in Clitheroe, Lancashire, last year’s winner (and now number seven). Winners were announced at a party earlier today, Monday January 22.
Ed Bedington, editor of the Morning Advertiser, the founders of the awards, said: “Pubs are a beloved institution and part of the UK’s culture, and this list of the most astounding and impressive food pubs in the country is wonderful to see.
“Pubs serve so many roles to so many people, and for operators like the Unruly Pig and all of our list, to be able to offer amazing food and wonderful experiences, up there with some of the best in fine dining, is brilliant to see.”
See the full list below:
1. The Unruly Pig, Woodbridge
2. The Cornish Arms, Tavistock
3. The Mariners, Rock
4. The Fordwich Arms, Canterbury
5. The Sportsman, Seasalter
6. The Red Lion & Sun, Highgate, London
7. Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland
8. The Star Inn, Harome
9. Freemasons at Wiswell, Wiswell
10. The Hand & Flowers, Marlow
11. Heft, High Newton (highest climber)
12. The Harwood Arms, Fulham, London
13. The Angel at Hetton, Hetton
14. The Rat Inn,Hexham
15. The Bridge Arms, Canterbury (highest new entry)
16. The Dog at Wingham, Wingham
17. The Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax
18. The Gunton Arms, Thorpe Market
19. The Pack Horse, Hayfield
20. Pyne Arms, Barnstaple
21. The Coach, Marlow
22. The Beehive, White Waltham
23. The Broad Chare, Newcastle
24. The Edinburgh Castle, Manchester
25. The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe
26. The Baring, Islington, London
27. The Kentish Hare, Tunbridge Wells
28. The Pipe & Glass Inn, Beverley
29. The White Swan at Fence, Fence
30. The Longs Arms, Bath
31. The Bull & Last, Islington, London
32. The Black Bear, Usk
33. The Dog & Gun Inn, Skelton
34. The Woolpack, Stroud
35. The Barrington Boar, Barrington
36. The Parakeet, Kentish Town, London
37. The Masons Arms, Knowstone
38. The Abbey Inn, Byland
39. The Black Bull, Sedbergh
40. The Cadogan Arms, Chelsea, London
41. The Bulls Head, Craswall
42. The Loch and The Tyne, Windsor
43. The Guinea Grill, Mayfair, London
44. The Dew Drop Inn, Hurley
45. The Killingworth Castle, Wootton
46. The Canton Arms, Stockwell, London
47. The Double Red Duke, Clanfield
48. The Duncombe Arms, Ashbourne
49. The Scran & Scallie, Edinburgh
50. The Bull, Charlbury
