The Devonshire named UK’s best gastropub for 2026
The Devonshire has been crowned the UK’s best gastropub for 2026, topping the latest Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list.
The Soho pub, co-owned by Oisín Rogers, Charlie Carroll and Ashley Palmer-Watts, took the number one spot ahead the Suffolk-based The Unruly Pig, the 2025 winner, which finished second in this year’s ranking after previously winning the overall title on three separate occasions.
It is a reverse on last year, where The Devonshire came in second.
The annual list, compiled by an academy of chefs, publicans, food writers and hospitality professionals, is regarded as the definitive snapshot of the UK’s food-led pub scene, celebrating operations where cooking is placed firmly at the heart of the offer.
A landmark win for The Devonshire
The Devonshire’s rise to the top reflects its rapid impact on London’s dining landscape. Since opening, the pub has earned a reputation for confident, produce-led British cooking paired with a robust drinks offer and a traditional pub atmosphere that has resonated with both industry figures and diners.
The kitchen, led by chef Ashley, formerly of The Fat Duck, has focused on restraint and execution rather than reinvention, with dishes rooted in British seasonality and fire-led cooking. Its success signals a broader trend within gastropub culture, where simplicity, consistency and warmth of service are increasingly prized alongside technical skill.
The Devonshire’s win also reinforces London’s continued strength in the gastropub sector, with the capital well represented throughout the top 50 and wider top 100 list.
The Unruly Pig’s enduring legacy
Despite losing the top spot, The Unruly Pig remains one of the most influential gastropubs of the modern era. Under Dave Wall, who is now chef patron, the Suffolk pub has previously topped the Top 50 Gastropubs list three times, a level of consistency achieved by very few operations.
Earlier this year, Dave and his wife Michelle completed the purchase of the pub from founder Brendan Padfield, marking a new chapter for the business while maintaining continuity in its food-led ethos.
A snapshot of the UK gastropub scene
The 2026 list highlights the breadth of the UK gastropub landscape, with strong representation from across England, Scotland and Wales. From rural village inns to urban neighbourhood pubs, the rankings reflect a category that continues to evolve despite ongoing pressures facing the wider hospitality industry.
Kent, Yorkshire, Cornwall and Lancashire again feature prominently, while London maintains a dominant presence, particularly in the upper reaches of the list.
The Red Lion and Sun in Highgate rounded off the top three, with Woolpack Inn (Gloucestershire) and The Star Inn (North Yorkshire) also placing in the top five.
Read more: A new chapter for The Devonshire
Read more: Dave Wall: Leading The Unruly Pig to the top of the gastropub scene
The Estrella Damm Top 100 Gastropubs 2026
- 1. The Devonshire, Soho
- 2. The Unruly Pig, Woodbridge, Suffolk
- 3. The Red Lion and Sun, Highgate, London
- 4. The Woolpack Inn, Slad, Gloucestershire
- 5. The Star Inn, Harome, North Yorkshire
- 6. The Angel at Hetton, Hetton, North Yorkshire
- 7. Parkers Arms, Clitheroe, Lancashire
- 8. The Rat Inn, Anick, Northumberland
- 9. The Rum Fox, Grindleton, Lancashire
- 10. The Cornish Arms, Tavistock, Devon
- 11. Canton Arms, Stockwell, London
- 12. The Dog at Wingham, Wingham, Kent
- 13. The Abbey Inn, Byland, North Yorkshire
- 14. The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe, Somerset
- 15. The Broad Chare, Newcastle upon Tyne
- 16. The Gunton Arms, Norwich, Norfolk
- 17. The Baring, Islington, London
- 18. The Merry Harriers, Hambledon, Surrey
- 19. The Fordwich Arms, Canterbury, Kent
- 20. The Bell Inn, Langford, Oxfordshire
- 21. The Kentish Hare, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
- 22. The Crown, Burchetts Green, Berkshire
- 23. The Marksman, Hackney, London
- 24. The Hero of Maida, Maida Vale, London
- 25. The Kerfield Arms, Camberwell, London
- 26. The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent
- 27. The Mariners, Rock, Cornwall
- 28. The Bull, Charlbury, Oxfordshire
- 29. The Coach, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
- 30. The Highland Laddie, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- 31. The Pipe and Glass, South Dalton, East Yorkshire
- 32. The Silver Cup, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
- 33. The Waterman’s Arms, Barnes, London
- 34. Heft, High Newton, Cumbria
- 35. The Tamil Crown, Islington, London
- 36. The Harwood Arms, Fulham, London
- 37. The Killingworth Castle, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
- 38. The Gurnard’s Head, St Ives, Cornwall
- 39. The Bull & Last, Highgate, London
- 40. The Kinneuchar Inn, Leven, Fife
- 41. The Tartan Fox, Newquay, Cornwall
- 42. Queen of Cups, Glastonbury, Somerset
- 43. The Knave of Clubs, Shoreditch, London
- 44. The Mason’s Arms, Bampton, Oxfordshire
- 45. The Wild Rabbit, Kingham, Oxfordshire
- 46. The Black Bear Inn, Usk, Monmouthshire
- 47. The French House, Soho, London
- 48. The Loch & The Tyne by Adam Handling, Old Windsor, Berkshire
- 49. Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax, West Yorkshire
- 50. The White Horse, Chester, Cheshire
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The Devonshire named UK’s best gastropub for 2026
