Topping the list for the third time was Stephen Harris’s Michelin-starred North Kent pub The Sportman. The list, voted for by industry experts including chefs, food writers, saw 14 out of the 17 Michelin-starred gastropubs in Britain make it into the top 50 for 2018.
Moving up the Top 50 Gastropubs list
A new entry to the top ten, The Hardwick has shot up the list to 9th place from last year’s 30th position.
Similarly, The Marksman increased their position from 29th to a place within the top ten coming in at tenth place.
The highest new entry on the top 50 Gastropubs list was The Black Swan which was awarded 12th place. This one Michelin-starred gastro pub was also recently named as ‘the best restaurant in the world’ by TripAdvisor and is run by chef patron Tommy Banks and his family.
New kids on the block
There were several new entries to the Top 50 Gastropubs list which included the likes of The Guinea Grill which was awarded 27th place and The Swan Inn which was positioned in 38th place.
The Oxford Blue in Old Windsor won Best Newcomer and the One to Watch award, this Berkshire based pub has chef proprietor Steven Ellis at the helm.
Other notable awards included The Unruly Pig winning Front of House Team of the Year.
Editor of the Estrella Damm Top Gastropubs guide Nicholas Robinson remarked: “Gastropubs are unique for many reasons because they blur the lines between pubs and restaurants, yet maintain the charm and atmosphere of a traditional pub”
Here are the top 5:
Kent's Michelin-starred pub The Sportsman takes the top position
Stephen Harris is one of the few chefs in Britain to practice ‘terroir’ cooking where the cooking reflects its surrounding geography, history and produce. This even includes the team boiling seawater to make their own salt.
The judging panel said: “The Sportsman is a worthy pub to once again top the list…It is a great achievement to top the list for the third time”.
The Pony and Trap
Just missing out on the coveted top spot in second place was The Pony and Trap in Bristol. This cosy country pub has held a Michelin star since 2011 and chef patron Josh Eggleton has previously appeared on Great British Menu.
Their delight was evident in a tweet posted from the ceremony “Today has been a good day! 2nd best gastropub in the country”.
The Star Inn
The Star Inn which is a delightful thatched inn situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors were placed third on the list (having previously topped the list in 2017). Chef patron Andrew Pern only uses the finest produce from Yorkshire and has owned The Star for over 20 years
Freemasons at Wiswell
Steven Smith’s elegant gastropub Freemasons at Wiswell in Lancashire took 4th place where chef Smith’s cooking style is described as experimental meeting traditional, one example of this is his dish of foie gras with beer vinegar.
Michelin in Marlow
Tom Kerridge’s The Coach in Marlow ranked in 5th place, this gastropub which has a Michelin star has chef patron Nick Beardshaw at the helm and his menu reflects influences from a wide range of cuisines, including British, Italian and American.
They tweeted “Congratulations to everyone for placing 5th @Top50Gastropubs”.
Tom’s eatery The Hand and Flowers (also in Marlow) was the only 2 Michelin-starred pub included in the list and came in at 19th place.
Highest climber
A country inn in Devonshire, The Swan in Bampton recieved this year's highest climber award at the event. Run by husband and wife team Paul and Donna Berry, the pub was just inside the list last year at number 50, and climbed an impressive 22 places this year, to their new position of 28.
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