The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Sarah Marshal
Britain’s best gastropubs for 2023 have been named – and the Parkers Arms in Lancashire has snapped up the top spot.
1. Parkers Arms, Newton-In-Bowland – Lancashire
The best gastropubs in the UK for 2023 have been named by the prestigious Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs Awards – and Parkers Arms (above) in Lancashire is number one
2. The Unruly Pig, Woodbridge – Suffolk
Landing in second place, Suffolk’s The Unruly Pig is housed in a 16th-century inn with ‘beams, crooked ceilings, log burners and a lush, green garden’
3. Freemasons at Wiswell, Wiswell – Lancashire
Third-place Freemasons at Wiswell (pictured lower right) is set in the pretty Ribble Valley village of Wiswell
Freemasons at Wiswell is headed by chef-patron Steven Smith (left). He ‘fuses locally sourced ingredients and his love of the classics with wild, sharp world flavours’
4. The Sportsman, Seasalter – Kent
In fourth place is The Sportsman in Kent, where chef-patron Stephen Harris makes sure that produce served is sourced almost exclusively from the surrounding land
The judges note that The Sportsman is ‘remarkably affordable for an eatery of its standing’
5. The Kentish Hare, Tunbridge Wells – Kent
Diners can expect to enjoy ‘tastefully curated’ menus at The Kentish Hare, which ranks fifth overall
One of the delicious dishes at The Kentish Hare
This ‘homely and inviting’ Kent establishment – a ‘labour of love’ run by brothers Chris and James Tanner – dishes up modern British cuisine using ‘fresh, seasonal and local ingredients’.
6. The Angel at Hetton, Hetton – Yorkshire
Sixth place goes to The Angel at Hetton, a Michelin-starred eatery run by chef Michael Wignall
The Angel at Hetton’s menu is described as ‘glorious’
Run by chef Michael Wignall, this Yorkshire gastropub ‘offers pub food reimagined in a cosy environment that looks out across stunning landscapes’.
7. The White Swan at Fence, Fence – Lancashire
Seventh-place The White Swan at Fence is described by the judges as a ‘pub like no other’
The judges recommend keeping an eye out for special menus throughout the year at The White Swan at Fence
8. The Hand & Flowers, Marlow – Buckinghamshire
The judges say that The Hand & Flowers, which ranks eighth, is ‘visited by thousands of eager foodies from across the country and world each year’
One of the eye-catching dishes at The Hand & Flowers
With a claim to fame as the first pub in the UK to earn two Michelin stars, this renowned Marlow eatery is spearheaded by celebrity chef Tom Kerridge.
9. The Fordwich Arms, Canterbury – Kent
Kent’s The Fordwich Arms, a ‘tastefully decorated’ pub that looks out over the River Stour, snaps up ninth place
Guests at The Fordwich Arms can choose from a la carte menus, tasting menus and two vegetarian tasting menus
10. The Red Lion and Sun, Highgate – London
Sliding into 10th place it’s London’s The Red Lion and Sun, a venue that plates up ‘rustic, modern British pub food’
Meats at The Red Lion and Sun have been sourced from nearby Highgate Butchers
Describing this London pub, the judges say: ‘A pub for all seasons, you can either nestle yourself away near the log burner inside or find a comfy spot to relax in the garden with some seafood and peruse what is widely recognised as one of London’s best wine lists, curated by its wine fanatic owner
The menu is said to offer ‘rustic, modern British pub food’ with carefully sourced ingredients and meats from nearby Highgate Butchers.
The judges warn, however, that spare tables are an ‘endangered species’ on Sundays when the pub serves four different kinds of roast dinners.
