The Tamworth Tap in Staffordshire has been crowned National Pub of the Year 2025. This is the third time the Tamworth Tap has won the award - the first pub to ever win a hat-trick.

Since the launch of CAMRA’s Pub of the Year competition in 1988, no local has ever won the Campaign’s most prestigious award three times – until now. CAMRA’s national Pub of the Year award is its highest honour given to a pub, helping to showcase top-quality locals throughout the UK. Beating thousands of entries from across the country, the Tamworth Tap was judged on its atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, inclusivity, overall impression and, most importantly, top-quality cask beer, real cider and perry. Home to Tamworth Brewing Company, the multi-award-winning pub boasts a range of eight cask beers from both local brewers and across the UK, along with a wide selection of ciders, gins, wines and bottled beers.

The Tudor building with a 16th-century shop front and its historic courtyard beer terrace offers views of Tamworth’s Norman castle. As part of the pub’s popular CAMRA Corner, the Tap’s stairs have been decorated to look like a display of Good Beer Guides, along with other Campaign titles. The Tap is the centre of its community, becoming a social hub by hosting a wide range of events from craft clubs, painting nights, and faith groups to sell-out tutored tasting sessions. Owners George and Louise Greenaway and their team support local charities, including the Royal British Legion’s Tamworth branch, and making Christmas hampers for the parish church. George and Louise were awarded the town’s Freedom of the Borough in recognition of their commitment to the town and community.

Team Tap celebrating their win

Reacting to the win, George and Louise said: “It’s not often either of us are stuck for words – ask anyone! – but we really are struggling to express how we feel today. When we won the first time we believed we’d reached the pinnacle of our achievements and were absolutely astounded with our second consecutive win. “To have won for an unprecedented third time is beyond our wildest dreams; we are in awe of this recognition. The pub and its people are at the centre of everything we do. We don’t just pour pints at the Tap, we strive to give a true sense of community and give our beloved Tappers a place they like to call home, with the warmest welcome, great atmosphere and beautiful surroundings. Quality beer comes first, yet the passion, knowledge and friendliness of our incredible Team Tap is key.

“A heartfelt thanks to every single person who has been part of our journey, from day one when we opened a pop-up in a shop window, with a makeshift counter and two barrels of beer. Thank you for supporting and believing in us, for turning up to everything we do and for making the Tamworth Tap a place where people want to be.”

CAMRA Pub of the Year co-ordinator Andrea Briers said: “I can’t congratulate George, Louise and their team enough for the trailblazing feat of winning the National Pub of the year award for a third time. What can you possibly say about this fantastic pub that hasn’t been said already? The local community are lucky to have an incredible pub with such dedicated staff on their doorstep. Please raise a pint, or three, to our triple champion!” “Even with a trio of national awards, the Tap still faces the same challenges felt by pubs across the UK. Pubs are hanging over a cliff edge with grossly unfair business rates, spiralling costs and hikes to Employer National Insurance contributions heavy burdens on already tired shoulders. Government gave no support at all in the Budget, which was disastrous for the industry, and a swift U-turn is desperately needed on the dangerous rise to business rates bills. I hope everybody can take the time to get out and support your local, especially as January is often such a difficult month for the trade.”

Lichfield, Sutton and Tamworth CAMRA branch pubs officer John Rowling said: “We are so proud to have the Tamworth Tap as part of our local CAMRA branch. This hat-trick of wins has cemented the Tap’s reputation as the foremost pub in the UK. Visitors can’t help but admire the awesome service you get from the amazing, friendly and knowledgeable staff. The success has been built on continuous hard work, dedication and attention to detail to make the Tap a splendid community asset. Well-deserved congratulations go to George, Louise and the team for this momentous accolade.”

The three runners up for the title were the Blackfriars Tavern, Great Yarmouth; Pelican Inn, Gloucester and Volunteer Arms (Staggs), Musselburgh. For further details, see The Fab Four feature below.

[Many thanks to CAMRA's online magazine What's Brewing for most of his feature.]

The competition for CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year 2025 is hotting up with just four pubs in the final shortlist after months of rigorous judging. The final round of assessments is underway with the final winner to be revealed early in 2026. Two former CAMRA Pub of the Year winners are in the running, along with this year’s Cider and Perry Pub of the Year.
Beating thousands of entries and showcasing their commitment to quality and their communities, they have been judged on their atmosphere, décor, welcome, service, inclusivity, overall impression and, most importantly, quality cask beer, real cider and perry. The Fab Four are:

Blackfriars Tavern, Great Yarmouth
Awarded CAMRA’s Cider and Perry Pub of the Year just weeks ago, this Victorian corner pub, next to the 13th-century town walls, has made its mark as a must-visit destination. Described as a real gem, the pub focusses on East Anglian-produced cask, plus real ciders and perries, with its bar regularly showcasing CAMRA award winning brews and even beers from the on-site brewery.
Landlord and freeholder Pharez Smith said: “Built on quality, consistency and a calm, welcoming atmosphere, we’re thrilled – especially as a final four pub – to be part of CAMRA’s work championing cask ale and real cider.”

Pelican Inn, Gloucester
Dating back to 1679, this Grade II-listed, family run traditional ale house is popular with cyclists, cathedral visitors and Gloucester rugby fans. With up to 10 cask beers, 12 ciders and six craft kegs on at all times, plus a collection of rarer beer styles in can, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The multi-award-winning pub has been featured in the Good Beer Guide for more than a decade.
Licensee Mike Hall said: “Never did I dare hope that the Pelican Inn would be recognised as one of the top four pubs in the country. It’s been a joyous journey for me and my family, building the pub up from a poor trading position. The plan from day one was to make it a relevant part of the community and a beacon for real ale fans to find. The fact that it’s evolved into something so far beyond our own ambitions is the warmest of feelings. Our greatest strength is the support offered to us by Wye Valley brewery, we showcase all of its beers but with a flexibility to offer a broader choice of beers than its portfolio alone. It’s a simple, traditional public house with a clear vision and fabulous, fabulous beer. This honour will stay with me always.”

Tamworth Tap, Tamworth
Twice winner of the National Pub of the Year (2022 and 2023), the Tudor building and historic courtyard beer terrace offers striking views of Tamworth’s Norman castle. Home to Tamworth Brewing Company and its tap, it features eight handpulls, with cask from near and far, along with a wide range of ciders, gins, wines and bottled beers. The ‘CAMRA corner” at the bottom of the stairs is always popular, along with its display of a complete set of Good Beer Guides.
Owners George and Louise Greenaway said: “We’re over the moon to receive the news that the Tamworth Tap has been shortlisted as a finalist for CAMRA’s Pub of the Year. This recognition reflects the dedication of our team and the continued support of our wonderful customers who make the pub what it is. Huge thanks to everyone who makes the pub such a special place to enjoy company and great beer.”

Volunteer Arms (Staggs), Musselburgh
A superb pub run by the same family since 1858 with a traditional bar and snug, wooden floors, wood panelling and mirrors from now-closed local breweries. The pub’s interior is of historic interest with an attractive Victorian gantry topped with old spirit cask barrels. It has a range of regularly changing cask beers and has won many awards, including CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year in 1998 and reached the top four in 2018.
Staggs co-owner Katie McKenzie said: “Nigel, Hayley and I are absolutely delighted to be in the final four of CAMRA’s Pub of the Year competition. It is a testament to our hard-working staff, the breweries which supply us with fantastic beer and the community which drinks and socialises with us. Staggs is a special place to many and we are grateful to everyone who plays a part in making us a community and more than just a pub.”

CAMRA award coordinator Andrea Briers said: “It is always a hard-fought and close competition with judges having an incredibly difficult job whittling them down to just four. They are shining examples of what makes our pubs so incredibly special, vital to our communities and providing a wonderful welcome to all.
“I am very excited to see the outcome of the final round of judging and crowning our winner. Every year we see pubs facing new pressures and to continue to thrive in the face of rising costs and other issues is humbling to see. We are calling on the chancellor to give pubs a fair deal in the Autumn Budget, so they can keep serving their communities for many years to come.”

For further details of the four finalists, click national pub guide link in menu left.

Fox - CAMRA North Beds Branch Pub of the Year 2025 The Telegraph has announced its 500 Best Pubs in England. The eight Bedfordshire pubs included are all recent CAMRA Pubs of the Year or other award winners. You might be tempted to think they were all nominated by local CAMRA branches, but we can assure you the Telegraph team has done a superb job without our help. Indeed we could hardly have done it better ourselves! Wellington Arms - CAMRA North Beds Town Pub of the Year 2025

You can find the 500 star pubs listed on the Telegraph website, although unless you subscribe you may find it hard to see beyond the Telegraph's paywall. However, we can reveal specially for you that its top Bedfordshire eight are:
Ampthill - Albion
Bedford - Wellington Arms
Broom - Cock
Carlton - Fox
Clophill - Stone Jug
Henlow - Engineers Arms
Leighton Buzzard - Black Lion
Luton - Bricklayers Arms