There’s a strong case to be made that pubs are the backbone of British society. It’s where we go to socialise, to relax after work, to have dinner, even just to warm up by an open fire in the winter. Pubs are at the centre of our communities, but that doesn’t mean that all of them are worth your time. That’s where CAMRA comes in.
CAMRA, or the Campaign For Real Ale, is dedicated to all things pubs, bars, and beer. Every year, the organisation shortlists its favourite boozers in the country which all compete for the coveted CAMRA Pub of the Year award. Back in January, the Bailey Head in Shropshire took home the title for 2025, but the time has arrived for the battle to begin once again.
This week, CAMRA revealed its regional winners, which form the Pub of the Year shortlist. Each of these places is the very best in their patch, offering peerless decor, exquisite service and, of course, properly good pints.
Some of last year’s regional CAMRA winners made the cut again, including the Blackfriars Tavern in Yarmouth for East Anglia, the Dog and Duck Inn for Northern Ireland, and the Hope in Carshalton, which was named the best pub in London for the sixth time. You can read more about the Hope’s win on Time Out London here.
Rodger Molyneux
In order to be named a regional winner, CAMRA’s Pub of the Year coordinator Andrea Briers explained that you must have ‘demonstrated exceptional quality, warmth and dedication to their communities’. She added that ‘these pubs are shining examples of what makes the Great British pub so special, from perfectly kept pints to a genuine welcome for all’.
The best pub in every UK region in 2025, according to CAMRA
So whereabouts took the crown where you are? Here’s the sixteen best pubs in the UK, and CAMRA’s 2025 regional winners:
East Anglia – Blackfriars Tavern, Great Yarmouth
East central – Orange Tree, Baldock
East Midlands – Burnt Pig, Ilkeston
Greater London – The Hope, Carshalton
Merseyside and Cheshire – Cricketers, St Helens
Northeast – Station House, Durham
Northwest – Cumberland Inn, Alston
Northern Ireland – Dog and Duck Inn, Lisbellaw
Scotland – Volunteer Arms (Staggs), Musselburgh
South central – Bell Inn, Aldworth
Southeast – The Royston, Broadstairs
Southwest – Hole in the Wall, Bodmin
Wales – Rhos yr Hafod Inn, Llanon
West central – Pelican Inn, Gloucester
West Midlands – Tamworth Tap, Tamworth
Yorkshire– Beer Engine, Skipton
Pubs according to Time Out
If you’re still on the lookout for a great pub, why not have a look at some of Time Out’s faves? Here’s our favourite pubs in the UK, some seriously stunning boozers you might never have heard of, and the best beer gardens in the country.
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