Is there anything more intrinsic to British culture than the pub?
Historians reckon people in what is now Britain were drinking in taverns as early as the Roman times, so getting together, pint in hand, has been a key part of socialising in this country for at least a couple thousand years. Even if you don’t drink you’ve probably spent many a night in your local watching the football, filling up on some classic grub, or embarrassing yourself and the rest of the ‘Quizzy Rascals’ on a Tuesday night.
All of this to say – pubs are beloved by us Brits. So, naturally, there’s an entire organisation dedicated to tracking down the very best that the UK has to offer.
CAMRA, which stands for the Campaign for Real Ale, is a consumer organisation that promotes real ale, cider and perry. Every year CAMRA crowns its pub of the year, travelling around the country trying beers and sitting in pubs – there are certainly worse ways to spend your weekends. To win, a pub must excel in ‘decor, welcome, service, inclusivity, overall impression, but most importantly – the quality of live beer, real cider and perry’.
This is serious stuff. First, there is a longlist, with a winner from each region from London to Northern Ireland, then a shortlist, which whittles it down to a top four, and now today (January 17), after months of suspense, the overall winner has been revealed.
CAMRA’s official pub of the year 2025 is… The Bailey Head in Oswestry, Shropshire! According to the judges: ‘The pub is a rags-to-riches success story after the owners turned what was once a closed local into a haven for the local community.’
That focus on community was really what pushed the Bailey Head into the top spot, as CAMRA’s Awards Director Laura Emson explained; ‘There could not be a more deserving winner for the Pub of the Year than the Bailey Head. In a time when running a pub is a significant challenge, the commitment and enthusiasm Duncan and Grace show should be highly commended and seen as an example.’
The boozer not only sells a selection of quality beers and ciders, it is also ‘a hub for locals to come together for good causes through events like their charity pub quizzes and live music’, and its landlords say that they have a strict ‘everyone welcome’ policy. Owner Duncan Borrowman said: ‘Any person should feel happy and comfortable coming in by themselves and enjoying a drink, either on their own or chatting to other customers.’
‘We thrive on being the heart of the community and a place where people gather to celebrate or commiserate.’
Congratulations to the Bailey Head on the big win. Next time you’re in Shropshire make sure to check it out – it is now officially an award winning pub.
Pubs according to Time Out
Once you’ve checked out the Bailey Head, 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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