Yahoo News Staffordshire's best pub for 2024 named as diners rave about 'sublime food'
The National Pub and Bar Awards has named its top choice of pubs and bars across the UK for 2024. The judges selected a winner for every county with each one now progressing to the next stage.
Staffordshire saw a traditional pub dating back to around 1818 with hops hanging around the bar named its best. The Fitzherbert Arms in Swynnerton, near Stone, won the title in 2022 as well and is popular for its ambience and beers on tap.
The historic venue, part of the Cheshire Cat group which also includes the Mainwaring Arms in Whitmore, survived the lockdowns by becoming a hub for the community, offering a range of items including beer, wine, compost, eggs, cheese, flour and sugar.
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READ: Inside the village pub named best in Staffordshire The Fitzherbert Arms in Swynnerton, near Stone, picked up the title in the 2022 National Pub and Bar Awards
The Fitz - as it is sometimes known - is famous for its ports and was the first pub in the UK to be named a 'Graham's Port Ambassador' for their loyalty to the brand. Top chef Niall Keating, now of Lunar in Barlaston - the UK's youngest chef to have earned two Michelin stars - started as a pot-washer at the Fitzherbert Arms when he was 14, and was running the kitchen himself by the age of 17.
Customers have also been raving about the food and roaring fire including Rebecca Brian who posted a Google review saying: "Sublime food, I mean really fabulous. Attention to detail was astonishing. Everything about our dinner was perfect."
Another Google review from Barbara Johnson reads: "Food was exceptionally good, as was the ambience. Staff were friendly and helpful even though the place was packed and they were rushed off their feet. I was particularly impressed with how quickly our meals arrived, given how busy they were. Will definitely return - can't wait to try the Sunday roast!"
Among the other winners across the West Midlands were a country pub serving outstanding food in Shropshire, a venue set up by a street food chef in Worcestershire and a renovated bar in Tamworth.
The county winners of the 2024 National Pub and Bar Awards will be officially crowned at a celebration in London later this year where 15 regional winners will also be announced, as well as the overall National Pub and Bar of the Year award.
Full list of National Pub and Bar Awards 2024 county winners
West Midlands
Herefordshire, The Oak Inn Staplow
Shropshire, The Tally Ho Inn
Staffordshire, Fitzherbert Arms
Warwickshire, The House at Leamington Spa
West Midlands, The Tamworth Arms
Worcestershire, BMK Stourport
East Midlands
Derbyshire, The Railway, Belper
Leicestershire, The Forge Inn
Northamptonshire, The Tollemache Arms
Nottinghamshire, The Plough, Normanton
Rutland, The Olive Branch
East of England
Essex, Galvin Green Man
Bedfordshire, The Crown, Henlow
Cambridgeshire, The Royal Oak, Hail Weston
Hertfordshire, The Black Horse, Barnet
Norfolk, The Dabbling Duck
Suffolk, The Newbourne Fox
London
City of London, Mr Fogg’s City Tavern
Greater London, The Audley Public House
North east
Durham, The Bay Horse, Hurworth
Northumberland, The Crown Inn Humshaugh
Tyne and Wear, NQ64
North west
Cheshire, Cholmondeley Arms
Cumbria, The Swan, Grasmere
Greater Manchester, BOX
Lancashire, Britannia Tap and Grill
Merseyside, Mean-Eyed Cat Bar
Northern Ireland
Antrim, Hearth
Armagh, Keegan’s
Down, The Dirty Duck Alehouse
Fermanagh, Charlie’s Bar
Derry/Londonderry, Blackbird
Tyrone, Tomneys
Northern Scotland
Aberdeenshire, Beekies Neuk
Angus, The Birkhill Inn
Argyll and Bute, Macgochans
City of Aberdeen, The Tippling House
City of Dundee, Bertie Mooney’s
Clackmannanshire, The Mansfield Arms
Fife, Montagues
Highland, Ben Nevis Bar
Moray, Badenoch's
Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles), The Cross Inn
Orkney Islands, The Ferry Inn
Perth and Kinross, The Inn at Loch Tummel
Shetland Islands, The Welcome Inn
Stirling, King Cons
Southern Scotland
City of Edinburgh, Brewhemia
City of Glasgow, Flight Club
Dumfries and Galloway, Kenmuir Arms
East Ayrshire, Hollybush Inn
East Dunbartonshire, The Stables
East Lothian, Broc Bar at The Bonnie Badger
East Renfrewshire, Maxwell’s
Falkirk, Behind the Wall
Inverclyde, One Bruce Street Bar & Kitchen
Midlothian, Stewart Brewing Brewery Bar & Pizza Kitchen
North Ayrshire, The Carrick
North Lanarkshire, The Electric Bar
Renfrewshire, Craig Dhu
Scottish Borders, Cross Keys Inn Ettrickbridge
South Ayrshire, Vic’s
South Lanarkshire, The Weavers
West Dunbartonshire, Tullie Inn
West Lothian, Livingston Inn
South east
Berkshire, The Loch & The Tyne by Adam Handling
Buckinghamshire, The Journeyman
East Sussex, The Geese
Hampshire, The Mutton at Hazeley Heath
Isle of Wight, The Old Fort, Seaview
Kent, The Kings Arms, Elham
Oxfordshire, The Victoria Arms, Old Marston
Surrey, The Mill, Haslemere
West Sussex, The Three Moles
South west
Bristol, The All Inn
Cornwall, The Barley Sheaf, Gorran
Devon, Masons Arms
Dorset, The Pure Drop
Gloucestershire, The Bottle of Sauce
Somerset, The George Inn, Norton St. Philip
Wiltshire, The Methuen Arms
Wales
Clwyd, Mold Alehouse
Dyfed, White Hart Thatched Inn & Brewery
Gwent, The Goose and Cuckoo
Gwynedd, The Bull's Head Inn
Mid Glamorgan, The Old House 1147
Powys, The Sun Hotel
South Glamorgan, Hare & Hounds, Aberthin
West Glamorgan, Britannia Inn, Gower
Yorkshire and the Humber
East Riding of Yorkshire, The Old Star, Kilham
Lincolnshire, The Red Cow, Fishtoft
North Yorkshire, The Harrogate Inn
South Yorkshire, Public
West Yorkshire, Call Lane Social
You can find out more about this year’s National Pub and Bar Awards on the official website here.
