Best of the Best: Pubs
Welcome to 2009’s ultimate list of the nation’s best pubs, as judged from the recognition gained from the full range of nationally and regionally guides, listings and awards. Emma Page sifted through the evidence to draw up our second guide to the Top 100 Pubs. Before we tell you how we decided on this definitive list, here’s a message from Mat Baker, director of Foodservice at Premier Foods:
“I'm delighted to have the opportunity to launch this year's Top 100 Pubs, as compiled by Eat Out magazine, in association with Bisto.
Congratulations to the Punch Bowl in Cumbria for coming out on top in the 2009. It has succeeded because those running it recognise that doing the basics well can still bring in the customers and - more importantly - send them away happily afterwards.
We must remember that even though pub closures are running at over 30 a month, sales of pub food are continuing to rise.
People may be counting the pennies a little more carefully, but they're not abandoning the eating out habit. Instead they're looking to the good food and good value available in pubs.
That is why, more than ever in the current uncertain economic times, a well thought out menu of good quality, well-prepared food is the best way for a pub to thrive.
And the core of most pub food offers continues to be British classics like the Sunday roast, pies and sausage and mash - essential to which is gravy.
Bisto offers pub chefs everything from the simple, classic granules through to stocks and bouillons in a range of flavours. Between them they can either help you do the basics well or provide the inspiration for something more sophisticated.
All of the Top 100 Pubs listed in the following pages have recognised the truth that there's still a lot to celebrate about Britain's pubs, not the least of which is the quality and range of food available.”
How we compiled the list
All of the pubs in our Top 100 operate in the UK and have gained recognition for their food. The accolades have been made by food guides, trade publications, food promotion bodies, professional bodies and regional and national newspapers.
To arrive at our final listing, Eat Out searched out the national and regional winners from all the major food guides, and trawled the internet looking for those whom other bodies have recognised.
Points were allocated for every award made to a pub for its food over the past year, with weighting given to the generally accepted more prestigious awards and to national over regional gongs.
We then also looked at other details, such as each pub’s website, where they have one, scanning its menus and noting reviews from press and customers.
Our sources were:
• Pub Chef
• Morning Advertiser
• Caterer & Hotelkeeper
• Publican
• The Good Pub Guide 2008
• Michelin Eating Out in Pubs 2008
• AA Pub Guide 2008
• Les Routiers in Britain Guide 2007
• Alastair Sawday’s Special Places Pubs & Inns of England & Wales
• The Good Food Guide 2008
• The Real Ale Pub Guide 2008
• Tastes of Anglia
• Taste of the West
• Tasty Suffolk
• Taste of Staffordshire
• Food & Drink from South East
• York & Humber Regional Food Group
• Wales Food & Drink Awards
• CAMRA
• London Food & Drink Awards
• Observer Food Monthly Awards
• Federation of Retail Licensed Trades
• Eat Out Readers
