Good Food Guide 100 Best Pubs

Right, pull up a chair, because we need to talk about the Good Food Guide 100 Best Pubs. This isn’t just a list; it’s the official excuse to abandon your washing-up and go on a nationwide pub crawl. Forget the Michelin stars, this is about sticky carpets, roaring fires, and pies so good they’d make a vegan weep.

What Makes a “Best” Pub? (Spoiler: It’s Not the Carpet)

The Good Food Guide doesn’t just look for a pint that’s colder than a penguin’s bottom. They’re hunting for soul. They want places where the landlord knows your name—or at least pretends to after you’ve bought three rounds.

Surprising fact: over 40% of the pubs on the list don’t even have a car park. That’s right, you’ll have to walk, stumble, or get dragged by a loyal friend. This is genius, really—it filters out the lazy drinkers.

The Top Contenders: Where to Chug and Chuckle

Let’s talk about the champs. The Bull and Last in London is on the list, which is fancy. But the real gems are the “spit and sawdust” joints with a three-hour wait for a Sunday roast. One pub in Yorkshire served a scotch egg so perfect, the guide described it as “a golden orb of joy.” I nearly framed the quote.

Then there’s the Royal Oak in Hampshire. You can order a “pint of practice” while playing darts blindfolded. (Okay, I made that last bit up, but the beer is top-tier.) The guide also praises pubs that serve medlar jelly—which is basically jam from a fruit that’s been left to rot. Classy.

The Roof? Leaking. The Curry? Life-Changing.

Here’s the punchline: many of these “best” pubs look like they survived a pirate shipwreck. One pub in Cornwall has a beam so low, the guide warns “tall people must duck or accept the bruise.” But the food? Michelin-level crab linguine.

The joke is that the Good Food Guide judges have a death wish. They’ll brave a collapsing ceiling for a perfect beer-battered fish. And we love them for it. One pub in Derbyshire is literally in a cave—the loos are just stalactites. I’m kidding. About the loos. The cave part is real.

Beer Snobbery and Pie Wars

You can’t talk about the list without the great IPA vs. mild ale debate. The guide actually ranks pubs by “hoppiness” and “toasty notes.” But they also include a stat that 1 in 4 pubs now serves a dedicated vegan pudding. That’s right—ethical sticky toffee.

And the biggest surprise? Otters. Apparently, a pub in the Lake District has a resident otter that begs for chips. The guide gave it an award for “most productive wildlife.” I’m now planning a trip.

The Bitter Truth About Getting on the List

It’s not easy to get a spot. The Good Food Guide sends secret agents—sorry, “inspectors”—who might order a lager just to test your patience. One landlord told me they were judged because the “ambient temperature” of the gents’ toilet was too cold. Priorities, people.

But here’s the shocking bit: 20% of pubs on the list don’t serve spirits. No gin, no whisky. Just beer and cider. It’s like a dry dream. Or a nightmare. Depends on your tolerance.

Your Shortcut: The Top Five to Brag About

If you want to impress your mates, memorize these: The Hand & Flowers (expensive, but the pigs’ head macarons are a conversation starter). The Star Inn (they have a thatched roof and serve pigeon breast—it’s like eating a Tudor meal). The Sportsman in Kent (beach views, and the seaweed butter makes everything taste like the ocean). Then there’s The Ebrington Arms—serves pork scratchings so crunchy, you’ll need a dental plan.

Finally, The Camberwell Arms in London, where the roast potato is described as “a religious experience.” I’d convert.

The Verdict: Buy the List, But Ditch the Map

So, should you chase the 100 Best Pubs? Yes—but ignore the rankings. The real magic is the absurdity. You’ll find a pub with a parrot that quotes Shakespeare (true story, in Stratford-upon-Avon). You’ll drink ale brewed with nettles and regret nothing.

The Good Food Guide is a map to organized chaos. And if you’re reading this sober, you’re doing it wrong. Go forth, order a pie, and tell the landlord the “otter sent you.” He’ll either laugh or kick you out. Either way, you’ll have a story.