It’s finally happened. The Tamworth Tap has lost its crown. Last year, the quirky brewpub, located in a 16th-century shop, became only the second pub ever to win CAMRA’s prestigious National Pub of the Year award two years in a row. But with the latest reveal of its top pubs in the UK, we now know a new winner will emerge.
CAMRA’s Pub of the Year 2024 competition is heating up with the announcement of this year’s finalists from the UK’s nations and regions. The Bailey Head in Oswestry – which, unfortunately, is a lot further away than Tamworth – has been named as the best pub in the West Midlands. It’s nestled near the Welsh border, but is described as “a must visit for beer lovers.”
The pub is home to one of the largest beer ranges of any in Shropshire, claiming to have sold over 3,400 different draught beers since opening in March 2016. Six constantly changing cask beers, always including one dark beer, are supplemented by eleven other draught beers, plus four ciders and a perry. The pub also sells a substantial range of canned and bottled beers from across the UK and overseas.
The Bailey Head will now compete against 16 other regional and national finalists for the UK National Pub of the Year award. Judges will whittle these 17 pubs down to just four in late September before an overall winner is picked in January. Pubs are scored on atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, inclusivity, overall impression, but most importantly, the quality of live beer, real cider and perry.
The Shropshire boozer is accustomed to winning. SIBA named it the UK’s Best Rural Independent Craft Beer Pub or Bar in 2020, and has been a finalist many times since, while it was voted Most Dog Friendly Pub in the West Midlands in 2017 by DogBuddy. If you decide to visit – it’s roughly between 1.5 to 2 hours from Birmingham – keep an out for regular tap takeovers and meet-the-brewer events.
Fancy somewhere a bit closer? Cross over to the East Midlands and head to The Horse and Jockey in Stapleford. Only an hour from Birmingham, this former 2013 and 2022 finalist boasts 13 different cask beers, five of which are from local brewers, and includes at least one dark beer, plus five ciders. The split-level pub is also decorated with photographs of local landmarks and is situated close to the Erewash Valley trail.
Andrea Briers, National Coordinator for the Pub of the Year competition says: “These amazing pubs really are the crème de la crème and I would encourage the public to seek out the 17 winners from across the nations and regions of the UK – they are top-tier pubs serving excellent beer, cider and perry, run by welcoming, hardworking staff.”
The top 17 ‘Pub of the Year 2024’ winners:
- Central Southern: Bell Inn, Aldworth
- East Anglia: Blackfriars Tavern, Great Yarmouth
- East Midlands: Horse and Jockey, Stapleford
- Greater Manchester: Northumberland Arms, Marple Bridge
- Kent: Nelson Arms, Tonbridge
- Greater London: Little Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill
- Merseyside and Cheshire: Turks Head, St Helens
- North East: Grey Horse, Consett
- Northern Ireland: Dog and Duck, Lisbellaw
- Scotland: Hillend Tavern, Dalgety Bay
- South West: Crossways Inn, West Huntspill
- Surrey and Sussex: Brickmakers Alehouse, Bexhill on Sea
- Wales: Cresselley Arms, Cressell Quay
- Wessex: Woodman Inn, Bridport
- West Midlands: Bailey Head, Owestry
- West Pennines: Black Horse, Preston
- Yorkshire: Three B’s, Bridlington