Estrella Damm Top 50 gastropubs 2022: how did the North do?

This year’s Estrella Damm Top 50 gastropubs has been announced. The 2022 list was revealed today at a special event held at Escape to Freight Island in Manchester. The top five was dominated by the north with the Parker's Arms in Clitheroe being pipped to top spot by Suffolk’s Unruly Pig.

The list is voted for by a host of hospitality industry experts including food writers, celebrity and high-profile chefs, hospitality chiefs, pub guide editors and gastropub operators (the latter not allowed to vote for their own pubs).

After a tough two years for the hospitality industry, we are thrilled to see such a strong list of contenders this year, including a new number one and several new entrants

Voters hail from different regions, with each given an equal number of votes in an effort to ensure a regionally diverse selection. Former CBBC favourite and celebrity Masterchef winner Angellica Bell presented this year's awards, the first time the event has been hosted in Manchester.

Which were the highest ranked northern gastropubs in the Top 50 this year?

This year’s top five was a northern affair. Parker’s Arms in Clitheroe, The Star Inn at Harome, The Angel Inn at Hetton and the Freemasons at Wiswell took second to fifth place with a total of 13 northern gastropubs ranked, an increase on 12 the previous year. Parkers Arms rose from fourth whilst the Star Inn at Harome dropped from second place on last year.

The Angel at Hetton made this year’s most impressive northern climb, rising from twelfth on the previous year with chef-patron Michael Wignall also winning Chef of the Year. The Michelin-starred gastropub also came in second in last year’s Estrella Damm Top 50 restaurants.

Which other northern gastropubs made the Top 50?

Five north west pubs featured in the list with those outside the top five including The White Swan at Fence (26), The Pack Horse in Hayfield (32) and The Higher Buck in Waddington (39). Five represented East Anglia, ten the south west, four for the West Midlands and Wales and 18 in the south east and London.

Top 50 Gastropubs, Publisher, Chris Lowe said:

“After a tough two years for the hospitality industry, we are thrilled to see such a strong list of contenders this year, including a new number one and several new entrants! The Top 50 Gastropubs provides a platform for food-lovers to explore the very best offerings across the UK. We are delighted to host this year’s event in Manchester for the first time, highlighting the range of talent across the UK. I’m incredibly delighted for Brendan and everyone at The Unruly Pig to get the number 1 spot.” 

James Healey, UK Country Manager for Estrella Damm, said:

"As the authentic premium beer of Barcelona, Estrella Damm is proud to continue to support the UK's gastropubs. This is the seventh year that we have sponsored the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub Awards, an awards ceremony that celebrates high calibre ingredients, culinary excellence and innovation, qualities that are also shared by Estrella Damm. We want to extend our congratulations to all 50 gastropubs on the list and hope more pub-goers are lucky enough to experience their talent in 2022.”

The rankings follow last year’s Estrella Damm Top 50 restaurants list which saw a strong performance from the north west. The list was topped for the second year by Moor Hall in Lancashire with the Angel at Hetton placing second and Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume in fifth.

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