Find out which pub The Great Food Guide picked as their number one
If you haven’t heard of the Queens Arms in Eccles before, that is going to change. It is officially the Best Pub in Britain.
The Good Food Guide ranked it as number one when they published Britain’s 100 Best Pubs 2026. Quite a feat. Most pubs shuffle up and down the listing a bit each year but the Queens Arms went right in at number one.
No wonder co-owner Anthony Sit described being in shock: “I still can’t believe it. How could this happen?”
In some respects, the Queens Arms is exactly as a proper pub should be: a host of regulars, a jumble of cosy rooms and snugs, wallpaper that wouldn't be out of place in your nan's house circa 1995 and stern black and white Victorians staring down from picture frames. Plus all the fancy Edwardian detailing gets it Grade II listed status.
Most importantly, it has a sense of welcome that puts you instantly at ease.
However, the Queens Arms has redefined what a traditional pub can be. Owners Anthony Sit and Mr Lo have been running the pub as a Japanese izakaya since January 2025 after the previous owner retired.
The award is the culmination of a great deal of effort. Succeeding in hospitality is not easy but the Queens Arms deserves its new-found fame. Owner Anthony Sit explained: “We are really happy. All our hard work in the last two years has been worthwhile.”
The Queens Arms hasn’t been fancified. It is still very much an Eccles pub but the menu of spider crab tempura, spicy fried chicken wings and udon noodles in tsuyu broth adds a new dimension.
Raise a pint or a glass of sake to this characterful community pub. It’s good to see you don’t have to go all gastro-posh to get the recognition you deserve. With a teriyaki ox tongue donburi for just £12.80 on the lunch deal, it’s a place we can all enjoy.
Find out more about the Queens Arms on Confidential Guides here.
Queens Arms, 120 Green Ln, Eccles, Manchester, M30 0SH
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