Britain’s best pubs have been revealed in a brand new guide by the AA.
Pubs that serve gourmet food, dog-friendly pubs, quirky pubs, cosy pubs and the AA Pub of the Year award-winners – they’re all in The Pub Guide 2020.
The 21st edition of the guide features 2,000 establishments from around the UK, all chosen for their atmosphere, good beer and great food.
The Bricklayer’s Arms in Hemel Hempstead, which is best known for its ivy-covered facade. According to the AA, it also has an ‘immaculate interior’
The pubs deemed to be extra special are singled out for ‘pick of the pubs’ sections. These pubs, says the AA, ‘represent the best AA-recommended pubs in different regions, selected by the AA’s expert inspectors, editorial team, and reader suggestions’.
Among them is The Bricklayer’s Arms in Hemel Hempstead, which is best known for its ivy-covered facade. According to the AA, it also has an ‘immaculate interior with low beams, exposed brickwork, open fires and candlelight’.
The Fleece Inn also gets the honour. It’s just a stone’s throw from the Cotswolds in Worcestershire and is described as an ‘inn steeped in history’ – it dates back more than 500 years.
Another top pick is the Kirkstile Inn in Cockermouth, Cumbria, which is set among woods, fells and lakes and has an ‘authentic, traditional and well-looked feel’.
The Fleece Inn is just a stone’s throw from the Cotswolds in Worcestershire and is described as an ‘inn steeped in history’ – it dates back more than 500 years
The guide also singles out pubs that are a must-visit for foodies. These get the honour of AA rosettes.
One of them is The Hind’s Head in Bray, Berkshire, which is owned by celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal and boasts three AA rosettes and a Michelin star.
According to the AA guide, ‘Heston elaborates on original British cuisine, reintroducing classic recipes from the pub’s Tudor roots’.
The Kirkstile Inn in Cockermouth, Cumbria, is set among woods, fells and lakes and has an ‘authentic, traditional and well-looked feel’
Another is the Shibden Mill Inn in Halifax, West Yorkshire, which has two AA rosettes.
The AA guide says that the pub ‘attracts those who enjoy excellent food prepared by trusted local growers and suppliers’.
Another pub singled out for fodder is the King’s Arms Inn in Oakham, Rutland. It has two AA rosettes and is home to Jimmy’s Rutland Smokehouse – known for its smoked and cured fish and meats.
The Hind’s Head in Bray, Berkshire, which is owned by celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal. According to the AA guide, ‘Heston elaborates on original British cuisine, reintroducing classic recipes from the pub’s Tudor roots’
Another pub singled out for fodder is the King’s Arms Inn in Oakham, Rutland. It has two AA rosettes and is home to Jimmy’s Rutland Smokehouse – known for its smoked and cured fish and meats
The Shibden Mill Inn is located in the Shibden Valley in Halifax, West Yorkshire. The AA guide says that the pub ‘attracts those who enjoy excellent food prepared by trusted local growers and suppliers’
This year there are a record 20 new entries in the Guide.
They include Fernaville’s Rest in Whorlton, County Durham, with the guide describing it as a ‘stone-built, traditional inn known for its food’.
Another new entry is The Bonnie Badger located in Gullane, East Lothian, described as being ‘an extremely stylish and charming hotel, restaurant and bar’.
MailOnline Travel is rather taken with The Boat Inn in Stoke Bruerne, in Northamptonshire. It sits right by the Grand Union Canal and is full of ‘old photos, paintings and ephemera’
The Cawdor Tavern in Nairn, close to Inverness, makes the guide thanks to the ‘baronial feel’ in its bars
The Royal Seven Stars Hotel in Totnes gets the thumbs up for its ‘welcoming atmosphere and friendly service’
The Boat House in Shrewsbury has a huge riverside terrace and a ‘beamed, rambling airy interior’
The Carpenters Arms close to Marble Arch in central London also makes the list for the first time, with the AA saying it is the ‘ideal place to watch the match, with a good choice of rotating guest ales’.
While another new entry is The Royal Oak in Kent, which is described as ‘charming and friendly’ with an ‘impressive gin selection’.
MailOnline Travel, after further perusal of the guide, is also rather taken with The Boat Inn in Stoke Bruerne, in Northamptonshire. It sits right by the Grand Union Canal and is full of ‘old photos, paintings and ephemera’.
The Cawdor Tavern in Nairn, close to Inverness, is also enticing. The AA says its bars have a ‘baronial feel’.
The Boat House in Shrewsbury gets a thumbs up from us for its huge riverside terrace and talk of a ‘beamed, rambling airy interior’.
And the Royal Seven Stars Hotel in Totnes, Devon, should be applauded for its ‘welcoming atmosphere and friendly service’.
Simon Numphud, managing director at AA Hospitality and Hotel Services, said: ‘As we see more pubs closing in Britain, it is encouraging to have record numbers of pubs being recommended for The Pub Guide, demonstrating the extent to which pubs have continued to improve the quality of their offerings.
‘The establishments in this year’s Guide prove that there is a brilliant range of pubs across the country, offering fantastic service, drinks, and dining opportunities.’