A pub just over an hour from Manchester has been named the best gastropub in the country. The Parkers Arms, near Clitheroe, scooped to top spot after coming in second last year.
Famed for its pies, the pub is run by chefs Kathy Smith and Stosi Madi, and stands in a picturesque green in the village of Newton-In-Bowland. It has been climbing up the rankings for the past few years, scooping second place last year, after moving up from 48th place in 2017 when it first entered the top 50 of the annual Gastropub Awards.
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The pub’s menu is rarely listed on its website, and can change twice daily according to the local produce that’s available. The establishment - around an 80-minute drive from Manchester - beat last year’s winner, the Unruly Pig in Woodbridge, Suffolk, which hosted this year’s ceremony, into second place this year.
It’s not the only pub nearby that was celebrated. The Freemasons, just a short drive away from The Parkers Arms in Wiswell, came in at third, while the much-love Pack Horse at Hayfield in Derbyshire landed at number 18.
The Shibden Mill Inn in Halifax came in at number 14, while the now sadly closed Moorcock Inn at Sowerby Bridge landed at 21. Top 50 Gastropubs publisher Chris Lowe said: “We are thrilled to see such a strong list of contenders this year, including five new entrants! The Top 50 Gastropubs provides a space for food and drink lovers the opportunity to explore the best that the UK has to offer.
“We are delighted to host this year’s event at The Unruly Pig, showcasing the vast amount of talent across the UK.”
The Parkers has long been known for its pies, and as well as serving them on the menu, they're available to take away and cook at home, in various sizes. Recent fillings have included curried mutton, Lancashire cheese and creamed potato, and Lancashire spring chicken and garlic.
Here’s the top 50 in full:
1. Parkers Arms, Newton-In-Bowland
2. The Unruly Pig, Woodbridge
3. Freemasons at Wiswell, Wiswell
4. The Sportsman, Seasalter
5. The Kentish Hare, Tunbridge Wells
6. The Angel at Hetton, Hetton
7. The White Swan at Fence, Fence
8. The Hand & Flowers, Marlow
9. The Fordwich Arms, Kent
10. The Red Lion and Sun, London
11. The Mariners, Rock
12. The Cornish Arms, Tavistock
13. The Harwood Arms, London
14. Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax
15. The Coach, Marlow
16. The Beehive, Great Waltham
17. The Cadeleigh Arms, Tiverton
18. The Pack Horse, Hayfield
19. Pyne Arms, Barnstaple
20. The Black Swan, Ravenstondale
21. The Moorcock Inn, Sowerby Bridge
22. The Guinea Grill, London
23. The Baring, London
24. The Masons Arms, Knowstone
25. Canton Arms, London
26. The Rat Inn, Anick, Hexham
27. The Pipe and Glass, Beverley
28. The Longs Arms, South Wraxall
29. The Dog at Wingham, Canterbury
30. The Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon
31. The Hardwick, Abergavenny
32. The Loch and The Tyne, Old Windsor
33. The Bull & Last, London
34. The White Horse, Brancaster
35. The Black Bull, Sedbergh
36. The Swan, Bampton
37. The Bell Inn, Langford
38. Scran and scallie, Edinburgh
39. The Dog & Gun Inn, Skelton
40. The Duck Inn, Stanhoe
41. The Duncombe Arms, Ashbourne
42. The Black Bear Inn, Usk - Wales
43. Heft, High Newton
44. The Broad Chare, Newcastle
45. Woods, Dulverton
46. The Gunton Arms, Norwich
47. The French House, London
48. The Eagle, Farringdon, London
49. The Butchers Arms, Hepworth
50. Royal Oak, Whatcote
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