The Devonshire in Soho Crowned UK's Best Gastropub with 'Perfect Guinness'
UK's Best Gastropub Crowned in Soho

The Devonshire in Soho Crowned UK's Best Gastropub with 'Perfect Guinness'

The United Kingdom's finest gastropub has been officially crowned, triumphing over thousands of competing venues across the nation. The prestigious title has been awarded to The Devonshire in Soho, London, a classic British pub renowned for its warm, welcoming atmosphere and exceptional culinary offerings.

A Celebrity Hotspot with Premium British Fare

This iconic establishment, nestled on one of Soho's vibrant narrow streets amidst theatres and bustling shops, has long been a favourite among celebrities. Judges praised its "premium quality, homemade food, focusing on the best of British produce". The pub's wood-panelled bar downstairs exudes traditional charm, often crowded with both tourists and Londoners, creating a lively and friendly ambiance that spills onto the street on sunny days.

The Claim to the 'Perfect Pint of Guinness'

What truly sets The Devonshire apart is its bold claim to serve the "perfect pint of Guinness". Bar staff are reportedly obsessed with achieving the ideal pour, a dedication that has garnered significant acclaim. The bar snack menu allows patrons to sample the cuisine with British classics such as:

  • Sausage on a stick
  • Scotch eggs
  • Chips and other traditional favourites

An Upmarket Dining Experience

Upstairs, the restaurant offers a more refined vibe with handwritten menus featuring seasonal specials and locally sourced ingredients. The venue boasts an on-site butcher and baker, ensuring freshness and quality. Highlights from the menu include:

  • Dry-aged Scottish beef, butchered on-site
  • Seafood from Devon, including lobsters and hand-dived scallops

In recent years, The Devonshire has attracted a slew of A-list patrons, with sightings of Margot Robbie, Jon Bon Jovi, and Ed Sheeran. Even celebrities like Yungblud and Florence Pugh have been known to surprise guests by taking a turn behind the bar.

The Runners-Up in the Gastropub Rankings

Securing second place was The Unruly Pig in Woodbridge, Suffolk, a 16th-century inn set in the picturesque countryside. This venue blends traditional pub features like wooden beams and a roaring fireplace with contemporary artworks. Its menu, dubbed 'Britalian', fuses British and Italian cuisine, supported by a wide selection of craft beers and over 60 wines.

In third place was another London venue, The Red Lion & Sun in Highgate Village, celebrated for its popular beer gardens. Fourth place went to The Woolpack Inn in the Cotswolds village of Slad, known for its real ales and hearty dishes.

Full List of the Top 100 Gastropubs in the UK

The complete ranking showcases the diversity and quality of British gastropubs, from urban hotspots to rural retreats. Here is the full list of the top 100 establishments:

  1. The Devonshire, Soho, London
  2. The Unruly Pig, Woodbridge, Suffolk
  3. The Red Lion & Sun, Highgate, London
  4. The Woolpack Inn, Slad, Gloucestershire
  5. The Star Inn, Harome, York
  6. The Angel at Hetton, Hetton, North Yorkshire
  7. Parkers Arms, Clitheroe Lancashire
  8. The Rat Inn, Anick, Northumberland
  9. The Rum Fox, Clitheroe, Lancashire
  10. The Cornish Arms, Tavistock, Devon
  11. Canton Arms, Stockwell, London
  12. The Dog at Wingham, Wingham, Kent
  13. The Abbey Inn, Byland, North Yorkshire
  14. The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe, Somerset
  15. The Broad Chare, Newcastle
  16. The Gunton Arms, Thorpe Market, Norfolk
  17. The Baring, Islington, London
  18. The Merry Harriers, Hambledon, Surrey
  19. The Fordwich Arms, Canterbury, Kent
  20. The Bell, Langford, Oxfordshire
  21. The Kentish Hare, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
  22. The Crown, Burchetts Green, Berkshire
  23. The Marksman, Hackney, London
  24. The Hero, Maida Vale, London
  25. The Kerfield Arms, Camberwell, London
  26. The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent
  27. The Mariners, Rock, Cornwall
  28. The Bull, Charlbury, Oxfordshire
  29. The Coach, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
  30. The Highland Laddie, Leeds
  31. The Pipe and Glass Inn, South Dalton, East Yorkshire
  32. The Silver Cup, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
  33. The Waterman’s Arms, Barnes, London
  34. Heft, High Newton, Cumbria
  35. The Tamil Crown, Islington, London
  36. Harwood Arms, Fulham, London
  37. The Killingworth Castle, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
  38. The Gurnard’s Head, St Ives, Cornwall
  39. The Bull & Last, Highgate, London
  40. The Kinneuchar Inn, Leven, Fife
  41. The Tartan Fox, Newquay, Cornwall
  42. The Queen of Cups, Glastonbury, Somerset
  43. The Knave of Clubs, Shoreditch, London
  44. The Mason’s Arms, Bampton, Oxfordshire
  45. The Wild Rabbit, Kingham, Oxfordshire
  46. The Black Bear Inn, Bettws Newydd, Monmouthshire
  47. The French House, Soho, London
  48. The Loch & The Tyne by Adam Handling, Old Windsor, Berkshire
  49. The Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax West Yorkshire
  50. The White Horse, Chester, Cheshire
  51. The White Swan at Fence, Fence, Lancashire
  52. The Cross at Kenilworth, Kenilworth
  53. The Castle Inn, Castle Combe, Chippenham
  54. The George, Kempsford, Fairford
  55. The Hoop, Stock, Essex
  56. The Scran and Scallie, Edinburgh
  57. The Black Bull, Sedbergh, Cumbria
  58. The Edinburgh Castle, Manchester
  59. The Bull’s Head, Craswall, Herefordshire
  60. The Camberwell Arms, Camberwell, London
  61. The Parakeet, Kentish Town, London
  62. The Boat, Lichfield
  63. The Longs Arms, South Wraxall, Wiltshire
  64. The Anchor and Hope, Southwark, London
  65. The Pelican, Notting Hill, London
  66. The Pack Horse, Hayfield, Derbyshire
  67. The Drapers Arms, Islington, London
  68. The Hand and Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
  69. St Kew Inn, Bodmin
  70. The Three Fishes, Mitton, Lancashire
  71. The Bull Inn, Totnes
  72. The Clarence, Glasgow
  73. The Dog & Gun Inn, Skelton, Cumbria
  74. Heathcock, Cardiff
  75. The Fat Badger, Notting Hill, London
  76. The Chagford Inn, Chagford
  77. The Eagle, Farringdon, London
  78. The Clarence Tavern, Stoke Newington, north-east London
  79. The Five Elms, Weedon Aylesbury, Bucks
  80. The Horseguards Inn, Tiilington, Petworth, West Sussex
  81. The Oarsman, Marlow
  82. The Two Pigs, Barton under Needwood, Burton on Trent
  83. The Lady Mildmay, Newington Green, north-east London
  84. The Royal Oak, Witney, Oxfordshire
  85. The White Hart, Lydgate, Oldham
  86. WildMoor Oak, Bromsgrove
  87. The Double Red Duke, Clanfield, Oxfordshire
  88. The Blue Stoops, Kensington, London
  89. The Crown at Bray, Bray, Maidenhead
  90. The Bucks Head, Sevenoaks, Kent
  91. The Parlour, Kensal Rise, London
  92. The Dog and Pickle, Essex
  93. The Burleigh Arms, Cambridge
  94. The Charlton Arms, Ludlow
  95. The Suffield Arms, Gunton
  96. The Hare & Hounds, Vale of Glamorgan
  97. The Sun, Felmersham, Bedford
  98. The Pyne Arms, Barnstaple
  99. The Standard Inn, Portscatho, Cornwall
  100. The Swan, Bampton

This ranking highlights the thriving gastropub scene across the UK, offering everything from classic British comfort food to innovative culinary fusions in settings that range from historic city pubs to serene country inns.