Thomas Vosper, a pub enthusiast who has visited over 1,000 pubs, has named his 10 best pubs in the UK. Two Liverpool establishments—The Philharmonic and The Vines—made the list. Vosper, who has chronicled his pub crawls in six books, including the newly released 'Historic Pub Crawls Through Scotland,' said Liverpool is 'an absolutely sensational place' for pubs.
Liverpool Praised Over Manchester
Vosper, a Londoner, told the Liverpool Echo: 'I think that Liverpool, controversially, is better than Manchester for pubs.' He noted that while London offers the widest selection with 3,500 pubs, Liverpool has 'some of the world's most beautiful pubs,' such as The Philharmonic Dining Rooms and The Vines (also known as The Big House). The Vines, a Grade II listed Edwardian pub on Lime Street, retains many original features.
Pub Crawl Tradition
Vosper has organized a birthday pub crawl annually since his mid-twenties. In 2023, after personal challenges, he turned his hobby into a book, which became a viral success. He recommends planning for about 12 venues on a crawl to ensure variety. 'You can get a good mix out of 12,' he said, citing options like Sam Smith's pubs, grand banking halls, or sports bars.
Top 10 Pubs List
Vosper's top 10 pubs, which he would revisit for a quiet pint, include:
- The Marquis – Covent Garden, London: Known historically as the Hole in the Wall, with ties to Anne Talbot and a retro music selection.
- The Warrington Hotel – Maida Vale, London: A Grade II listed pub featured in the 1970s police drama 'The Sweeney.'
- The Old Joint Stock – Birmingham: Considered the finest pub in the Midlands, with a pub-grub menu and a studio theatre.
- The Philharmonic – Liverpool: A Victorian pub with period wood panelling, stained glass, and chandeliers.
- The Vines – Liverpool: Built in 1907, featuring mahogany bars and a stained-glass dome.
- The Peveril of the Peak – Manchester: Dating to the 1820s, named after a Sir Walter Scott novel, and of 'outstanding national historic importance.'
- The Guildford Arms – Edinburgh: A 'People's Palace' with ornate Scottish pub design.
- The Centurion – Newcastle: A wood-panelled pub with a sports bar makeover but old-world charm.
- The Prince Albert – Brighton: A music venue with a mural of Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, and Kurt Cobain.
- The Gravediggers – Dublin: An old-school pub with no music or TV, known for serving one of the finest pints of Guinness.
Best Guinness and Lager
Vosper declared Ireland as the ultimate destination for Guinness: 'If you go to Ireland, that's where the best Guinness is. End of. The debate's over.' He added that for lager, Scotland is the place for Tennent's, their national drink alongside Irn-Bru.
From Instagram to Bestsellers
Vosper's Instagram account @historicpubcrawls has over 250,000 followers. He started by asking pubs if he could get a free pint in exchange for being featured in his book. 'The first place told me to go and do one,' he recalled. 'We went to 15 pubs; five told me to do one, five said buy your own drink, and the final one gave us pints all night.' His books gained attention from a publisher after initial self-publishing success.
Book Launch in Edinburgh
For his latest book, 'Historic Pub Crawls Through Scotland,' Vosper will launch at The Guildford Arms in Edinburgh, which he calls 'one of the most beautiful pubs in the whole world.'
