The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Historic England have awarded the Historic England Conservation Award to The Woodman in Digbeth, Birmingham, naming it the UK's most beautiful pub for 2026. The Grade II-listed pub, built in 1897, underwent a meticulous £300,000 refurbishment after closing in 2022 and reopened in September 2024 under new owners Union Inns.
Award-Winning Restoration Preserves Victorian Character
Judges praised the restoration for retaining the pub's original Victorian character while bringing it back to life. The refurbishment included installing a new wooden floor, carefully cleaning and conserving the original Minton tiled walls, and restoring ornate Victorian woodwork throughout the building. The pub also features original bar fittings, engraved mirrors, and a traditional smoke room.
Historic England co-chief executives Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire said: "Pubs continue to be cherished historic spaces for people across the country. Each pub is distinct, telling the story of the community they stand within and continue to serve. This year's Historic England Conservation Award winner, The Woodman in Birmingham, is an outstanding example of how thoughtful conservation can allow historic buildings to live on, securing them for future generations to enjoy. We are proud to partner with CAMRA to celebrate the skill, dedication and passion of everyone involved in preserving these special places."
History of The Woodman
The Woodman was designed by Birmingham architectural firm James & Lister Lea and built on the corner of New Canal Street and Albert Street, opposite the historic Curzon Street railway station. For more than a century, it welcomed railway workers, local factory employees, and travellers. It was given Grade II listed status in 1985. The pub closed in 2009, reopened briefly in 2013, and shut again in 2022 before Union Inns invested £300,000 to restore it.
CAMRA's Pub Design Awards
Every year, CAMRA teams up with Historic England for its Pub Design Awards, recognising the UK's best-looking and most historically important pubs. A panel of experts judges entries, with awards given to pubs that have been carefully restored, converted, or preserved. The Woodman won the overall Historic England Conservation Award for 2026, beating other contenders across the country.
What Visitors Can Expect
Today, visitors can admire the red-brick exterior, colourful Minton tiled walls, original bar fittings, engraved mirrors, restored Victorian woodwork, and a fireplace. The pub serves a range of cask ales, pub food, and coffee, continuing its tradition as a community hub.
