LV, M&B, Young’s top gastropub poll

The Oast House (pictured) is its first pub in central Manchester. It opened less than a year ago and was recently profiled by Peach Report. Tim Bacon, Living Ventures’ managing director, said: “To receive such a remarkable accolade with our first pub is amazing.”

The next two spots on the list were taken by two Mitchells & Butlers in Edinburgh—the Salisbury Arms and the Sheep Heid Inn. Both pubs are in its Village Pub and Kitchen division. One of the people who nominated the Salisbury Arms said: "Seldom do you find an establishment that provides the right ambience for work and play, or feels right whether it be for coffee, lunch or supper.” Of the Sheep Heid Inn, Shortlist said: “If we were dishing out prizes for history, this pub—which has been feeding and watering for six centuries—would win. But this is about the here and now—and winning a bronze medal in these awards is good going.”

Young’s took fourth, fifth and seventh spots on the list, for The Ship in Wandsworth, The Brook Green in Hammersmith and The Lion & Unicorn in Kentish Town respectively. The last is a Geronimo Inns pub, which became part of the Young’s group after it took over the company in late 2010. The Ship also took Shortlist’s ‘Best in London’ prize. Young’s retail director Patrick Dardis said: “To have secured such a fantastic accolade for not one but three of our pubs is great news. This award is real recognition for the efforts the Young’s and Geronimo teams put into always offering outstanding seasonal food and a great range of ales, wines and craft beers in our pubs.”

Sixth on the list was the Crooked Well pub in Camberwell, run by three friends. The poll was completed by the Westroom in Edinburgh (eighth; run by a small group in the city that also includes the Sygn bar); the Three Fishes in Lancashire (ninth; run by the Ribble Valley Inns group); and the Victoria in Birmingham (tenth; run by a group that also owns venues in the city including Bodega, Island and the Jekyll & Hyde).

Shortlist compiled its list from a poll of 5,000 readers. For the full list of pubs and citations, click here.