Top 50 Gastro Pubs 2011 - Sponsored By Budweiser Budvar

So this weekend our teams are preparing for the Budweiser Budvar sponsored 'Top 50 Gastro Pub's event!  The event runs on Monday 6th February at The Stoke Place Hotel, Buckinghamshire. Once a beautiful country manor house built in 1690 with landscaped grounds by Capability Brown it is now a 40 bedroom luxury hotel. Retaining its original charm it is a gorgeous location for the Gastro Pub Awards.

Now in its fourth year, Budweiser Budvar are the official sponsors working with the Publican's Morning Advertiser to put on the industry awards. Last year 46 of the 50 Top Gastro Pubs attended and after a strict year long assessment by other gastro pub operators, chefs, celebrity chefs, pub guide editors, food & drink writers, and respected industry professionals the votes were cast. Selection for entrants is broken down in to eight regions so there's bound to be one of the selected entrants not too far from you.. a good gastro pub is always worth a little extra drive.  

Last Year's Winner -The Star Inn, Yorkshire

The 2010 winners are as follows:

1 Star Inn, Harome, North Yorkshire                                2 Hand & Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire

3 The Hardwick, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire                4 Harwood Arms, Fulham, London

5 Pipe & Glass, beverley, South Dalton, Yorkshire            6 The Olive Branch, Clipsham, Rutland

7 Hinds Head, Bray, Berkshire                                         8 The Royal Oak, Paley Street, Berkshire

9 Anchor & Hope, Waterloo, London                                10 Bay Horse, Hurworth, Darlington

11 Gurnards Head, Treen, Cornwall                                 12 The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent

13 Three Fishes, Mitton, Lancashire                                 14 Punch Bowl Inn, Crothwaite, Cumbria

15 Freemasons Country Inn, Wiswell, Clitheroe                16 The Eagle, Farringdon, London

17 Angel at Hetton, Near Skipton, North Yorkshire           18 The Stagg at Titley, Kington, Herefordshire

19 Sands End, Fulham, London                                        20 Masons Arms, Cartmell Fell, Grange Over Sands

21 Y Polen, Nantgaredig, Carmarthenshire                      22 Hoste Arms, Burnham Market, Norfolk

23 Ye Olde Sun Inn, Colton, North Yorkshire                    24 Drunken Duck Inn, Barnagtes, Ambelside

25 Highwayman, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancashire                  26 Nut Tree, Merton, Murcott

27 Blue Lion, East Witton, North Yorkshire                      28 Felin Fach Griffin, Felinfch, Brecon

29 Wellington Arms, Baughurst, Hampshire                     30 The Inn at Whitewell, Whitewall, Lancashire

31 The Garrison, Bermondsey, London                            32 Crooked Billet, Stoke Row, Henley-on-Thames

33 The Albion Public House and Dining Rooms, Clifton     34 Anglesea Arms, Hammersmith, London

35 Griffin Inn, Fletching, East Sussex                              36 St Kew Inn, Bodmin, Cornwall

37 Potting Shed, Crudwell, Malmesbury                          38 Kingham Plough, Nr Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire 

39 Red Lion, Pewsey, Wiltshire                                      40 Thomas Cubbitt, Belgravia, London

41 Thomas Lord, West Meon, Hampshire                        42 The Albion, Islington, London

43 General Tarleton, Ferrensby, North Yorkshire            44 Cricket Inn, Totley, South Yorkshire

45 Yew Tree, Newbury, Berkshire                                  46 The Pheasant, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

47 The Bakers Arms, Droxford, Hampshire                      48 The Wheatsheaf, Coombe Hay

49 Earl of March, Nr Chischester, West Sussex                50 Canton Arms, Stockwell, London

The event includes a reception with tasting tables showcasing a selection of the best food and drinks the industry has to offer before a three course gastro pub lunch during which the awards are presented.

Last Year's winner Jacquie Pern on winning the Award:

If you've been to any of these pubs or go after reading this please leave a comment - we'd love to know what you think! Bon Appetite Gastronomers!