The Bull in Charlbury named the UK’s best pub
The National Pub & Bar Awards has revealed its winners for 2025.
The Bull in Charlbury has been named the UK’s best pub for 2025, after the Oxfordshire venue triumphed at this year’s National Pub & Bar Awards.
Owned and operated by the Public House Group, which also runs London venues The Hero and The Pelican, The Bull has cemented its reputation as a leading countryside pub since it reopened in July 2023 under the leadership of founders Phil Winser, James Gummer and Olivier van Themsche.
Blending quintessential qualities with the finesse and flawless service of a contemporary operation, the National Pub & Bar of the Year has been praised for its stripped-back design, brilliant front-of-house team and exceptional food coming out of the kitchen.
“We’re all over the moon,” says The Bull’s head of food Sally Abé. “It’s an incredibly busy pub as it is. We’re doing about 1,200 covers a week. But hopefully this win will bring lots of new people to us.
“Over the last few years, pubs have really been struggling – a lot have been closing quite suddenly – so it’s amazing for this event to shine a spotlight on pubs and show that they really are pillars of the community, the backbone of Britain.”
In what can only be described as a mammoth achievement, The Bull was chosen as number one ahead of 255 other pubs and bars from across the UK, all of which had been shortlisted to represent their respective counties at the annual event.
“It’s a real credit to our team out there,” adds Murray Ward, Cotswolds operations director at Public House Group. “They’re just unbelievable – unbelievable runners, KPs, chefs and managers. It’s such a beautiful place to work and be around. They deserve it.”
The Bull in Charlbury, National Pub & Bar of the Year
Following a change-up to previous years, 94 County Winners were announced live at the awards, as well as Highly Commended venues for each area. Regional Winners, which can be seen below, were then announced for every region across the UK.
Other awards on the night were the Pub Group of the Year, which went to Camerons, and Bar Group of the Year, which was won by London’s Inception Group for its bar brand Mr Fogg’s. The Tyrrells Tyrrellbly Good Taste Award – presented by the event’s headline sponsor – was awarded to The Tollemache Arms in Northamptonshire.
The 2025 event also introduced a brand-new accolade, which was voted for by hundreds of people from across the sector. The Industry’s Choice Award, unveiled in a Top 10 format, went to The Devonshire in Soho, following an incredible couple of years for operators Oisín Rogers, Charlie Carroll and Ashley Palmer-Watts.
All of the 2025 National Pub & Bar Awards winners, including County and Regional, can be found at nationalpubandbarawards.co.uk.
The 2025 National Pub & Bar Awards winners
- East Midlands Pub & Bar of the Year: The Tollemache Arms
- East of England Pub & Bar of the Year: The Gunton Arms
- London Pub & Bar of the Year: The Red Lion & Sun
- North East Pub & Bar of the Year: The Black Swan Inn, Seahouses
- North West Pub & Bar of the Year: The Bull's Head, Mobberley
- Northern Ireland Pub & Bar of the Year: Dundrum Inn
- North Scotland Pub & Bar of the Year: The Barrelman
- South Scotland Pub & Bar of the Year: Kenmuir Arms
- South East Pub & Bar of the Year: The Bull, Charlbury
- South West Pub & Bar of the Year: The Beckford Arms
- Wales Pub & Bar of the Year: Britannia Inn
- West Midlands Pub & Bar of the Year: The Wildmoor Oak
- Yorkshire and the Humber Pub & Bar of the Year: Pinnacle Sports & Games
- Industry’s Choice Award: The Devonshire
- Pub Group of the Year: Camerons
- Bar Group of the Year: Mr Fogg's
- The Tyrrells Tyrrellbly Good Taste Award: The Tollemache Arms
- National Pub & Bar of the Year: The Bull, Charlbury
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