Three Cumbrian venue pubs have been named among the top 50 gastropubs in the UK.
The Black Bull in Sedbergh, Heft in High Newton and the Dog and Gun in Skelton feature in the prestigious Estrella Damm Top 50 UK Gastropubs Awards 2025
The UK’s best pub chefs, gathered yesterday at The Plaisterers’ Hall, in the heart of the City of London, for the list to be announced.
Each year the awards showcase the very best pubs and pub food in Great Britain, with the rankings compiled using hundreds of votes from food critics and writers, gastropub chefs and other food influencers from across the UK.
This year’s top spot was claimed for the second consecutive year by The Unruly Pig, Bromeswell, Suffolk.
The top 50 remains densely populated by gastropubs from London and the South East, while the North of England claimed 15 of the 50 top spots in this year’s list.
It is the third year in a row that the Black Bull has been included, and is listed at number 26.
The Black Bull’s co-owner James Ratcliffe said: ‘’The Black Bull is about ensuring every one of our guests can enjoy delicious food, well-kept beer, and quality wines in a building that’s full of character, whilst being looked after by a dedicated team of people who care about what they do.
“Awards like the UK Top 50 Gastropub Awards benchmark where you’re at within the sector and because it’s the critics and your peers who are voting for you it helps you to continue to grow and to improve, as well as being a great indicator that you are getting things right.’’
Heft was listed at 34. Heft’s co-owner Nicola Tickle said: “Congratulations to everyone else who features in this year’s top 50. It means a great deal to everyone to be included in the list and highlighted as being among the best of the best in the industry.
“We couldn’t do what we do without the care and dedication of all of our team, which is why I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who works with us at Heft for making it such a special place for our guests.
“We always try to make sure that Heft successfully balances being a community local with a relaxed atmosphere and a restaurant that caters for a broad cross-section of diners.
“This year we’re looking forward to adding five guest rooms to our offer, which will allow people from further afield to experience staying in our wonderful village for themselves.’’
The Dog and Gun was listed at number 39.
