Secrets behind success of Britain's Pub of the Year, including a ban on Sky Sports, no jukebox and no fruit machines - but plenty of trendy 'sour' beer and a 'street food' Sunday lunch

The winners of the British Pub of the Year 2026 have revealed how they've transformed an unloved shop space into the nation's favourite boozer in just over eight years - and why they'll never screen Premier League games.   

George and Louise Greenway, who run The Tamworth Tap, bagged the biggest prize at the 'pub Oscars' in a ceremony in Leeds on Wednesday evening, as well as walking away with the title of Britain's 'Best Beer Pub'.

Located in a 16th-century Tudor building in the heart of the historic market town of Tamworth, the pub poured its first pint in 2017, after the husband-and-wife team spotted the potential of an empty retail space, which had previously housed Tamworth's information centre.

The awards' judges raved about the independently-run boozer's 'excellent beer quality', including 12 cask ales and 20 keg lines, but were also impressed with how the pub engaged with the community, including hosting a weekly church group, Faith on Tap, who come in to discuss religion over a drink.  

Landlady Mrs Greenway is also a primary schoolteacher, juggling pub life with the classroom. Meanwhile her husband focuses on the brewing side, which is housed in the property next door to the pub. 

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mr Greenway, 58, says the couple decided early on to kick some very established British pub traditions to the kerb - and lean into new trends.

Husband-and-wife team George and Louise Greenway who won the biggest prize in the pub industry this week, after being named British Pub of the Year 2026

The Tamworth Tap is in a converted shop on Market Street in the historic town of Tamworth and has won a multitude of awards since opening its doors in 2017

He says: 'There's no jukebox, there's no fruit machine and there's no Sky Sports; they're things that we avoid because it's just not our model. 

'We're getting something right to get the recognition, the footfall and the patronage so we'll carry on doing it our way.'

The music is carefully curated - 'nothing too highbrow or offensive', the bar snacks lovingly home-made, with scotch eggs and sausage rolls made using local Packington Free Range pork, and the crisp selection extensive. 

'We've got every crisp you can think of, from retro, such as Monster Munch, to locally made packets and jars of flavoured peanuts.

What are his customers drinking? 'We sell 400 to 500 pints a week of Bathams Beer, which is a Black Country beer that sells at £5-a-pint.'

'We have a lot of younger drinkers who come in for the craft beers, they're trying all these hazy American pales.'

Sour beer, he says, is the next 'big thing' with twentysomethings. 

'They use a different yeast in there, it's deliberately fermented to be quite sour, like a Belgian beer. There's a strawberry cheesecake sour beer and an apricot one plus we also sell an Imperial Stout that's 10%, which we only dispense in thirds or half pints.'

The curios-filled interior doesn't appeal to everyone admits Mr Greenway but he says: 'We're getting something right so we'll carry on doing it our way.'

The cosy pub in the historic market town of Tamworth offers an alternative Sunday Lunch, serving street food - and has a diverse range of regulars from older customers to trendy young things

He says painstaking 'attention to detail' has helped establish the pub as a firm favourite with both locals and drinkers from further afield. 

'We don't sit still, the pub is constantly evolving from our processes to our appearance, music, products or knowledge. It was an empty shop eight years ago but you would think it had been a pub for 100 years.'

Staff are paid significantly more than the minimum wage and training takes a 'grain to glass' approach with everyone from students to pub careerists going through the same learning process. 

His cleaners are, he says, 'fantastic', with the smell of stale beer never a problem because hygiene standards are so high. 

'It's important that our customers are confident that the same attention that goes into our carpet goes into the cellar, and into the line clean, and into the glass hygiene.'

Regulars are a diverse bunch, the landlord says: 'It's so broadly spread now. We could have groups of 19, 20-year-olds, or single females coming in to read a book and have a glass of wine, or a pint of beer.'

'We've got retired gents and we even had an older couple who used to meet in the window, holding hands. The lady lived in a local nursing home, and they used to come here just to reminisce a little, sitting holding hands.

'Another regular, Muriel, arrives on her mobility scooter, and has Chardonnay in a Belgian glass. Everybody's got their quirks.'

George and Louise Greenway pictured after scooping British Pub of the Year 2026 on Tuesday. Right: The pub's exterior

The Tamworth Tap was awarded overall top spot at the 27th edition of awards, having previously been named CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year in 2022, 2023 and 2025.

Head judge Ed Bedington, editor at the Morning Advertiser and host of Lock In Podcast, said: ‘The Tamworth Tap showcases excellent beer quality, with the Tamworth Stout proving particularly impressive during our visit.

‘Not only that, but the team there has a clear focus on building the pub’s reputation through local causes, industry campaigns and award-winning credentials.’

Held in Leeds on September 23, this year's competition saw more than 90 entrants compete for victory across categories that ranged from Best Country Pub and Best Pub Garden, alongside the nation's ultimate venues for sport and food. 

The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman's Rest in Slaggyford, Northumberland, was the only pub from the North of England to make the prestigious list. 

Northamptonshire's The Red Lion took home the title of Best Country Pub, while Warrington's The Maltings was ranked the best pub for dogs. 

North of the Border, Perth's Old Ship Inn took home the title of Greene King Pub of the Year, while the south-east of England vastly dominated the remainder of the winners list. 

Not a single boozer in London, however, appeared in the list of winners at this year's competition.  

The Plough in Cheltenham  took home the spot of Britain's most family-friendly boozer at the prestigious competition held in Leeds on September 23 

In Norfolk, the Black Swan Public House and Theatre was ranked the best spot for entertainment, while the Plough in Cheltenham was unveiled as the nation's most family-friendly public house.

In the south of England, Aylesbury's The Honey Bee was ranked Marston's Pub of the Year and Wiltshire's Rattlebone Inn in Sherston was crowned Punch Pubs & Co Pub of the Year.

It comes as new industry figures recently revealed that two British pubs closed every day in the first quarter of this year as businesses have struggled to cope with the 'sheer weight' of tax rises.

The closures have equated to the loss of around 2,400 jobs, particularly hitting younger workers. 

Figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) showed that 161 pubs closed across Britain between January and March. 

It represents a rise of 26 per cent compared to the same period last year, when 128 pubs closed.

In total, 336 British pubs closed in 2025 and more than 2,000 have closed in the past five years.

The BBPA has warned that the cost of VAT, employers' National Insurance rises and beer duty have placed a huge burden on business owners.

London and the south-east of England suffered from the most closures, while Wales was the only part of the UK to see a net gain in its number of pubs – rising by three.

The best British pubs in 2026

Best Beer Pub and Overall Great British Beer Pub of the Year: The Tamworth Tap, Tamworth, Staffordshire

Best Community Pub: The Swan, Clewer, Windsor

Best Country Pub: The Red Lion, Cranford, Northamptonshire

Best Pub for Dogs: The Maltings, Old Hall, Warrington

Best Pub for Entertainment: Black Swan Public House and Theatre, North Walsham, Norfolk

Best Pub for Families: The Plough Prestbury, Cheltenham

Best Pub for Food: The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman's Rest, Slaggyford, Northumberland

Best Inn ¿ Sponsored by St Germain: The Lion Malpas, Cheshire

Best Pub Garden ¿ Sponsored by Diageo: The Tichborne Arms, Alresford, Hampshire

Best Pub to Watch Sports ¿ Sponsored by TNT Sports: GOAT, Nantwich, Cheshire

Best Town Pub: Dr Foster, The Docks, Gloucester

Admiral Taverns Pub of the Year: The Crown, Fordham, Cambridgeshire

Greene King Pub of the Year: The Old Ship Inn, Perth

Marston's Pub of the Year: The Honey Bee, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Punch Pubs & Co Pub of the Year: The Rattlebone Inn, Sherston, Wiltshire

Stonegate Group Pub of the Year: The Cow Shed at the Ship Inn, Ospringe, Kent

Earlier this year, the government announced a U-turn on business rate hikes for pubs, offering 15 per cent tax relief for pubs and music venues.

It was a move that was welcomed by landlords, but they warned that more needed to be done to save the struggling industry from disaster.

Emma McClarkin, CEO of the BBPA, said: 'The scale of these closures is avoidable because pubs are doing a brisk trade, but their profits are wiped out by a disproportionate tax burden and huge costs.

'For too many, the sheer weight of taxes and regulatory costs have forced them to shut up shop, which will only hurt communities, workers, and the wider economy.

'This underscores why Government's business rates relief was so necessary, and the support such a welcome relief.

'We want to work with Government to establish a permanent long-term plan that will deliver permanently lower bills, a fairer system and ultimately protect this treasured sector. This means more people in jobs, precious community spaces protected, vibrant high streets, and more investment and growth.'

The BBPA said that the sector pours more than £34billion into the economy and supports more than a million jobs – half of which are made up of 16-24-year-olds.

It follows reports that the cost of a pint of beer has breached the £10 mark in London for the first time.

Drinkers must pay £11 for a pint of Moretti or Heineken at Stanley's rooftop bar in Mayfair; while a 33cl bottle of Noam lager or Curios IPA costs £10.50 at Connaught bar.