Sitting just 20 minutes from Birmingham is a town with the UK’s best pub, with its vibrant breweriana, extensive cask ales and lively events that bring the community together
A town just 20 minutes from Birmingham officially has the UK’s best pub – and it certainly warrants a visit(Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)
The UK is brimming with excellent pubs that offer a cosy retreat after an autumnal ramble through the sprawling countryside, or sprawling beer gardens to enjoy a refreshing cask ale by summer. Birmingham has a huge collection of taverns, and sitting just 20 minutes on the train from the city in a charming market town is where you’ll find the UK’s best pub.
Celebrating the nation’s finest pubs, the winners of the Great British Pub Awards for 2026 have been announced, following a “rigorous judging process”. With 17 categories, there were champions across the UK, including Kettering and Cheltenham, but it was the historic market town of Tamworth in Staffordshire that really stole the spotlight.
The Tamworth Tap has been named the UK’s best pub for 2026(Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)
Nestled in the heart of the town on 29 Market Street is The Tamworth Tap, which has been crowned the Great British Pub of the Year & Best Beer Pub for 2026. The vibrant microbrewery is housed in a 16th-century building, spanning three floors, decorated with vintage interiors, posters, and breweriana that bring the pub to life with character against the medieval stone walls.
Every nook of the Tamworth Tap has something new to stumble upon while enjoying its selection of cask ales and beers to suit every taste bud. In total, they have “eight constantly changing cask ales, sourced from far and wide”, along with “40 craft ciders, Belgian draught and bottles and craft beers from around the world.”
Alongside its beverages, Tamworth Tap serves up homemade traditional pub dishes and snacks that will certainly make it hard to leave. On those warmer autumnal days, there’s a beautiful beer garden that’s overlooked by the town’s Norman castle and shares its Saxon curtain wall, while the pub also hosts various events, making it a major hub for the local community.
“One of the best Pubs I’ve ever been to. There is so much that is fantastic about this place, from the great selection of drinks and the awesome atmosphere, to the brilliant staff who are very friendly and knowledgeable,” one visitor hailed on TripAdvisor. While a local shared: “My partner and I love this place. We go every time she’s over. It’s such a wonderfully chilled and friendly place. No screens, no sports, no overly loud music, just good people enjoying good drink and good service. If you like things on the quieter side, then the Tap is an absolute must. Be sure to try the locally-made cherry mead. It’s simply delectable.”
Tamworth Castle towers over the historic town(Image: Getty Images)
The Tamworth Tap certainly draws in visitors to the Staffordshire town, and is no stranger to national recognition, having been named the CAMRA National Pub of the Year in 2022, 2023 and 2025, as well as securing the Great British Pub Awards, Best Pub for Beer in 2024. But aside from the taproom, Tamworth has some mega attractions and a majestic castle that are worth visiting.
Tamworth Castle, a Grade I-listed Norman building, towers over the town and the River Anker, boasting more than 900 years of history through its rooms, chambers and corridors. It’s widely regarded as one of the best-preserved motte-and-bailey castles in England, with public-access grounds featuring a Victorian bandstand, an adventure playground, and scenic river pathways – perfect for leisurely strolls before a stop at The Tamworth Tap.
Elsewhere, the town is a haven for a fun-packed day out, thanks to its indoor ski slope centre, SnowDome, and adventure area, Namco Funscape, where kids can bowl, play adventure golf, or enjoy the soft play. Just outside the town is the popular Drayton Manor Theme Park, with more than 40 rides and attractions across 280 acres, including its renowned Thomas Land, perfect for little ones!
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