Where are the UK's best pubs? Oxfordshire, according to the AA Good Pub Guide 2020

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Deputy Editor

The AA Good Pub Guide 2020 was published today, revealing the British motoring association's selection of the UK's 2,000 best pubs, taverns and inns. 

The guide features the country's top 500 public houses on its 'Pick of the Pubs' recommendation list, as well as any deemed worthy of the much-coveted AA Rosettes. 

33 restaurants on the 'Pick of the Pubs' list are located in Oxfordshire, making it the country's top pub hub, followed by Devon and Somerset, with North Yorkshire and London sharing fourth place, each with 24 pubs on the list. 

250 locations were also recognised with an AA Rosette for the quality of the food they serve. Among these is The Hind's Head in Bray, Berkshire, which has three AA-Rosettes and a Michelin star and The Shibden Mill Inn in Halifax, West Yorkshire, with two AA-Rosettes, the King's Arms Inn in Oakham, Rutland, also with two AA-Rosettes and

Of the 24 London pubs featured on the POTP list are The Carpenters Arms, The Wigmore and The Perseverance. 

Elsewhere, others include the Kirkstile Inn in Cockermouth, Cumbria, The Star Inn in Oxfordshire and The Boat House in Shropshire

A spokesperson for the AA Guide said that while the number of pubs has decreased since the guide launched 21 years ago, "the quality of the UK’s pub scene is better than ever, with a record-number of pubs included in the Guide this year," adding that many of the pubs included in the guide are known for their culinary offerings. 

"Over 250 of the pubs in The Pub Guide 2020 have been awarded AA Rosettes for the quality of their cuisine, while the best pubs for accommodation are highlighted by an AA Star."

The new list comes shortly after Estrella Damn released its 50 Best Gastropub list for the year, which was topped by Steven Harris' The Sportsman followed by The Coach in Marlow. 

Chefs! Where's your favourite pub? Is there anywhere you would nominate that's not on anyone's list? 

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Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Deputy Editor 1st July 2019

Where are the UK's best pubs? Oxfordshire, according to the AA Good Pub Guide 2020