Crown Wharf named Great British Pub of the Year
Staffordshire pub scoops two top awards and celebrates with free pints and sausage rolls
A Staffordshire pub is raising a glass after being crowned the best in the country at The Great British Pub Awards.
Crown Wharf, in Stone, picked up not one, but two prestigious honours at last night’s ceremony, taking home the titles of Great British Town Pub and the overall Great British Pub of the Year.
Sharing the news, the pub said: “We’re unbelievably proud of the Crown Wharf team and incredibly grateful to all of our fantastic guests. Your support means everything to us.”
To thank customers for their support, the pub is celebrating today by giving away the first 50 pints of Green Monkey for free. From 5pm, complimentary sausage rolls will also be served at the bar.
Locals are being invited to join the festivities and help mark the occasion “in true pub style.”
The pub, which is a passion project by Joules Brewery, initially opened in 2021 and was lovingly crafted from recycled and reclaimed materials reflecting the company’s heritage.
It has put community at the heart of its operation, offering free facilities, outside of the theatre building.
Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser, which organises the awards, said: “This is what can happen when hospitality businesses are given the room and capacity to invest into an area – they create jobs, wealth and community assets.
"All of which are currently at risk from our government’s current strategy of taxation, which is strangling projects like this. Not many new pubs are being built, and the Crown Wharf is a fantastic addition to a sector which is in danger of disappearing. I take my hat off to Joules for having the courage, foresight and sheer grit to battle on to create such a stunning business, one that is a testament to everything we should celebrate about the Great British Pub.”
“Pubs are a huge part of British cultural life and we’re thrilled to unveil the finest examples from across the UK.
"These pubs truly stand out and represent the best of the best when it comes to offering quintessential pub experience to guests. All of our winners excel across the board, but I’m delighted to reveal that the Crown Wharf has taken the overall title of the pub.
This is a new build project which draws on all the traditions of the Great British Pub to create a venue that is both modern and comfortably familiar at the same time. It’s a shining example of community value and hospitality at its best.”