The 16 UK pubs and bars crowned the ‘best in Europe’ – full list

Tyler Mitchell By Tyler Mitchell Jan16,2025

The best pubs and bars in Europe have been ranked, and 16 of them are in the UK.

Only two of them are located in London, with a town nearly 100 miles away also hitting a double.

The venues in the capital that made the leaderboard are Gordon’s Wine Bar and Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, which placed 44th and 40th respectively.

Norwich boasts The Arboretum and The Alexandra Tavern in the list. 

Of the latter, which is ranked 70th on the list, the European Bar Guide said: “Rarely do pubs make such an endearing and lasting first impression, but that was the case on our first visit here in 2024.

“A corner pub with diminutive frontage, enter to find an immediately appealing lounge space with traditional furnishings, heritage signage and artwork on the walls and a long bar leading to the kitchen door at the rear.

“There is a lounge room opposite as part of the double facing bar. The welcome is friendly and the hospitality as good as if you had been visiting as a regular for years, a great tribute to the efforts and attitude of the staff.”

The guide described the Arboretum, which is a new entry, as a “love or hate place”.

The site added: “If the idea of a tiny, cramped, ramshackle high concept cocktail bar unmarked from the street where they make drinks loosely in accordance with your tastes sounds, good, terrible, or somewhere in between, there is really only one way to find out.

“Of course, we really liked it. Don’t be deterred by its unmarked exterior deliberately designed to appear like a boarded-up shop.

“An antique shop as well as a bar, they claim you can put a bid in on any of the artefacts strewn around the place. Formerly hosted a dog that would prowl around, but that passed away.”

Full list of UK pubs and bars ranked

Here’s a full list of the UK venues that made the list:

  • Holly Bush Inn, Makeney (21)
  • The Trumpet, Bilston (23)
  • Birch Hall Inn, Beck Hole (30)
  • The Laurieston, Glasgow (32)  
  • The Sair Inn, Linthwaite (38)
  • Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, London (40)
  • The Blue Bell, York (42)
  • Gordon’s Wine Bar, London (44)
  • The White Horse, Beverley (47)
  • Victoria Inn, Durham (51)
  • The Big Six, Halifax (57)
  • The Alexandra Tavern, Norwich (70) 
  • Ye Olde Vic, Stockport (72)
  • Arboretum, Norwich (82) 
  • Hobo Kiosk, Liverpool (89) 
  • The Canny Man’s, Edinburgh (100)
Tyler Mitchell

By Tyler Mitchell

Tyler is a renowned journalist with years of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, entertainment, and technology. His insightful analysis and compelling storytelling have made him a trusted source for breaking news and expert commentary.

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