cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/25571058

CAMRA’s official pub of the year 2025 is… The Bailey Head in Oswestry, Shropshire! According to the judges: ‘The pub is a rags-to-riches success story after the owners turned what was once a closed local into a haven for the local community.’

That focus on community was really what pushed the Bailey Head into the top spot, as CAMRA’s Awards Director Laura Emson explained; ‘There could not be a more deserving winner for the Pub of the Year than the Bailey Head. In a time when running a pub is a significant challenge, the commitment and enthusiasm Duncan and Grace show should be highly commended and seen as an example.’

The boozer not only sells a selection of quality beers and ciders, it is also ‘a hub for locals to come together for good causes through events like their charity pub quizzes and live music’, and its landlords say that they have a strict ‘everyone welcome’ policy. Owner Duncan Borrowman said: ‘Any person should feel happy and comfortable coming in by themselves and enjoying a drink, either on their own or chatting to other customers.’

‘We thrive on being the heart of the community and a place where people gather to celebrate or commiserate.’