The Star Inn at Harome, North Yorkshire, has been named as the number one gastropub in the UK at the “Old Speckled Hen” Top 50 Gastropubs 2010 awards, organised by BigHospitality's sister title, The Morning Advertiser.
An industry poll of more than 700 food writers, celebrity and top hospitality industry chefs, pub guide editors, industry chiefs and food operators voted for The Star Inn, run by Andrew and Jacquie Pern, following a rigorous judging process.
The Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, was named as runner up and the Hardwick in Abergavenny, South Wales, third.
Morning Advertiser editor The PMA Team said: “The Star Inn is an outstanding gastropub and richly deserves to be voted the best in the UK.
“It offers its customers food of the very highest standard in the warm atmosphere of the pub and plays an important part in the community.”
The Star Inn
Andrew and Jacquie acquired the Star Inn in 1996. The pub, under head chef Andrew, was one of the first pubs in England to be awarded a Michelin star, which it has continued to hold since 2002.
Last October the pub was hit by an outbreak of the norovirus, which closed the business for almost two weeks. The couple have since recovered from the incident and continue to trade well.
The couple put great emphasis on using local, seasonal ingredients, including those from their own kitchen garden.
Among the dishes on offer are Local Wood Pigeon Breast with a Salad of Pickled Girolles and Pancetta, Roast Hazlenut Pesto; Pan-fried Leckebys-reared Rump Steak with Chunky Chips, Shallot Butter and Salad of Blue Wensleydale; and Baked Ginger Parkin with Rhubarb Ripple Ice-Cream, Spiced Syrup and Pimms Jelly with Peppermint Sherbet and Lavender Shortbread.
There were also three individual awards - the Lord Nelson Pub & Kitchen in Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire, won the Business Innovation award; Marcus Bennett of the Bay Horse in Hurworth-on-Tees, County Durham, was named Gastropub Chef of the Year and the Cary Arms in Babbacombe, Devon was named Newcomer of the Year.
Top 50 Gastropubs:
1. Star Inn, Harome, North Yorkshire
2. Hand & Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
3. The Hardwick, Abergavenny, Wales
4. Harwood Arms, Fulham, London
5. Pipe & Glass, East Beverley, Yorkshire
6. Olive Branch, Clipsham, Rutland
7. Hinds Head, Bray, Berkshire
8. Royal Oak, Paley Street, Berksire
9. Anchor & Hope, Waterloo, London
10. Bay Horse, Hurworth on Tees, Darlington, Durham
11. Gurnards Head, Zennor, Cornwall
12. Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent
13. Three Fishes, Mitton, Lancashire
14. Punch Bowl Inn, Crosthwaite, Cumbria
15, Freemasons, Wiswell, Lancashire
16. Eagle, Farringdon, London
17. Angel at Hetton, Yorkshire
18. Stagg, Titley, Herefordshire
19. Sands End, Fulham, London
20. Masons Arms, Cartmell Fell, Cumbria
21. Y Polen, Carmanthshire, Wales
22. Hoste Arms, Burnham Market, Norfolk
23. Ye Olde Sun In, Colton, North Yorkshire
24. Drunken Duck Inn, Barngates, Ambleside, Cumbria
25. Highwayman, Nether Burrow, Lancashire
26. Nut Tree, Murcott, Oxfordshire
27. Blue Lion, East Witton, North Yorkshire
28. Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon, Wales
29. Wellington Arms, Baughurst, Hampshire
30. Inn, Whitewall, Lancashire
31. The Garrison, Bermondsey, London
32. Crooked Billet, Stoke Row, Oxfordshire
33. Albion, Clifton, Bristol
34. Anglesea Arms, Hammersmith, London
35. Griffin Inn, Fletching, East Sussex
36. St Kew Inn, Cornwall
37. Potting Shed, East Crudwell, Wiltshire
38. Kingham Plough, Kingham, Oxfordshire
39. Red Lion, East Chisenbury, Wiltshire
40. Thomas Cubbitt, Belgravia, London
41. Thomas Lord, West Meon, Hampshire
42. Albion, Islington, London
43. General Tarleton, Ferrensby, North Yorkshire
44. Cricket Inn, Sheffield
45. Yew Tree, Burghclere, Berkshire
46. Pheasant, Keyston, Cambridgeshire
47. Bakers Arms, Droxford, Hampshire
48. Wheatsheaf, Coombe Hay
49. Earl of March, Lavant, West Sussex
50. Canton Arms, Stockwell
Jo Bruce is Pub Chef editor at BigHospitality's sister publication, The Morning Advertiser.