A total of five Lancashire pubs made the list. But which ones?
Freemasons at Wiswell has claimed third position in this year’s Estrella Damm list of Top 50 Gastropubs.
The Lancashire pub - recently voted 10th in the Top 100 Restaurants in the North West - has regularly been placed in the gastropub top five, but managed to edge up a couple of places this year.
Second place went to Tom Kerridge’s The Coach in Marlow, Buckinghamshire while the top spot was given to Michelin-starred Sportsman at Seasalter in Kent, which topped the list for the fourth time.
Although a total number of zero Greater Manchester pubs made it onto the list, we can still console ourselves with a pleasant drive over to Lancashire, which boasted a total of five entries in 2019.
Three of the gastropubs on the list are situated near Clitheroe, which is becoming quite a food and drink destination thanks to nearby culinary pitstops such as Bowland Food Hall at Holmes Mill and excellent wine shop D. Byrne and Co.
Read: Five northern food & drink destinations worth the trip from Manchester
The Parker’s Arms at Newton-in Bowland, run by Stosie Madi, Kathy Smith and her brother AJ made it to 16th position, while the Seafood Pub Company’s Assheton Arms at Downham placed number 45.
Elsewhere in Lancashire, The White Swan at Fence near Burnley came 19th, giving it another award to place next to the Michelin star it won last year. The Cartford Arms near Preston remains at number 40.
Only one Cumbrian pub made this year's list. The Drunken Duck in Ambleside was included for its combination of “dramatic landscapes, locally-inspired brews and a restaurant serving dishes influenced by Cumbrian produce.”
You can see the full list of Top 50 Gastropubs here and Confidentials' own Top 100 Restaurants in the North West guide here.
