Stunning Cheltenham pub named UK’s best

The Frogmill – a characterful 16th century pub located in the heart of the Cotswolds – has been deemed the UK’s best, after the Brakspear-owned venue was named National Pub & Bar of the Year at the 2022 National Pub & Bar Awards.

The pub, which operates under Brakspear’s Honeycomb Houses model, was praised on the awards night for its flawless operation, attention to detail and genuine hospitality.

Situated in the Cotswolds village of Shipton Oliffe, just outside Cheltenham, the pub features a traditional bar, restaurant, boutique bedrooms and beautiful wedding/function spaces.

Brakspear purchased The Frogmill in 2016 and reopened it in 2018 after significant investment. Sat in extensive grounds that boast views over landscaped gardens and rolling hills, it has since traded successfully to a broad customer base.

“I’m completely overwhelmed," says says Simon Stanbrook, general manager at The Frogmill. "This award is for the team — from our housekeeping to kitchen and events to front of house teams, they work exceptionally hard day in, day out. We work together like a family.

“We have an eye for detail and want to give our visitors a warm welcome. It’s part of the mantra of Honeycomb Houses — treat your team like family, your guests like friends and the houses like homes. We welcome people as you would in your own home.”

(L-R) Tristan O’Hana, Pub & Bar editor, Simon Stanbrook, The Frogmill general manager, Sophie Johnson, senior operations manager at Brakspear, Vicky Manning, finance manager at Brakspear, and Jaci Fletcher, marketing manager at Brakspear

Sophie Johnson, senior operations manager at Brakspear, adds: “When we opened in 2018 we said we wanted to win awards, so this is a dream come true. It’s been a really hard time, but we are a very hands-on team and very close — we work together and we want to be the best. A big part of what we do is work to get the absolute basics right and we’re very proud of The Frogmill.”

The Frogmill was one of 15 pubs to be named as the best in its region, as 94 county-winning venues gathered at 30 Euston Square in London to celebrate some of the leading businesses in the industry.

As with previous years, the National Pub & Bar Awards brought together 94 pubs and bars from across the UK, each one having been awarded the title for the best in their county. From these, 15 Regional Winners were selected (see below) before The Frogmill was crowned the National Winner.

The 2022 National Pub & Bar Awards also saw five other accolades handed out. Unilever Pub Chef of the Year went to Andy Link of The Riverside in Aymestrey; Bartender of the Year was won by Harry Featherstone from The Red Lion in Cranford; Bowland Beer Hall in Clitheroe won Kegstar’s Taproom of the Year; Brewhouse & Kitchen scooped Pub Brand of the Year; while Revolution was named Bar Brand of the Year.

The National Pub & Bar Awards was sponsored by Cawston Press, graze, Hellmann's, Kegstar, Lamb Weston, Kingfisher, Knorr, The Real English Drinks Distillery and St. Pierre.

The National Pub & Bar Awards 2022 winners

East Midlands – The Radcliffe, Nottinghamshire

East of England – Galvin Green Man, Essex

London – Blue Boar Pub, Greater London

North East – Three Mile, Tyne and Wear

North West – The Black Bull, Sedbergh, Cumbria

Northern Ireland – Granny Annie’s, Derry

North West Scotland – Macgochans Pub & Kitchen, Argyll and Bute

North East Scotland – Vic St Andrews, Fife

South East Scotland – Malones Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh

South West Scotland – The Upstairs Bar at Ubiquitous Chip, City of Glasgow

South East – The Cricketers Inn, Curdridge, Hampshire

South West – The Frogmill, Gloucestershire

Wales – The West Arms Country Inn, Clwyd

West Midlands – The Riverside at Aymestrey, Herefordshire

Yorkshire and the Humber – The Punch Bowl, Marton-cum-Grafton, North Yorkshire

Unilever Pub Chef of the Year – Andy Link, The Riverside at Aymestrey

Bartender of the Year – Harry Featherstone, The Red Lion, Cranford

Kegstar Taproom of the Year – Bowland Beer Hall, Clitheroe 

Pub Brand of the Year – Brewhouse & Kitchen

Bar Brand of the Year – Revolution

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