A PUB has been named in a list of the UK’s top 50 gastropubs.

Heft at High Newton, owned by Nicola and Kevin Tickle, found out at an awards event held in Suffolk that they had been included in the 2023 Estrella Damm list of the UK’s top 50 Gastropubs, listed at number 43.

The UK’s best pub chefs gathered at Unruly Pig, last year’s overall winner, to discover who had won the plaudits in the 2023 edition at this year’s much anticipated live reveal.

Each year Estrella Damm's list, now in its 14th year, ranks the UK’s best gastropubs according to votes from more than 400 owners, food critics, and other industry experts.

Heft’s Chef Patron Kevin Tickle said: “Being in the top 50 is a fantastic achievement for any pub and it really encourages you to keep pushing yourself. We’ve tried to ensure that we get things right by creating a village pub with a really relaxed vibe, serving good beer and wine alongside an ever changing locally sourced seasonal menu in the restaurant.

“People seem to appreciate what we’re doing, which I guess is why we’ve got a good mix of customers, including our local regulars and guests from across the northwest and even further afield. There’s no doubt that we are heading in the right direction, and we’ll keep pushing ahead with what we want to achieve for the pub, and this recognises where we want to be.’’

Top 50 Gastropubs Publisher Chris Lowe said: ‘’We are thrilled to see such a strong list of contenders this year, including five new entrants. The Top 50 Gastropubs provides a space for food and drink lovers the opportunity to explore the best that the UK has to offer. We are delighted to host this year’s event at The Unruly Pig, showcasing the vast amount of talent across the UK.”

The full list can be viewed here: https://www.top50gastropubs.com/list/1-50