The Unruly Pig in Suffolk tops this year’s Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list

The Unruly Pig in Suffolk has topped this year’s Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs 2022 list, knocking The Sportsman off the number one spot and climbing nine places from tenth. 

The pub, in Woodbridge, was described as “winsome, warm and witty” and was rewarded for its “unfussy” menus that make the most of East Anglian produce.

Head chef Dave Wall creates dishes such as Orford lobster risotto, saddle of hare with celeriac, and acorn-fed black pork with lovage and garlic. 

East Anglia has more pubs in the top 50 than ever before this year (five), with a further ten in the South West, five in the North West, four in the West Midlands and Wales, and 18 in the South East and London. 

The Unruly Pig’s owner Brendan Padfield said the pub’s atmosphere reflects his own personality and has spent time creating a space with an atmosphere. Modern art lines the walls of the wood-paneled country pub; the food is new but the service and rural charm traditional. 

“For any UK gastropub this list is the ‘gold standard’,” said Brendan. “It’s the business. To be a part of such a prestigious group is a huge honour and a very real privilege. 

“There are some very famous chefs and talented operators here… and for us to be a small part of this amazing list means so very much to all our team. They can rightly hold their heads up proud yet again as our listing is because of their dedication, loyalty and sheer hard graft”. 

The Top 50 Gastropubs list, now in its 13th year, ranks the UK’s best gastropubs according to the votes from more than 400 gastropub owners, food critics and other industry experts.   

This year there were ten new entries on the list. The highest addition is occupied by Adam Handling’s The Loch and The Tyne, in Windsor. (See full list below)

He said: “I’m so happy and proud that our little pub with guest bedrooms has made it into the Top 50. This is our first time opening a pub and it’s been great fun to adopt our restaurant style into a super informal setting. 

“Co-chef proprietors, Steven and Jonny, have worked for me for 13 years and have always wanted a pub, so to give them an opportunity to run one and for it to go straight into the Top 50 is bloody fantastic.” 

Also new in 2022 is Sally Abé’s The Blue Boar in central London, which was voted the one to watch by the judges. Dylans at The Kings Arms in St Albans won the best front of house team and The Princess of Shoreditch in East London, headed up by Great British Menu’s Ruth Hansom, earned newcomer of the year. 

Top 50 gastropubs publisher Chris Lowe said: “After a tough two years for the hospitality industry, we are thrilled to see such a strong list of contenders this year, including a new number one and several new entrants. 

“The Top 50 Gastropubs provides a platform for food-lovers to explore the very best offerings across the UK. We are delighted to host this year’s event in Manchester for the first time, highlighting the range of talent across the UK. I’m incredibly delighted for Brendan and everyone at The Unruly Pig to get the number 1 spot.”

1              The Unruly Pig, Woodbridge 

2              Parkers Arms, Clitheroe

3              The Star Inn at Harome, Harome

4              The Angel at Hetton, Hetton

5              Freemasons at Wiswell, Clitheroe

6              The Sportsman, Whitstable

7              The Guinea Grill, London

8              The Fordwich Arms, Canterbury

9              The Mariners, Rock

10           The Hand & Flowers, Marlow

11           The Beehive, White Waltham 

12           The Kentish Hare, Bidborough

13           The Coach, Marlow

14           The Cornish Arms, Tavistock

15           The Harwood Arms, London

16           The Red Lion and Sun, London

17           The Pyne Arms, Barnstaple

18           The Rat Inn, Anick

19           The Broad Chare, Newcastle Upon Tyne

20           The Hardwick, Abergavenny

21           The Bull & Last, London

22           The Masons Arms, Knowstone

23           The Pipe and Glass, Barnsley

24           The Longs Arms, South Wraxall

25           The Swan, Bampton

26           The White Swan at Fence, Fence 

27           The Loch and The Tyne, Old Windsor

28           The Duncombe Arms, Ashbourne

29           The French House, Soho

30           The Moorcock, Norland Moor

31           The Shibden Mill Inn, Shibden

32           The Pack Horse, Hayfield

33           Heft, High Newton

34           The Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon

35           The Five Bells Inn, Cullompton

36           St Kew Inn, Bodmin

37           The Castle Inn, Castle Combe

38           The Canton Arms, Stockwell

39           The Higher Buck, Waddington

40           The Duck Inn, Pett Bottom

41           The Hovingham Inn, Yorkshire

42           The Plough, Coton

43           The Three Hills, Bartlow

44           The Hind’s Head, Bray

45           The Dog at Wingham, Wingham

46           The Bell Inn, Langford

47           The Black Bear Inn, Usk

48           The Cadeleigh Arms, Tiverton

49           The Bailiwick Free House, Egham

50           The Cross, Kenilworth

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