Publicans from across the nation are gathering at a special ceremony this evening that recognises and rewards the finest pubs in the UK.
The Great British Pub Awards, affectionately named ‘Oscars of the pub industry’, is being held tonight at the First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds, West Yorkshire, and aims to help pub owners and operators up and down the country.
The award categories include: Best Beer Pub, Best Community Pub, Best Country Pub, Best Pub for Dogs, Best Pub for Entertainment, Best Pub for Families, Best Pub for Food, Best Inn, Best Pub Garden, Best Pub to Watch Sport, Best Town Pub, Admiral Taverns Pub of the Year, Greene King Pub of the Year, Marston’s Pub of the Year, Punch Pubs & Co Pub of the Year and Stonegate Group Pub of the Year.
Each category is shortlisted to five or six finalists, based on a combination of a written entry from the pub owner, online review scores and its own website and social media presence.
A judge goes to each of the finalists for a surprise visit and licensees face a phone call from a judging team before a winner is decided.The Victoria & Commercial Hotel in Leeds is one of six finalists nationwide shortlisted for Best Beer Pub, along with The Railway in Hampshire, The Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd, The Butcher’s Dog in Dorset, The Tamworth Tap – in Staffordshire and the Crown Inn in Telford.
Bray Lehman is the Assistant General Manager at Victoria & Commercial, a Grade II-listed boozer that boasts some of the best beer in Britain.
She told GB News that the pub was thrilled about the award nomination and said: “We’ve been nominated for best beer pub, and that’s just basically celebrating the beer that we serve, the beer selection that we have.
“It’s a great honour to be nominated for it, because we do really care for the beer and we care for the customers that come and drink it.
A judge goes to each of the finalists for a surprise visit
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“We have 14 draught lines and eight hand pull lines, and that’s all different local brewers, a lot of Kirkstall, a lot of Five Points as well, which is based in London. We also have Allsopps’ on, and then we also have the revival of Double Diamond.
“There’s a great selection and you’re not boxed into any specific style. There’s a bit of something for everyone, which is good. If I had to pick a favourite, it’s very hard, but if I could narrow it down to three, I’d probably say our Kriek. It was one of the first craft beers I tried when I moved, and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since.
“I also really like the Five Points. Bitter, and then I think for an all round refresher, the Radler.”
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After closing during the Covid pandemic in March 2020, in December 2025, The Victoria & Commercial was reopened to the public 160 years after it first opened
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The Great British Pub Awards shine a spotlight on pub, which businesses say is more important than ever during this tough time for hospitality.
“I think the statistic here is two pubs a day or something like that closing down, and whenever I see that, my heart breaks a little bit inside,” said Bray Lehman, Assistant General Manager at Victoria & Commercial.
“I grew up in pubs – my dad used to own them back home [Canada] and I was helping him do inventory the second I learned how to count. But it’s a struggling industry.
“It’s sad because historically, pubs have always been that place, a third space where people from all over would come to connect with those around them, and I think it’s one of those things where if you don’t use it, you lose it.
“I feel like when we see pubs closing down or pubs not being able to fully survive as a business, and not only do you lose business, it hurts the economy, but also you lose that community. It’s a good place to meet people in connect, and I think it’d be a shame if we lost it.”
The Victoria & Commercial dates back to 1865. It is close to Leeds Town Hall and is run by Kirkstall Brewery, in partnership with the owners of Whitelock’s Ale House.
The Grade II-listed building features one of Leeds’ most impressive pub interiors and is one of the city’s most loved pubs, known to locals as ‘The Vic’.
After closing during the Covid pandemic in March 2020, in December 2025, The Victoria & Commercial was reopened to the public 160 years after it first opened, restored to its former glory.
Punters enjoy drinking a pint or two in the classic surroundings, and wish the pub luck in the Great British Pub Awards.
Drew Clarke said: “It’s a brilliant atmosphere in here. It’s a great pint every time you come in, and all staff are lovely. I like the social side of it, seeing mates, it’s one of the best places to be on a Friday afternoon.”
Liam said: “It’s a proper classic pub, it’s full of gold and it’s got all the different types of pints, and they’ve got a great crisp selection.”
Richard said: “I come here to escape the wife. It’s a very nice old traditional Leeds boozer.”
Cara said: “It’s beautiful in here. I’m on the Pilsner Kirkstall brewery. It’s the local pint. I like to shop local.”
Find out more about the Great British Pub Awards here – https://greatbritishpubawards.co.uk/live/en/page/homepage
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