The Bailey Head in Oswestry has been named the best pub in Britain (Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)
A pub that once closed and was earmarked for housing has been named as the best in the country in a remarkable turn of fortune.
The Bailey Head in Oswestry, Shropshire has won the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA’s) top honour – Pub of the Year for 2025.
When it closed, the local was listed by CAMRA as an asset of community value to protect it from redevelopment.
“We’ve not been open nine years yet so, to be honest, winning the pinnacle of the industry in under nine years is quite a shock to me,” said Grace Goodlad, one of the owners.
She bought the pub with her husband, Duncan Borrowman, and they have owned it since.
“You’ve got to have good beer to win, but that’s not enough on it’s own,” she said.
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“It’s all the other bits, the added value, that’s what makes the difference I think.”
“You’re judged on your beer quality, and Duncan runs the cellar so that’s definitely down to him,” she told the .
“But then it also looks at things like hygiene, the welcome you get from staff, staff’s knowledge… whether or not you’re involved in supporting the local community.”
The pair estimate they had about 30 visits from judges before winning the award, but at the time had no idea they were being judged.
Looking back, Mr Borrowman said the pub “didn’t have a great reputation” when they took it on.
“We saw that it had possibilities,” he said.
Ms Goodlad added that every day at the pub was different.
“We’ve had days where we’ve had media here and, at the same time, I’ve had one customer in who’s had a direct family bereavement.
“At the same time, I’ve had another customer in who’s just had the all clear after surgery and chemo for cancer.
“That’s the thing of a pub, it’s dynamic.”
Since they took it on, the pub has won other awards including from the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates and Tripadvisor, but Ms Goodlad said this award was “special”.
The pair are being presented with a plaque from CAMRA and expect it to be a busy day.
“We’ve got publicans coming from London, we’ve got brewers coming from Yorkshire, Nottingham, Cheshire, locally, Powys… all over the place,” said Mr Borrowman.
“I think we’re going to have something like 50 to 100 people here for the presentation.”
Shrewsbury and West Shropshire CAMRA chairman David Ricketts said: “The story of the Bailey Head from humble beginnings proves that any pub can become the best in the UK with some hard graft.”
CAMRA awards director Laura Emson said the pub – and its owners – were deserving winners.
“In a time when running a pub is a significant challenge, the commitment and enthusiasm Duncan and Grace show should be highly commended and seen as an example,” she added.
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