Following the success of the 500 Best Pubs in England guide in 2025, The Telegraph says the guide has been expanded to include an additional 150 pubs from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
To help pub lovers navigate the selection of pubs, the publisher says a bespoke tool lets users search by postcode or county. There are also filters – such as “pets welcome”, “beer garden” and “overnight stay” – to further their search.
The pubs have been selected by a panel of pub experts, added The Telegraph, using the same criteria established last year; a welcoming, lively atmosphere, high-quality drinks and a strong sense of community.
Will Hawkes returns as the pub expert for England and is joined by new experts for Scotland; Robin McKelvie and Mike MacEacheran; David Atkinson and Kerry Walker for Wales and Nicola Brady for Northern Ireland, the publisher continued.
This year The Telegraph says it has been campaigning to save Britain’s pubs, chronicling the economic pressures crippling the hospitality industry as an average of four pubs per day close in 2026. The Telegraph’s 650 Best Pubs Guide aims to encourage people to discover some of the UK’s finest venues.
Will Hawkes, The Telegraph’s beer, food and travel journalist, said: "Despite desperate operating conditions, Britain still has hundreds of magnificent pubs, offering warmth, atmosphere, character and fantastic drinks. You'll find the best of the best in our guide.
"This year, we have expanded the guide to cover all of the UK, meaning there are now great pubs to discover from Shetland all the way down to Lands End. My colleagues and I have spent the first part of the year scouring the nation to find these magnificent pubs - a truly joyous experience. We're sure that readers will enjoy discovering these amazing pubs as much as we did."
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