I went to the UK’s best pub with quirky ceiling feature, 28 beers on tap – but it doesn’t serve food

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I went to the UK’s best pub with quirky ceiling feature, 28 beers on tap – but it doesn’t serve food
Author: Adele Cooke
Published: Jan, 18 2025 10:00

FROM the outside, the Bailey Head looks like any other local pub. But its unassuming exterior is hiding a secret - and one of the largest selections of independent beers in the country. Now, its unrivalled selection and welcoming interior have been recognised with a prestigious award.

 [The Bailey Head pub with outdoor seating.]
Image Credit: The Sun [The Bailey Head pub with outdoor seating.]

The popular taproom has just been named the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Pub of the Year for the first time. It’s easy to see why, and I’ve never seen such a well-stocked bar. There are 12 hand-pull beer pumps serving six cask beers and six ciders and perries, plus 16 other draught lines.

 [Two people holding awards in a pub.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Two people holding awards in a pub.]

Prices start from £3.90 for a 4% session lager and go all the way up to £10 for a 12% beer. There are also up to 100 gins, a large range of whiskies, rum, vodkas, wines and other drinks on offer. But I’m surprised not to spot a food menu on the bar or a specials counter above the beer taps.

 [Woman standing behind a pub bar.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Woman standing behind a pub bar.]

Despite being crowned pub of the year the Bailey Head does not serve food. The local is cosy and its walls are lined with illustrations of the surrounding area and some of its prestigious awards. It already has a staggering collection of trophies from CAMRA, the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA), The Shropshire Goat and TripAdvisor.

 [Wall covered in brewery beer mats and labels.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Wall covered in brewery beer mats and labels.]

But the Bailey Head has not always been such a success story. Nine years ago the local was forced to close its doors for the last time after its popularity waned. Eger to take on a challenge, it was bought by husband and wife duo Duncan Borrowman and Grace Goodlad, who breathed new life into it.

 [Cozy pub window seat with small table.]
Image Credit: The Sun [Cozy pub window seat with small table.]

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