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Night of Excellence 2026

Eleven pubs and seven licensees have taken home honours at the Night of Excellence awards in a lavish ceremony and dinner held at the voco St. John's hotel in Solihull.

The awards, hosted by Greene King Pub Partners, celebrated the success of Greene King Pub Partners’ leased, tenanted and franchise licensees.

The awards were attended by hundreds of licensees from across the UK who work with Greene King Pub Partners, as well as leaders from across the hospitality and pub sectors.

This year, England World Cup winning legend Sir Geoff Hurst, who has made a beer in collaboration with the Greene King, attended the awards.

Comprising of 16 awards ranging from Community Pub of the Year to Pub Team of the Year – and an overall Pub of the Year award – entrants to the Night of Excellence awards go through a strict judging process including mystery visits in order to be crowned winners.

The Dolphin in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, was the overall winner of the Pub of the Year Award. A pub that has been proudly run by the same family for over 23 years, The Dolphin is known as the heart of the community in Wallingford - resulting in recognition from His Majesty King Charles III, with an invitation to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party later this year in recognition of their service to Wallingford.

Tony Edwards and Iona Roberts were jointly presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Greene King CEO Nick Mackenzie and Sir Geoff Hurst in recognition of their outstanding pub The Five Bells in Henlow, Bedfordshire, and over 40 years’ service each in the pub and hospitality industry.

Gerard Flynn, the founder of True Pub Co, won the Multiple Operator of the Year award.

Husband and wife team Sammi and Rob Garland, operators of Hive Pub The Broken Cross in Rudheath, Northwich, won the Franchisee of the Year award.

Other winners from the night were:

  • The Rose of Mossley in Liverpool, which won Community Pub of the Year.
  • The Guy Earl of Warwick in Welling, South London, which won Digital Pub of the Year for the second year in a row.
  • The Droppingwell in Rotherham, which won Entertainment Pub of the Year.
  • The Greyhound in Finchampstead, which won Food Pub of the Year.
  • The Castle in Goring-By-Sea, which won new Franchisee of the Year.
  • The Salutation in Doncaster, which won Pub Garden of the Year.
  • The Old Ship Inn in Perth, which won Beer Pub of the Year.
  • The Boat House in Irlam, which won Capex Pub of the Year.
  • The White Swan in Littleover, Derby, which won Charity & Sustainability Pub of the Year.
  • The Bridge Bar in Ellon, which won New Licensee of the Year.
  • The Royal Oak in Lewes, Sussex, which won Sports Pub of the Year.
  • The Corona Bar & Kitchen in Glasgow, which won Turnaround Pub of the Year.

Dan Robinson, Managing Director of Greene King Pub Partners, said:

“Congratulations to each award winner at this year’s Night of Excellence awards – the standard set by our Partners continues to be exceptional.

“It’s a real privilege to partner with such passionate and professional pub operators across the UK, and evenings like this give us the opportunity to recognise our brilliant Partners, the incredible pubs they run and the important impact they have on the communities they serve.”