On the 12th June 2025,  JW Lees Brewery held their annual Pub of the Year Awards celebrating the hard work and achievements of their JW Lees Pub Partners; independent operators serving up proper pub experiences.

Hosted at the Stanneylands Hotel in Wilmslow, 38 of the best Pub Partners gathered for the awards alongside JW Lees family members, Operations teams and guests. JW Lees’ estate of 87 Pub Partner sites comprises a wonderful variety of pubs, ranging from cosy community boozers to destination dining pubs complete with beer gardens and function spaces, and everything in between.

This year’s awards went to:
Philip, Darren & Ann Marie at the George & Dragon, Great Budworth for overall winners of Partnership Pub of the Year 2025
Sara Green at the Red Lion Hotel, Llansannan for Newcomer of the Year
Eddie Brown at the The Bears Paw, Chester for Community Pub of the Year
Vinnie Caira at the Halfway House, Royton for Charity Champion
Pam Hindley at the Bank Top Tavern, Oldham for Entertainment Pub of the Year
Andrew Kilgannon & Danny Lamb at the Walton Arms, Altham for Food Pub of the Year
Jessica Brady & Danny Kernaghan at the Puckersley Inn, Royton for the Beer Ambassador Award
Natalie & Dale Tunnacliffe at the Tandle Hill Tavern, Slattocks for Most Improved Pub of the Year
Jonny Booth & Rupert Hill at Lloyd & Platt, Chorlton and Gulliver’s, Manchester for Multiple Operator of the Year
Sue & Noel Jones at the Holland Inn, Holyhead for the Pride of Wales
Debbie Brown at the Blue Pits Inn, Castleton for Outstanding Achievement
Roger Haynes at the Ring O’Bells, Middleton for Outstanding Achievement
Philip, Darren & Ann Marie at the George & Dragon Great Budworth for Regional Pub of the Year
Craig Hughes at the Bull Hotel, Abergele for Regional Pub of the Year
Steve & Cate Nutter at the Woodhouse Gardens, Failsworth for Regional Pub of the Year

Chris Moulson, Director of Pub Operations, JW Lees said “JW Lees Pub of the Year Awards is a great opportunity for us to recognise our best and brightest pub partners and to say thank you for the amazing work they do. This year we had 38 pubs represented from across the JW Lees Pub Partner estate, from Oldham to Anglesey and we celebrated some incredible winners!”

About JW Lees
JW Lees is a seventh-generation family brewery company, founded in 1828 by retired cotton manufacturer John Lees. JW Lees is based in Middleton Junction in North Manchester and the business comprises JW Lees Brewery, JW Lees Pubs, The Alderley Edge Hotel, The Stanneylands Hotel, The Trearddur Bay Hotel and Willoughby’s Wine Merchants. JW Lees employs over 1,600 people, 150 at the brewery and site in Middleton Junction and over 1,375 in their 49 managed pubs, inns and hotels. JW Lees also lets another 87 pubs to JW Lees Pub Partners.