Gastropubs in RBWM and Marlow 'massively proud' to make new Top 50 list

Six gastropubs from the Royal Borough and South Bucks have been recognised among the best in the country in a prestigious annual list.

The Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs, voted for by more than 350 chefs, restaurant managers and food critics, celebrate venues offering ‘outstanding culinary innovation’ and standout dining experiences in a pub setting.

Three venues made the prestigious Top 50 list, including The Crown in Burchetts Green, The Loch & The Tyne in Old Windsor, and The Coach in Marlow, owned by celebrity chef Tom Kerridge.

A further three establishments were included in the wider Top 100, with Kerridge’s flagship The Hand & Flowers also recognised, alongside The Oarsman in Marlow and The Crown at Bray.

The highest-ranked venue in the Royal Borough and South Bucks was The Crown in Burchetts Green, which rose to 22nd place, up from 35th last year.

The pub has been led since June 2022 by award-winning chef Dominic Chapman, formerly proprietor of the Beehive at White Waltham, after taking over from Simon Bonwick.

Chapman said: “This is an amazing achievement for our team, and we are massively proud to be included in this very well-respected list.

“We all know running pubs is very hard at the moment, and this is a great boost to morale and our business. Thank you to our team, suppliers and guests for their continued support.”

In Marlow, Tom Kerridge’s The Coach retained its position at 29th, maintaining a strong performance in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list once again after the Michelin-starred modern bistro-style gastropub was named 2016’s Highest New Entry.

Kerridge’s first Marlow gastropub, The Hand & Flowers, also on West Street, placed 68th in the Top 100.

The Hand & Flowers made history by becoming the first pub in the world to hold two Michelin stars, with head chef Tom De Keyser previously winning Chef of the Year in the 2023 Top 50 list.

Kerridge said: “We are super proud and happy to be included in this amazing set of awards.

“For both The Hand & Flowers and The Coach to be within the top 100, this is something that the whole team is very proud of and will strive to continue.”

Also flying the flag for Marlow was The Oarsman, which took 81st place, three years after being named Newcomer of the Year in 2023.

A spokesperson for the Spittal Street bistropub and wine bar said: “We are absolutely thrilled that the hard work and dedication of our head chef Scott Smith and the whole team, alongside the amazing suppliers and artisans that we work with, have been recognised in the Top 50 GastroPubs awards.

“Special thanks must go to the patronage given to our small independent business from our fantastic guests throughout the year, without whom we wouldn’t be here.”

In Old Windsor, The Loch & The Tyne secured 48th place in this year’s Top 50 list.

The Crimp Hill pub and restaurant first entered the rankings in the 2022 Top 50 list as the year’s Highest New Entry, before being awarded Sustainable Pub of the Year in 2024.

Meanwhile, The Crown at Bray was ranked 89th, after entering a new chapter under chef-owner Simon Bonwick, who took over the Bray High Street pub with his wife Deborah in March 2025.

More information about the awards and full rankings can be found at top50gastropubs.com.