Cheshire pubs named in the Great British Pub Awards

The annual awards ceremony is set to take place in September, and a handful of our region's pubs are gunning for prizes on the night.

Categories in the final include:

• Best city/urban pub
• Best pub for dogs
• Best pub for entertainment
• Best country/rural pub
• Best pub for families
• Best pub for food
• Best pub garden
• Best pub to watch sport
• Best sustainable pub
• Community hero
• Best young pub chef
• Greene King pub of the year
• Admiral Taverns pub of the year
• Marstons pub of the year
• Stonegate Group Partners pub of the year
• Punch pub of the year

The finalists for this year's awards include a handful of pubs in Cheshire, including one in a 'pub of the year' category, too.

Up for awards on the night are the following local watering holes:

• The Maltings, Warrington
• Bulls Head Mobberley, Knutsford
• Wickstead Arms, Nantwich
• The Saddle Inn, Chester
• Cholmondeley Arms, Cholmondeley

The Maltings, Warrington - Best pub for dogs

The Maltings is known for its love of dogs (Image: Newsquest)

The Bewsey Farm Close venue, on the edge of Sankey Valley Park, brands itself as a dog-friendly community pub with a view, serving quality pub food and drinks.

And it is this dog-friendly nature that has seen it recognised among the best in the country.

Posting on social media, the pub said: “We are so pleased to announce that we are finalists at the Great British Pub Awards for the Best Pub for Dogs.

“Thank you for all of your support over the years. We are super excited.”

The Maltings was nominated in this category at last year's awards, too, though did not manage to scoop the top prize.

Bulls Head Mobberley, Knutsford - Best pub for dogs

Another finalist in the 'best pub for dogs' category is the Bulls Head off Mill Lane, in Mobberley, Knutsford.

The pub itself is said to have been established in the late-19th century, though its current owners have been running the pub since 2010.

In 2018, the pub was named on the Independent's Top 50 Dog-Friendly Pubs in Britain list - meaning the Bulls Head is no stranger to recognition for welcoming four-legged friends.

Wickstead Arms, Nantwich - Punch pub of the year

The Wickstead Arms, off Mill Street in Nantwich, reopened in December 2014, and since then has had much acclaim.

In 2015 the pub was named south Cheshire's Autumn pub of the year.

According to the pub's website: "The Wickstead Arms is a traditional, award-winning real ale pub in the heart of Nantwich, Cheshire.

"The pub’s warm and friendly atmosphere provides a perfect setting for a relaxing night out.

"We serve a full selection of draught and bottle beers along with a choice of wines and spirits for your enjoyment."

The Saddle Inn, Chester - Best pub for entertainment

Chester's Saddle Inn is no stranger to accolades, and is defending its title as Britain's best pub for entertainment, having won the award at the 2022 ceremony.

Found off Grosvenor Street, the historic pub is gunning to be named as the best in the land for entertainment for the second year on the trot.

The pub was previously known as the Chester Bells when it was renamed in 1998, before returning to its current moniker a few years ago.

Records for the pub date back to at least the mid-19th century, meaning it has been part of the community for more than a century.

Cholmondeley Arms, Cholmondeley - Best country/rural pub

The final pub in Cheshire to have been named as a finalist in this year's Great British Pub Awards is the Cholmondeley Arms, in Cholmondeley.

Known locally as 'the Chum,' this pub has been celebrated in the past - it was the Good Pub Guide's 'Gin Pub of the Year' from 2019-2021, for example.

The pub, which can be found off Wrenbury Road, was also featured in the Michelin Good Food/Pub Guide from 2012-2018, as well as being named as one of Harden's best UK restaurants in 2022.

A ceremony will take place on Tuesday, September 19 to announce the winners in this year's Great British Pub Awards - it will take place at Victoria Warehouse, Manchester.