‘Brilliant moment’ for The Warton Arms at Woodmansey
‘A pub with real heart’ – The Warton Arms at Woodmansey, near Beverley(Image: marstonspubs.co.uk)
The Warton Arms in Woodmansey, near Beverley, has been shortlisted for the Marston’s Pub of the Year award at the Great British Pub Awards 2026. It places it among the best locals in the country for hospitality, community connection and guest experience.
The Great British Pub Awards is one of the best-known annual celebrations of pub excellence in the UK – often referred to as the “Oscars of the pub industry” – which recognises pubs that go above and beyond for their guests and have a positive impact on the communities they serve. For The Warton Arms, the nomination is a reflection of everything the team has built in Woodmansey – a pub that feels genuinely rooted in its community, growing its events, raising money for charity and strengthening its place as a local venue for celebrations, weekly groups and regulars.
The pub is at the centre of its community, having recently hosted Warton-Fest, a family fun day with competitions and live music which raised £400 for Prostate Cancer UK. Assistant manager Tami also completed a 10-mile charity walk, visiting three other Marston’s pubs before finishing at The Warton Arms, raising more than £250 for the same cause.
The team has also created a monthly social event with Home Instead to help tackle loneliness among older people locally. Held on the third Wednesday of each month, the event brings people together for lunch, bingo, quizzes and company, and has grown so much that it now takes place in the pub’s function room.
Emma Cottam, general manager at The Warton Arms, said: “To be shortlisted for Marston’s Pub of the Year is a brilliant moment for the whole team at Warton Arms. The past year has meant a lot to us, from Warton-Fest and our fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK to seeing our monthly social event grow into something people really look forward to. That’s what a pub should do – bring people together.
“We’re proud to represent Woodmansey and Beverley in the Great British Pub Awards. The nomination belongs to the team, but also to the guests and regulars who support us, join in with our quiz nights, celebrate with us in the function room and helped us deliver a record-breaking Christmas. It all adds up to a pub with real heart.”
The Warton Arms’ function room has become a popular local space for weddings, birthdays, christenings, anniversaries, awards nights and business meetings, while its weekly Wednesday quiz now attracts at least 15 teams. The pub has also hosted themed quizzes and family fun days, alongside Christmas events including Santa’s Party, Santa Paws, a carol service, wreath making, Pottery and Prosecco events, and a New Year’s Eve Sequins Party.
Becky Boyes, area operations manager at Marston’s, said: “Great pubs have a rhythm to them – familiar faces, good service, a sense of comfort and a team that knows how to make people feel at home. The Warton Arms has shown that brilliantly, with a strong mix of charity fundraising, social events, celebrations and weekly moments that give people a reason to come together.
“The team should feel very proud. This nomination reflects the quality and local connection that sit at the heart of the best Marston’s pubs, and it’s especially good to see the team investing in their own development through apprenticeships and leadership training alongside everything they do for guests.” Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser, which organises the awards, said: “I’m delighted to be revealing this year’s finalists for the Great British Pub Awards.
“This year saw a huge number of entries into the competition and for the pubs that have made it into the finals, that’s a massive achievement. But the hard work doesn’t end here.
“Judges will now be hitting the road to visit each of our shortlisted finalists around the UK and they will have to have a final panel interview before the results are decided. Good luck to all this year’s finalists – I and my fellow judges look forward to visiting you over the coming weeks.”
The winning pubs will be announced on September 23 at the First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds. For more information and the full list of finalists, visit hgreatbritishpubawards.co.uk