the Fancyapint? best pub awards 2008

2008 award winners

Reviewers’ awards

This year, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of our awards, we have created a special, one-off award for our favourite pub over the last five years.

Reviewer's special award - best London pub over the last 5 years

The Grapes, Limehouse

Stocism in a sea of change

We've known and loved the Grapes for a few decades and, whilst the docks declined and Docklands emerged from the rubble, whilst properties and business roundabout boomed and busted, this pub has quietly and steadfastly maintained the values that make the British pub great. Long may it last.

Princess of Wales, Primrose Hill - reviewers' overall winner

Relaxed and affable

The Princess of Wales is a relaxed and affable pub - the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of 21st Century living.

Vauxhall Griffin, Vauxhall

A pub for everyone

The Vauxhall Griffin is one of those rare pubs that successfully appeals to everyone - not an easy thing to do.

King Edward VII, Stratford

A modern take on traditional values

King Eddie's can be described as a modern pub in an old, old building that demonstrates traditional pub values such as great beer, good food and good service are never out of fashion.

Windsor Castle, Marylebone

Friendly and idiosyncratic

The Windsor Castle is possibly one of the most idiosyncratic pubs you're likely to come across. It's also one of the friendliest - it's always a pleasure to visit here.

Sir Richard Steele, Primrose Hill

Characterful and relaxed

The Sir Richard Steele is a characterful and relaxed pub, where you can enjoy good beer with a varied crowd.

Best renovation

The Princess Louise, Holborn

The best just got better

The Princess Louise was already famous for its magnificent interior and the recent renovation has seemingly achieved the impossible and made it even more appealing. This pub has to be on every pub-fan's London iternerary.

Most Improved

North Nineteen, Archway

A remarkable turnaround

North Nineteen shows that by providing quality food and drink along with unfailingly friendly service you can create a strong community local.

The Duchess, Vauxhall

A tired old pub reborn

By putting back all the elements which make a great all-round pub, the Duchess has managed to to turn around a tired old boozer and entice a mixed crowd of locals.

Best Newcomer

Carpenters Arms, Bethnal Green

An instant favourite

The Carpenters Arms is a delight, when the old pub closed, we were expecting apartments to go up in its place, but instead we got another pub. And what a pub - great beer and wine, tasteful decor and excellent service. It proves if you get the basics right, you can have a great pub from day one.

Visitors' Awards

The Lamb, Holborn - visitors' overall winner

It's nice to know our visitors like it as much as we do

For those in the know, it's no surprise that the Lamb regularly receives acclaim - it's a pub that gets everything just right.

Water Poet, Spitalfields

A good mixer

Perched 'twixt the City and trendy Shoreditch, the Water Poet appeals to everyone.

King’s Arms, Waterloo

You just keep going back

For the third year in a row the King's Arms has won a Visitors' Award. The location, ambience and quality of service add up to a pub Fancyapint.com users just can't get enough of.

Prince Regent, Marylebone

Informal, relaxed and funky

Informal, relaxed and funky, one of the first pubs to demonstrate that a traditional boozer doesn't have to look old-fashioned.

Counting House, Bank

A splendid place for a social occasion.

A magnificent banking hall sympathetically converted into a great pub. A splendid place to meet for a social occasion.