BV London Pub of the Year 2023-24 - the results

What takes place once a year and involves me drinking large quantities of beer? 

Well, OK, it could be practically anything, admittedly, but, more specifically, it's the BV London Pub of the Year award. Yes, it's a painstaking process, visiting and revisiting pubs to determine which one is the best in the capital, but I've been doing it for well over a decade now and you can thank me later. With beer.

This is the big fuck-off final, so if you haven't read the first and second parts of the contest with all the important details'n'shit, you might want to do so now before the big reveal. 

(It's probably a bit like how you don't want to spoil your dinner by eating a Mars Bar, but it's OK to have olives or something.)

OK then...

 

 

In 5th place is a first-time entrant to the contest - the Prince in Wood Green. Well it's in N22, it's sort of Wood Greenish. I'm not good with North London. Anyway, in an area that is not exactly awash with craft beer, the range of cask and keg in here is most arousingly admirable and the food you can enjoy with it is excellent, without ever feeling like some wanker is forcing 'gastropub' values on you. Full marks! (And by 'Full marks', I mean sufficient marks to finish in fifth, obviously...)

We come now to our 4th placed pub and it is another newcomer - the Three Hounds in Beckenham. A quirky dog-friendly bar and bottleshop with an impressive keg range that puts on occasional cask-fests that are not to be missed. 

The top three was very close and it was a genuinely difficult decision, over which I ummed and ahhed and generaly agonised. But I came to a decision eventually.

3rd place this year goes to the Cask Pub & Kitchen in Pimlico, which has featured regularly over the years. A legitimate contender for the widest beer choice in London and a consistently awesome place to be found drinking beer.

Our 2023-2024 winner!

This then brings us inevitably to the final two, and in the Runner-Up spot is occupied by three-time winner, the Hope in Carshalton. Obviously this is a truly legendary pub, about which little more can be said. Except maybe that it hasn't won this time.

And that's because we have arguably a surprise Winner this year, up from a 5th place finish last time. And that pub is the Star & Garter in Bromley!

I only discovered this place a few years ago but it became clear after a few hearty quaffs and a quick look around that it was very much my kind of drinking hole. If you currently live in, or anywhere near Bromley town centre, you're very lucky indeed.

Well done, guys, and good luck everyone next year!