A heritage pub appears to be on a roll when it comes to awards after being crowned the best in the county by tourism leaders.
The Fleece Inn in Bretforton, near Evesham, has been named Pub of the Year (2025/26) at the ‘Visit Worcestershire Tourism Awards’, one of the county’s highest accolades for hospitality.
This latest win comes after a string of awards for the Fleece, owned by the National Trust, including success at the British Pie Awards, national recognition at the Great British Pub Awards, and multiple CAMRA honours.
Landlord Nigel Smith said the award was a proud moment for both the team and the wider community.
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He added: “We are absolutely thrilled to be named Pub of the Year. It is a huge honour and a real testament to the hard work of our team and the incredible support we get from our community.
“The Fleece has always been about bringing people together, whether that’s over great food, a pint, or one of our events, and to see that recognised like this, especially after such a fantastic run of awards, means a great deal to us all.
“As the proud home of the British Asparagus Festival, which returns next month, The Fleece also plays a central role in celebrating Worcestershire’s seasonal produce and local suppliers, drawing visitors from across the country.”
Dating back to the 15th century, The Fleece Inn is one of the county’s most iconic pubs, known for its character, community spirit and award-winning food.
From its celebrated pies to its packed calendar of events, it continues to draw visitors from across Worcestershire and beyond.
The pub is known as a popular filming location, used in hit BBC television show Father Brown.
It is also reputed to be the favourite pub of singer and songwriter, Taylor Swift though is perhaps best known as a home for English and British folk music traditions.
The pub remained in the ownership of the same family until 1977 when Lola Taplin died, and its ownership passed to the National Trust.