The Duke of York on Greenhill won Joule's Taphouse of the Year 2026, seven months after reopening, and the Angel Inn took Best Pint in a public vote.
The Duke of York on Greenhill has been named Taphouse of the Year 2026 by Joule’s Brewery, seven months after the pub reopened from a major refurbishment.
The award went to Andy and Leanne, who run the pub, at the brewery’s annual Taphouse Awards, held at The Stag in Market Drayton on Wednesday evening, 14 October. Joule’s describes it as its highest recognition for a Taphouse, covering the all-round achievements of the people running it. The Duke of York also won the Joule’s Seasonal Flagship award on the same night.
Lichfield had a second winner. The Angel Inn on Market Street took Best Pint, which is decided by a public vote.
Seven months after the reopening
According to the brewery, Andy and Leanne took on the Duke of York after its refurbishment and reopening in March 2026, and have since worked “to establish the next chapter for the historic Lichfield pub, welcoming customers back and making the most of its new surroundings.”
Vicky Colclough, managing director of Joule’s Brewery, said:
“Taphouse of the Year is a very special award for us, and Andy and Leanne are thoroughly deserving winners. They’ve been part of the Joule’s family for many years and know their pub and its community incredibly well. This year has been particularly exciting for the Duke of York, with the refurbishment giving the pub a new lease of life, and Andy and Leanne have really made the most of it. They’ve worked so hard to make the Duke of York the success it is today, and it’s wonderful to see that recognised. To take home both Taphouse of the Year and Seasonal Flagship is a fantastic achievement, and we’re absolutely delighted for them.”
Best Pint, chosen by drinkers
The Angel Inn’s Best Pint award is the one customers decide. The brewery says it “means a great deal” because “customers themselves” choose “where they enjoy their favourite pint of Joule’s.”
Nearby winners
Market Vaults in Tamworth shared the Cellarmanship award with the Cock Inn in Leek, and the Boldmere Tap was one of five pubs named Top Tap Champions, alongside Crown Wharf, New Inn Newport, Old Town Hall Vaults and the Red Lion in Market Drayton. Staffordshire’s regional title went to the Rose & Crown in Biddulph Moor, whose Nala was also named Best Pub Pet.
A raffle for Severn Hospice
The evening included a charity raffle for Severn Hospice in memory of Eve Kavanagh, who worked at Joule’s for more than 15 years and died of cancer last Christmas, the brewery said. Prizes included football tickets, race days, theatre and comedy tickets, food and drink experiences, hampers and vouchers, donated by businesses including Port Vale and Stoke City football clubs, Uttoxeter Racecourse, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre and Stone Food & Drink Festival. The brewery has not said how much was raised.
Closing the night, Ms Colclough said:
“It’s lovely to get everyone together for an evening like this. We spend so much of the year busy with our own pubs and projects that it’s important to make time to celebrate what’s been achieved. We’ve welcomed new faces into the Joule’s family, reopened pubs, seen some fantastic growth and watched our landlords come up with all sorts of new ideas for their businesses. What I particularly love about these awards is seeing just how different all our pubs are. There isn’t one way to run a great Joule’s pub, and that’s something we’re very proud of. Congratulations to Andy and Leanne, to all our winners, and a huge thank you to everyone across the estate for another brilliant year.”
What it means for you
If you want to try the pint and the pub the awards singled out, the Duke of York is at 23 to 25 Greenhill and the Angel Inn at 4 Market Street. Both are listed, with the city’s other pubs, in our Lichfield business directory. If a pub crawl by train appeals, our Chase Line ale trail covers 20 pubs between Rugeley and Walsall.
The full list of 2026 winners
The brewery’s full list, from pubs across Shropshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Wales and the West Midlands:
People, pubs and community
- Taphouse of the Year: Andy and Leanne, Duke of York, Lichfield
- Social Media Star: Mere Inn, Castle, Lower Chequer
- Live Music Legend: Bricklayers, Prince of Wales, Sandbrook Vaults
- Event Excellence: Henry Tudor
- Rhythm of the Week Champion: Sandbrook Vaults, White Horse, New Inn Harborne
- Community Champion: Cock Hotel, White Lion
- Pub in Bloom: Mere Inn, Kings Arms, Crown Codsall
- Top Tap Champion: Boldmere Tap, Crown Wharf, New Inn Newport, Old Town Hall Vaults, Red Lion Market Drayton
- Best Pub Pet: Nala, Rose & Crown, Biddulph Moor
- Best Pub Food (public vote): Leopard, Nantwich
Beer and wine
- Best Pint (public vote): Angel Inn, Lichfield
- Draymen’s Choice: Crown Wharf, Stone
- Cellarmanship: Cock Inn, Leek and Market Vaults, Tamworth
- Citra Blonde Flagship: New Inn Newport
- Joule’s Pale Ale Flagship: Rose & Crown, Ludlow
- Slumbering Monk Flagship: Glebe, Stoke
- Green Monkey Flagship: White Horse, Shrewsbury
- Joule’s Seasonal Flagship: Duke of York, Lichfield
- Best Cask Ale Growth: Offley Arms, Madeley
- Best Cold Beer Growth: Cock Inn, Leek
- Château Bessan Ambassador: Chris Turner and the Red Lion, Market Drayton
Regional champions
- Shropshire: Rose & Crown, Ludlow
- Staffordshire: Rose & Crown, Biddulph Moor
- Cheshire: Lower Chequer, Sandbach
- Wales: Royal Oak, Wrexham
- Birmingham: New Inn, Harborne
Individuals
- Rising Star: Helen and Andy, Bricklayers
- Local Landlord Icon: Fran, Offley Arms, Madeley
- Special Recognition: Paul King, Red Lion, Bomere Heath
- Joule’s Brewery Ambassador: Kat
- Ten years’ service: Stacey (Royal Oak, Wrexham) and Rachel
- Five years’ service: Emma, Callum and Dan
Source: Joule’s Brewery press release, 14 October 2026.
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