A former tourist information centre beneath Tamworth Castle has been given a new lease of life as Britain’s best pub.
The Tamworth Tap has been named Overall Great British Pub of the Year and Best Beer Pub, after starting life as a small brewery project by George and Louise Greenaway.
Eight years ago, the Tudor building was empty, with boarded-up rooms and an overgrown courtyard. The couple initially planned to brew beer for other pubs and festivals, but occasional pop-up openings soon drew people back to the building.
Those events became regular sessions, and the brewery gradually developed into a pub open six days a week. Visitors now come for the cask ales, historic interiors and views across to Tamworth’s Norman castle.
From brewery to community pub
The Greenaways restored much of the property, including its courtyard and hop yard, while preserving features such as the 16th-century shopfront. Inside, hop garlands, traditional furnishings and vintage beer memorabilia help hide the building’s former retail use.
Brewing is still central to the business. Mondays are reserved for brewing, cellar work, deliveries and cleaning, even though the pub has become the main attraction.
The Tamworth Tap has also reached the final four of CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year, having already won the award on three consecutive occasions.
Why it matters for Britain
The project shows how an unused town-centre building can support a local brewery, create a popular community meeting place and draw visitors to Tamworth. Its castle setting and awards also give the Staffordshire town another reason for people to visit.
