Crown Wharf, Stone named Best Pub in the UK 2025 at Great British Pub Awards

As the flagship tap for Joule’s Brewery, our beer offer is something we’re particularly proud of. Every pint poured at Crown Wharf is brewed just up the road in Market Drayton, and we showcase the full range of Joule’s ales, including seasonal and small-batch brews. Our team take huge care in keeping and serving our beer, and it’s something our regulars really notice. From a quiet pint in the Lamb and Flag to a lively night in the beer hall, we aim to offer something for everyone.

Bringing Joule’s back to Stone has meant a lot to a lot of people. It’s been a privilege to return the brewery to its spiritual home, and to do so with care and respect for the heritage. The nods to our history are quiet but deliberate, from the signwriting to the artefacts and furniture – it’s our way of honouring the past while building something for the future.

We may be a large pub, but we’ve always been local first.

Everything we do is shaped around the community we serve – from the quiet corners of the Lamb and Flag to the shuffleboard in the taproom. We’ve created a space where different parts of the community can meet, whether that’s over coffee, a pint, a board game or a live gig. We keep reinvesting in both the building and the town. Over the past year we’ve made improvements to Crown Wharf itself – from planting olive trees and updating air conditioning to improving our menus – but we’ve also put over £18,000 into local community events, well beyond the walls of the pub. Whether it’s supporting local festivals, sports teams or the heritage centre, we want to give back wherever we can. Most importantly, Crown Wharf has become known as the heart of the town. People gather here for celebrations, for shared moments, or just a quiet pint after work. We celebrate all our Joule’s taphouses across the estate, but there’s something special about being rooted right here, where it all began.