What a night!
Last night at The Stag we welcomed the Joule’s family for our annual Taphouse Awards. It was an evening full of laughter, pie and pork baps, and most importantly, a chance to raise a glass to the brilliant pubs, landlords, landladies, and teams who make up our estate.
We’ve had a big year, new pubs, reimagined beers, the launch of our first Joule’s wines, Chateau Bessan, but none of it means anything without the people at the helm of our Taphouses. The awards are our way of saying thank you and celebrating what you do, day in, day out, to make your pubs thrive.
The Winners
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Social Media Star, Henry Tudor Inn, Shrewsbury
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Live Music Legends, Ye Olde Rose & Crown, Stafford; Market Vaults, Tamworth; The Glebe, Stoke; Old Town Hall Vaults, Whitchurch
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Quizmasters Award, The Dolphin Inn, Shrewsbury & Sandbrook Vaults, Market Drayton
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Event Excellence, Crown Wharf, Stone
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Rhythm of the Week Champions, The Cock Hotel, Wellington; The Crown, Codsall; The New Inn, Newport; The White Horse, Shrewsbury
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Community Champions, Paul at the Red Lion, Bomere Heath; Stacey at the Royal Oak, Wrexham; Graham at the Rose & Crown, Biddulph Moor
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Pub in Bloom, The Mere Inn, Alsager
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Top Tap Champions, Rose & Crown, Ludlow; Kings Arms, Church Stretton; Offley Arms, Madeley
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Best Pub Pet, Jude, Prince of Wales, Congleton
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Best Pub Food, Crown Wharf, Stone
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Best Pint, The Leopard, Nantwich
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Draymen’s Choice, Duke of York, Lichfield
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Cellarmanship, Red Lion, Market Drayton & Old Town Hall Vaults, Whitchurch
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Citra Blonde Flagship, The New Inn, Harborne
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Pale Ale Flagship, The White Lion, Wem
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Slumbering Monk Flagship, The Kings Arms, Church Stretton
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Green Monkey Flagship, The Leopard, Nantwich
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Seasonal Flagship, Duke of York, Lichfield
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Best Cask Ale Growth, Prince of Wales, Congleton
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Best Cold Beer Growth, Boldmere Tap, Sutton Coldfield
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Shropshire Champion, Sam & Ian, Sandbrook Vaults, Market Drayton
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Staffordshire Champion, Leanne, Angel Inn, Lichfield
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Cheshire Champions, Craig & Lacey, Prince of Wales, Congleton
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Wales Champion, Stacey, Royal Oak, Wrexham
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Birmingham Champions, Ade & Bernie, New Inn, Harborne
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Special Recognition (5 Years), Mike, Fox & Hounds; Sam & Ian, Sandbrook Vaults, Market Drayton; Anna Brakel
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Special Recognition (15 Years), Sean, Old Bulls Head; Richard & Dee, The Castle, Wem; Sally, The Glebe, Stoke
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Brewery Ambassador, Chris Turner, Red Lion & Stag, Market Drayton
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Rising Star, Fran, Offley Arms, Madeley
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Local Landlord of the Year, Matt Moulson, New Inn, Newport
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Taphouse of the Year, Jess & team, Rose & Crown, Ludlow
Brewery Ambassador, Chris Turner, Red Lion & Stag, Market Drayton
Chris has only been with us a short time but has made a huge impact. As General Manager of both the Red Lion and The Stag, he’s thrown himself into the role, leading from the front and inspiring his teams to do the same. His energy, passion, and commitment to the Joule’s brand make him the perfect ambassador.
Rising Star, Fran Eardley, Offley Arms
Taking on a Taphouse is no small challenge, but Fran has made it look effortless. Known affectionately as the “queen of a spreadsheet,” she combines careful planning with a vibrant presence at the heart of her pub. Her first year has been an incredible success, proving exactly what a Darwin agreement can achieve.
Local Landlord of the Year, Matt Moulson, New Inn, Newport
For the very first time, we opened this award to a public vote, and the response was overwhelming. Over 1,500 nominations poured in, full of glowing praise for landlords and landladies across the estate. Matt stood out not just for the sheer volume of votes, but for the heartfelt words behind them: hardworking, welcoming, a proper landlord in every sense. A well-deserved winner.
Taphouse of the Year – Jess & team, Rose & Crown, Ludlow
This is our most prestigious award, recognising a pub that embodies everything a Joule’s Taphouse should be.
Jess and her team at the Rose & Crown have been on a remarkable journey. Over the past two years, they’ve rebuilt confidence in their community, raised standards time and again, and put food, beer, and events right at the heart of what they do. With beer sales up by 12%, excellent cellarmanship, and a calendar full of reasons to visit, they’ve become a true hub for Ludlow.
But it’s not just about the numbers. Jess brings passion and personality to her Taphouse, constantly seeking new ideas and pushing things forward. She’s created a pub that feels alive, a place where people want to gather, celebrate, and return to time and again.
Taphouse of the Year is a recognition of vision, graft, and leadership. Jess and her team have shown what’s possible when a pub is run with heart, and we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate them as this year’s winners.



