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A well-known Peak District boozer is celebrating after being named one of the best in the UK. The Pack Horse in Hayfield has taken 10th position in the inaugural list of the 100 Best Pubs in Britain, published by the Good Food Guide. The pub has been run by chef Luke Payne and partner Emma Daniels since 2016, and has earned an number of rave reviews and accolades along the way. Located around 50 minutes from Manchester city centre , it has become popular for its seasonal and contemporary pub grub. Despite the doom and gloom picture of Britain’s pubs, with closures currently averaging one per day in 2025, The Good Food Guide' latest guide is celebrating the nation’s continued love for pubs with 'proper food and proper beer' - and the growing number of venues that are delivering it. Luke Payne told the Manchester Evening News it was "amazing" to be recognised in the new awards and land a coveted top-ten spot. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE “I’m absolutely delighted to feature let alone be in the top 10, which is proof that there’s still so much love for this special gastropub as it enters its 10th year," he said. "There’s been a lot of change in the background this year especially with me setting up Almanac our sister restaurant, I'm so proud of the team carrying the flag in my absence and this is a credit to their incredible work and passion." Taking top spot this year was a Leeds pub that only opened its doors back in April this year. The Highland Laddie, which dates back to the 1920s, was reopened by new owners Sam Pullan and Nicole Deighton after being shut for two years. After finding the pub for sale on Rightmove, the couple remastered the historic watering hole with an eclectic menu that the guide says raises the bar for casual yet creative pub dining. They said: ‘We are all absolutely over the moon to be recognised as The Good Food Guide’s No.1 pub in Britain! We are even more thrilled to be flying the flag for Leeds and Yorkshire." The region had a good share of the top 100 ranking too with several venues making the cut including North Yorkshire's The Abbey Inn, The General Tarleton and The Star Inn all appearing in the top 50, along with The Pipe & Glass in East Yorkshire. Editor of The Good Food Guide, Chloë Hamilton, said: ‘We went searching for the pubs that nail the drinking and dining side of the equation. "It turns out the harder you look the more you find, and they’re not all hidden away in the Cotswolds. The Highland Laddie – a city-centre slam dunk - is a very good case in point.’ Along with The Pack Horse, other Derbyshire pubs to make into the top list were The Blind Bull in Little Hucklow and The Old Eyre Arms. Fellow Northern pub, Parkers Arms in Newton in Boland in Lancashire also appeared on the list, ranking at number 39. Famed for its pies, the pub is run by chefs Kathy Smith and Stosi Madi, and stands in a picturesque green in the village of Newton-In-Bowland. Sadly, no Greater Manchester venues made the cut in this year's inaugural guide, though many featured are within an hour of two hours of the city centre by train or car. The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Pubs also welcomed nominations from its readers resulting in longstanding favourite The Broad Chare in Newcastle winning the Readers’Choice Award. This year's guide was published in partnership with Timothy Taylor’s Landlord and supported by Tracklements and Koffmann’s Potatoes. Jane Jenkins, marketing director at Timothy Taylor’s said, ‘Timothy Taylor’s is delighted to have taken part in The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Pubs campaign celebrating such quality,community-led establishments. "Congratulations to all the winners, many of whom serve Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, the UK’s number one cask ale, and a special shout out to The Highland Laddie and the Broad Chare."
