A NORTH Cotswolds pub has been named among the best in the UK.
Donnington Brewery’s The Queen’s Head Inn in Stow has been named as one of the Best Pubs in the UK 2026 by the Telegraph.
The popular watering hole has been run by husband-and-wife duo, John and Ania Maher, for the last seven years. The pair have previously run The Halfway and The Golden Ball.
Queen’s Head Inn named amongst the best in the Uk by The Telegraph (Image: Dermot Kennedy / pubgallery.co.uk)
Reviewing The Queen’s Head Inn, The Telegraph praised Donnington Brewery for not messing around with old pubs, adding: “If you were looking to cast a Cotswold pub in a Hollywood blockbuster, this could easily be your first choice.
“It would certainly have American audiences swooning: with its limestone exterior and two cosy rooms – complete with beams, flagstone floors and, invariably, at least a couple of dogs drying off by the fire – it’s an aesthetic delight.”
With more than 2,000 pubs having closed in the last five years, 650 pubs were named and anonymously reviewed to be featured in The Telegraph’s guide to the best pubs in the UK 2026.
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John Maher said: “We are delighted to be included.
“Especially in a time when a lot of pubs are closing.
“It’s a real accolade.
“We are a traditional Cotswold pub.
“We are a pub that serves food, not a restaurant that serves beer.
“We offer good quality locally-sourced food.
“The award is given; it’s not something that you apply for or pay for.
“They come anonymously, so you do not know until the letter comes through the door, which is really nice.
“We have been here for seven years and have been tenants for Donnington for 17 years.
“Before the Queens Head, we were at the Halfway and The Golden Ball.
“We are very lucky because the local community is always very supportive, and we have had a lot of congratulations from friends and family.”
