England’s Top Cities for British Pint Pride Revealed

Enjoying a cold pint to celebrate or commiserate life’s moments – whatever the weather – is something that has been rooted in British culture for centuries. However, what was once a mark of quintessential British pride has evolved in recent years, with pub taps across the nation now all too often flooded by inauthentic mass-produced faux British beers.

Freedom Brewery has been proudly setting the gold standard for authentic British beers for more than three decades, and is considered to be one of the pioneers of premium British lagers.

We’re passionate about unlocking the pride and spirit of UK brewed beers while supporting an industry which has been the backbone of British life for so many generations. So, together with YouGov data, we set out to find out just how much fellow Brits share our passion by looking into just how likely punters are to turn to a British beer for their pint of choice.

We researched the top-rated pubs according to Tripadvisor for reviews that mention British or local beers across the top 20 UK cities by population to find out which cities are leading the charge for British pint pride. Mentions were counted across Tripadvisor and Google reviews to create a final ranking.

Here’s what we found.

The pintriotic north south divide

Despite the many pubs it has across the city, and its central location for all things Britain, London didn’t come top in the ranking. Instead, northern city Newcastle topped the charts, with Geordie pub owners found to be most likely to stock British brewed beers.

Known for its vibrant night life and a wide range of independent pubs that people regularly flock from across the nation to visit, it’s encouraging to see the pride Newcastle takes in supporting British brewing.

However, it was interesting to see only three southern cities appeared in the top 10 ranking, showing a clear north south divide when it comes to pint pride. While London, Bristol and Plymouth did feature, northern cities like Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle – as well as East Midlands city Leicester – dominated the first half of the rankings, suggesting that northern pride is a powerful force.

1. Newcastle upon Tyne
2. London
3. Leeds
4. Leicester
5. Manchester
6. Bristol
7. Plymouth
8. Sheffield
9. Nottingham
10. Bradford

Delving into what the nation really thinks about support for British beers

As part our research we teamed up with national data company YouGov to assess the nation’s attitudes towards support for British beers. Surveying more than 2,000 respondents, the data revealed that 36% of UK adults say they support local or independent breweries always, often or sometimes, while 35% say they choose British beer over imported options.

The survey found broader patriotic sentiment in consumer behaviour, with 44% of UK adults supporting British brands always or often, and only 6% rarely or never choosing them, indicating a strong appetite for products made at home. When asked about British-brewed beer more generally, 56% described it as either excellent or good, highlighting the high regard drinkers have for beer made in Britain.

The YouGov findings also revealed that when asked what would make them more likely to choose a British beer brand over a non-British beer, 34% of respondents said ‘availability’, while 46% stated ‘supporting local businesses and jobs’. These results highlight a willingness to support local as well as the strong appetite for British beers, and suggests that punters want to see more available on taps across the country.

Conclusion and final thoughts from Matthew Wilson, managing director of Freedom Brewery

“Here in the UK, we have so many fantastic breweries right here on our doorstep, but it’s disappointing that when you step into many UK bars – especially across London, – their taps are flooded with ubiquitous mass produced faux foreign lagers. These results show that consumers do see the value in British beers and want to see them at their favourite establishments.

“We’ve always believed that beer carries a real sense of place and belonging, and this research shows how much that matters to people, whether they’re choosing a local beer or a well-crafted British lager. People want authenticity and connection, and they want to know the story behind the pint in their hand.

“The results highlight that pubs need to cater more to the growing demand for beer produced in Britain, as many drinkers feel the current offering doesn’t always reflect what they want. At Freedom Brewery, we aim to be the solution to mass produced, inauthentic foreign beers by offering premium British beers with purpose and personality at their heart.

“This year, we’re encouraging Brits to make 2026 the year they spare a thought for where their next pint has come from and to support our British brewers. Opting for a British brewed beer means you’re supporting a fantastic UK community steeped in history too.”

Methodology

To identify England’s top cities for British pint pride, Freedom looked at the UK’s top 20 cities by population. It then looked at the top ten rated pubs according to Tripadvisor per location. The team then counted all positive mentions of ‘British beer’, ‘British lager’, ‘and ‘local beer’ across all reviews at each pub across Tripadvisor and Google reviews.

The cities were then ranked based on the total number of mentions.

All other figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,180 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 24–25 November 2025. The survey was carried out online. Figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).