The 100-year-old watering hole underwent a major revamp and reopened earlier this year
A Leeds pub has been named the Best in Britain after The Good Food Guide unveiled their first ever top 100 boozers.
The Highland Laddie, a century-old city centre establishment on Cavendish Street in Leeds that reopened its doors in April 2025 under the new ownership of Sam Pullan and Nicole Deighton, claimed top spot on the list. After discovering the pub for sale on Rightmove, the duo - who also run the Empire Café in Leeds - revitalised this historic local with an innovative menu that sets a new standard for relaxed yet inventive 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."
When The Good Food Guide visited, they wrote: "The Highland's conveniently stumble-into-able proximity meant it was home to many newcomers' first pint in Leeds. They'd share the bar with firefighters and Dingles from the nearby Leeds Fire Station and the ITV studios ...
"Billed as 'a drinkers pub with dining room' The Highland Laddie is a pub of two halves - turn left into the bar and be greeted by brass fittings twinkling in the sun and the red glow of a vintage Guinness tap box on the bar, echoing the red and black colour scheme of the textured-wallpapered walls and ceiling. Small round tables line the triangular room where you can fit about four people and their pints, empties, and a couple of bar snacks (possibly six if you're close acquaintances, or one of them is telling a particularly good story)."
The review ended with this huge compliment: "There's a genuine commitment shown here to preserving The Highland's legacy while bringing it into the modern pub era. It's easy to hang an old mirror in a pub and call it a day, but by showing real attention to detail and a dedication to Sam and Nicole's vision, even two weeks in The Highland Laddie feels established, lived-in, and already well on its way to becoming a neighbourhood pub for the community. "
The top 100 pubs list is an initiative is in collaboration with Timothy Taylor's Landlord and supported by Tracklements and Koffmann's Potatoes. The Broad Chare in Newcastle, a long-time favourite among the guide's readers, won the Readers' Choice Award. Owner Terry Laybourne said: "We all enjoy a little recognition, and this one is extra special as it comes directly from our customers - the people at the very heart of what we do."
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Despite the somewhat bleak outlook for Britain's pubs, with an average of one closure per day in 2025, The Good Food Guide is celebrating the nation's enduring love for authentic pubs serving quality food and beer - and the increasing number of establishments that are meeting this demand.
Chloë Hamilton, Editor of The Good Food Guide, commented: "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."
Simon Martin, Group CEO and founder of The Food Heroes, expressed his delight at the support for Britain's best pubs during challenging times for the industry. In a similar vein, Liz Cuff, marketing director of Tracklements, shared her enthusiasm following the success of Britain's Best Sunday Roasts in 2024, stating: "After the success of Britain's Best Sunday Roasts in 2024, we're delighted to support The Good Food Guide in celebrating Britain's 100 Best Pubs 2025.
"The fabulous but approachable pub food on show throughout this list goes hand in hand with our award-winning condiments."