Four London pubs land in Good Food Guide top 20, The Cow at number two
The Good Food Guide’s 2026 list puts The Cow, The Kerfield Arms and The Pelican among the nation’s best, raising London’s presence to fourteen pubs in the top 100.
News London evidence indexOpen analysis ▾
Named Good Food Guide owner quoted; figures attributed to Good Food Guide but only one source.
Higher is stronger
Provides quotes, specific data, clear writing but largely a press release style.
Higher is stronger
Measured language; no sensationalism beyond headline.
Lower is better
The Good Food Guide’s 2026 ranking placed four London pubs inside the top twenty of its national best‑pub list, The Standard reported on 29 July 2026. The Cow in Notting Hill achieved the second position, while The Kerfield Arms in Camberwell and The Pelican, also in Notting Hill, secured places twelve and fifteen respectively.
London pubs break into the top twenty
Enfield residents can see six short films at Dugdale Arts Centre on 19 November
Amenno and Film London present an evening of independent cinema with live Q&A, tickets £12, available online now
The guide, published each autumn, added two new London entries compared with the previous year, raising the capital’s representation in the top‑100 from twelve to fourteen venues, according to The Standard. The Cow, opened by Tom Conran in 1995, is noted for its Guinness and oyster offerings, a detail highlighted in the report.
"While our industry continues to adapt to the new norm of what running a hospitality business looks like in Britain, our Best Pubs list once again shows that some of the best food and hospitality can be found in pubs."
Adam Hyman, owner of the Good Food Guide
Anne Hegerty and Bobby Norris attend City of Masks London premiere
The 68‑year‑old quiz star and the 40‑year‑old reality TV personality arrived together in November 2026, prompting comments on recent weight loss and a cosmetic surgery trip to Turkey.
Implications for locals and visitors
The rankings may attract additional patrons seeking recognised quality, potentially boosting evening footfall for the highlighted venues. Residents of Notting Hill, Camberwell and surrounding boroughs can expect increased interest in their local pubs, which may translate into longer waiting times during peak periods.
The Good Food Guide’s next edition will be released in autumn 2027, at which point the current list will serve as a benchmark for pubs aiming to improve their food, atmosphere and drink offerings.
Questions this report answers
+Which London pub is ranked second in the Good Food Guide’s 2026 list?
The Cow in Notting Hill holds the number two position in the guide’s 2026 top‑100 pubs ranking, as reported by The Standard. This places it just behind the national winner, the Queens Arms in Eccles.
+How many London pubs appear in the top twenty of the 2026 list?
Four London establishments are listed inside the top twenty: The Cow at #2, The Kerfield Arms at #12, The Pelican at #15 and The Shaston Arms at #18, according to The Standard’s coverage.
+What change occurred in the number of London pubs in the overall top‑100?
The Standard notes that the 2026 edition includes fourteen London pubs in the top‑100, an increase from twelve the previous year. This reflects a broader recognition of the capital’s pub scene.
+When will the next Good Food Guide pub ranking be published?
The guide is released annually each autumn. The Standard indicates the next edition will appear in autumn 2027, providing another opportunity for pubs to be evaluated against the same criteria.
News London Desk
This article was written at the News London news desk from the reporting of the outlets listed below it. Drafting is done by a language model under human editorial supervision — there is no reporter behind this byline, and we would rather say so than invent one.
How stories are produced and scoredWho runs News LondonCorrections
The London Ledger
A considered capital-wide edit delivered each morning.
More Coverage in Culture & Arts
Enfield residents can see six short films at Dugdale Arts Centre on 19 November
Anne Hegerty and Bobby Norris attend City of Masks London premiere
Free winter makers market opens in Hornsey with 40 artists on 5 Dec
