Rattle and Roll - Rattlebone Inn bags Punch Pub of the Year

Proper turnaround story, this. The Rattlebone Inn in Sherston, near Malmesbury, has been named Punch Pub of the Year at the Great British Pub Awards 2026, according to The Morning Advertiser.

Matthew and Charlie Wofinden-England took the pub on in November 2024, when it was struggling. In under two years they've won an AA Rosette for the food and put the place back at the centre of village life. Head chef Roger Payne runs a menu where katsu-style crispy butternut squash sits next to homemade pies, plus the burgers and roasts you'd expect.

Charity's part of the deal too. 50p from every Rattlebone burger goes to the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals, and the pub has raised more than £12,000 for good causes in the last 18 months. The events diary covers quizzes, live music, wine club tastings and murder mystery nights, which are apparently a big hit. The village cricket team and Sherston FC both call it home. The judges liked how it mixes a traditional look with a modern offer.

So what for hospo people? This is the blueprint for anyone who dreams of running their own place one day. Good food, a packed events calendar and real local ties can turn a pub round fast. Huge congrats to the team behind the bar and in the kitchen.