Crosskeys Inn, County Antrim

The oldest thatched pub in Ireland was once a coaching stop on the old road between Belfast and Derry. A stone-built cottage constructed in the 1650s, the Crosskeys today is a merry place renowned for its traditional music, Guinness and Irish whiskey – and clearly has a devoted following.

Joint second place: The Stein Inn, Isle of Skye and The Earle Arms, Norfolk

An extraordinary finish, with both the Stein Inn and the Earle Arms receiving exactly the same number of votes, leaving them tied in joint second place. Skye’s oldest pub, The Stein Inn offers breathtaking wild waterside views. The Earle Arms in Norfolk is a foodie’s heaven, and a fiercely guarded secret among its loyal patrons.