Newcastle has beaten London in a ranking of cities with the strongest pride for British pints, with Geordie publicans found to be most likely to stock British-brewed beers.
The study, from Freedom Brewery, supported by new YouGov data, analysed the top 20 biggest UK cities by population. It looked at how often drinkers mention British or local beers in online reviews for each city’s top ten rated pubs, according to Tripadvisor. And the capital came second, after Newcastle.
The other eight cities, in descending order, were:
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Manchester
- Bristol
- Plymouth
- Sheffield
- Nottingham
- Bradford
“It’s really interesting to see that London didn’t come top of our rankings, despite the many pubs it has across the city, and its central location for all things Britain,” said 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.
“However, it’s encouraging to see the pride Newcastle takes in supporting British brewing. It’s not just about what’s on tap, it’s about celebrating home-grown talent and keeping those traditions alive.
“These results show that consumers do see the value in British beers and want to see them at their favourite establishments.”
As part of the study, the team from Freedom teamed up with YouGov to assess the nation’s attitudes towards support for British beers. Surveying more than 2,000 respondents, the data revealed that 37% 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, 55% described it as either excellent or good, highlighting the high regard drinkers have for beer made in Britain.
Matthew said: “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.”
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, says Freedom.
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