Quick summary: A new data analysis has identified Gateshead as the best destination in the UK for cosy pubs, securing a top score of 98.69% due to its high concentration of traditional venues featuring real fireplaces and live sports broadcasts. Mid sized towns like Blackburn and High Wycombe similarly outranked major metropolitan areas, where fragmented nightlife scenes and bustling modern venues offer significantly fewer fireplace equipped options per capita. For public policy and community well-being, these findings highlight the vital role that traditional hospitality infrastructure plays in fostering social cohesion, as accessible and comfortable community hubs directly combat urban isolation by supporting positive mental health and a shared sense of belonging.
Gateshead has emerged as the best place in the UK for cosy pubs, according to a new study analysing venues with real fireplaces across 73 major towns and cities.
The northeastern town achieved an overall cosiness score of 98.69%, driven by the highest rate of pubs with fireplaces per 100,000 residents, making it an ideal destination for pubgoers seeking warmth and live sport this bank holiday weekend.
Non-GamStop-Betting.com created the ranking by examining Google ratings and pub information from UseYourLocal.com for towns and cities with populations of at least 100,000. Each location received a cosiness score based on pubs with real fires that also offered large TV screens, horse racing, football, cricket, rugby, or connections to Sky Sports or TNT Sports.
Gateshead leads the pack
Gateshead stands out with nearly top marks across most factors, except Google review ratings and big screen availability. There are almost 33 pubs with fireplaces per 100,000 residents, with real fires crackling in 38 pubs across the town. Of these, 16 show football matches, 10 feature rugby, eight welcome cricket fans, and four cater to horse racing punters. They hold an average Google rating of 4.27 out of five. The top-rated pubs where visitors can cosy up to a fireplace are the Soho Tavern, Old Fox, and Black Bull.
The rest of the top 10
Blackburn ranks 2nd with a cosiness score of 83.22%. This Lancashire town offers 30 pubs with fireplaces and the 3rd-best average Google rating of 4.41 out of five. Blackburn leads the nation for cosy pubs with big screens per capita, with 11 out of 30 featuring large screens. Its best venues include the Spread Eagle, Royal Oak, and Rising Sun.
High Wycombe near London takes 3rd place with a score of 73.77%. It boasts the 2nd-highest rate of pubs with fireplaces per capita, with 29 venues rated an average of 4.38 out of five on Google. These favour football fans, with 10 showing matches regularly, alongside eight for rugby, five for cricket, and one for racing. Standout pubs are the Wheel, General Havelock, and Crooked Billet.
The remaining top 10 are Chesterfield (72.72%), Huddersfield (71.23%), Wakefield (70.91%), Basildon (70.02%), Oxford (69.93%), Stockport (68.27%), and Maidstone (64.34%).
| # | Town / City | Overall Cosiness Score (%) | Pubs with Fireplaces per 100k Residents | Top 3 Best Rated Pubs |
| 1 | Gateshead | 98.69 | 32.96 | Soho Tavern, Old Fox, Black Bull |
| 2 | Blackburn | 83.22 | 19.63 | Spread Eagle, Royal Oak, Rising Sun |
| 3 | High Wycombe | 73.77 | 25.01 | Wheel, General Havelock, Crooked Billet |
| 4 | Chesterfield | 72.72 | 18.25 | Rising Sun, Peacock at Barlow, Lamb Inn |
| 5 | Huddersfield | 71.23 | 19.51 | Shepherds Arms, Dusty Miller Inn, Waggon and Horses |
| 6 | Wakefield | 70.91 | 13.39 | Ossett Brewery Tap, Kings Arms, Harry’s Bar |
| 7 | Basildon | 70.02 | 11.21 | White Lion, Fox & Hounds, Swan Pub & Restaurant |
| 8 | Oxford | 69.93 | 22.38 | Three Horseshoes, Perch Inn, Eight Bells |
| 9 | Stockport | 68.27 | 13.37 | Reasons To Be Cheerful, Olde Vic, Chiverton Tap |
| 10 | Maidstone | 64.34 | 13.46 | Redstart, Fox & Goose, Cock Horse |
Big cities fall behind
Big cities filled the bottom spots. Despite their size, Birmingham, Glasgow, London, and Manchester ranked lowest due to fewer pubs with fireplaces per capita. Manchester scored 16.31%, London 13.33%, Glasgow 9.34%, and Birmingham 6.04%.
Across the 73 locations, there are at least 1,475 pubs with fireplaces. Of these, 451 connect to Sky Sports, 322 to TNT Sports, 299 feature big screens, 700 show football, 446 show rugby, 381 show cricket, and 93 broadcast horse racing events.
What the data shows
Nick Harris, author of Non-GamStop-Betting.com, said: “You just cannot beat that cosy pub feeling that only smaller towns can offer. Big cities cannot compete with the warmth of less busy towns when your favourite team is playing. Places like Gateshead, Blackburn, and High Wycombe have a strong traditional pub culture, where cosiness and community atmosphere are valued.”
Harris added: “The contrast with major cities, such as Birmingham, Glasgow, London, and Manchester, is also telling. Larger urban areas tend to have more fragmented nightlife scenes and busier venues, which can mean fewer traditional and cosy pubs.”
“Ultimately, this data shows that when it comes to the perfect bank holiday pub, it’s the mid-sized towns with strong local identity and traditional venues that deliver the best overall experience. They combine atmosphere, comfort, and sport in a way that bigger cities can struggle to match.”