The pub opened in 2021 and is located near the site of the former brewery
A West Midlands pub was named best in the UK four years after opening(Image: Joule’s Brewery)
After years of bringing it to life, a West Midlands pub with ‘something special’ received a significant award last week.
On September 24, The Great British Pub Awards named the UK’s best boozer – and it’s less than an hour from Birmingham.
The West Midlands scooped a number of prizes on the night, including Best Country Pub (The Fleece Inn, Evesham), but bragging rights went to a Staffordshire pub steeped in history.
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The Crown Wharf is the flagship venue of Joule’s Brewery and located near the site of the brewery that closed in 1974.
Joule’s Brewery now operates in Market Drayton and runs a number of impressive pubs, including the Red Lion in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.
Outside the Crown Wharf in Stone, Staffordshire(Image: Joule’s Brewery)
But the Crown Wharf is a pub rooted ‘where it all began’.
After enquiring about the land in 2013, it would take years before planning permission would be granted.
Building a pub from scratch, the Crown Wharf opened for the first time in 2021, providing the town with a new canalside pub.
Four years later, the ‘delighted’ brewery reacted after the Crown Wharf was named Great British Pub of the Year and Best Town Pub.
On social media, Joule’s Brewery posted: “We are delighted to have won not only Best Town Pub, but also… Great British Pub of the year at The Morning Advertiser Great British Pub Awards 2025.
“As the flagship tap for Joule’s Brewery, our beer offer is something we’re particularly proud of.
“Every pint poured at Crown Wharf is brewed just up the road in Market Drayton, and we showcase the full range of Joule’s ales, including seasonal and small-batch brews.”
The brewery continued: “Bringing Joule’s back to Stone has meant a lot to a lot of people.
“It’s been a privilege to return the brewery to its spiritual home, and to do so with care and respect for the heritage.
“The nods to our history are quiet but deliberate, from the signwriting to the artefacts and furniture – it’s our way of honouring the past while building something for the future.
“We may be a large pub, but we’ve always been local fist.
“Crown Wharf has become known as the heart of the town. People gather here for celebrations, for shared moments, or just a quiet pint after work.
“We celebrate all our Joule’s taphouses across the estate, but there’s something special about being rooted right here, where it all began.”
Crown Wharf is located on Crown St, Stone ST15 8QN