We can officially announce that The Holme Lane pub, on Tong Street has been voted as the Best Pub 2025.
The T&A launched the competition a few weeks ago and nominations poured in, which were then whittled down to a final 10.
But now our readers have crowned their champion, after the final voting form appeared in the T&A newspaper on Saturday, August 2.
Current landlord of The Holme Lane, Luke Buttrey, 49, feels “really chuffed” with the accolade.
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He said: “I’m over the moon. I thought out-of-town pubs don’t get a look in.”
Luke added: “All our customers will be as well.”
The Holme Lane, in Tong Street (Image: UGC) The pub has been in the Buttrey family since 1998 but their association with The Holme Lane goes back even further than that.
Luke said dad, Michael Buttrey, 77, and mum Maria Buttrey, 74, took over the pub for a couple of months before going to two other pubs, then making their way back to Tong Street.
He added: “This came up and they’ve been here ever since.”
The family has “always loved doing it”, according to Luke.
Michael Buttrey and son and now landlord Luke Buttrey of The Holme Lane, which has been crowned the Best Pub 2025 (Image: Telegraph & Argus) His journey began at 16 when he started DJ-ing at various pubs, but Luke now runs The Holme Lane after his dad handed over the reins.
Luke said: “He took a step back, but he won’t retire. I don’t want him to.”
He added: “He does the books and everything.”
The Holme Lane is “like a proper old-fashioned pub” and Luke said he likes “to keep the pub like a living room”.
He added: “People come in and it’s nice and warm and friendly.
“We chat to customers, listen to their problems, they’re friends. Customers who’ve never been in before, and come in, and chat to them.”
It isn’t a pub where you get served and it’s “thanks, off you trot”, according to Luke.
That approach has been the recipe for success in remaining open at a time when pubs are disappearing faster than ever, and Luke told the T&A that winning the award will help too.
He said: “It’s just a massive boost for us to be recognised.”
Luke added: “It’s getting harder and harder and things change and people aren’t coming out as often but my dad is still holding his own.
“We’re still going. We’re not going to be millionaires, but we’re still ticking over.”