We’re delighted to announce The Angel Inn, Topcliffe as the winner of Pub of the Year at the My Local Awards 2026 Yorkshire.
This award celebrates pubs that combine quality, warmth and a genuine connection to their community, and The Angel Inn is a truly deserving winner. Offering a warm, welcoming atmosphere, a stylish restaurant and a traditional bar, The Angel Inn has quickly become a favourite destination for locals and visitors alike. From freshly prepared dishes made with locally sourced ingredients to a great selection of cask ales, wines and spirits, it delivers the kind of experience people hope for when they walk into a proper Yorkshire pub.
What makes this win even more impressive is how much has been achieved in such a short space of time. Although The Angel Inn only opened to the public in July 2024 after a major refurbishment, it has already made a lasting impression. This award is a reflection of vision, resilience, hard work and a team that has created something genuinely special in the heart of Topcliffe.
A dream years in the making
The story behind The Angel Inn makes this win feel even more meaningful. Owners Maggie and Dave Mathews bought the pub in February 2023, but the connection goes back much further than that. In fact, Maggie and Dave first met at The Angel in 1994, and for Dave, owning the pub one day had long been a dream.
When the opportunity finally came, he took it, with the support of his lifelong best friend Nick Robinson, who invested in the company. That personal history gives The Angel Inn something you cannot manufacture. This is not simply a business venture. It is a place tied to memories, relationships and a long-held ambition that has now become reality.
That sense of meaning is part of what gives The Angel its character. It feels loved, cared for and rooted in something real, and customers can always sense when a place has been built with genuine heart behind it.
Built through hard work and determination
The biggest milestone for The Angel Inn was, in their own words, simply getting the place open. Like many old buildings, the refurbishment revealed all sorts of hidden problems that had not been part of the original plan. Those issues had to be tackled head on, often at considerable extra cost, and that made the journey far more challenging than expected.
Still, the team kept going. They worked through the setbacks, pushed past the unexpected obstacles and eventually reached opening day. That moment brought a huge sense of pride, not just because the doors were finally open, but because of everything it had taken to get there.
That resilience deserves real recognition. Hospitality businesses often make the finished product look effortless, but behind the scenes there is usually a huge amount of pressure, problem-solving and perseverance. The Angel Inn’s story is a perfect example of that. It is also why winning Pub of the Year so soon after opening feels like such a remarkable achievement.
What makes The Angel Inn stand out
One of the things that makes The Angel Inn special is that it is a totally family-run business with a strong and dynamic team around it. That creates the kind of atmosphere guests remember. It is warm, personal and welcoming, not forced or overly formal.
The team has been a huge part of the pub’s success. Some members have worked with the owners in previous businesses, including General Manager Katie Hayton, described as both a dear friend and someone instrumental to the success of The Angel. Alongside Katie are new team members who have quickly become part of what the owners describe as the family.
That family spirit clearly shapes the guest experience. The Angel prides itself on offering a genuinely friendly welcome, backed up by excellent service, food and drinks. In a crowded hospitality market, that combination matters enormously. People may first visit for the food or setting, but they return because of how a place makes them feel. The Angel Inn seems to understand that perfectly.
A proper local with strong community roots
The Angel Inn is more than a pub. It is part of the life of the village. That is one of the clearest reasons this award feels so fitting.
The team supports the local community in practical ways, including donating to the village Warm Hub, which provides a hot meal for elderly residents once a month. They also donate prizes to local charities and fundraisers, helping support good causes beyond the pub itself.
Their affection for Topcliffe also comes through strongly. The owners speak warmly about what a lovely place it is to live, describing it as somewhere friendly, connected and surrounded by beautiful places to visit. That local pride is not just something they talk about. It is built into the way they run the pub.
At its best, a great pub becomes part of the rhythm of local life. It is somewhere people gather, celebrate, catch up and return to again and again. The Angel Inn has already created that feeling, which is no small thing for a business that has only recently opened.
Winning over customers so quickly
One of the clearest signs that The Angel Inn is doing something right is the loyalty it has already built. The team says they are proud of the customer service they deliver, and they believe that is reflected in the number of returning guests and annual events that keep coming back.
That kind of repeat custom says everything. It shows that people are not just trying the pub once out of curiosity. They are coming back because the experience lives up to expectations. In hospitality, that is the strongest compliment any business can receive.
The owners were understandably elated, grateful and shocked to win this award, especially given the quality of other establishments in the region. For them, the win highlights just how hard the team works every day and proves that all of that effort is being recognised by the people who matter most.
Looking ahead
The Angel Inn is already thinking about the future too. Work is currently being finished on the outside bar and garden facilities, opening the door to even more opportunities in the months ahead. That kind of development should only add to what the pub can offer, especially during the summer season.
Their events team is also planning the next annual summer party, set to take place on Saturday 11th July, which promises to be a big date in the local calendar. It is another sign that The Angel is not standing still. Even after such a strong start, the team is still looking for new ways to grow, improve and give customers more reasons to visit.
Congratulations to The Angel Inn
At My Local Awards 2026 Yorkshire, we are proud to celebrate businesses that bring quality, character and community spirit to their local area. The Angel Inn is a fantastic example of all three.
From a dream rooted in personal history to a beautifully refurbished village pub with a warm welcome and a growing reputation, The Angel has quickly become a standout destination in Topcliffe. Its win reflects the hard work of the whole team, the support of loyal customers and the creation of a place that already feels like a true local favourite.
Congratulations to The Angel Inn (Topcliffe), a highly deserving winner of Pub of the Year 2026.
And finally, a message from the team: “We just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last 3 years. They are what make The Angel, a proper local.”
