Shocked Leeds landlord dashed back from toilet to claim award

A Leeds based pub has been crowned as the best pub garden in the nation, for the second year running, to the shock of the owner.

The Myrtle Tavern won best pub garden in Britain at the Great British Pub Awards 2025.

Source: Lonan Sheldrake

Scott Westlake, the owner, said. ”We were shocked winning it the first time but winning that made us think we definitely would not win this time. We wouldn’t have gone if the presentation was not in Leeds. In-fact I had ruled us out to the point where I had gone to the toilet when they were about to announce the winner and to run back to collect the award.”

The landlord credited their plants as the main reason they had won, he said. ”To maintain the garden is a full-time job, it is massive so we are looking at 30 to 40 hours a week especially over winter. It is a long thorough process to look after the plants which we do ourselves instead of outsourcing it. Which a lot of people had thought we were doing. The other pubs are about beer benches and beer tents which are great but with flowers we were clearly the best.”

Source: Scott Westlake | All Rights Reserved

Michaela Lucas, who presented the pub with the award said, – while presenting: ”This pub offers a family-friendly oasis with panoramic views and a truly impressive outdoor experience.”

The pub plans to use the award to market themselves which they already do with their social media pages which is described by the owner as ‘authentic’.

A regular of the Myrtle Tavern, Shelly Westwood, said, ”I feel very proud that they won and to have this in the community and that it is a northern pub. It is nice saying we get to go to the best pub garden in Britain, all the time… Me and my husband love coming here especially when there is Christmas dinner.”

The pub has big plans for the winter with events that are expected to fill their 400-seated capacity such as their Santa’s Workshop theme for Christmas which will see a massive sleigh outside. They are also expecting to fill up for Guy Fawkes Night.

On Guy Fawke’s Night they are expecting 1200 attendees with most people standing.

The addition of an outside covered area as well as outdoor heating is intended to compel people still use the garden in the cold.