The Starting Gate

30/10/2026

🍻 History, quality and community spirit all under one roof.

A huge congratulations to The Sportsman Inn in Carlisle on being crowned City Pub of the Year by Solway CAMRA.

For centuries, The Sportsman has been at the heart of Carlisle's pub scene, and today it continues to set the standard. From perfectly kept cask ales and delicious home-cooked food to the warm welcome that greets every customer, the team consistently delivers the kind of experience that keeps people coming back.

Its reputation speaks for itself. Alongside previous honours such as Winter Pub of the Season, The Sportsman has earned regular recognition in the CAMRA Good B**r Guide and remains one of the city's most loved traditional pubs.

This latest award celebrates the passion, hard work and dedication of the entire team, who continue to preserve the pub's rich heritage while making it a thriving destination for b**r lovers and the local community alike.

👏 Congratulations to our Publican, Amanda Picken, and everyone at The Sportsman Inn on another fantastic achievement.

27/10/2026

WOW 🔥

This has been such an honour to be a part of!

Huge thanks to Coca-Cola for championing community leaders around the UK and for picking our very own Simon Dafforn-jones as Local Royalty!

It was a privilege to have portrait artist to royalty, Jamie Coreth, capture Simon in his natural habitat, the FBI.

Read more here 👇🏼

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pub-landlord-given-royal-treatment-37812329

26/10/2026

🎃🦇 SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY SINGS… AT THE STARTING GATE! 🦇🎃

👻🎤 HALLOWEEN KARAOKE PARTY! 🎤👻

📅 SATURDAY 31ST OCTOBER
⏰ 8PM UNTIL LATE!

Get ready to sing your heart out, dance the night away and enjoy a Halloween party packed with spooky fun, wicked tunes and plenty of tricks and treats! 🕷️🕸️

🎤 YOU bring the voice… WE’ll bring the vibes!
🍹 Fantastic drinks deals ALL NIGHT LONG!
🧛 Round up your friends and get ready for a fang-tastic night of karaoke and Halloween madness!

26/10/2026

The Carabao Cup is back for the fourth round! 🏆⚽️

Midweek just got a whole lot better. We’ve got cracking cup clashes on our screens all week, live here 📺

Tuesday
⚽️ Bradford vs Peterborough (7:45pm)
⚽️ Fleetwood vs Arsenal (8pm)

Wednesday
⚽️ Man City vs Brighton (7:30pm)
⚽️ Fulham vs Palace (7:45pm)
⚽️ Bournemouth vs Villa (7:45pm)
⚽️ Sunderland vs Brentford (7:45pm)
⚽️ Liverpool vs Chelsea (8pm)

Thursday
⚽️ Everton vs Newcastle (7:45pm)

Anything can happen in the cup 👀 Pull up a stool and join us for every minute 🍻

21/10/2026

Come join us at The Starting Gate.
Football Fixtures ⚽️ ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️

20/10/2026

At Punch, we're proud to see young talent thrive across our pubs and support teams. From first jobs to leadership roles, remains one of the UK's greatest industries for developing skills, building confidence and creating rewarding careers.

That's why we're backing a hospitality-wide call to Government ahead of the Budget, championing the sector's ability to create jobs and opportunities for young people.

Hear Harry Bourne's story and why he's proud to support this message.

12/10/2026

🎃👻 GET YOUR HALLOWEEN FREAK ON AT THE STARTING GATE! 👻🎃

🧛‍♀️🕸️ HALLOWEEN KARAOKE NIGHT! 🕸️🧛‍♂️

📅 SATURDAY 31ST OCTOBER
⏰ 8PM TILL LATE! 🎤

Get ready for a spooktacular night of singing, dancing, spooky vibes and plenty of Halloween mischief! 🧙‍♀️🦇

🎤 Grab the mic and unleash your inner rock star!
🍹 GREAT DRINKS DEALS ALL NIGHT!
👻 Bring your friends, bring your best singing voice and bring your Halloween spirit!

🕷️ Fancy dress? OPTIONAL! 🕷️
Whether you come as a witch, a vampire, a zombie or just your fabulous self, everyone’s welcome! 🧟‍♀️🧛

So dust off those costumes, warm up those vocal cords and come party with us! 🎶🍻

09/10/2026

Football Fixtures this weekend ⚽️ ⚽️⚽️⚽️Come and join us🍻🍻🍻🍻⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻

09/10/2026

Come sing your heart out🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎃🎃🎃 31st🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻

09/10/2026

⚽ THE PREMIER LEAGUE IS BACK ⚽

The international break is OVER, and it's returning with a bang 🔥

🔴 Man Utd v Spurs – Sat, 5:30pm
🔴 Liverpool v Man City – Sun, 4:30pm
🔴 Arsenal v Leeds – Sat, 12:30pm

Anfield. Old Trafford. The champions at home. This is a weekend you don't want to watch from the sofa 🛋️❌

Grab your mates, grab a pint, and get the best seat in the house 🍻

07/10/2026

Britain’s pubs are worth up to £30 billion in wellbeing value to communities across the UK. But rising costs and high taxes are putting pressure on pubs that bring people together.

This Week of Action, join the campaign today and tell your MP to keep pubs open and pints affordable.

https://www.longlivethelocal.pub/letter 🍍

25/09/2026

Actress Daisy Edgar-Jones filmed 🎥 a promo for her new film, Sense and Sensibility in our Canonbury pub, The Marquess Tavern for Vogue 🥰

The team at Vogue were searching for a shooting location that oozes class, was timeless and in-keeping with the theme of the movie... so where else were they going to film?! 😏

Take a look at the promo - Daisy is in character as Elinor Dashwood throughout!

Sense and Sensibility hits cinemas TODAY! 🎬Why not pop into The Marquess Tavern to wash down your popcorn! 🍿🍷

!

22/09/2026

We're on board, are you?

Join thousands backing Britain's pubs and breweries.

www.longlivethelocal.pub ❤️🍺

21/09/2026

This pub is a gem! 💎

The Wig & Mitre in Lincoln's Cathedral Quarter has reopened following a £100k investment. ⛪

Anne-Marie and Paul Balcomb have taken on the 14th century pub... "We’re thrilled to take control of such an iconic pub and can’t wait to meet all of our wonderful guests" ❤️

📷 Courtesy of Tory McTernan

17/09/2026

Welcome to The Buck Inn 🦌

New Management Partner Adrian McShane-Chapman has taken over the Thornton-le-Dale pub following a whopping £490k investment 🤑

🗨️ “I arrived in the UK 22 years ago from Australia, armed with just a backpack and no real plan... I’ve dipped in and out of hospitality over that time but the fire inside me to run my own pub burned bright.” - Adrian

If you're in Yorkshire, pay Adrian and his team a visit and check out this stunning pub for yourselves. 🤩

15/09/2026

Rory takes the keys to the refurbished Cross Keys pub in Nottingham! 🗝️

Our new Management Partner Rory Calladine has taken the reins at the popular city centre pub following a £100,000 investment.

🗨️"I was instantly drawn to the pub and as soon I discovered it was available in a partnership with Punch, I jumped at the chance." 🍍

Regular guests at The Cross Keys will instantly notice the pub’s traditional feel and special characteristics have been retained throughout but that a complete refresh has taken place. 💫

11/09/2026

We have reopened the Keyworth Tavern following a quarter-of-a-million refurbishment 🔥

The Keyworth pub in Nottingham, run by our Management Partner John Francis, had been closed for 5 weeks while we tore out the bar, stripped the pub back and replaced everything with new, modern furnishings. 🤩

Great work by everyone involved in the transformation 🥂

03/09/2026

⚽🔴 THE MANCHESTER DERBY IS HERE! 🔵⚽

The day all Mancunians look forward to has arrived as Manchester City make the short trip across the city to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United.

It’s one of the biggest rivalries in English football, with local pride, and three Premier League points on the line.

There’s only one place to watch a game like this, surrounded by fellow fans, with the pints flowing and all eyes on the action.

Get down early, grab the best seat in the house and soak up the derby-day atmosphere from kick-off to the final whistle.

We are here and ready for you 🍻

03/09/2026

We're quite fond of it too, Prime Minister! The Dog House

28/08/2026

Our Publican Beth at The Beeswing Inn 2013 has raised circa £250K for charity 😍 so if you're in the area this weekend, pop in and enjoy the music, food and drink!

Well done Beth!! 🥳

The Beeswing in East Cowton is hosting its 13th ‘Glastonbury’ festival to raise money for end of life care at a nearby hospital.

27/08/2026

Newly married couple Gareth and Jamie Furness have take the over The Bay Horse Inn in Pickering. 🔔

The pub has received a £400,000 investment and Gareth says it has been very well received by locals. 😃

“We are seeing more locals returning to the pub, faces that haven't been seen here for many years and we are seeing them on a regular basis... The refurb has really put The Bay Horse Inn back on the map and firmly at the heart of the Pickering community.” ❤️

Well done to everyone involved in this brilliant transformation 👏

21/08/2026

Come and sing your Hearts and out 🎤🎤🎤🎤join us Saturday 22nd for karaoke 🎤 🎤🎤🎤🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻with Wayne Ames 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻