Tiptop place to build a pub in (8)
I believe the answer is:
pinnacle
'tiptop' is the definition.
(I know that tiptop can be written as pinnacle)
'place to build a pub in' is the wordplay.
'to build' indicates an anagram.
'a pub' becomes 'inn' (an inn is a type of pub).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'place' is an anagram of 'pacle'.
'pacle' going around 'inn' is 'PINNACLE'.
(Other definitions for pinnacle that I've seen before include "The highest level" , "Apogee" , "High point of rock" , "The highest point, summit" , "The highest point, say of fame" .)