The Very Best of The Pogues (released in 2001) is a single-disc compilation that, similar to 30:30, features a rotating cast of members depending on the era of the song's original recording.

Since the 21 tracks on this album primarily focus on the Shane MacGowan era (1984–1991), the personnel consists of the following key figures:

Core Band Members
These members perform on the vast majority of tracks in the collection:

Shane MacGowan: Lead vocals and guitar.
Spider Stacy: Tin whistle and vocals.
Jem Finer: Banjo, saxophone, and mandola.
James Fearnley: Accordion and piano.
Andrew Ranken: Drums.

The Bassists
Cait O'Riordan: Bass on early tracks like "Streams of Whiskey," "Sally MacLennane," and "The Old Main Drag".
Darryl Hunt: Bass on later hits like "Fairytale of New York," "Fiesta," and "White City".

The Multi-Instrumentalists (Joined 1986–1987)
These members are present on the "classic era" tracks:

Philip Chevron: Guitar and vocals.
Terry Woods: Cittern, mandolin, and vocals.

Notable Guest Performers
Kirsty MacColl: Vocals on "Fairytale of New York".
The Dubliners: Collaborative performance on "The Irish Rover".
Tommy Keane: Uilleann pipes on "Dirty Old Town" and "The Body of an American".
Henry Benagh: Fiddle on early to mid-era tracks.

Interestingly, while Joe Strummer does not perform on this album, he is credited as the producer for several tracks from the Hell's Ditch era, including "Rain Street" and "Summer in Siam".