CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide celebrates its 35th anniversary

The 35th edition of CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide, which lists the best 4,500 real ale pubs and includes detailed information on all of the 640-plus breweries in the UK, will be released on Wednesday, September 12th.

The Good Beer Guide is the only pub guide which is annually surveyed by CAMRA’s beer loving membership, so the reader can be assured of the most up to date information on outstanding pubs to find a pint of real ale in the UK.

Good Beer Guide editor Roger Protz said: “CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide is an indispensable travel companion for every discerning beer drinker and pub-goer. Each pub is inspected and researched by CAMRA’s members who have spent months finding the best 4,500 pubs for British pub lovers to enjoy.”

Mr Protz continued, “The guide celebrates its 35th anniversary this year and this main this success is down to the surveying of the CAMRA members who keep the book fresh and up-to-date. There are over 1,200 new pub entries and more than 50 new breweries in the 2008 edition so I am pleased to say the real ale revolution goes on!”

SOUTH WEST REGIONAL PUB OF THE YEAR 2007 WINNER:

To celebrate the launch of the Good Beer Guide 2008, CAMRA has announced the 16 CAMRA Regional Pubs of the Year winners. These are the pubs that have been hailed as the very best real ale pubs in the country. The National Pub of the Year winner will then be judged from final 16 Regional Pubs of the Year and announced in February 2008.

South West Winner:
Old Spot, Hill Road, Dursley, Gloucestershire. GL11 4JQ. (01453 542870)

A summary of the Good Beer Guide description for the Old Spot reads – “This 100- year old free house, named after the Gloucestershire Old Spot pig has been sympathetically restored by its owner. The intermit atmosphere is enhanced by log fires and brewery memorabilia.”

On the 15th February 2008, CAMRA proudly announced that the pub has been voted National Pub of the Year for 2007. Well done to the Old Spot!

For full details on the other 15 regional winners please visit www.camra.org.uk/gbgmedia

NEW PUBS AND BREWERIES IN SOUTH WEST THAT APPEAR IN THE GOOD BEER GUIDE 2008.

1. South West pubs appearing for the first time in 2008: 144
2. New breweries in South West: 7

The Good Beer Guide 2008 includes new breweries that have started producing real ale in the last 12 months, as well as pubs that have been entered by their local CAMRA branch after serving excellent beer. A total of 53 new breweries appear in the latest edition, and 1203 pubs appear for the first time.

PUBS THAT HAVE BEEN IN ALL 35 EDITIONS OF THE GOOD BEER GUIDE SINCE 1974.

Only 10 pubs have appeared in all 35 editions of the Good Beer Guide. Each of these pubs will be hosting a 1970’s themed party on the day of the launch.

The South West boasts two out of the 10 gems:

1/ Blue Anchor, 50 Coinagehall Street, Helston, Cornwall, TR13 8EU (01326 562821)
2/ New Inn, The Hill, Kilmington, Devon, EX13 7SF (01297 33376)

Please visit www.camra.org.uk/gbgmedia for the full list of pubs that have appeared in all 35 editions of the Good Beer Guide

Click here to buy your copy of the Good Beer Guide 2008 now.

Click here for updates to the Good Beer Guide (2007 Edition)

© Campaign for Real Ale & Ant Veal 2007. Designed & compiled for South Devon CAMRA by Ant Veal.
This page was last updated on 30-Sep-2007