How do pubs get into the Good Beer Guide?

This is a regular question amongst beer drinkers and pub users – how does a pub make it into the Good Beer Guide, often called the 'Beer Drinkers Bible'? 

There is of course one very simple answer – serve the very best beer in the area, but how is that decided?

The Good Beer Guide, published by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is now in its 53rd edition, with entries being selected by local CAMRA members through an ongoing beer scoring assessment. This is carried out throughout the whole year. It is totally independent and unlike many other guides no venue can buy its way in.

Final selection meetings take place early in each year, using the thousands of scores submitted over the previous year from CAMRA's 140,000+ members.
So to gain entry ensure the pub's beer is in top notch condition.

To obtain the 2026 edition see:
CAMRA Shop

To take part in the Beer Scoring access the CAMRA website and search for a pub/location.
Note you need to be a CAMRA member to add a score.
See: Campaign for Real Ale

Local Pubs in the current edition are here:
https://thehappypint.blogspot.com/2025/09/2026-good-beer-guide-published.html

An Amazing Charity Effort

This must rate as one of the best local pub charity efforts as customers and staff of The Andover Tap at The Lamb, raised an incredible £19,669.60p in just one year for the chosen charity Naomi House & Jack's Place.

The funds came from an amazing number of charity events ranging from raffles and beard shaves to parachute jumping. From a few pennies of change dropped in the charity pot to sponsoring a marathon walk, every penny counts. 

Located at Sutton Scotney, Naomi House & Jacks Place are hospices providing Specialist Nursing and Respite Care for life limited and life threatened Children and Young Adults. 

The charity is currently experiencing some serious funding issues and needs all the support it can get. The numbers of children and young people receiving end of life care has more than doubled over last five years. In addition the hospice's costs have increased by a third and the charity is having to use its reserves.

It relies heavily on supporters and donations.
If anyone can help see:
https://www.naomihouse.org.uk/donate