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

2026 Good Beer Guide published

The latest edition of the Good Beer Guide has been published this week and a number of local venues have been included. These entries would not have reached this status without the hard work and commitment they give to their customers.

The book, now in its 53rd edition, is completely independent and compiled by local members of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale using an ongoing quality Beer Scoring system, where members report on the beer quality throughout the year. 

Pubs in the north western area of the Test valley that are listed in the 2026 Good Beer Guide are:

Town Mills, Andover:

Andover Tap at the Lamb, Andover:

The Eagle, Abbotts Ann:

The Welcome Stranger, Kimpton:

The Kings Arms, Whitchurch:

The Prince Regent, Whitchurch:

The Three Cups, Stockbridge:

The Guide, which contains 4,500 of the best pubs across the UK, is the definitive beer drinker’s guide for those seeking the best pints in the nation’s hostelries. 

Meanwhile the 'CAMRA WhatPub' website lists all pubs in the area (and UK) which can be accessed here:
https://whatpub.com/

To purchase the Good Beer Guide
The 2026 Good Beer Guide can be purchased online here:
https://shop1.camra.org.uk/product/good-beer-guide-2026/ 

New Good Beer Guide sees local pubs included

The latest edition of the Good Beer Guide has been published this week and a number of local venues have been included.

The book, now in its 52nd edition, it is wholly independent and compiled by local members of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale.

The Guide, which contains 4,500 of the best pubs across the UK, is the definitive beer drinker’s guide for those seeking the best pints in the nation’s hostelries. 

Book pays tribute to communities
This 2025 edition has a choice of two covers, the Rovers Return Inn from Coronation Street, and the Woolpack from Emmerdale Farm.
CAMRA Says "This edition of the Guide pays tribute to the communities that are beamed into homes, providing entertainment and companionship to those that may not have a local pub of their own."

They add that research commissioned by CAMRA found that people who have a local, rate themselves as significantly happier because of it, and have more close friends.
The pubs on television reflect this feeling. 

Local entries
The local entries are selected by the North Hampshire group of CAMRA, using an ongoing quality Beer Scoring system, where members can register beer quality throughout the year. 

This is through the 'WhatPub' website of all pubs in the area (and UK) which can be accessed here:
https://whatpub.com/

To purchase the Good Beer Guide
The 2025 Good Beer Guide can be purchased online here:
https://camra.org.uk/publications/the-good-beer-guide-2025/

 

Good Beer Guide – published this month

The new edition of the Good Beer Guide is to be published on 28th September, but which pubs will gain a much sought after entry?

We won't know until that eagerly awaited date.
Which local pubs do you think should be included?

Published by the Campaign for Real Ale, with over 4,500 pubs listed in the guide chosen by independent consumers, this has been a popular beer and pub guide for over 50 years. With an unmistakable cover design the foreword for this year’s Good Beer Guide has been penned by Bruce Dickinson, frontman and lead singer of Iron Maiden.
CAMRA says the foreword is "a personal reflection on his love of beer, pubs, and a job that he describes as ‘the best on the planet’ – which includes brewing and drinking beer!"

The book can be ordered here: ORDER GOOD BEER GUIDE

GOOD BEER GUIDE 2023

The 50th edition of the Good Beer Guide has now been published and lists a number of pubs in the area.

The independent book, compiled by members of the consumer organisation The Campaign for Real Ale, lists over 4,500 of their recommendations.

There are entries listed throughout the local area ranging from small town centre bars to large country pubs, but the common feature is the serving of good quality beer.

A surprise to many is that Andover with its choice of pubs only gains a single entry, it being the excellent ANDOVER TAP at THE LAMB which is soon to celebrate its first birthday in the renovated historic Lamb Inn. 

The ‘Tap’ has made its mark for its excellent selection of beers, both cask and keg. The next nearest pub is just out of town at Abbotts Ann where the EAGLE INN makes a very welcome return to the Guide, a pub where traditional community hospitality rules the roost.

The Bourne valley sees a number of entries including the excellent GEORGE INN to the north of the area at Vernham Dean where service and quality always comes first.
Further south at Longparish both pubs make the grade, the traditional village style CRICKETERS INN with its lovely garden and old-fashioned hospitality rules, while the community-owned and managed PLOUGH INN is a shining example of a village pulling together to save a loved local pub. The Plough reaches the pages for the first time.
Next down the valley to be selected is the lovely ABBOTS MITRE at Chilbolton, sitting in the village centre is renowned for its local beers and good food.

Over at Whitchurch, a small town known for its support for local pubs, only one makes the cut for 2023, being the traditional PRINCE REGENT, known for its no-frills welcoming atmosphere, banter and good beer, while just outside is the WATERSHIP DOWN INN, a regular entry that keeps its place and is known for its commitment to local breweries. Meanwhile in Overton the OLD HOUSE AT HOME is the friendly village pub that makes the pages. Enjoy the Thai food here along with the excellent beers.

Further south, the national award-winning WONSTON ARMS deserves its entry and comes highly recommended. It is a pub where you can never be disappointed and a welcome rarely surpassed – and dubbed The Best Little Pub in Hampshire. Meanwhile just south of Stockbridge the popular JOHN O’GAUNT at Horsebridge on the Test Way should not be missed, a pub that prides itself on local produce and in a lovely walking and cycling area.

Others may also be deserving of inclusion, but the entries have all been visited and chosen by customers making the book truly independent.
It is highly recommended.


LOCAL PUBS

Pubs in the local area included in the 2023 Good Beer Guide include:

Andover: The Andover Tap at the Lamb

Abbotts Ann: The Eagle Inn

Chilbolton: The Abbots Mitre

Freefolk: The Watership Down Inn

Horsebridge: The John O’Gaunt Inn

Longparish: The Cricketers Inn, and The Plough Inn

Whitchurch: The Prince Regent

Vernham Dean: The George Inn

Wonston: The Wonston Arms

The book has a forward by HRH Prince of Wales (now the King), and contains a number of articles along with a listing of UK breweries.
It is available from CAMRA and also through bookshops and distributors such as Waterstones and Amazon.
It is also available as a Web App.

Buy through CAMRA here.