Calling all ale lovers, we have brought Christmas to you early because the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Good Beer Guide 2025 has been released.

The gospel of real ale hotspots and top quality boozers was first published by CAMRA in 1972 and is the UK's best-selling beer and pub guide.

And in 2024, a huge amount of local pubs and bars have made the list.

Kingston

Albion, 45 Fairfield Road, KT1 2PY

The Albion is a member of the Big Smoke Brew family (Credit: The Albion, Kingston)

The Albion is a proud member of the Big Smoke Brew Co family; a young brewery and pub company based in the leafy suburbs of Esher in surrey.

Park Tavern, 19 New Road, KT2 6AP

The Park Tavern is dubbed as Kingston's 'Best-kept Secret' (Credit: The Park Tavern, Kingston)

Dubbed as Kingston's "Best-kept Secret", the Park Tavern is the only family-owned freehouse in Kingston upon Thames.

Willoughby Arms, 47 Willoughby Road, KT2 6LN

The Willoughby Arms is a gracious 'Victorian pile' in North Kingston (Credit: The Willoughby Arms)

The Willoughby Arms is a gracious Victorion 'pile' situated in North Kingston.

Wych Elm, X 93 Elm Road, KT2 6HT

The Wych Elm in Kingston has ails supplied by Asahi (Credit: Google Maps)

North Kingston's Wych Elm is a great little pub nestled in the heart of its community.

Surbiton

Antelope, 87 Maple Road, KT6 4AW

The Antelope is a member of the Big Smoke Brewery family *Credit: The Antelope, Surbiton)

The Antelope is a proud member and the founding pub in the Big Smoke Brew Co family.

Coronation Hall , St Marks Hill, KT6 4LQ

The Coronation Hall is a Wetherspoons pub (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

As part of the Wetherspoon's chain, the Coronation Hall boasts a large room with an upper balcony seating area and stays open the latest of all the pubs and bars in Surbiton.

Lamb, 73 Brighton Road, KT6 5NF

The Lamb is a family-run pub located in the heart of Surbiton (Credit: Google Maps)

Situated at the heart of Surbiton, The Lamb is a family-run pub. Liz and Adam took it over nearly a decade ago and it has since become a pillar of the local community.

The book is currently discounted for its launch, at £14.99. (credit: CAMRA).

Special to this year, CAMRA's Good Beer Guide 52nd edition will feature not one but two covers, starring two of the UK's favourite fictional locals: Coronation Street's Rovers Return Inn, and Emmerdale's Woolpack.

The Guide, which lists 4,500 of the best pubs across the UK, is the definitive beer drinker's guide for those seeking the best pints in the nations' pubs – and costs £14.99 online.

Despite the tough trading environment facing a lot of licensees, they continue to battle against the odds, and the 2025 Guide boasts over 900 pubs that are new to this edition.

Information in the Guide is collated by thousands of CAMRA volunteers who give up their time every year to select the best of the best across the UK. As well as covering 143 of the very best pubs across Merseyside and Cheshire, it includes 36 new pub entries across the counties.

With two of ITV's flagship soaps being referenced on the cover, the foreword of The Good Beer Guide 2025 has been written by multi award-winning TV executive producer Iain Macleod.

In his foreword, MacLeod wrote: "...the story which threatened one of our pubs the most was also the one which most resonated with our times."

He continued: "In 2023, the Rovers Return closed its doors. A combination of the lingering legacy of the Covid lockdowns and the cost-of-living crisis meant that landlady Jenny Bradley couldn't afford to keep it open.

"The characters – and the viewers – lamented the news like the loss of a loved one. If it were needed, it was a timely reminder of the central place the nation's pubs have in our lives and in our affections."

The amount of pubs continues to decline in the UK, but CAMRA shines a light on these businesses. In total, there were 38,175 pubs in the UK at the end of 2023, down from 41,015 a decade earlier.

Ash Corbett-Collins, the national chairman of CAMRA, said: "The Rovers Return Inn and the Woolpack represent the UK's love of their local, and to have them featured on the covers for this year's Guide is very exciting."

"In 2023, the Rovers Return closed its doors. A combination of the lingering legacy of the Covid lockdowns and the cost-of-living crisis meant that landlady Jenny Bradley couldn't afford to keep it open.

"The characters – and the viewers – lamented the news like the loss of a loved one. If it were needed, it was a timely reminder of the central place the nation's pubs have in our lives and in our affections."

Ash added: "CAMRA's mission is to ensure support from the Government as well as tangible legislation to protect pubs in this country. By next year's edition of the Guide, we want to be talking about the beer and pub trade growing with the support of communities and parliament alike."

This year's Guide is sponsored by Midland Snacks Traditional Pork Scratchings and endorsed by Cask Marque.

The Good Beer Guide 2025 was released last week, 26 September 2024, and is available to purchase now from this link.