CAMRA Guide: 158 Pubs And 42 Breweries For Region

THE GOOD Beer Guide 2015, published last week by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), features 42 Greater Manchester breweries and 158 pubs - with seven new breweries and 40 new pubs making the final cut.

Nearly 30% of all real ale drinkers are now aged between 18 to 34 - that's 2.2m people across the UK.

The guide’s Editor Roger Protz said:

"It’s fantastic to see a continued growth in local brewing which has been encouraged by an increased interest in local ales. The overall brewery number has been heavily contributed to by small breweries which have been popping up across the country. It’s welcome news for ale lovers as more breweries means more choice."

Craftsman Brewery

Alongside new and existing pubs and breweries, the guide lists the UK's top pubs, with The Harewood Arms in Broadbottom (main image) announced as one of sixteen finalists in the running for CAMRA's National Pub of the Year competition.

The pub was judged against numerous other local branch winners and was deemed to be the best in the region with a perfect mix of the essential characteristics that CAMRA claim make a perfect pub: Atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, value for money, customer mix, but most importantly – quality real ale.

The National Pub of the Year 2015 winner will be announced in Febtruary 2015.

The announcements come as new research shows that more and more young drinkers are taking an interest in real ale.

A third of those asked between the ages of 18-24 have tried real ale, with 87% stating they'd drink it again. Nearly 30% of all real ale drinkers are now aged between 18 to 34 - that's 2.2m people across the UK.

“It is fantastic to see more young people discovering and enjoying real ale - that old stereotype of real ale drinkers being in their dotage never was true, but now it’s dead and buried," said Protz. "What’s more, the Good Beer Guide relies on recommendations by local CAMRA members across the UK and as more young people discover real ale we hope to continue to see the guide adapt and evolve alongside the British pub.”

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has been campaigning for real ale, pubs & drinkers' rights since 1971. CAMRA has over 200 branches around the UK and all activities are led by volunteers.

camra.org.uk