We may be 86 days away from Christmas, but it may feel like Christmas has come early for cask ale lovers.

That is because the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2025 has been released.

The gospel of real ale hotspots and top quality boozers, was first published in 1972 by The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) Good Beer Guide 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.

Richmond

The Mitre TW9 - 20 St Mary’s Grove, TW9 1UY

The Mitre's landlord ran as an independent in the 2024 general election (credit: The Mitre TW9).

CAMRA said: "Small traditional community free house, originally built as a coach house in 1865 as part of the Church Estates. Church mitres feature in the leaded stained glass windows.

"There is a decked area at the front and covered patio at the rear. Cask beers rotate from independent brewers outside the M25, with three handpumps dispensing cider or perry.

"Neapolitan-style pizzas are cooked to order to eat in or take away (Wed-Sun)."

Ales include: Timothy Taylor Landlord; six changing beers (often Bristol Beer Factory, Saltaire, Siren).

Back in July, The Mitre's owner, Chris French, sat down with Richmond Nub News to explain his reasoning for running in the 2024 general election as a candidate for Richmond Park.

The Roebuck - 130 Richmond Hill, TW10 6RN

The Roebuck, Richmond is a Greene King pub (credit: The Roebuck, Richmond).

CAMRA said: "Dating from Georgian times, this pub commands the famous vista over Petersham Meadows and the Thames painted by JMW Turner.

"Reopened in 2024 after a comprehensive renovation, it offers a number of comfortable secluded areas including a cosy corner with a log fire. Guest beers are on constant rotation.

"Upstairs is the Turner Room for private dining and a function room with bar. The bus stop and Richmond Park are a short walk away."

Ales include: Greene King IPA, Abbot; house beer (by Greene King); 3 changing beers (often Exeter, Oakham, Sambrook’s).

Barnes

The Red Lion - 2 Castelnau, SW13 9RU

Fuller's The Red Lion, Barnes has made CAMRA's Good Year Guide 2025 (credit: Google Maps).

CAMRA said: "Large Victorian landmark establishment at the entrance to the Wetland Centre, comprising a front bar area and a spacious rear dining room with a mosaic domed ceiling light and an impressive fireplace.

"Outside is a covered patio, a large artificial grass garden, play area, two four- seater heated cabins and outside bar in summer. Well- behaved dogs are welcome inside, children under 10 until early evening. Occasional beers come from Wimbledon and Park breweries.

"The pub has a Fuller’s Master Cellarman award."

Beers and ales include: Fuller’s London Pride, ESB; 2 changing beers (often Dark Star, Fuller’s, Twickenham).

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

Special to this year, its 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."

Inside The Mitre TW9 - a freehouse pub in Richmond (credit: The Mitre TW9).

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 has been released, today, 26 September 2024, and is available to purchase now from this link.