9:57am Tuesday 10th October 2006
By Mike Nolan
THE beer drinkers' bible for 2007 is out in the shops and the good news is Worcestershire has more than its fair share of hostelries regarded as among the best in the country.
In fact, there has never been a better time to be a real ale drinker, according to Bill Ottaway, publicity officer for the Campaign for Real Ale, which has just released the Good Beer Guide 2007.
Worcester has six pubs listed while the county has another 50 entries in the much respected book.
Mr Ottaway said: "More and more pubs are stocking real ale and its not just the entries in the book where you can have a good beer, there are plenty of others too. But obviously there is a limit on space in the pages of the book."
He said the way that Worcester's beer festival had grown in recent years and celebrities including Chris Evans and Madonna admitting their love of real ale, which is cask conditioned beer, had helped boost traditional beer.
The Bell and Berkeley Arms, both in St John's, Cap n' Gown, Dragon Inn and Green Man, all on the Tything, and Swan with Two Nicks, in New Street had all made the 2007 guide.
Mark Wright, assistant manager at The Green Man, said the pub was honoured to be mentioned in the book.
He said the importance of offering the best possible beer could not be underestimated.
He said: "We have five cask ales and make sure these are changed regularly so we have a good variety.
"Our customers appreciate the quality of the drink and also the food and that is why they keep on coming back."
As well as a general guide to the best places to buy ale, the book also lists specific categories, such as the best new breweries, pub interiors and the best new entry pubs.
The Fleece, Bretforton, Worcestershire is fourth in the top 10 unspoiled pubs list.
It is described as: "A warren of different rooms and lovingly preserved by the National Trust. Lots of venerable woodwork which survived a major fire three years ago."
The guide is compiled by 82,000 volunteers across the UK, who happily check each pub several times a year.
The Campaign for Real Ale Good Beer Guide is available in shops now priced £14.99. It can be bought in shops, from www.camra.org.uk/books or by calling 01727 867201.
WHERE TO SUP A QUALITY BEER -
Abberley, The Manor Arms; Alvechurch, The Weighbridge; Badsey, The Round of Gras, Berrow Green, Admiral Rodney Inn; Bewdley, The Black Boy, Hop Pole Inn, The Mug House Inn, Wagon and Horses; Birlingham, Swan Inn; Birtsmorton, The Farmer's Arms; Bretforton, The Fleece Inn; Broadway, The Crown and Trumpet Inn; Bromsgrove, Hope Pole Inn, The Ladybird Inn, The Red Lion; Castlemorton, The Plume of Feathers; Chaddesley Corbett, The Fox Inn, The Swan Inn, Talbot Inn; Claines, The Mug House; Droitwich, Hop Pole Inn; Eldersfield, The Greyhound; Far Forest, The Plough Inn; Fladbury, The Chequers Inn; Great Malvern, Great Malvern Hotel; Hanley Broadheath, The Fox Inn; Hanley Castle, Three Kings Inn; Hartlebury, Hartlebury Royal British Legion; Himbleton, Galton Arms; Kempsey, Walter de Cantelupe Inn; Kempsey Green, The Huntsman Inn; Kidderminster, Boar's Head Taphouse, King and Castle; Knightwick, The Talbot; Malvern Link, Nag's Head; Mamble, The Sun and Slipper; Mookwood Green, The Fox Inn; Offenham, Bridge Inn; Pensax, The Bell Inn; Pershore, The Brandy Cask; Redditch, The Steps Bar and Bistro; Sedgeberrow, The Queen's Head; Shenstone, Plough Inn; Stourport, Bird in Hand, Old Crown; Uphampton, Fruiterers Arms; Upton-upon-Severn, White Lion Hotel; Weatheroak, The Coach and Horses; West Malvern, The Lamb Inn; Woodgate, The Gate Hangs Well.
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