The latest edition of the Good Beer Guide, regarded as the definitive handbook to pubs serving quality cask beer, has been published today (Thursday 25 September).
Compiled through an independent, volunteer-led process involving pubgoers and beer drinkers across Wales and the UK, the Guide is now in its 53rd year. Sponsored by Midland Snacks Traditional Pork Scratchings and endorsed by Cask Marque, it remains a trusted reference point for beer enthusiasts.
This year’s edition introduces 51 new pubs in Wales, despite a difficult 12 months which saw several independent breweries close their doors for good.
The Guide is perfect for any beer or pub lover, acting as a passport to Wales’s pubs and a simple tool to discover hidden gems near to home or planning stops on a trip in all parts of the UK. The 2026 edition features 51 new pubs that didn’t appear in 2025.
In a year when many Welsh breweries struggled, with businesses like Boss Brewing, Vale of Glamorgan Brewery and Llangollen Brewery closing their gates for good, and more independent brewers closing than opening, the Guide still remains the go-to source for finding choice and quality in pubs.
CAMRA’s Wales Director Chris Charters said:
“CAMRA champions great cask beer in great pubs, with independence and choice at the heart of our Good Beer Guide and our campaigning. This is the only Guidebook you can buy that supports a campaigning organisation that fights for pubs, pints and consumer rights.
“Each edition of the Guide is also a collectible snapshot of Welsh and UK beer and pub culture from that year. This year’s Guide is a testament to the remarkable resilience of publicans, continuing to achieve excellence and choice for consumers despite a backdrop of sky-high tax bills and a lack of action from both Welsh and UK Governments. The Chancellor needs to use the upcoming Budget to slash the tax burden on pubs, including VAT, tax on beer and cider, and National Insurance contributions. The First Minister also needs to urgently fix the unfair business rates system which penalises our locals with unaffordable bills.”
The guide can be purchased online: shop.camra.org.uk/product/good-beer-guide-2026/
