Top Shropshire locals feature in 2024 Good Beer Guide
A prestigious guide to the nation’s best pubs features a dozen new entries from across Shropshire in its latest edition.
A total of 51 pubs across the county feature in 2024 Good Beer Guide, compiled by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra). The latest edition was launched at Shrewsbury Beer Festival in St Mary's Church.
The guide records the county as having 14 breweries, unchanged on a year ago, and halting the decline which saw five breweries close the year before.
It also features 29 pubs and eight breweries in Mid Wales.
Shrewsbury remains the county's real ale capital, with 11 entries. The town has five new entries for this year, with the Anchor at Frankwell, Montgomery's Tower in Lower Claremont Bank, the Nag's Head in Wyle Cop, the Prince of Wales in Belle Vue, and Salopian Bar in Smithfield Road all featuring.
The Abbey at Monkmoor, the Cross Foxes at Longden Coleham and Loggerheads in Church Street all keep their places, along with the Tap & Can in Castle Gates, Three Fishes in Fish Street, and Woodman in Coton Hill.
Ludlow also does well, with five entries this year. New entries Blood Bay in High Street and Queens in Lower Galdeford joining the Charlton Arms, Church Inn and Ludlow Brewing Co taphouse, which all appeared in last year's edition.
The Harp Hotel in Albrighton, which was hit by a fire earlier this year, is new for 2024, along with the Railway Tavern in Newport.
The Bell & Talbot in Salop Street, Bridgnorth, is a new entry, praised for its open fires 'to warm your cockles' and friendly atmosphere. Four other pubs in Bridgnorth retain their place: the Golden Lion in High Street, also High Town; the Black Horse in Bridge Street and the Fosters Arms in Mill Street, both Low Town; and the Railwaymen's Arms at the Severn Valley. In nearby Worfield, The Dog & Davenport Arms is another new entry, while the Lion O'Morfe in Upper Farmcote retains its place.
In the north of the county, new entries include the White Hart in Birch Road, Ellesmere, the Black Bear in High Street, Whitchurch, joining existing entries the Bailey Head in Oswestry and Stonehouse Brewery in Weston.
There are two new entries in Wellington, the Pheasant Inn which is home to Rowton's brewery, and the recently refurbished Wrekin Inn.
St George's Sports & Social Club is Telford's other new entry. The Coracle micropub and beer shop in Ironbridge is included once more, along with the All Nations in Madeley, and the Crown Inn, Old Fighting Cocks and Station Hotel, all in Oakengates. In nearby Shifnal, the Anvil Inn, King's Yard and Plough Inn are all featured once more. The Royal Oak in Ellerdine Heath retains its place.
Mention is made of the home-made food at the George & Dragon in Much Wenlock, while the Huntsman at the foot of The Wrekin in Little Wenlock is described as 'the focus of village life'.
Another new addition is the Live & Let Live in Neen Sollars, described as 'a rural gem', part of the pub dating back to the 13th century. Also featured in the south of the county are the Apple Tree in Onibury, the White Horse Inn in Clun, and the 17th century Eagle and Serpent in Kinlet.
The Three Tuns Inn in Bishop’s Castle retains its place, along with the Green Dragon in Little Stretton, and the Yew Tree Inn in All Stretton, which is praised for its characterful interior.
Over the border in Wales, the Brew Hub cafe bar makes its debut in the guide, the building having previously served as a hairdresser's, health-food shop and pastry shop.
The 17th century Cain Valley Hotel in Llanfyllin is another new entry, along with the Horseshoe Inn in Arddleen.
The Old Bakehouse micropub in Welshpool, which opened on the site of an old bakehouse in 2022, retains its place.
The 2024 guide features more than 4,500 pubs, including 386 across the wider West Midlands region.
This book features a foreword by Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden.
Camra Chairman Nik Antona said the past year had been a tough year for the trade, having seen a large number of closures and the unlawful demolition of the Crooked House in Himley, near Dudley.
“The last few years have been an incredibly difficult time for the industry, and we need more support than ever before to keep our nation’s pubs and breweries open and thriving," said Mr Antona.
The Good Beer Guide 2024 is available on the website shop1.camra.org.uk/product/the-good-beer-guide-2024
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