Two Kenilworth pubs have featured in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide 2023 as the UK's best-selling beer and pub guide celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. 

The Ale Rooms and the Old Bakery have both been included among the 4,500 of the country's best pubs.

The book is compiled by thousands of independent volunteers and the latest edition features a new cover design by Neil Gower, a foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales and an introduction to each region by Laura Hadland – award-winning author of 50 Years of CAMRA.

The guide is based entirely on personal recommendations made by local CAMRA members, which are rigorously reviewed by branches and editors. 

Recommendations consider beer quality as well as the history and architecture of a pub and various aspects such as food, gardens, family and disabled facilities and special events.

The Ale Rooms, at Smalley Place, had a makeover last November after joining forces with Leicester-based Framework Brewery.

The pub, which has tried to expand its community outreach this year, is about "down to earth craft beer, no snobbery, but maybe pushing you a little bit out of your comfort zone, with modern twists on traditional ales" Framework Pub Company CEO Richard Owen told Nub News earlier this year.

The Ale Rooms joined forces with Framework Brewery last year (image via the Ale Rooms)

Across town on High Street the Old Bakery featured in the Grand Tour's second lockdown special, 'Carnage A Trois', in December 2021.

The guide also lists 13 breweries across Warwickshire - with three having closed in the past year.

A further 11 pubs have been added to the guide from across the county bringing the total up to 48.

Following the launch of the guide, CAMRA's national chairman Nik Antona said: "It is a huge achievement that we're able to celebrate 50 years of publishing the Good Beer Guide, and a real testament to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, who undertake the assessments. 

"What makes the Guide unique is that all the entries are compiled and vetted by a huge volunteer team based around the country. We work hard to ensure that all areas of the country are covered and, unlike some competitor titles, inclusion in this book is dependent on merit – not on payment. 

"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 open and thriving. I'd encourage everyone to use this year's Guide to visit the very best pubs across the UK and support them for generations to come." 

The Good Beer Guide, sponsored this year by Cask Marque, has been published today (27 October 2022).

To order your copy, click here.