Download the list of pubs included in The Good Beer Guide 2024 here.
Wetherspoon’s pubs across the UK have been acclaimed for the quality of their real ale – by members of their respective Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) branches.
In total, 236 of the company’s pubs are listed in CAMRA’s publication, The Good Beer Guide 2024, the UK’s best-selling beer and pub guide.
Local branch members chose the pubs following regular visits to check on the quality of the real ales on offer.
They also took into account customer service, décor and overall atmosphere.
A CAMRA spokesman said: “The pubs deserve their place in The Good Beer Guide 2024.
“It is our belief that, if a licensee serves an excellent pint of real ale, then everything else in the pub, including customer service, quality of food and atmosphere, is likely to be of an equally high standard.”
Wetherspoon’s operations director, Martin Geoghegan, added: “It’s great news that so many of our pubs have been recognised, once again, for the quality of the beer on offer.
“Each of the pubs always offers customers an excellent choice of real ales, including those from local and regional brewers, as well as hosting its own beer festival.
“Staff at the pubs work hard to ensure that the real ales on offer are kept in first-class condition at all times – and the pubs’ inclusion in the guide highlights this.”
CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2024, 51st edition, is available from bookshops and directly from CAMRA:
camra.org.uk, priced at £16.99 (website discount available to CAMRA members).
The Castle Hotel, Ruthin
Duty manager and real-ale champion Chris Rutter
J D Wetherspoon pub and hotel in the historic town of Ruthin. It has 17 guest bedrooms, and the interior is divided into different historic themes: Owain Glyndŵr, the Myddleton family and Ruthin Castle. A feature is the Barrel Room, which mentions a long-defunct brewery on the premises.
The town itself has many attractions such as the Old Gaol, Craft Centre and many fascinating buildings. As with all Wetherspoon pubs, the bar is guide-dog friendly.
St Peters Square, Ruthin, LL15 1AA
The Spirit Merchant, Newtownards
Shift leader and real-ale champion Nadine Smith
A roomy one-bar Wetherspoon pub on the main road from Belfast to Newtownards. The name recalls a previous pub that was on the same site. There are five hand-pumps with a variety of well-kept real ales. There is a variety of areas in which to sit inside, while, outside, there is a large enclosed beer garden.
54–56 Regent Street, Newtownards, BT23 4LP
An Ruadh-Ghleann, Rutherglen
Shift leader Lara McWilliams
Busy Wetherspoon in the town centre, taking its name from the Gaelic for Rutherglen. The single room is long and narrow, decorated in a contemporary style. The bar is half way down and there is a family area at the far end leading to the beer garden. There is also a window into the cellar.
The beer garden is on two levels and affords a view of the Cathkin Braes when the weather is good.
40–44 Main Street, Rutherglen, G73 2HY
The Dog Beck, Penrith
Pub manager Kate Fisher
Named after the historic Dog Beck stream which ran nearby, this Wetherspoon pub is situated conveniently between the main car park and the centre of Penrith. It has the usual large range of real ales, and food is served all day every day. The bar and downstairs area is a single open-plan room on different levels. There is a large upstairs outside courtyard area in which meals can be taken alfresco on warm summer days.
21–22 Southend Road, Penrith, CA11 8JHJ