The 2025 Good Beer Guide has now been published. It features many pubs in the Dudley and South Staffordshire branch area. The allocation for the branch was reduced this year and the guide features 22 in our area of the Black Country and three in South Staffordshire.

They are: Amblecote, Red Lion; Blackheath, Britannia, Cyder & Cobb and Old Bush Revived; Brierley Hill, Rose & Crown and Vine; Dudley, Malt Shovel; Enville, Cat Inn; Kinver, Cross Inn; Kingswinford, Bridge Inn, Ale Hub and Cottage; Lower Gornal, Fountain Inn; Old Hill, Wheelie Thirsty; Rowley Regis, Britannia;Sedgley, Beacon Hotel and White Lion; Tipton, Fountain and Rising Sun; Upper Gornal, Britannia and Jolly Crispin; Wombourne, Old Bush and Wordsley, Bird in Hand, New Inn and Queen's Head.

Congratulations to all of them. The branch will be looking at beer scores for all out pubs before starting the process for the 2026 guide.

All pubs offering real ale in our area will be considered and some that have dropped out this year due to changes in licensees will have the opportunity to get back in.