Campaign for Real Ale launches book to highlight British pub architecture

‘Britain’s Best Real Heritage Pubs’ lists 270 pubs which have interiors of “outstanding historic interest”.

CAMRA said these range from “rural time-warps, Victorian and Edwardian drinking palaces to inter-war boozers” all of which have seen little alteration in the last 80 years.

The book represents more than two decades worth of work by CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group, which included close collaboration with English Heritage.

“Our pubs have been changed so much during the past half-century that ones with genuine historic interiors are now incredible rarities,” said the book’s author Geoff Brandwood.

“This book identifies the top 270 of these national treasures and presents a unique picture of the diversity of interior styles spanning a century or more.”
In the book’s foreword, Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, wrote: “Pubs are an intrinsic part of British life, and nationwide there are around 50,000 opening their doors every day. But historic pub interiors are something rarer.

“From wonderful Victorian tiled interiors, through to the simple splendour of Art Deco decoration, the range of pubs recognised through the historic pub interiors project is staggering.”

The book will be available to purchase from 6 May.