Good Beer Guide launch coincides with ‘trend’ for breweries closing
The news comes as the consumer organisation set up in the 1970s to represent UK beer drinkers and pubgoers releases its Good Beer Guide 2025.
Fears have been compounded – and were also present in the 2024 edition – that breweries are struggling to keep their doors open and many featured in last year’s guide have now closed.
CAMRA said “a perfect storm of a big tax burden, few viable routes to market and stubbornly high energy bills” are drivers behind the number of closures.
It added high numbers of independent breweries closing has a direct and devastating impact on consumer choice.
Champions of innovation
CAMRA said: “These breweries are the champions of innovation, quality and choice in the UK beer market but they struggle to get their beers behind bars due to the stranglehold that global producers and drinks distribution companies have on the market.”
One notable loss this year has been Elland Brewery, which closed its doors mere months after its 1872 Porter was crowned CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain 2023, and the closure of award-winning Nottingham-based Navigation Brewery happened in January this year.
Meanwhile, Wychwood Brewery in Oxfordshire and Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire were both closed by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company in the last year.
Ahead of the Autumn Budget, which takes place on Wednesday 30 October, CAMRA has urged chancellor Rachel Reeves to stick by the Labour manifesto promise on reforming business rates in England.
Unfair system
CAMRA claimed the current system unfairly penalises pubs and breweries, and makes it harder for all bricks-and-mortar businesses to compete with online shopping.
It also called for the chancellor to support independent breweries, consumers and pubs by extending the discount on tax paid on draught beer and cider in pubs compared to the likes of supermarket alcohol.
CAMRA chairman Ash Corbett-Collins said: “This year’s edition of the Good Beer Guide shows a brewing trade that continues to face huge challenges but one that beer and pub lovers across the UK are still rallying behind.
“CAMRA will be lobbying this new Government to show their support for independent breweries, to try and ensure that the Good Beer Guide 2026 is brimming with new establishments.”
The 52nd edition of the guide has two different covers with Coronation Street’s Rovers Return Inn on one and Emmerdale’s Woolpack on the other. The guide lists 4,500 of the best pubs across the UK and is now on sale.
