Suffolk/Essex: Good Beer Guide reveals where to find the region’s best ales
The Victoria Inn in North Station Road, Colchesters, named in CAMRA's 2015 Good Beer Guide as the best pub in East Anglia. - Credit: Archant
More than 470 pubs and nearly 140 breweries from around East Anglia are included in the new edition of the Good Beer Guide.
The official opening of the Briarbank Brewery in Ipswich, which has now gained inclusion in the Good Beer Guide. - Credit: Archant
The annual publication from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) lists 472 pubs in the region, including 114 new entries, and 137 breweries, of which 14 are appearing in the guide for the first time.
Leading the way as East Anglia’s representative in CAMRA’s listing of the countrys best pubs is the Victoria Inn, in North Station Road, Colchester.
It was judged against CAMRA’s other local branch winners in the region as offering the best mix of atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, value for money, customer mix and, of course, quality real ale.
Its citation read: “A warm welcome awaits at this 17th century, Grade-II-listed inn. Five real ales are on handpump, from both local and smaller brewers around the country, one usually being a dark ale, plus up to nine real ciders.
“A large courtyard caters for the alfresco drinking and also hosts an annual beer festival.”
New breweries featured in the guide include Briarbank, based in Fore Street, Ipswich, and the Witham Brewery, based at the Woolpack in Church Street, Witham.
Most Read
- 1 WATCH: 'Unplayable' delivery from Suffolk bowler goes viral
- 2 Woman freed from vehicle after car overturns near to shops
- 3 Conveyor belt which carried pig carcases across Suffolk A-road is demolished
- 4 Seven players who could leave Ipswich Town this summer
- 5 A14 westbound reopens after crash caused 7 miles of delays
- 6 Plans for 20 homes in Suffolk village unanimously refused
- 7 Long delays on A14 near Ipswich after police called to hole in the road
- 8 Warehousing units take shape at Ipswich as demand rockets
- 9 Ipswich Town's 'true league standing' revealed in new survey
- 10 Mercedes and Vauxhall flip over after crash in busy Ipswich road
In all, the guide features 71 Suffolk pubs, including 15 new entries, and 26 breweries, and 110 Essex pubs, including 27 new entries, and 29 breweries.
Roger Protz, editor of the Good Beer Guide, said: “It’s fantastic to see a continued growth in local brewing which has been encouraged by an increased interest in local ales.
“The overall brewery number has been heavily contributed to by small breweries which have been popping up across the country. It’s welcome news for ale lovers as more breweries means more choice.”
He added: “The Good Beer Guide 2015 recommends the best pubs in Britain for real ale drinkers. The guide is compiled through independent judgement and recommendations, meaning pubs are chosen on merit alone rather than being charged for an entry, as is the case with many other guides.”
