The brewing and pub scene across Northern Ireland is on the up, but is being held back by restrictive licensing laws according to the Good Beer Guide 2020, CAMRA’s premier publication featuring the very best pubs to find a great pint in the UK.
Across Northern Ireland 16 pubs are included in the Guide. 23 NI breweries also feature, including Norn Iron Brew Co and Kilkeel’s Beer Hut Brewing Co which are both included for the first time.
The Good Beer Guide, which surveys over 4,500 pubs across the UK, is the definitive beer drinker’s guide to the very best pints in the most picturesque and friendly pubs. Compiled by thousands of independent volunteers, it helps identify significant trends and themes locally and nationally.
Ruth Sloan, Chairperson of CAMRA Northern Ireland, said: “CAMRA’s 2020 Good Beer Guide shows that Northern Ireland has some great pubs serving quality, tasty and locally produced beers from the growing number of fantastic local breweries.
“But in order for Northern Ireland’s beer scene to continue to grow and to match the popularity and widespread availability of locally produced, high quality real ales in pubs and taprooms in Great Britain we desperately need changes to our outdated licensing laws.
“CAMRA NI will continue to campaign for local real ales to be served in more pubs across NI – especially outside the greater Belfast area – and are working with MLAs to get changes to licensing laws in a restored Assembly so that local breweries can expand their businesses, serve local beers in more pubs, at markets and events, and open taprooms on their own premises.”
Tom Stainer, CAMRA’s Chief Executive said: “For nearly five decades, the Good Beer Guide has been a comprehensive guide to the UK’s breweries, their ales, and the best outlets to find them in across the country.
“What makes the Guide unique is that all the entries are compiled and vetted by a huge volunteer team, based around the country. We work hard to ensure that all areas of the country are covered and, unlike some competitor titles, inclusion in this book is dependent on merit, not on payment.
“The Good Beer Guide has therefore always played an important role in acting as a barometer of the beer and pub industry. We believe information gleaned from the Guide is absolutely vital in the drive to save our pubs from closure and campaign for policies that better support the pub and beer industry.”
