THREE Bradford pubs and a brewery have made it onto a coveted list for the first time.

CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide for 2024 was released today, charting the best pubs and breweries across the country.

This is the 51st edition of the Campaign for Real Ale’s yearly release, which is the UK’s best-selling beer and pub guide, with 4,500 of the best pubs surveyed this time around.

There are three new names from our area that have been deemed worthy to appear in the guide for 2024.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Zoe Carlton outside The Crafty Kernel, in ShipleyZoe Carlton outside The Crafty Kernel, in Shipley (Image: Other)

They are: The Ainsbury Micro Pub, in Thackley, The Crafty Kernel, in Shipley, and Taylor's on the Green, in Keighley.

CAMRA’s guide also keeps track of brewery numbers and this year has included Barker Bridge Brewery, in Cullingworth, which was founded in 2022 by Matthew Barker.

Wife and husband duo, Nicky and John Higgins, who run The Ainsbury, are also relatively new to the industry, having set up their micro pub in November 2021.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: John and Nicky Higgins serving a customer at The Ainsbury Micro Pub, in ThackleyJohn and Nicky Higgins serving a customer at The Ainsbury Micro Pub, in Thackley (Image: Other)

Both had retired from “very stressful” jobs and wanted to pursue something they enjoyed, so launched their venture more than 30 years after either of them last pulled a pint - when working in pubs during their younger years.

The couple are “over the moon” at being included in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide this year but have already tasted previous success with the campaign group.

Mrs Higgins said: “We actually won CAMRA pub of the season for Summer 2022 so this award means we are keeping on track and delivering great beers at reasonable prices to our our customers, making all our hard work worth it.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The Ainsbury Micro Pub, in Thackley The Ainsbury Micro Pub, in Thackley (Image: Other)

CAMRA covers 396 pubs across the entirety of Yorkshire but has noted a net loss of 13 breweries in the region.

The story is similar across the UK, as although the guide records 82 new breweries, 142 have closed.

This net loss of 60 breweries, and recent pub and bar closures in Bradford for example, provides a worrying reminder of the challenges the industry is facing in the aftermath of the pandemic and rising costs.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The Ainsbury Micro Pub, in ThackleyThe Ainsbury Micro Pub, in Thackley (Image: Other)

Mrs Higgins said: “Times are particularly tough for pubs.

“The rise in the cost of living is really pinching now for everyone and people are being very careful how they spend their money.

“Awards like this mean that we're continuing to provide a good service to our customers and hopefully, through being in the guide, helps others to find us too.

“Micro pubs are unique in the fact that their heating and staffing bills tend to be lower than that of the larger pubs.

“This helps with the increases in fuel costs.

“Yes, we've had to put our prices up a little to compensate in the rise in costs of supply but we're still very good value at £3.50 for a good pint of cask ale and we are always looking for the best deals possible to keep the prices low.”

To order The Good Beer Guide 2024, visit: shop1.camra.org.uk/product/the-good-beer-guide-2024/