The end of the Good Pub Guide as we know it?

The End of the Good Pub Guide as we know it?

According to The Publican yesterday, pubs are set to be charged up to £200 for the privilege of appearing in the Good Pub Guide from next year.

Fiona Stapley, who has edited the book for 27 years, said the charges will be introduced for the 2012 edition. Fees will be either £99 or £199, depending on the size of the outlet.

Pretty shocking news for a guide that proclaims its independence. This must surely have the potential to undermine its integrity. If a significant number of pubs decline to pay up, will the guide become a slimmed down version of its former self? Or will it relax its standards in an attempt to maintain its current coverage?

Even if it maintains its standards for inclusion, discrimination on the basis of willingness to pay will introduce a perception of bias which can only hurt its sales as we all know from a customer relations perspective, perception is reality.

If the publishers need to increase revenue then in my view a better approach would be to offer pubs the option of upgrading the size of the entry for a price or even allowing them to pay for advertising on some colour pages, but let's leave the basic entry free and the integrity of the guide intact.

Sorry GPG, this is altogether a disappointing decision for both pubs and pub-goers and threatens your long-standing and well-deserved reputation as the pub-goers bible. Listen to your loyal customers and publicans and think again.

The Pub Walker

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Pub Walk via a Reservoir to The Castle Inn of Chiddingstone, Kent

This Week's Pub Walk... via a Reservoir to The Castle Inn of Chiddingstone, Kent

Another circular walk from the National Trust village of Chiddingstone, this time to Bough Beech Reservoir with fine views of the countryside as well as of Chiddingstone Castle and St Mary's Church. Return to the Castle Inn for your refreshment and you won't be disappointed.

The Castle Inn, which is also owned by the National Trust, features in The Good Pub Guide and in the AA Pub Guide and has a wine list of over 150 to choose from. More up my street though, it has a selection of real ales with the most popular being Larkins which is brewed in the village.

To download full details of the route click on Castle Inn - Pub Walk 3.

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Walking near Lulworth Cove, Dorset? Visit The Castle Inn’s Beer and Cider Festival

This Week ... Walking near Lulworth Cove, Dorset? Visit The Castle Inn’s Beer and Cider Festival

Lulworth Cove is iconic. It is a breath-taking sight from the land, the sea and even the air with its beautiful symmetry and curves being captured in innumerable photographs. Walkers simply have to change down a gear to enjoy the spectacular scenery as they travel this section of the South West Coast Path.

This weekend only, in return for the minor detour to West Lulworth, walkers can enjoy a special treat if they stop by at the Castle Inn, as it is hosting its very first Beer and Cider Festival from 25th to 27th September.

If only I could be there too! Still, as the Castle Inn features in both The Good Pub Guide and in the AA Pub Guide, this is a pub walk worth doing any time of year.

For information on walks around Lulworth, click on Castle Inn pub walks and if you just want details on their Beer and Cider Festival then go to the Castle Inn’s website.

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The best pub walks can be town walks - The Cottage Inn, Bristol

This Week ... A town walk to The Cottage Inn, Bristol

We get used to the idea of the best pub walks being those that take us away from populated areas and out into rural surroundings where we can start to feel at one with nature. There is something special about escaping from the cities and savouring the sense of freedom that this can inspire.

But some of the best pub walks can also be town walks where the route can reflect a fascinating mix of historic buildings, famous landmarks, rivers, parks and more. Take today's pub walk to The Cottage Inn, for example, which includes views from the Clifton Suspension Bridge, a National Trust trail, woodlands and refreshments at a riverside pub that also features in The Good Pub Guide. Now that sounds a great mix!

To download full details click on The Cottage Inn in Bristol, Avon.

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Pub Walk to The Castle Inn within the National Trust village of Chiddingstone, Kent

This Week's Pub Walk... to The Castle Inn owned by the National Trust in Chiddingstone, Kent

A longer circular walk from The Castle Inn which nestles in the pretty village of Chiddingstone (owned by the National Trust) which is one of the prettiest villages in Kent. This route takes in Penshurst Park with woodland and riverside stretches and some views. Although the route is up to 8 miles, there are shorter break points from about two and a half miles onwards.

The Castle Inn, which is also owned by the National Trust, features in The Good Pub Guide and in the AA Pub Guide and has a wine list of over 150 to choose from. More up my street though, it has a selection of real ales with the most popular being Larkins which is brewed in the village.

To download full details of the route click on Castle Inn - Pub Walk 4.

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Dorset Pub Walk to Another Three Horseshoes Inn at Powerstock

This Week's Pub Walk... to another Three Horseshoes, this time in Powerstock, Dorset

Circular pub walk through remote countryside, with charming local views followed by a deeper and even less spoilt valley beyond West Milton. This is from a different Three Horseshoes Inn which also appears in both The Good Pub Guide and in the AA Pub Guide.

The Three Horseshoes Inn is a Victorian inn is set in the picturesque village of Powerstock which has a beautiful Norman church and is surrounded by excellent Dorset walking country. It prides itself on its use of fresh, local produce, some of which comes from its own vegetable garden.

Dogs are welcome in the guest rooms and the bar.

The walk takes you through a nameless valley which has a charm that lies largely in its natural state: hedgerows are retained, the rough grassland is too steep for ploughing and gorse thrives; there is a profusion of wild flowers in spring and early summer and Fallow deer are often seen in the winter.

Paths are not visible all the way, but route finding is reasonably easy.

West Milton church tower stands by itself at the edge of a field, looking over to Eggardon Hill, capped by one of England’s most impressively sited ancient hill-forts. The church was demolished in the 1840’s, its stone used for building Powerstock school (the building with Gothic windows passed by at the start of the walk), after which a new church was built in the village. Powerstock church has quaint 19th century murals and a highly ornamented Norman chancel arch.

For full route details go to Three Horseshoes at Powerstock Pub Walk.


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A Pub Walk to the excellent Three Horseshoes at Cockfield, Suffolk

This Week's Pub Walk... to the excellent Three Horseshoes at Cockfield, Suffolk

There is much to see on this walk, including a section along the trackbed of a dismantled railway line and the disused taxiway of a former World War II airfield, not to mention an excellent pub in The Good Pub Guide and in the AA Pub Guide.

Cockfield is a scattered village consisting of nine greens and hamlets, spread around the undulating countryside north of Lavenham. The walk starts from what must have been regarded as the original centre of the community, a cluster of old buildings around St. Peter's Church that now includes a new village hall and the local primary school.

The Three Horseshoes is a great find, a real character pub serving quality meals of excellent standard and great value. The menu also includes a wider selection of vegetarian meals that usually encountered in a pub. The beer garden has uninterrupted views over the surrounding countryside.

MyFavouritePubWalks.com visited this pub in May 2009 and highly recommends it. It is certainly deserving of its places in the pub guides.

Download full details at Three Horseshoes Pub Walk.


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Sponsored Pub Walk to The Keystone, Guildford, Surrey

This Week ... A Sponsored Pub Walk to The Keystone, Guildford, Surrey

The Keystone is organising a sponsored walk in support of Age Concern, leading people out of Guildford and into the beautiful Surrey countryside. It is set for Saturday 1st August 2009 and you can find out more details and download the sponsor form at Keystone Sponsored Pub Walk.

The walk follows two parallel ridges, the views from both are fantastic. There are a couple of short, steep sections. Mainly sandy tracks and woodland paths. One section of country lane.

They will head out past the castle, onto Pewley Down, through the woods and up to the Albury Downs at Newlands Corner.

After refreshments here, it’s down through the valley & up again to St. Martha’s Hill for some stunning views over Chilworth.

The North Downs Way will makes for a leisurely return stroll back through Chantries Woods to Shalford Park and along the River Wey to the finishing line at The Keystone.

This sounds an enjoyable and well thought out route and definitely one for the diary on 1st August.

If you want to try a walk from The Keystone before then, there is no need to wait as you could always download the existing Keystone Pub Walk today.

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Berkshire Pub Walk from The Crown & Garter, Inkpen Common, Near Hungerford

This Week's Pub Walk... through varied countryside to The Crown & Garter, Inkpen Common, Hungerford, Berkshire

This circular route takes you along generally well kept paths and tracks through light woodland and farmland as well as along some short stretches of very quiet country lanes. This is a relatively remote area with little traffic.

The Crown and Garter has an impressive list of accolades including being recommended in a wide range of guides including The Good Pub Guide, The Good Beer Guide, Alistair Sawday's Pubs and Inns of England and Wales and also The Real Ale Guide.

You can download this now at Crown and Garter Pub Walk.

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Pub Walk to The Angel Inn, Corbridge, Northumberland

This Week's Pub Walk ... to The Angel Inn, Corbridge, Northumberland

A short pub walk around Corbridge village including many interesting and historical facts. The choice of pubs includes The Angel Inn.

The Angel Inn has a reputation for good food that is demonstrated by its inclusion in the discerning Michelin Guide to Eating out in Pubs which includes only 6 pubs in Northumberland. The Michelin Guide is impressed by its "good-sized menus, classical in style but with modern twists, on which Northumbrian produce is proudly served at good value prices". The Angel Inn also gets a mention in The Good Beer Guide and The Good Pub Guide Lucky Dip section.

Corbridge is an interesting village with many elements unchanged from mediaeval times. It is centred on its church and market place and has attractive views from its 17th century bridge. The walk includes many fascinating facts about the village.

To download full details of the route click on Angel Inn Pub Walk.

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Pub Walk to The Keystone, Guildford, Surrey - The Face of British Pie Week

British Pie Week's Pub Walk... to The Keystone, Guildford, Surrey

This circular pub walk leads you straight to Keystone, The Face of British Pie Week, giving you the perfect opportunity to order one of their award-winning Legendary Game Pies.

With The Keystone recommended in both The Good Beer Guide and the AA Pub Guide, this has to be a pub walk for the shortlist over the coming weeks.

The walk itself offers lovely views of the Cathedral to the north and across The Downs to the south, followed by woodland paths, past the Watts Gallery and back into Guildford along the River Wey. It partly follows The North Down’s Way and can be extended via Loseley Park.

To download full details of the route click on Keystone Pub Walk.

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The Keystone, Guildford, is ... The Face of British Pie Week

British Pie Week Title Awarded to The Keystone, Guildford, Surrey

Pubs are of course the natural home of the great British pie and it is therefore no surprise that the title of The Face of British Pie Week has been awarded to a pub.

Ashley Robins, Head Chef at The Keystone in Guildford, Surrey, walked away with the prize for his Legendary Game Pie. We must surely all have our favourite pies and game pie is certainly one of mine!

There is more to The Keystone than pies as they are featured in both The Good Beer Guide and the AA Pub Guide. Click on Legendary Game Pie to see a photo of their mouth-watering pie and read more about them.

British Pie Week ran from 2 - 8 March and was sponsored by Jus-Rol, the pastry-makers.

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Pub Walk to The Black Boy in Winchester, Hampsire

This Week's Pub Walk... to The Black Boy in Winchester, Hampsire

Explore the ancient capital of Wessex including not only the river and cathedral but 'King Arthur's Round Table' as well.

The Black Boy is a popular pub and worth a visit not just for good value home-cooked traditional food and real ales but also for its weird and wonderful collections (ladies, check out the toilet!). Off the traditional tourist trail, its a traditional pub with bags of charm, earning a place in The Good Pub Guide. The Black Boy has a particularly good reputation for its evening meals but at lunch times the menu is more limited.

To download full details of the route click on Black Boy Pub Walk.

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Pub Walk to the Plough and Harrow on the South Wales Coast Path, Glamorgan

This Week's Pub Walk... returning to the Plough and Harrow on the South Wales Coast Path, Glamorgan

This circular pub walk includes the Coastal Footpath to Marcross with some spectacular scenery and a choice of two great pubs. The Plough and Harrow is full of character and a true favourite of mine, appearing in not only The Good Pub Guide and the AA Pub Guide but also The Good Beer Guide who voted it the Best Pub in Wales 2003.

This walk has plenty of interest with varied terrain, seaward views, two dramatic coves, some old ruins and a nature reserve.

Full details can be downloaded at Plough and Harrow Pub Walk.

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Pub Walk to The Castle Inn within the National Trust village of Chiddingstone, Kent

This Week's Pub Walk... to The Castle Inn within the National Trust village of Chiddingstone, Kent

A circular route from Chiddingstone to Penshurst Place through woods and fields with views over the Eden Valley, returning to The Castle Inn for refreshment. The inn nestles in the pretty village of Chiddingstone (owned by the National Trust) which is one of the prettiest villages in Kent.

The Castle Inn, which is also owned by the National Trust, features in The Good Pub Guide and in the AA Pub Guide and has a wine list of over 150 to choose from. More up my street though, it has a selection of real ales with the most popular being Larkins which is brewed in the village.

To download full details of the route click on Castle Inn - Pub Walk 2.

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A riverside pub walk to The Cutter Inn, Ely, Cambridgeshire

This Week's Pub Walk... a riverside pub walk to The Cutter Inn, Ely, Cambridgeshire

This circular Cutter Inn pub walk around Ely takes in the cathedral, a stretch of the River Great Ouse and offers a choice of pubs and tea rooms.

This is a gentle stroll along the river bank and then through light woodland back to Ely which should leave you plenty of time to enjoy the second smallest city in England. The cathedral which dominates Ely even offers tours up the Octagon which is definitely worth the climb, finishing with you actually standing on the lead roof!

The Cutter Inn offers an unbeatable riverside location with simple bar food or a full menu in the adjacent dining room. Our recommendation if it is a fine day is to settle for the bar menu and relax on the terrace overlooking the River Great Ouse and gaze at the wildlife, narrowboats and leisure cruisers. Certainly earns its Lucky Dip entry in The Good Pub Guide.

Click on The Cutter Inn Pub Walk to download full details.

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Around the Broads to The Bear and Bells, Beccles Marsh, Suffolk

This Week's Pub Walk... around the Broads to The Bear and Bells, Beccles Marsh, Suffolk

This Bear and Bells Pub Walk around Beccles Marsh takes in a haven for wildlife and is one of three way-marked trails, following the River Waveney for much of its route. We like the 4 mile Green Trail but there are various routes and starting points so you can do a shorter distance if you prefer.

The Bear & Bells is 5 minutes from The Quay, adjacent to the bus station, and its welcoming interior and good food have earnined it recognition in the Lucky Dip section of The Good Pub Guide. Plus it has regular guest ales for the real ale lovers too, featuring in The Good Beer Guide..

Click on Bear and Bells Pub Walk to download full details.

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Pub Walk to the Rose and Crown, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire

Pub Walk over National Trust Land to the Rose and Crown, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire

A beautiful, pleasant walk around the Woodchester Estate (National Trust land) through woods, past lily pad filled lakes and an impressive, abandoned gothic mansion.

The Rose and Crown is in the Lucky Dip section of The Good Pub Guide. It accepts dogs inside and out, has a huge beer garden and serves food all day, though the estate is a beautiful spot for a picnic too!

For full details of this highly recommended pub walk click on Rose and Crown Pub Walk.

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Pub Walk on the Moors to the Dartmoor Inn, Lydford, Devon

Pub Walk on the Moors to the Dartmoor Inn, Lydford, Devon

This is one of our favourite walks on Dartmoor near Lydford which we only discovered by talking to the locals. It offers typical Dartmoor views of tors and open moorland as well as a river that cascades spectacularly when in flood but otherwise has plenty of paddling opportunities. There is also an optional detour to climb the tor known as Widgery Cross.

The Dartmoor Inn is celebrating its 10th anniversary under current management and continues to win accolades from featuring in Eating Out in Pubs (Michelin Guides) to being included in The Observer’s “50 sexiest places to be fed!”

The food can be on the pricey side but in life you get what you pay for and the food is a joy. For this reason you’ll find it in all the other best pub guides too including the AA Pub Guide, The Good Pub Guide and the even more discerning Alastair Sawday’s Special Places series on Pubs and Inns of England and Wales.

When we stopped here, we told the staff that we were short of time and they obliged with fast, efficient and friendly service. Highly recommended.

For full details of this highly recommended pub walk click on Dartmoor Inn Pub Walk.

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Red Lion Pub Walk from Hernhill, Faversham, Kent

This Week's Pub Walk... from the Red Lion, a former Wealdon Hall in Hernhill, Faversham, Kent

This walking route in the Faversham area is called The Peasants' Last Revolt and is another one offering a choice of start points from pubs in different villages.

The Red Lion features in both The Good Pub Guide 2008 and AA Pub Guide and was once a Wealdon Hall, built in 1364. Stop for a restoring bar-meal and, if the weather is good, relax outside in the peaceful beer garden with fine views over the countryside. Or if you’re looking for something more substantial, try a meal in the restaurant and dine under the soaring medieval rafters.

This is a walk of variety, from gently rolling countryside, peppered with wildflowers and industriously buzzing bees, to the woodland depths, where civilisation seems far behind you; from wide, expansive views of rolling fields and distant sea, to quiet country villages and narrow forest paths where the trees crowd densely overhead.

For full details and an excellent pdf leaflet click on Red Lion Pub Walk.

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