Cheers! Ealing pubs praised in CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2025
We may be 86 days away from Christmas, but it may feel like Christmas has come early for cask ale lovers.
That is because the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2025 has been released.
The gospel of real ale hotspots and top quality boozers, was first published in 1972 by The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) Good Beer Guide is the UK's best-selling beer and pub guide.
And in 2024, a huge amount of local pubs and bars have made the list.
W3: Acton
Red Lion & Pineapple - 281 High Street, W3 9BP
CAMRA said: "A Wetherspoon pub at the top of Acton Hill, formerly owned by Fuller's. It was originally two pubs that then combined in 1906 – hence the name.
"The larger room is home to the circular bar, surrounded by red and black tiles. The windows are large, with etched and stained tops, and the walls are decorated with historical photographs of Acton.
"The smaller room is mainly used by diners and families. The rear patio was recently refurbished. Alcoholic drinks are served from 9am."
Ales include: Greene King IPA, Abbot; Sharp's Doom Bar; six changing beers (often Oakham, Twickenham).
West London Trades Union Club - 33-35 High Street, W3 6ND
CAMRA said: "A small, friendly club, run as a co-operative, that combines excellent beer with a busy cultural and social life. Two real ales are served from a variety of independent breweries, and particularly from the wide Nelson range.
"The Acton Community Theatre is upstairs and regular film shows are also held. The local CAMRA branch is an associate member; show a CAMRA membership card or this Guide for entry."
Ales include: two changing beers (often Portobello).
W5: Ealing
Questors Grapevine Bar - 12 Mattock Lane, W5 5BQ
CAMRA said: "A friendly theatre club bar near the centre of Ealing and Walpole Park, run by enthusiastic volunteers.
"CAMRA members and Questors theatre ticket holders are also welcome. Guest beers include some from local breweries, beer festivals are held twice-yearly and there are malt whisky tastings.
"Some books and the odd board game are available. Local CAMRA Club of the Year 2022, it won the CAMRA national award in 2012."
Beers and ales include: Fuller's London Pride; two changing beers.
Sir Michael Balcon - 46-47 The Mall, W5 3TJ
CAMRA said: "located on the Uxbridge Road east of Ealing town centre, this became a Wetherspoon pub in 2008, converted from Bryant's furniture shop.
"It is named after the legendary producer of films such as The Ladykillers and The Lavender Hill Mob, whose life and work form the basis of many of the wall displays.
"Split level, there is a raised area at the rear and a glass-covered enclosed area at the front. Alcoholic drinks are served from 9am."
Beers and ales include: Greene King IPA, Abbot; Sharp's Doom Bar; 4 changing beers (sourced nationally).
W7: Hanwell
Dodo Micropub - 52 Boston Road, W7 3TR
CAMRA said: "A classic micropub shop conversion, opened in 2017. Up to five cask beers, almost always including some from local breweries, are served from a temperature- controlled cellar room at the rear, along with cider and wine.
"There is a small bar counter by the front door but table service is the order of the day. It hosts regular tap takeovers for local breweries and has arrangements with nearby street food vendors. Local CAMRA Pub of the Year 2023."
Ales include: Greene King IPA, Abbot; Sharp's Doom Bar; four changing beers (sourced nationally).
The Fox Inn - Green Lane, W7 2PJ
CAMRA said: "This wonderful free house in Hanwell has been identified by CAMRA as having a nationally interior historic pub interior. It is as popular with walkers, cyclists and other users of nearby canal as it is with locals. Refurbishment in 2020 extended the pub into the garden, creating a large, partly covered outdoor seating area.
"It has a Thursday evening quiz and runs Easter and autumn beer festivals. Local CAMRA Pub of the Year on many occasions."
Ales include: Fuller's London Pride; St Austell Proper Job; Timothy Taylor Landlord; one changing beer (sourced locally).
The Grosvenor - 127 Oaklands Road, W7 2DT
CAMRA said: "A traditional local dating back to 1904, refurbished in 2014 without losing the features and charm of its historic interior which has been identified by CAMRA as nationally important.
"There is a main bar and a dining room section. A wide range of locally produced beers is available. Family-friendly, it has a congenial atmosphere and promotes local events.
"Jazz night is the second Tuesday and open mic night the fourth Tuesday of every month. A former local CAMRA Pub of the Year."
Ales include: Fuller's London Pride; three changing beers (often Twickenham, Windsor & Eton).
The Viaduct - 221 Uxbridge Road, W7 3TD
CAMRA said: "A friendly Fuller's pub, much larger on the inside than it looks from the outside. A separate function room is available for hire when it is not being used for the Friday comedy nights.
"The pub was renamed around 1838 after the Wharncliffe Viaduct behind it, which was made famous as the first viaduct to carry a commercial electric telegraph."
Ales include: Dark Star Hophead; Fuller's London Pride, ESB; Gale's Seafarers Ale; one changing beer.
The Owl & the Pussycat - 106 Northfield Avenue, W13 9RT
CAMRA said: "Unique to West London, the combination of microbrewery and pub based in a former bookshop has retained the atmosphere of its previous incarnation.
"All beers, cask and keg, are brewed on site and mostly branded as Marko Paulo, although some are Ealing Brewing. There is a varied selection of real ciders available, along with wine, soft drinks and snacks.
"In this small, friendly environment, conversation is all- important. Local CAMRA Pub of the Year 2024."
Ales include: Six changing beers (often Ealing, Marko Paulo).
Special to this year, its 52nd edition will feature not one but two covers, starring two of the UK's favourite fictional locals: Coronation Street's Rovers Return Inn, and Emmerdale's Woolpack.
The Guide, which lists 4,500 of the best pubs across the UK, is the definitive beer drinker's guide for those seeking the best pints in the nations' pubs – and costs £14.99 online.
Despite the tough trading environment facing a lot of licensees, they continue to battle against the odds, and the 2025 Guide boasts over 900 pubs that are new to this edition.
Information in the Guide is collated by thousands of CAMRA volunteers who give up their time every year to select the best of the best across the UK. As well as covering 143 of the very best pubs across Merseyside and Cheshire, it includes 36 new pub entries across the counties.
With two of ITV's flagship soaps being referenced on the cover, the foreword of The Good Beer Guide 2025 has been written by multi award-winning TV executive producer Iain Macleod.
In his foreword, MacLeod wrote: "...the story which threatened one of our pubs the most was also the one which most resonated with our times."
He continued: "In 2023, the Rovers Return closed its doors. A combination of the lingering legacy of the Covid lockdowns and the cost-of-living crisis meant that landlady Jenny Bradley couldn't afford to keep it open.
"The characters – and the viewers – lamented the news like the loss of a loved one. If it were needed, it was a timely reminder of the central place the nation's pubs have in our lives and in our affections."
The amount of pubs continues to decline in the UK, but CAMRA shines a light on these businesses. In total, there were 38,175 pubs in the UK at the end of 2023, down from 41,015 a decade earlier.
Ash Corbett-Collins, the national chairman of CAMRA, said: "The Rovers Return Inn and the Woolpack represent the UK's love of their local, and to have them featured on the covers for this year's Guide is very exciting."
"In 2023, the Rovers Return closed its doors. A combination of the lingering legacy of the Covid lockdowns and the cost-of-living crisis meant that landlady Jenny Bradley couldn't afford to keep it open.
"The characters – and the viewers – lamented the news like the loss of a loved one. If it were needed, it was a timely reminder of the central place the nation's pubs have in our lives and in our affections."
Ash added: ""CAMRA's mission is to ensure support from the Government as well as tangible legislation to protect pubs in this country. By next year's edition of the Guide, we want to be talking about the beer and pub trade growing with the support of communities and parliament alike."
This year's Guide is sponsored by Midland Snacks Traditional Pork Scratchings and endorsed by Cask Marque.
The Good Beer Guide 2025 has been released, today, 26 September 2024, and is available to purchase now from this link.
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