The Guide surveys the best pubs across the UK – and is the definitive beer drinker’s guide for those seeking the best pints in the nation’s pubs.
It features 4,500 pubs, 1,700 brewers and 5,000 beers – and the foreword for the latest edition is written by Sir Ian Rankin who, with his fictional detective Rebus, both frequent the Oxford Bar, in Edinburgh, as featured on the cover of this year’s Guide.
This year, the Guide reveals 137 breweries have closed, and only 57 new breweries have opened, with 812 new entries featured.
Ash Corbett-Collins, CAMRA chairman, said: “The Good Beer Guide is fiercely independent, just like the brewers making the best beer. It is the result of the time and effort of our volunteers across the UK to find the pubs serving the best kept cask beer.
“This year, we released our flagship report, ‘Beer in the UK’, alongside our campaign to expose how ‘Big Beer’ is dominating the UK beer market, and how ordinary drinkers and independent brewers lose out as a result. Because of that, we need the Competition and Markets Authority to start a formal investigation of the UK on-trade beer market. If you agree with us, please join CAMRA, buy the Guide, and find amazing independently brewed beers for yourself.”
The pubs listed here aren’t the only ones in Bedfordshire to make the 2027 Guide – but to find the full list you can order The Good Beer Guide on the CAMRA website.
1. The Queen's Head, Ampthill
CAMRA describes the Queen's Head as a truly charming and cosy 18th century tavern in a historic area of Ampthill. Inside is a low-beamed saloon bar, a lounge and another room which is available for private functions. The pub’s name refers to Catherine of Aragon who was imprisoned in Ampthill Castle while Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries and broke from the church of Rome. Photo: Iconic Media
2. The Hidden Barrel, Bedford
Since opening in 2025 this has become a small but popular bar in the town centre. It is in essentially three areas with comfortable chairs and a sofa at the front, cafe type tables at the side and the games area at the back. Food is supplied by the nearby Italian restaurant Madame Concettas. Apart from the two varying cask ales a wide range of other drinks, many not widely available such as Lithuanian beers, is served. Branch Pub of The Year 2026 Photo: CAMRA
3. Bromham Swan
The Bromham Swan is described as a comfortable village inn with oak beams near the Bromham Water Mill Museum & Art Gallery, and the Ouse Valley Way footpath. The building has been an inn since 1798 and retains many old features, despite recent refurbishment and conversion to a through lounge bar. Meals are available in the bar and restaurant, offering a classic pub menu with Sunday roasts. Entertainments includes poker on Tuesday, arts Wednesday and Thursday, open mic on Sunday and live music every other weekend. Photo: CAMRA
4. Engineers Arms, Henlow
A traditional two bar community village pub with 10 handpumps, serving an ever-changing range of beers, plus up to 6 ciders and perry. Regular mini beer fests and tap takeovers with beers from various parts of the country. The pub features regular live music. It is well decorated with brewery and sporting memorabilia and also has a CAMRA members' corner. It is both dog and child friendly and there is a wide range of games for both children and adults including a skittles table. There is an outside area at the front and back with a marquee erected during the winter and a non-smoking patio area. Various community events and trips make it a hub of local life. Photo: CAMRA