A POPULAR pub in the heart of Whitchurch town centre has been listed in the prestigious Good Beer Guide 2024.

The Black Bear, in High Street, has made the CAMRA Campaign for Real Ale) publication and those at the pub have said they are “very happy” to feature as one the very best pubs for a pint in the country.

Gemma Dimelow, manager of the Whitchurch pub, said they had known about being on the list for a month but they were not expecting it.

She continued: “I think it reflects the fact that we always choose different beers from the local area, and we never stick to one thing.

“We are adventurous, and we make sure that we provide something our customers want to try.”

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Gemma added that local residents have also started coming back to the pub.

“The locals are coming back,” she said, “We provide a homely environment with great beer, great food, and a great atmosphere.”

The pub is next going to participate in the Blackberry Fair on Saturday, October 7.

“We are expanding with the business coming down from the canal and a lot more people are recognising Whitchurch as a good destination,” Gemma added.

The guide, which examines 4,500 of the best pubs across the UK, is a beer drinker’s handbook for the best pints.

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CAMRA chairman Nik Antona said: “The last few years have been an incredibly difficult time for the industry, and we need more support than ever before to keep our nation’s pubs and breweries open and thriving.

“I’d encourage everyone to use this year’s guide to visit the very best pubs and breweries across the UK and support them for generations to come.”

This year’s handbook contains 910 newly featured pubs, an amazing prospect for the pub trade which has been struggling to stay afloat in recent years following the pandemic and rising costs.

Another new entry in north Shropshire is the White Hart, Ellesmere, and together with The Black Bear are joining the Bailey Head in Oswestry and Stonehouse Brewery in Weston, which have been on the list for quite some time.