Three of our area’s pubs have been recognised for their offering after being included in this year’s Good Beer guide.

The John Russell Fox, The Andover Tap and The Weyhill Fair have all been added to the book, which describes itself as “the definitive guidebook to good pubs that serve real ale across the UK.”

They join other local pubs listed in the guide, which is put together by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), including The Eagle Inn, The White Hart and The Town Mills.

Tim Abram, from The Andover Tap, told the Advertiser that he was “delighted” to be included in the guide, especially after only opening last year.

He said: “We’ve always been a good supporter of CAMRA and local bars and breweries. It’s been a fantastic year despite the situation, and that’s mostly due to the support of local people.”

Claire Revius, from The Weyhill Fair, said she and her team were "absolutely thrilled" to be included.

She said: "It’s a recognition of the quality ale we offer, including London Pride, Dark Star HSB & Seafarers."

She paid tribute to her husband, Karl, who passed away last Christmas after suffering a heart attack the day before.

Claire said: "This is what Karl would have wanted, and was the driving force behind me and my team to bring even more of a success for the pub.

"We are absolutely, 100 per cent sure of the continued success of the Weyhill Fair & carrying on Karl’s legacy."

Manager of the John Russell Fox, Barry Price, was also pleased with his pub’s inclusion, saying: “I am delighted that The John Russell Fox has been recognised for the quality of its real ales by CAMRA members.

He said: “We offer our customers an excellent range of real ales at all times, including those from regional brewers and microbrewers, as well as hosting our own beer festivals.

“Staff at the pub work hard to ensure that the real ales on offer are kept in first-class condition at all times and the pub’s inclusion in the guide highlights this.”

Pubs are selected to enter the guide based on evaluation by local CAMRA branch members, following regular visits to check on the quality of the pubs and their offering.

Brenda Cross, chair of North Hampshire’s CAMRA branch, said: “I heartily congratulate all the hard-working and dedicated teams of people who make, keep then serve the best quality real ales around the UK, as exemplified by our entries in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2021 which has just been published.

“CAMRA volunteers have gone to huge efforts to produce a guide under difficult circumstances and it is particularly important in documenting the state of the pub and brewery industry as we go into a winter of localised lockdowns. I urge everyone to go out and support all pubs and clubs which are struggling at this time so we can continue to benefit for years to come. Value them, enjoy them, use them or lose them..."

The news comes after many of Andover and North Hampshire’s pubs featuring in last year’s Good Beer Guide were reviewed by Simon Everitt, a man attempting to visit every pub in the guide, a number of whom subsequently gave their own response to his reviews.