Nine pubs and clubs in Watford and the surrounding areas have been included in the Good Beer Guide 2022.

The new edition is the 49th to be published by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), with contributors encouraging readers to support their local pubs and breweries in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Two venues from Watford have been included – the Wellington Arms in Woodford Road, and West Herts Sports Club in Park Avenue.

The Swan in Park Road, Bushey, is also in the guide, as is the Sportsman in Scots Hill, Croxley Green.

Two pubs in Oxhey are included – the Railway Arms in Aldenham Road, and the Villers Arms in Villiers Road.

The other three pubs from our area in the Good Beer Guide are the Bell in High Street, Bovingdon, the Green Dragon in Flaunden Hill, Flaunden, and the Land of Liberty, Peace & Plenty in Long Lane, Heronsgate.

In addition to the pubs and clubs, four real ale breweries from the area are listed: Bowtie, Lock 81 and Oxhey Village from Watford, and Paradigm in Sarratt.

The guide, which surveys 4,500 pubs across the UK, is considered the definitive beer drinker’s guide to the very best pints in the most picturesque and friendly pubs.

Despite being hampered by lockdowns and restrictions in the early part of this year, thousands of independent volunteers have worked together to compile this year’s entries, helping to identify significant trends and themes locally and nationally.

CAMRA national chairman Nik Antona said: “After the struggles of the past 18 months for the industry, it is great that The Good Beer Guide figures are showing the resilience of pubs and brewers in the face of strife – a national increase in brewery numbers after they dipped last year for the first time, as well as over 500 new pub entries. This is great to see, especially coupled with the news from the Government’s latest Budget, including the announcement of a new, lower rate of duty for draught beer and cider.

“However, the industry is still vulnerable in the aftermath of Covid-19 lockdowns. Breweries still face issues around costs of goods, lack of business rate relief and silence from the Government on Small Brewers’ Relief reform. We are calling on the Government to make sure the new draught duty rate applies to containers 20L and up so that all our small and independent brewers can benefit.”

The Good Beer Guide 2022 is available to buy from https://shop1.camra.org.uk/product/the-good-beer-guide-2022/