Best pubs in the West Midlands revealed according to prestigious beer guide – is your local inside?

The 2025 Good Beer Guide, produced by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), includes a total of 387 pubs across the region.

It was a particularly good year for the Severn Valley Railway, with two of its pubs – the King & Castle at Kidderminster, and the Railwayman's Arms in Bridgnorth making the guide.

Micropubs continue to perform well, although one of this year's new entries has already closed after failing to secure a long-term lease.

The Olde Vicarage Ale House in Bilbrook, which opened last year, makes its debut in this year's guide, despite having closed suddenly. The micropub, in a former vicarage, featured a piano, a courtyard and 18 real ales and cider. It was praised in the guide for its sympathetic conversion.

It is a good year for Halesowen, with three new entries: the Crafty Pint H'ales'owen, King Edward VII, and Roberto's Bar, which moved to the town from Birmingham two years ago. They join the Swan in Long Lane, which retains its place, along with the Britannia in Rowley Village and the Wheelie Thirsty micropub in Old Hill. The Old Bush Revived, which has recently undergone extensive refurbishment by new owner Black Country Ales, becomes Blackheath's third entry in the 2025 guide, joining J D Wetherspoon's Britannia and the Cyder & Cobb micropub.

Kingswinford also does well, with two new entries: the Ale Hub micropub in Market Street, and the more traditional Cottage in High Street, the pair joining the Bridge Inn in Moss Grove. Up the road in Wordsley, the Queen's Head joins current regional pub of the year the Bird in Hand and the New Inn.

The Malt Shovel is Dudley town centre's only entry in the latest guide, described as an 'exciting and trendy town-centre establishment' which is praised for its blend of local cask ales and beer from modern, national breweries.

Batham's brewery tap, the Vine, commonly known as the 'Bull & Bladder', noted for its ornate facade, is one of two pubs in Brierley Hill to make the guide, along with the Rose & Crown in Bank Street.

Sedgley's White Lion Inn joins the village's perennial favourite the Beacon Hotel, famed for its dark Ruby Mild ale. Lower Gornal's Fountain Inn retains its place, praised for both its ales and food.

The Queen's Head in Enville Street, Stourbridge is a new entry for 2024, joining the Royal Exchange and the Hop Vault micropub in Market Street, a bottle shop which now features a tasting room offering 15 keg beers and three cask ales. The Unicorn in Wollaston is new for 2025, joining the Seven Stars in Brook Road, Oldswinford, notable for its ornate interior and 25 handpulls.

Brettell Lane in Amblecote retains its reputation as a real-ale hotspot, with three entries: the Red Lion, Robin Hood and Starving Rascal; the Robin Hood in nearby Collis Street also retains its place.

The Cat Inn at Enville and the Cross Inn at Kinver also keep their places in the guide, along with the Holly Bush in Belbroughton.

Tipton gets two entries, the canalside Fountain in Owen Street, once used as a training base for 'Tipton Slasher' William Perry, and the Rising Sun in Horseley Road.

Wolverhampton retains a dozen pubs in the guide, with the Chindit in Merridale Road regaining its listing following a brief absence. It joins the Combermere Arms, Great Western, Lych Gate, Posada, Royal Oak and Summer House in Newhampton Road. The city's micropubs are also well represented, with the Starting Gate, Keg & Comfort, Hail to the Ale retaining their places. The Swan in Bridgnorth Road, Compton, and Penn Bowling Club also feature, along with the Vine in Wednesfield which is praised for its 'nationally important' interior.

The Old Bush in Wombourne, which reopened last year after being taken over by Black Country Ales, returns to the guide a the first attempt. The Harp Hotel in Albrighton retains its place for the second year running.

Walsall has no new entries for 2025, but it retains six town-centre pubs: the Black Country Arms in High Street, the Fountain Inn in Lower Forster Street, St Matthew's Hall in Lichfield Street, the Victoria in Lower Rushall Street, the Walsall Arms in Bank Street, and the Wheatsheaf in Birmingham Road. Walsall Cricket Club in Gorway Road, also makes the guide.

The Three Crowns in Willenhall is a new addition for 2025, joining Walsall Camra's 2024 pub of the year the Robin Hood and the Duke of Cambridge in nearby Short Heath. The Manor Arms, a canalside pub in Rushall which traces its roots back to the 12th century, keeps its place, as does the Turtle's Head micropub in Aldridge. Brownhills has two entries, the Jiggers Whistle micropub in High Street, and Black Country Ales' Swan in Pelsall Road, a 10-minute walk from the centre of town.

West Bromwich has two entries for 2025, the Royal Oak in Newton Street, noted for its West Bromwich Albion memorabilia, joining the Three Horseshoes which retains its place. In Wednesbury, J D Wetherspoon's Bellwether and the 514-year-old Olde Leathern Bottel appear again.

Stafford gets a hat-trick of new entries, in the Olde Rose & Crown, the Spittal Brook, and The Sun. The Royal Oak in Church Eaton, which was threatened with closure before villagers formed a consortium to save it, is another new entry. The George & the Dragon at Gnosall, described as 'a lovely little pub', and the Ecclian in Eccleshall, both retain their places, along with the canalside Anchor Inn at High Offley.

Penkridge retains its two entries, the Horse & Jockey and the Star Inn.

Cannock retains three entries, the Newhall Arms micropub, Wetherspoon's Linford Arms, and the pop-culture themed Arcade.

The Uxbridge Arms in Chasetown, which was once used as a mortuary, wins a place in the latest guide following a refurbishment by Black Country Ales. The Crown Inn at Abbots Bromley and the Vintage Liquid Taphouse micropub in Burntwood are also new entries. The Rusty Barrel micropub in Rugeley, and the town's more traditional Vine Inn retain their l;istings.

It is a good year for Codsall, with the Codsall Station returning to the guide, where it joins the village's Firs Club and the Love & Liquor micropub.

Lichfield also retains its status as a real-ale destination, retaining four varied entries: Beerbohm, a Belgian-style cafe bar, the Whippet Inn micropub, the table-service Bittersuite, and the traditional Horse & Jockey. A short distance up the road in Streethay, the Bod cafe bar is conveniently close to Lichfield Trent Valley railway station.

There are no new entries in Stone this year, but Lymestone Brewery's Borehole taphouse, the Royal Exchange and the Swan Inn all keep their places.

Kidderminster has four pubs in the guide, the Bear & Wolf, Chester Tavern, King & Castle and Weavers Real Ale House. The Black Star in Stourport is joined by the Hollybush, while Bewdley gets five entries: the Black Boy, the Great Western, the Old Waggon & Horses, and Real Ale Tavern in Load Street, as well as Bewdley Brewery's Tap.

Bridgnorth has four pubs in the guide, the Black Horse, Golden Lion, Railwayman's Arms, and White Lion all featuring, as well as the Three Horseshoes in nearby Alveley and the Dog & Davenport Arms in Worfield.