CAMRA Guidance
The branch is allocated twenty eight entries to the Good Beer Guide (GBG), this page details the branches selection criteria for entry.
CAMRA’s criteria for selection (from Internal Policy Document) are –
5.30
Branches are to ensure that, when considering their entries for the Good Beer Guide, only those pubs and clubs consistently serving real ale of good quality and meeting CAMRA criteria are included. Branches should use all beer scores submitted via the National Beer Scoring Scheme to assist in achieving this.
Within these broad criteria local branches have a free hand as to how they select GBG entries.
In March 2019 CAMRA published results of a survey of branch use of beer scoring results which “demonstrate that the vast majority of branches use beer scores as part of the process in helping select pubs for the Good Beer Guide (GBG). The way that scores are used varies from branch to branch and this reflects the importance of local democracy and the need for branches to adopt a model that suits their local needs. A one-size-fits-all solution is not required.”
East Dorset Branch criteria
To be eligible for entry into the GBG, a venue must meet the following criteria:
- Have received an average score of 3.5 or higher in the National Beer Scoring System (NBSS) during the preceding twelve months.
- Either – Have received twenty or more scores in the NBSS during the preceding twelve months and be within the political boundary of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. In effect postcodes BH1 to BH15, BH 17, BH18 and BH23 as well as part of BH16.
- Or- Have received ten or more scores in the NBSS during the preceding twelve months if the venue is located within the East Dorset branch area boundary in postcodes BH19, BH20, BH21, BH22 and DT11 together with part of BH16. Approved at branch meeting 29 April 2022
Be open for more than twenty hours or at least four days per week. - Been open and operating under the same management for at least six months prior to the date of the selection process.
- Be freely accessible to CAMRA members during the normal day to day operation of the venue upon presentation of their membership card at the very least.
- In the event a tie breaker is needed, when venues have identical scores, the total number of visits (and therefore number of scores submitted) will be the deciding factor. The venue with most visits (scores submitted) will be selected. The NBSS scores for a venue should be reset to zero if the venue undergoes a change of landlord/landlady/manager or remains closed for a continuous period of four weeks or more. This includes a situation where a new landlord/landlady/manager has run another venue which has been in the Good Beer Guide. The NBSS scores will still be reset to zero and the venue will not be eligible for GBG selection until the six months has passed. The selection for the GBG will normally take place at the first branch meeting held after 31st December each year.
Selection method
The top 28 public houses with a score of 3.50 or more in the NBSS are chosen based on the above criteria, from highest score down. Any pubs with a change of landlord/landlady/manager or other known changes that make them ineligible for the GBG are replaced in order of score.