The latest edition of CAMRA’s just-released East of England Real Heritage Pubs highlights hidden gems of British pub architecture in the region. It features 76 interiors of outstanding historic interest across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

East of England Real Heritage Pubs is a celebration of pub interiors, from rural time-warps to old coaching inns, and includes some unsung examples from the interwar and post-war periods illustrated with more than 350 photographs.

Co-editor Paul Ainsworth said: “These pubs represent an important aspect of the area’s cultural and built heritage, with quite a number being true national treasures. That said, they account for less than two per cent or so of the pubs in the area. This is because pub interiors have always been subject to change, and the pace of that change has accelerated dramatically since the 1960s.

“Many of us are fascinated by our built heritage and spend time visiting historic buildings of many kinds. It is though, only in recent years, and largely because of CAMRA’s efforts, that pubs with heritage interiors have come to be valued by mainstream conservationists.

“CAMRA picked up the baton on behalf of our pub heritage, filling the gaps in knowledge of what is out there, and actively seeking to protect what is left.”

Co-editor Michael Slaughter added: “The East of England has the largest number of ancient snugs formed by settles. Within this guide, you will find Lord Nelson’s local; one of the claimants for the smallest pub in the country; and two of only eight pubs still operating without a bar counter. Discover what to look for when visiting these genuinely old pubs – some dating back 500 years.”

Of the 90 pubs featured in the first edition of this guide, published in 2005, 10 have had major changes inside while the same number have closed.

CAMRA has now produced guides covering all the UK. They all draw on many years of work by CAMRA members to track and record those pub interiors that have escaped the attention of the developers.

The book (£8.99) is now available at https://shop1.camra.org.uk/product/real-heritage-pubs-east-of-england/