Edinburgh and South East Scotland CAMRA branch members gathered in the city’s world-famous Oxford Bar to celebrate the launch of the latest Good Beer Guide.

The cover of the 2027 guide carries a photo of the Oxford Bar, made famous by the Rebus crime novels, and the author Sir Ian Rankin (above) wrote the latest edition’s foreword. Sir Ian and his fictional character Inspector Rebus are regular users of the pub. It was also the first time in the guide’s history that the cover has featured a pub in Scotland.

Branch chair Chris Miller reminded members of their involvement, which began by giving a rating to the beers they drank in each pub throughout the year. These were then analysed in October and each pub given a confidence rating for reliably serving a well-kept pint. The top pubs in the confidence list had their details checked over the next two months, before members voted from a shortlist to arrive at the branch’s entries.

Sir Ian spoke passionately about his love for pubs and their value to the community. 

Chris made a presentation to landlady Kirsty Grant thanking her for her hospitality and praising the pub’s 30 entries in the guide since 1988.  

Chris said: “Later some members went to the nearby Kays Bar, also in the guide again, where they were able to enjoy a beer from Five Kingdoms brewery called Rebus, produced in the past and again brewed specially for the launch. It was a good pint to end a successful day.”