A County Durham Wetherspoons pub has made the cut to be included as one of the best in the country for its real ale. 

The Wicket Gate on Front Street, Chester-le-Street has been included in the 2025 list by the awarding body CAMRA - the campaign for real ale.

Local branch members chose the Wetherspoon pub following regular visits to check on the quality of the real ales on offer.

They also took into account customer service, décor and overall atmosphere.

The Wetherspoons spot was included alongside 4,500 other pubs across the UK in the 51st edition, which is available to pre-order now.

A CAMRA spokesman said: “The Wicket Gate deserves its place in the Good Beer Guide 2025.

“It is our belief that if a licensee serves an excellent pint of real ale, then everything else in the pub, including customer service, quality of food and atmosphere, are likely to be of an equally high standard.”

The pub’s manager, Stewart Grayson, said: “I am delighted that The Wicket Gate has been recognised for the quality of its real ales by CAMRA members.


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“We offer our customers an excellent range of real ales at all times, including those from regional brewers and microbrewers, as well as hosting our own beer festivals.

“Staff at the pub work hard to ensure that the real ales on offer are kept in first-class condition at all times and the pub’s inclusion in the guide highlights this.”

Currently, some of the other top-rated pubs across the country have been revealed but the full 2025 guide is available to pre-order now.