The Norwich and District branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has completed its 2024 annual pub survey, revealing interesting trends in the local pub scene.
Conducted on 29th June, the survey involved 29 volunteers who visited 169 pubs across the district, documenting the variety and availability of beers.
Key findings
Beer variety and availability
Volunteers discovered 264 different beers available, from a total of 491 beers on sale, whether on handpump or by gravity. In 2023, there were 265 different beers available out of a total of 464. Both years show good diversity, though are still below the pre-Covid levels of 2019, when 308 different beers out of 581 were recorded.
Real ale presence
Out of the 169 pubs visited, 118 were serving one or more real ales, up by four from 2023. This means roughly two out of every three pubs now offer real ales, with many of the remaining venues being hotels or events bars.
Pricing trends
The average price of a pint has risen to £4.56, up from £4.30 in 2023 and £3.68 in 2019. This represents a 6% increase over the past year, and a 24% increase over the past five years. Despite the price hike, real ale continues to offer excellent value compared to other beverages. This year’s survey also included the prices of Guinness and the cheapest keg lager, which were £5.60 and £4.75, respectively.
Beer strength
The average strength of beer remains unchanged at 4.3% ABV, averaging roughly £1 for every 1% ABV. The most expensive beer was priced at £6.55, while the cheapest was £1.79.
Popular beers
Adnams Ghost Ship remains the most popular beer, found in 25 pubs, up from 23 in 2022. Other popular choices include Sharp’s Doom Bar, in 17 pubs, and Greene King Abbot, Wolf Golden Jackal (a new entry), Greene King IPA, and Oakham Citra, each appearing in ten pubs. Lacons Encore has dropped in popularity, now in nine pubs, with Woodforde’s Wherry and Timothy Taylor Landlord currently appearing in eight pubs.
Diversity
The top five most popular beers accounted for 72 pumps on the bar, a decrease from 78 in 2023 and 89 in 2022, indicating a continued increase in beer diversity. This trend is even more pronounced when compared to 2013, where the top five beers occupied 128 slots, leaving less room for other offerings.
Norwich and District CAMRA thanked all the volunteers who participated in the survey, with special appreciation for Craig Harmer for organising the event, and Martin Ward and Ian Stamp for data entry. The results underscore the dynamic nature of the local pub scene and the enduring value of real ale.
Ian Stamp, who is branch chair, said: “We will only see a rise to pre-Covid levels when people return to the pub, where the warm welcome, sociability, and beer offering can’t be rivalled elsewhere.
“There are many ways to enjoy life, and a visit to the local pub is certainly one of them!”
