A POPULAR local pub has been chosen for the Campaign for Real Ale’s Good Beer Guide – for the fifth year in succession.

The Horse and Groom in Bittaford received the accolade as a result of recommendations by the local CAMRA branch, followed by secret inspections to taste the quality of the ales.

Olly and Dawn Michelin and Dawn’s mother Rose Kelly own and run the pub, which offers its own house ale Horse and Groom, brewed by Hunters of Ipplepen, Dartmoor Brewery’s Jail Ale, and a changing selection of local guest ales.

Olly said: ‘It is a great honour to be chosen, as the guide is one of the few things that you don’t have to pay or advertise to get into – you are selected. A lot of people use the guide as a bible – they know if they go to one of these pubs they will get good real ale and cider.

‘It is a privilege to be included in this guide and we are very thankful to the Camra inspectors for once again including our village pub.’

The Horse and Groom’s success began in 2009 when it became a free house with a bigger range of beers. Olly added that it would be very difficult to get into the guide as a tied house, with the range of drinks limited by the brewery.