Last House pub in John O’Groats celebrates its Good Beer Guide credentials
Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) officials travelled to John O'Groats at the weekend to congratulate the Last House pub for being the only Caithness entry in this year's Good Beer Guide.
On Saturday October 7, three senior officials from the Highlands and Western Isles branch of CAMRA presented a copy of the Good Beer Guide and a certificate to the Last House pub (taproom) which is part of the John O'Groats Brewery – it also provided the chance to convene the most northerly social event in the branch calendar.
Jim Hall (chair), Andy Rogers (treasurer), and Tony Vernon (pubs officer) met up with Mark Gibson – the CAMRA representative for Caithness and Sutherland – to make the presentation to John Mainprize, a director of the John O’Groats Brewery and its chief brewer.
The Last House pub is the only Caithness entry in the Good Beer Guide 2024 and celebrates its second year in the prestigious publication. It serves a range of beers brewed in John O’Groats along with guest beers and a guest cider. The guide describes it as "situated just metres from the Pentland Firth, it is the most northerly pub and brewery in mainland Britain". It says that there are four handpumps at the premises that serve ales brewed next door, and usually a Highland real cider.
The CAMRA Good Beer Guide is celebrating its 51st edition with a striking cover and a foreword supplied by Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson. It surveys 4500 of the best pubs across the UK and is described as the definitive beer drinker’s guide for those seeking the best pints in the nation’s pubs.
The three officials made the trip up from Lochaber that morning and were given a tour of the brewing facilities which they "greatly enjoyed".
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Mark Gibson said: “It is good to see senior CAMRA officials make the journey and recognise a great little pub and brewery on the edge of the UK mainland. Jim, Tony and Andy greatly enjoyed their stay, despite the weather at the time! Hospitality is a trademark of John O’Groats and I believe they were impressed by the 'Welcome at the End of the Road'.”
CAMRA was founded in 1971 and has a vision to have "quality real ale, cider and perry and thriving pubs in every community". Its Highlands and Western Isles branch is the largest by geographical area in the UK and covers 9906 square miles.
The Good Beer Guide is published annually. It is the UK’s best selling Beer and Pub Guide. Entries are selected by unpaid volunteers up and down the country.