IT’S time to raise a glass again to some of the borough’s drinking establishments as this year’s CAMRA Good Beer Guide has been released.

Every year, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) releases a list of pubs and bars which qualify to be honoured in its good beer guide.

This year, five of Basingstoke’s locals were mentioned: The Angel, in Festival Place, Basingstoke Sports and Social Club, in Fairfields Road, the Bounty Inn, in Bounty Road, the Maidenhead Inn, in Winchester Street and the Queen’s Arms, in Bunnian Place.

However, it was not just Basingstoke that performed well. Towns and villages nearby were mentioned, with several other local pubs getting the nod.

Other places that were mentioned include: the Watership Down Inn, in Freefolk, the Waggon and Horses, in Hartley Wintney, the Crooked Billet in Hook Common, the Plough Inn in Little London, the Fox in North Waltham, Barley Mow in Oakley, Bartons Mill in Old Basing, the Red Lion in Overton, the Calleva Arms in Silchester, and the Whitchurch Sports and Social Club and the White Hart Hotel, both in Whitchurch.

This is not the first time that some of these establishments have been given this honour, with several also being given a mention in last year’s book.