A new real ale guide has been launched to take fans on a tour around Preston, sampling the finest beers the city has to offer.

CAMRA’s Real Ale Trail takes in 24 pubs across the city centre which pride themselves on their ales.

If 24 pubs in one sitting seems too much, the trail is broken down into four mini-trails, each featuring four or five locations.

They are:

• Northern Quarter – The Ferret, The Guild, The Moorbrook, Princess Alice, Speakeasy

• Friargate – The Grey Friar, Plau, Roper Hall, The Sun, Vinyl Tap

• Market Area – The Black Horse, Guild Ale House, Market Tap, Orchard, Plug and Taps

• Fishergate East – Baker Street, The Bull & Royal, Hogarths, The Old Blue Bell, Twelve Tellers

• Fishergate West – Continental, Old Vic, The Otters Pocket, Wings & Beer Co.

The Real Ale Trail was launched at the Old Vic on Friday August 16, with MP Mark Hendrick joining CAMRA members along with councillors Peter Kelly, Jono Grisedale and Carole Henshaw.

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A CAMRA spokesman said: “In the 45 years of CAMRA’s existence, we have seen huge changes to the pub scene in Preston.

“Many of the pubs that have served the thirsty drinker’s of Preston so well for 100+ years have been swept away.

“Some areas now have none at all, and while the city centre has kept many of its pubs, they too change over time.

“What were once great venues where real ale drinkers flocked, are now pale shadows of their former selves, while some no longer sell decent real ale or have closed altogether.

“In their place, new bars and micropubs, often free of tie and independent, have sprung up and new real ale destinations have appeared.

“These are often pubs where our members once despaired of getting a decent pint, but with new ownership and a change of licensee, we now have (in real ale terms) the variety and quality that we crave.

“There is a great selection of pubs to try and a great variety of real ales to be sampled.

“That in a nutshell is why we have produced this Ale Trail – to encourage people to visit Preston and to get these pubs known to a wider audience.”

For more information about pubs in Preston, visit  www.WhatPub.com

Which is your favourite Preston pub? Leave your comments below.