A Cockermouth pub has made it into the The Good Beer Guide for the first time and hosted the local launch event.

The West Cumbria branch of the Campaign for Real Ale celebrated the publication of the 2018 guide at The New Cock & Bull, on South Street.

Stephen Walker, of West Cumbria Camra, said: "The New Cock & Bull was chosen for the launch because it is a new entry this year, it's one of three Cockermouth pubs that have made it into the guide.

"Only 22 pubs in the West Cumbria branch area are admitted to the guide each year and so it is a testament to how well the beer is kept that the New Cock & Bull that it is now in the guide. "

The other town pubs are The Swan Inn on Kirkgate and Castle Bar in Market Place.

Licensee Andy Palmer was delighted that they had made it into the guide. "We always have five real ales on, it's mostly local beers although we sometimes have guest beers too," said Andy, who has run the pub for three years.

"We're chuffed to be in the guide."

Camra pubs officer Andy Roberts said: "Cockermouth is a bit of a beer haven, it's a great town for real ale drinkers. It has more pubs in the gudie than anywhere else in West Cumbria."

The Good Beer Guide was launched in 1974, the latest one is its 45th edition.

The first edition of the guide listed around 1,500 pubs and 105 brewing companies. This year's is packed with 4,500 of the best real ale pubs in the UK and information on all of the 1,704 real ale breweries.

Pubs listed in this year's guide:

1. Boot - Hardknott Bar & Cafe @ the Woolpack Inn

2. Braithwaite - Middle Ruddings Country Inn

3. Calderbridge - Stanley Arms Hotel

4. Cockermouth - Castle Bar

5. Cockermouth - New Cock & Bull

6. Cockermouth - Swan Inn

7. Ennerdale Bridge - Fox & Hounds

8. Eskdale Bridge - King George IV

9. Gilcrux - Barn Bistro

10. Gosforth - Gosforth Hall Inn

11. Great Broughton - Punch Bowl Inn

12. Keswick - Pheasant Inn

13. Keswick - Wainwright

14. Loweswater - Kirkstile Inn

15. Maryport - Lifeboat

16. Mawbray - Lowther

17. Nether Wasdale - Strands Inn

18. Inn at Ravenglass

19. St Bees - Manor

20. Santon Bridge - Bridge Inn

21. Tallentire - Bush Inn

22. Whitehaven - Vagabond