The Good Beer Guide 2014 edition was launched at the Red Lion, Spalding when Fenland members met with locals and sampled the 4 beers.

The Red Lion has been a constant entry in the GBG for many years and landlord Nigel has been at the pub since 1972. He was particularly pleased to see a copy of the 1975 guide where the Red Lion's entry shows the beer available as Bass Worthington served via electric pump and the description as "One bar for teenagers; another for working men; and a lounge". The pub facilities symbols indicate that the Red Lion had recorded music, car park, accommodation, and proper meals.

The 1975 guide listed 2,700 pubs in 175 pages (including 6 pages of breweries), could fit into a jacket pocket, and cost 75p. Compare this with the 2014 GBG which has 4,500 pubs within 944 pages (inc 215 of breweries), with a list price of £15.99. Fenland Branch, 40 years ago, had an allocation of less than its current 30 pubs and the information required for 2014 shows a massive increase on its 1975 counterpart.

Getting back to the Red Lion and the launch the beers on offer were Bass, Bombardier, London Pride, and Abbot Ale. No surprises there of course as these beers have been the mainstay, more or less, of the pub for years, but the consistent quality of the ales has been top notch. The landlord had put the beer on at a reduced price, thanks to Small Beer.

A copy of the 2014 guide was raffled off along with a £10 voucher that the landlord had kindly donated, plus bottled beers and chocolates. It was pleasing to see that several of the prizes were won by the pub locals.

Look out for further coverage in the local paper, the Spalding Free Press, who sent a photographer along on the night.