WhatPub was CAMRA’s UK pub guide. It listed pubs, bars, clubs, and real ale venues in a searchable database. The guide showed useful venue details, such as address, opening times, beer range, cider, food, access, parking, photos, facilities, and short pub notes.

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, ran WhatPub with help from local branch volunteers. These volunteers updated venue records across the UK. CAMRA members used the National Beer Scoring System to score beer quality and support Good Beer Guide choices. WhatPub closed as a separate website in December 2025, and its pub search and beer scoring tools moved to the main CAMRA website.

WhatPub covered pubs and clubs across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It included real ale pubs, non-real-ale pubs, and some closed venues. Its aim was wider than the printed Good Beer Guide, as it listed many known UK venues with practical local details.

Pubs and bars usually offer drinks, food, and social space. Common drinks include draught beer, lager, cider, real ale, stout, wine, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and alcohol-free choices. Pubs often focus on comfort, food, local use, pub games, quizzes, beer gardens, and live sport. Bars often focus on cocktails, music, quicker service, evening trade, and light food.

Pub food often includes classic British meals such as fish and chips, steak and ale pie, bangers and mash, Sunday roast, shepherd’s pie, cottage pie, gammon steak, and Ploughman’s lunch. Many pubs also serve snacks, sides, desserts, and seasonal specials. Gastropubs offer more refined dishes and chef-led menus.

Non-alcohol drinks are common in both pubs and bars. Pubs usually offer cola, lemonade, juice, tonic, ginger ale, lime and soda, alcohol-free beer, alcohol-free cider, tea, and coffee. Bars often add mocktails, zero-proof cocktails, kombucha, alcohol-free spirits, and premium mixers.

Family rules depend on the venue, licence, time of day, and house policy. Many food-led pubs welcome families during the day and provide children’s menus, highchairs, outdoor seating, and beer gardens. Bars are less often family-friendly, especially in the evening. Children usually need adult supervision, and under-18s cannot buy alcohol. Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds may drink beer, wine, or cider with a meal only when accompanied by an adult. Families should check the venue policy before visiting.

What Is WhatPub?

WhatPub was CAMRA’s online pub guide for the UK. CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, used it to list pubs, bars, clubs, and other venues in one searchable database. The guide showed key pub details, such as location, opening times, real ale, cider, food, access, parking, and venue notes.

The database focused on pubs that served real ale, but it also included wider venue records. Local CAMRA volunteers helped keep the pub information up to date. CAMRA members used the National Beer Scoring System to rate beer quality, which helped with Good Beer Guide choices.

WhatPub is now a past service. It closed in December 2025, and its pub search, venue data, and beer scoring tools moved to the main CAMRA website.

Who runs WhatPub?

WhatPub was run by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), a UK consumer group that supports real ale, cider, perry, and traditional pubs. Local CAMRA branch volunteers kept the pub records updated with venue details, beer availability, opening times, facilities, and access notes.

CAMRA members used WhatPub to find pubs and submit beer scores through the National Beer Scoring System. These scores helped local branches review beer quality and choose pubs for the Good Beer Guide. WhatPub is now closed as a separate website, and its pub search and beer scoring tools have moved to the main CAMRA website.

Is WhatPub a UK-wide database?

Yes, WhatPub was a UK-wide pub database run by CAMRA. It listed pubs and clubs across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, not only venues in the Good Beer Guide. The guide covered real ale pubs, non-real-ale pubs, and some closed venues, with details such as opening times, facilities, access, food, beer range, and venue notes.

Local CAMRA volunteers updated the records, so the database reflected pub changes across many towns, cities, and villages. WhatPub is now closed as a separate website. CAMRA moved the old pub data, pub search, and beer scoring tools to its main website after WhatPub shut down on 10 December 2025.

What kind of information does WhatPub list about venues?

WhatPub listed venue details that helped people find the right pub, club, or real ale venue. Each listing usually showed the venue name, address, postcode, map location, contact details, website, and opening times. WhatPub also listed real ale, guest beer, cider, and perry details where available. Venue pages often included food service, beer garden, dog access, family access, disabled access, pub games, live music, public transport, parking, ownership, photos, and short pub descriptions. Local CAMRA volunteers updated the venue records. The old WhatPub site closed on 10 December 2025, and CAMRA moved its pub data and beer scoring tools to the main CAMRA website.

What Do Pubs and Bars Usually Offer?

Pubs and bars usually offer alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, food, and social space. Common drinks include draught beer, lager, cider, real ale, stout, wine, spirits, cocktails, and mixers. Many venues also serve low-alcohol beer, alcohol-free beer, mocktails, soft drinks, tea, and coffee.

Pubs usually focus on comfort, food, and local use. Many serve crisps, nuts, pies, burgers, fish and chips, sausage and mash, steak and ale pie, and Sunday roasts. A pub may have darts, pool, live sport, quiz nights, music, a beer garden, and family areas.

Bars usually focus more on drinks, quicker service, cocktails, music, and evening trade. Many bars serve light food, small plates, snacks, and shared dishes. Both pubs and bars now give more choice to people who do not drink alcohol.

What kind of food do pubs commonly serve?

Pubs commonly serve classic British pub food made for simple, filling meals. Common dishes include fish and chips, steak and ale pie, bangers and mash, Sunday roast, shepherd’s pie, cottage pie, gammon steak, and Ploughman’s lunch.

Many pubs also serve light bites and bar snacks. These often include Scotch eggs, pork pies, sausage rolls, chips, onion rings, wings, nachos, crisps, and nuts. Desserts often include sticky toffee pudding, apple crumble, ice cream, and custard.

Traditional pubs focus on warm, hearty meals. Gastropubs serve more refined food, such as fresh fish, seasonal dishes, handmade pies, and chef-led specials. Many pubs use a specials board for curry nights, roast dinners, fish dishes, and seasonal meals.

What non-alcohol drinks can you usually get at a pub?

Pubs usually serve soft drinks, juices, mixers, hot drinks, and alcohol-free beers. Common choices include cola, diet cola, lemonade, orange juice, apple juice, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, tonic water, ginger ale, and ginger beer.

Many pubs also serve simple bar drinks such as lime and soda, blackcurrant and soda, and cordial with lemonade. These are often low-cost, light, and easy to order.

Most pubs now stock alcohol-free lager, alcohol-free cider, and 0.0% stout. Some venues also offer mocktails, such as a virgin mojito or Virgin Mary. Premium choices may include elderflower pressé, alcohol-free spirits with tonic, tea, coffee, and barista-style drinks.

What non-alcohol drinks can you usually get at a bar?

Bars usually serve soft drinks, juices, mixers, mocktails, and alcohol-free beer. Common choices include cola, diet cola, lemonade, orange juice, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, soda water with lime, tonic with lime, ginger ale, and ginger beer.

Many bars also offer zero-proof cocktails. These include a Virgin Mojito, Virgin Mule, Virgin Margarita, Virgin Piña Colada, Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri, Shirley Temple, and Virgin Mary. A bartender often makes a classic cocktail without alcohol when asked for a virgin version.

Some bars stock premium non-alcohol drinks, such as kombucha, iced tea with lemonade, alcohol-free spirits with tonic, and craft alcohol-free beer. Simple choices such as juice, soda, and lime remain the easiest options in smaller bars.

Are Pubs and Bars Family-Friendly?

Pubs and bars vary by venue, time, licence, and house policy. Many food-led pubs welcome families during the day. They often have children’s menus, highchairs, outdoor seating, beer gardens, and sometimes play areas.

Bars are less often family-friendly, especially in the evening. City-centre bars, cocktail bars, and late-night venues usually focus on adult customers, music, and alcohol service. Some set age limits or stop under-18 entry after a set time.

UK rules also matter. GOV.UK says under-16s may enter a pub or alcohol-led venue when accompanied by an adult, but this depends on the premises licence and venue rules. It is illegal to sell alcohol to under-18s. Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds may drink beer, wine, or cider with a meal if an adult is with them.

Families should check the pub’s website, food menu, and child policy before visiting. A country pub, restaurant-style pub, or pub with a beer garden is usually a safer choice for a family meal.

Are pubs ever family-friendly, and what rules usually apply?

Yes, many UK pubs are family-friendly, mainly during the day. Food-led pubs, country pubs, and pub restaurants often welcome families. They may offer children’s menus, highchairs, baby-change areas, outdoor seating, and beer gardens.

Common rules usually include:

• Children must be with an adult in pubs mainly used for alcohol sales.
• Venue policy matters, as each pub sets its own child entry rules.
• Time limits may apply, often in the early evening.
• Family areas may apply, such as dining rooms, beer gardens, or seated areas.
• Children need supervision at all times.
• Under-18s cannot buy alcohol.
• Under-18s cannot usually drink alcohol in licensed premises.
• Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds may drink beer, wine, or cider with a meal only when accompanied by an adult. They cannot buy it themselves.

Parents should check the pub’s website, menu, or child policy before visiting. A pub that serves food is usually a better family choice than a drink-led pub.

Are bars ever family-friendly, and what rules usually apply?

Yes, some bars are family-friendly, mainly when they serve food, open during the day, or have a restaurant-style layout. Brewery taprooms, hotel bars, and casual dining bars may allow families in seated areas. Late-night bars, cocktail bars, and drink-led venues often set adult-only rules.

Common rules usually include:

• Children must be with an adult in bars or licensed venues.
• Venue policy controls entry, so some bars refuse under-18s.
• Time limits often apply, especially before evening trade starts.
• Families may need to order food if the venue is food-led.
• Children may need to stay in dining areas, outdoor areas, or seated zones.
• Children are not usually allowed at the main bar area.
• Under-18s cannot buy alcohol.
• Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds may drink beer, wine, or cider with a table meal only when accompanied by an adult. They cannot buy it themselves.

Families should check the bar’s website or call before visiting. A food-led bar is usually a safer family choice than a late-night drinking venue.

How Do I Find Pubs Near Me With the Right Facilities?

Find pubs near you by using a pub finder, map search, or CAMRA pub search. Search by town, postcode, or current location. Then filter by the facilities you need, such as food, beer garden, parking, disabled access, dog-friendly areas, family areas, live sport, WiFi, or real ale.

UseYourLocal lists pub filters such as beer gardens, Sky Sports, TNT Sports, quiz nights, pool tables, dog-friendly pubs, food, live music, family-friendly venues, car parking, and free WiFi. Greene King’s pub finder lets users search by location and find pubs with features such as beer gardens, food, family-friendly spaces, and live sport.

CAMRA’s pub search is useful for real ale pubs and cask ale venues. CAMRA says its pub records are added and updated by local volunteers, and its current pub search lists over 31,000 cask ale venues.

Useful filters often include:

• Food and meals
• Beer garden or outdoor seating
• Dog-friendly access
• Family-friendly areas
• Disabled access
• Car parking
• Free WiFi
• Live sport
• Pool, darts, or quiz nights
• Function rooms
• Real ale or cider

Check the pub’s own website before you visit. Opening hours, food times, child rules, dog rules, and live sport listings change often.

Which pubs near me do Sunday lunch?

Pubs near you that do Sunday lunch are usually food-led pubs, carvery pubs, country pubs, and family pub restaurants. Search by town, postcode, or “Sunday roast near me” to find local venues with roast dinners, carveries, and Sunday menus. A typical pub Sunday lunch includes roast beef, chicken, pork, lamb, or a meat-free option. It often comes with roast potatoes, seasonal veg, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, and gravy. Many carvery pubs let guests choose meat at the counter and add vegetables, sauces, and gravy.

Which pubs near me have vegan options?

Pubs near you with vegan options are usually food-led pubs, gastropubs, pub restaurants, and larger pub chains. Search by town, postcode, or “vegan pub food near me”. Then check the pub menu for vegan mains, plant-based burgers, salads, curries, chips, roasts, and desserts. Many pub websites mark vegan dishes with vegan, plant-based, VG, or VE labels. Greene King lists plant-based plates and vegan menu choices, while Butcombe says its pubs offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

Which pubs near me have gluten-free options?

Pubs near you with gluten-free options are usually food-led pubs, pub restaurants, gastropubs, and larger pub chains. Search by town, postcode, or “gluten-free pub food near me”. Then check the menu for gluten-free, GF, or NGCI labels.

NGCI means no gluten-containing ingredients. It does not always mean the food is fully gluten-free. Some pubs state that shared kitchens, fryers, grills, and prep areas may create cross-contact risk. Greene King says its allergen tools let guests filter dishes by allergens, including gluten, but guests should tell staff before ordering.

Which pubs near me are wheelchair accessible?

Wheelchair-accessible pubs near you are usually listed on pub finders, map apps, CAMRA pub search, and access guides. Search by town or postcode, then check for step-free entry, ramps, wide doors, accessible toilets, level floors, disabled parking, and enough space between tables.

Use access details carefully. A pub may have wheelchair access but no accessible toilet, or it may have one step at a side entrance. AccessAble gives surveyed access details for UK venues, including pubs and restaurants, and UseYourLocal has a disabled facilities filter for pubs and bars.

Which pubs near me have parking?

Pubs near you with parking are usually country pubs, village pubs, pub restaurants, hotels, and carvery-style venues. Search by town, postcode, or “pubs near me with parking”. Then check the venue page for car park, free parking, disabled parking, EV charging, or customer parking.

Parking details vary by location. Some pubs have a private car park, while city-centre pubs may rely on street parking or nearby public car parks. A venue such as Village Limits is a good example of the kind of pub where users often check for on-site parking, access, food service, and local travel details before visiting.