The city has once again proved it is flying the flag for real ale as 16 pubs from across Norwich have been included in the latest pages of the Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) Good Beer Guide 2012.

Across the Norfolk there were 19 new entries, including four Norwich pubs.

The guide also highlights the increase in the number of breweries with 29 in Norfolk, up two on last year.

There are 217 different beers in regular production in the county, and Norfolk has the fourth largest number of breweries in the country, behind West Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Cumbria.

One of the four new Norwich pubs in the guide is The Whalebone in Magdalen Road.

Landlord Steve Fiske said: 'It's great to be in there. I was disappointed that we weren't in last year, but I understand that there's only space for a selected number of pubs from each area in the guide, so some great pubs miss out.

'Norwich proved this year that it was a Mecca for real ale in the country during the City of Ale event, and maybe Camra could look at increasing our allocation in future guides.

'We do benefit from being in the guide and I think we deserve it. The staff here work really hard.'

Another new entry, The Plough in St Benedict's Street was reopened by Grain Brewery in early 2010. It is recommended in the guide for its 'large patio', which makes a fine place to while away a summer's evening. Landlord Geoff Wright said: 'We are really pleased to be included in the guide.

'Norwich has got some of the best pubs in the country, and many are concentrated in quite a small area. Hopefully having so many pubs in the guide will mean more people coming to the city.'

The Jubilee is also a new entry in the guide. The pub in St Leonard's Road stocks at least six regular ales plus a guest, usually from a local brewery. The guide states that it's a friendly and traditional local, and staff member Liam Watts said: 'It's absolutely fantastic news that we are in the guide.'

Norwich and Norfolk Camra branch secretary Warren Wordsworth said: 'Congratulations to all the pubs that made it into this year's guide, and good luck next year for those that didn't. Only a certain number of pubs from each region can make it into the guide, so obviously there are a lot of quality pubs in Norwich and Norfolk that were left out.'

Other new entries in the guide include the White Horse, Ashwellthorpe, King's Head, Hethersett, the Cottage, Silver Road, Norwich, Sole & Heel, Rackheath, Shoulder of Mutton, Strumpshaw, Pelican Inn, Tacolneston and Queen's Head, Thurlton. There are 16 Norwich pubs in the guide, including old favourites The Fat Cat in West End Street, the Murderers in Timberhill and the Ribs of Beef in Wensum Street.

Roger Protz, Camra's Good Beer Guide editor, who opened this year's City of Ale event in Norwich, said he was staggered at the choice and diversity of beer in Britain.

He said: 'Such a range is exactly what discerning beer drinkers expect in the current climate, and in spite of economic difficulties and pub closures, Britain's pioneering brewers are more than rising to the challenge. Never will anyone alive today have seen 5,500 regular beers produced on these shores at any one time.

'Not only are there an exploding number of breweries operating in Britain, but also the quality of real ale has never been better. Speciality brewers are using the finest raw materials - malt and hops –to make their ales. Britain is a great place to be drinking good beer.'

Copies of the Camra Good Beer Guide 2012, RRP �15.99, can be bought from www.camra.org.uk/shop.

The Evening News has been urging people to return to pubs in our Love your Local campaign. To see more stories visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk/loveyourlocal.

Is your local up for a national award? Call David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.