OWNERS of a refurbished Salisbury pub are celebrating their inclusion into the Good Beer Guide.

The Coach & Horses in Winchester Street closed its doors nine years ago before Christian Airey’s family bought the late 15th century old coaching inn in 2023.

When landlord Chris Meaker first opened the doors to the pub, they were met with a scene reminiscent of a horror movie.

A thick layer of dust covered everything, with pint glasses frozen in time were left on tables exactly where they had been left by the drinkers.

A plant was growing out of a gutter and the back door into the courtyard was impossible to open. The previous landlord had locked the door and walked away without even bothering to wash up.

An intense six month restoration project soon started, with no expense spared, and the pub reopened to the public on October 6, 2023.

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The pub has now been transformed into a clean, light and airy premises – and the back yard is once again open as a pleasant outside space to have a drink and a meal in summer.

This marked turnaround saw the pub included in the 2026 Good Beer Guide by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Local CAMRA members, a knowledgeable and sometimes hard to please electorate, praised the pub’s emphasis on real ales, mostly from local breweries, and cider from the surrounding areas.

There are three handpumps at the bar and a row of taps immediately behind it.

Keith Foster, the Good Beer Guide co-ordinator for the local CAMRA branch, said: “In less than two years since reopening, The Coach & Horses has established itself as one of Salisbury’s destination pubs.

“A good selection of cask and craft beers, many local, is complemented by a friendly atmosphere and good food. It is a deserved new entry into the Good Beer Guide.”

Keith presented Chris Meaker, who runs the pub with his wife Theresa, with his Good Beer Guide certificate.

Chris said: “This is something that we have been working towards for the last two years. We have an emphasis on local ales and ciders.

“At the start it was just me making sure that the beer was kept well but now we have got the staff trained up it is a team effort.”

Altogether there are 19 pubs from South Wiltshire in the 53rd edition of the Good Beer Guide.

It is the complete book for beer lovers and anyone wanting to experience the UK’s finest pubs.

The foreword for the 2026 Guide, published today (September 25) has been written by Ed Byrne, the comedian and beer lover famous for his #preshowpints on social media.

The recommended retail price of the Guide is £16.99 and it can be ordered from https://shop1.camra.org.uk/product/good-beer-guide-2026