Entries Now Open for the 2025 British Guild of Beer Writers Awards

Beer, pub, and cider communicators – from journalists and bloggers, to podcasters and filmmakers – are invited to submit their best work within 14 separate categories for a chance to gain national recognition and share in the prize fund. For 2025, the Guild of Beer Writers has announced an update of their categories as well as the creation of a Best Beer Publisher category, to recognise the work of newspapers, magazines and websites that commission work from communicators, as well as any businesses who have created content for the specific purpose of promoting a business or product.

The Guild has also decided to take a stance on Generative AI, stressing that its use won’t be allowed as the Guild looks to champion human creativity and journalistic integrity.

Discussing this year’s awards and the evolution of the categories, Jonathan Garrett,

Chair of the Guild, said, “With opportunities in beer writing getting ever harder to find, our awards get more important every year. We’ve committed to ring-fencing our industry-leading prize fund, and have also tweaked our categories to represent modern beer writing as best we can. I can’t wait to read the winners after last year’s showing – we’re lucky to have such talented communicators.”

The winners and runners-up — including for Brewer of the Year (sponsored by SIBA) and the brand-new Beer of the Year category — will be announced at the Guild’s annual dinner and awards in London on the 27th of November 2025. For the third year running, the Guild has partnered with Big Penny Social to host the event.

All entries will be judged by the Guild’s independent panel, chaired by the current Beer Writer of the Year, Ruvani de Silva, who commented, "The BGBW awards offer beer writers a space to enhance our collective value as a community, coming together to support one another and recognise the value of our writing. To have our hard work and talent recognised by our peers is hugely rewarding personally and professionally, and lifts our industry up as a whole."

This year’s judging panel will be revealed in the upcoming weeks. Full details of all categories and advice on how to submit entries can be found on the Guild’s website.

Entries must be received via the dedicated entry form by the closing date of 22nd of August, and work submitted must have been published between 1st September 2024 and 22nd August 2025. 

This year’s categories

New Award: Best Beer Publisher

Best Commissioned Beer Writing, sponsored by Greene King

Best Short-Form Beer Writing, sponsored by Shepherd Neame

Best Technical Communication about Beer 

Best Book about Beer or Pubs, sponsored by Heineken

Best Audio or Video Beer Communication, sponsored by Fuller, Smith & Turner

Best Communication about No and Low Alcohol Beer, sponsored by Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I

Best Communication about Sustainability in Beer and Pubs, sponsored by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company

Best Communication about Beer and Travel, sponsored by VISITFLANDERS

Best Beer News & Business Communicator

Best Self-Published Beer Writing

Best New or Citizen Beer Communicator

The Susanna Forbes Award for Best Communication about Cider

Guild Award for Best Communication About Diversity in Beer

-ends-

Notes to Editors

Contact Press: amelie@tipplemarketing.com / daisy@tipplemarketing.com

Press images are available for download here

About the British Guild of Beer Writers 

The British Guild of Beer Writers was formed in 1988 to help spread the word about beers, brewing and pubs. With close to 300 individual members and 60+ corporate members, its mission is “to improve the standards of beer writing and improve the public knowledge of beer and pubs.”  Its members include the cream of the country’s beer communicators – be they journalists, authors, bloggers, producers, photographers, broadcasters, illustrators, or PR consultants. Corporate members of the Guild include brewers, brand owners, distributors, pub companies, and many suppliers associated with the brewing trade.

About Big Penny Social

Big Penny Social is a new type of community-focused venue designed to be a pub, arts centre and town square all rolled into one. A place to eat, drink and be entertained; for all ages and every walk of life; a place to enjoy a quick pint, entertain the family or gather for a national celebration. 

Located just off Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow, Big Penny Social has a beer hall, a versatile event space and a great big sunny beer garden. With a capacity for over 1,400 people.

Contact Press: amelie@tipplemarketing.com / daisy@tipplemarketing.com