Southport again & GBG prices.

By & large I've almost always had good experiences in pubs I've found via the GBG. Obviously, by their nature guide books are going to be somewhat out of date, but as I say, I've found the GBG very reliable.

What's the other options - pot luck? pub websites? (unbiased? up-to- date?)

IIRC I think there was an updates page for the GBG too? cheers MikeMcG

An up to date online version of the GBG?

You could try the good pub guide.

It does still mention the odd real ale pub, but it' mostly focuses on more up-market rural dining inns.

Only if you like things that a more out of date than the year before lasts Good Beer Guide

Contact the branch or branches local to the area you are visiting. Most of the time you not only get the "didn't quite make it into this years guide" pubs you also get the "this is going into the next years guide entries" pubs.

That's what I do - with the best will in the world the GBG is out of date before it gets to print. An online version would be the solution surely?