Academic helps real ale guide

Dr Neil Spencer is head of statistical services at the university

A university statistics expert has helped the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to compile its Good Beer Guide.

Dr Neil Spencer, from the University of Hertfordshire, has helped the St Albans-based organisation decide how many pubs from each part of the UK should be included in the annual guide.

Dr Spencer, head of the university's statistical services and consultancy unit, said: "CAMRA asked our unit to come up with a formula for how many pubs each region should be allowed to nominate.

"Greater London has the greatest number of pubs for possible nomination and Greater Manchester comes next.

We asked Neil to produce something new using modern figures

Roger Protz, the Guide's editor

"The Isle of Wight has the fewest, but it has a much smaller population and fewer pubs.

"In order to produce a formula ensuring nominations are fair and representative we took into account:

The population of each county

The number of pubs or licensed premises

The number selling real ale

The number of tourists

The number of pubs per square kilometre."

He said the formula suggests Hertfordshire should have 68 pubs included in the guide, Greater London 530, Greater Manchester 203, and the Isle of Wight four.

'Population has changed'

The formula will be used for the 2004 Good Beer Guide, the 31st edition.

Roger Protz, the Guide's editor, said: "In the 1980s an expert within CAMRA came up with the formula we've been using ever since.

"It has now become outdated and we asked Neil to produce something new using modern figures.

"The population has changed. In London it has gone down from 10 million to eight million but 10% of all the country's pubs are in Greater London".