Scotland's micropub listed in beer 'Bible'

Scotland's first - and only - 'micro pub', set up in a former knitting shop in Kelso, has been named in the Good Beer Guide.

There is only one micro pub in Scotland

Rutherfords is one of 250 micro pubs in the UK, according to the industry “Bible”, produced by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), which have to adhere to guidelines including no music or TV, no lager and have to be based in a disused shop.

Martyn Hillier opened the first micro pub, the Butcher’s Arms in Herne, Kent, in 2005 in a former butcher’s shop. Others are based in a variety of premises. Including funeral parlours, hairdressers and pet shops.

Roger Protz, editor of the Good Beer Guide, said the genre was thriving in an environment which has otherwise struggled in recent years. It is estimated that pubs are closing at a rate of around 21 a week.

He said: “It’s tragic that pubs that have been the heart of their communities for decades and even centuries continue to close – though the closure rate is declining to around 21 a week. But they are being replaced by new pubs, often in the most unlikely places.”

He added: “You can’t keep the good old British pub down. It has always regenerated itself over the centuries and made spirited comebacks after wars and Puritan revolutions. Now beer lovers can enjoy great beer in often amazing and bizarre surroundings as a new wave of enthusiasts rides to the pub’s rescue.”

Rutherfords, which opened last year, serves house gin on tap through a microscope, as well as a range of craft beers.

Earlier this year, it was named runner-up in CAMRA Borders Pub of the Year 2016.

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