Two Tree Micro, Watford, in CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2025

Two Trees Micro in Vicarage Road has been listed in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide for 2025, just months after it won the Watford and District branch’s pub of the year and cider pub of the year in May.

Owned by Michael Ash and his partner Kathryn Perry, the micropub prides itself on selling beers not available elsewhere and has four hand pumps for serving real cask ales and cider, as well as soft drinks and other beers.

Michael Ash runs Two Trees Micro with his partner Kathryn Perry. (Image: Michael Ash) Michael said the couple were delighted when they received the news earlier this year although they had to keep a tight lid on it until the guide was released last Thursday (September 26).

The 36–year-old said: “It’s positive as this is the second year we’re in it and after we won pub and cider pub of the year here, it’s been a great year for us.”

Michael and Kathryn receiving the local CAMRA branch awards for best pub of the year and best cider pub of the year. (Image: Watford and District CAMRA) Michael launched the business in March 2022 with his 35-year-old partner after he was made redundant from his previous job at Network Rail.

He described the atmosphere as “quite friendly and welcoming”, adding: “We’ve got a good group of regulars who are not very cliquey and they’ll happily talk to anyone that comes in.

Michael described Two Trees Micro as a pub for everyone. (Image: Two Trees Micro Pub) “We’re also quite actively pro-LGBTQ+ as we’ve got Pride flags up so we’re a pub for everyone.”

The landlord said they had seen people cut down on luxuries amid the cost of living crisis, but felt the business was “weathering the storm and hunkering down, doing what we do well consistently”.

• 9 pubs in and around Watford make the 2025 Good Beer Guide
• The micropub supported by its community where strangers get talking

The micropub is based in Vicarage Road. (Image: Michael Ash) Two Trees Micro will celebrate its third birthday next year, but for the moment Michael said: “I think currently we’re happy to exist here and serve good beer and hopefully get some people drinking real ale.”

One of the particular beers he said he was “excited” to serve at the moment is an extra special bitter from The Kernel Brewery in Bermondsey, which is reportedly hard to come by.

He described the ale as “malty and boozy" with notes of "hedgerow berries” from the specific "Bramling Cross" hops used in the brewery process.