TWO traditional Gwent pubs with a passion for real ale have spent a quarter of a century as some of the best places to find the drink locally.

For the last 25 years, The King's Head in Usk and The Wheatsheaf Inn, Llanhennock have held their regular slots in the Campaign for Real Ale's Good Beer Guide.

Such is their commitment to providing good quality drinks year after year, CAMRA's Gwent branch decided to sample some for themselves, by visiting the pubs for its 40th anniversary this week.

Media officer for the Campaign, James Daley, said to be on the guide's pages for such a long time is a rarity nowadays.

In fact, he believes there are only a handful of pubs in the UK with such a record.

He said: "I think it is something quite unusual for a pub to have had consecutively good beer. These two pubs have also been in the same ownership through and through and they should be proud."

"We wanted to support these local pubs on our anniversary," he added.

Landlord of The King's Head, Steve Musto, has been at the helm of serving beer in the Monmouthshire pub for the last 27 years.

His stepson Adam Fowler, 22, takes the role of business development manager, and remembers helping his family out in the pub from a young age.

The pub has two resident real ales for its customers.

Mr Fowler said featuring in the guide for consecutive years helps attract visitors, who often rely on it to find good pubs.

He said: "We pride ourselves on providing real ale and great quality food. Being in the guide is incredible and shows we are appreciated, as looking after our beer is a key part of our business."

The Wheatsheaf Inn's landlady, Marjorie Powell, 66, says drinkers like the fact her pub is unchanged since she moved in 28 years ago.

Regulars indulge in boules and quizzes, keeping a traditional feel to it.

Mrs Powell used to run the pub with her late husband Henry and despite difficult times in the pub trade, she says she still enjoys attracting customers.

"We have a lovely pub out in the country. It's one of those olde-worlde ones and people remember it just how it was," she said.

The Wheatsheaf boasts three pumps of real ale, two of which have frequently changed guest ales.

CAMRA presented both pubs with certificates to mark their 25 years.