The Good Food Guide, a popular and also the oldest continually running UK restaurant guide based on a combination of reader reviews and expert inspections, is to cease publication after more than 70 years.

Fish and chips shop and NFFF members such as Colmans of South Shields,  Magpie Café – Whitby, and The Captains Galley – Scottish Highlands had appeared in last one to be published which was in 2020.

A statement issued by Waitrose said: “Regrettably we have taken the decision not to publish the Waitrose Good Food Guide during 2021. We are very appreciative of the efforts of all our partners, inspectors and those who have contributed to the guide during the seven years since we acquired it. We retain the brand but currently have no plans to publish future guides. We will continue to champion the industry through our publications, including Waitrose Food and Waitrose Weekend.”

The guide confirmed that it would not publish its 2021 edition in September last year, saying the Covid-19 pandemic left it unable to reflect the industry “fairly or accurately”.

It said at the time that it would continue to promote the industry through its social media channels, adding: “As soon as the doors of the UK’s pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés are open once again, our inspectors will be ready to visit and support them, as well as the suppliers who rely on these establishments for their businesses to thrive.”

The Good Food Guide was bought for an undisclosed sum by Waitrose from the consumer company Which? in 2013.