Sad rumours abound that the Zageman is to close with the retirement of its owner later this year. All up-to-date information welcomed.

Diest
For those who do not know Diest, to the east of Brussels in Flemish Brabant, it is one of those pocket-sized market towns that has all the photo-shoot necessities like Gothic public buildings, a market square and some nice café terraces all in a nicely compact area not too far from its mainline railway station. Good for taking pix without having to walk much, so more time for beer.

Again, sad rumours that we are about to lose the Grenadier, a café that has graced all five editions of the Guide to date under the same ownership. The same rumours say that it will be sold off as a private house so the pleasure of dining in its orangerie will be confined to its new owners.

However, the good news is that the town’s two "also ran" entries, the Celt and the Ons Te Huis, have both developed into fully fledged beer cafés and the revitalized beers from local brewery Duysters are far more in evidence.

Menen (West Flanders)
The unfortunately named but nonetheless delightful Abattoir bistro has changed hands and now knows better than to stock good beer.