This user has reviewed the following pubs:

Folkestone Pubs : Guildhall Public House pub in Folkestone
'Has a nice "local" feel to it with both the staff and customers being friendly and welcoming. Real ale served, Bass and GK IPA are regulars. '
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London (EC) Pubs : The Magpie pub in London (EC)
'Typical City, pub full of office workers who spill outside into the street during summer evenings. Excellent pint of Timothy Taylors Landlord. '
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London (N) Pubs : The Connaught Tavern pub in London (N)
'Dreadful place, don't go there. '
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London (N) Pubs : The Salisbury Hotel pub in London (N)
'This is a hugh pub which is on CAMRA's “historic pub interiors” list. There are three separate areas around a large central ornate bar, a bright and airy bar fronts onto the main road, a nice wooden floored area which seems the most popular and a quieter, more intimate area with a wonderful mosaic floor. If that wasn’t enough there is also a comfortably furnished lounge at the back. Real ales plus a range of lagers. The pub has a nice friendly laid back feel to it and deserves a visit if only for the décor. '
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London (N) Pubs : The Oakdale Arms pub in London (N)
'Re-opened by the Milton brewery in June 2003 the Oakdale Arms has quickly become a favorite drinking spot for real ale devotees in North London. 8 handpumps, all the Milton beers, a real cider and a good range of bottled beers. A bit difficult to find being in the middle of a residential/industrial area but worth the walk. '
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St Albans Pubs : Farmers Boy pub in St Albans
'Home of the Verulam Brewery, serving excellent beers and good food. '
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St Albans Pubs : Lower Red Lion pub in St Albans
'Another Mecca for real ale lovers in St Albans. The left hand bar known as the "Lower Lower Red Lion" has an ever changing range of guest beers from microbreweries plus good regulars. The walk back up the hill into St. Albans can be a little challenging after a visit, but don’t let that put you off.'
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Edinburgh Pubs : Brecks Bar pub in Edinburgh
'A fairly large pub with double frontage halfway along Rose St. Local rumours tell of the attempted murder of an English bank manager here some years ago, perhaps he turned someone down for a loan. In one corner of the bar you will find a small window seat next to which you can see where a telephone was once located. In the days before mobile phones this was colloquially known as "I'll be home late" corner. '
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Edinburgh Pubs : Cask & Barrel pub in Edinburgh
'A large pub with a friendly atmosphere where the real ale drinker will be as well looked after as the beer itself. It's a bit of a stroll from the main Princes Street area but well worth the effort. '
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Edinburgh Pubs : Guildford Arms pub in Edinburgh
'Located at the East end of Princes St in the town centre, and an ideal place to start or end a pub crawl along the infamous Rose Street. The first thing you notice is the revolving doors you have to get through to enter the pub and once inside the wonderful decorative ceiling. A wide range of beers from Scottish breweries was available plus some foreign lagers. The food is very good and there is a gallery restaurant open in the evenings. Don't forget to visit the Café Royal just around the corner, which has an equally impressive interior. '
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Edinburgh Pubs : Queens Arms pub in Edinburgh
'Pleasant enough cellar pub a short walk from the main Princes St'
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Edinburgh Pubs : The Bow Bar pub in Edinburgh
'This has a great location between the Royal Mile and the many pubs along Grassmarket. A small one roomed pub which caters well for the real ale drinker having 4-6 ales on, most of them guests which turn over regularly.'
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Edinburgh Pubs : The Old Firestation Inn pub in Edinburgh
'A narrow main bar with a number of other floors and rooms. Some of the space does seem to be a bit wasted but it is popular at weekends and an ideal watering hole on the way between the Grassmarket and Lothian Road areas'
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Edinburgh Pubs : The Oxford Bar pub in Edinburgh
'A marvellous find, tucked away in the next street up from the infamous Rose Street. A real locals pub where you are hit by the age and the small size as soon as you enter. The bar area is only about 4 feet wide but a little exploration finds an interesting snug to the right hand side. Literary articles line the walls with the pubs favourite son being novelist Ian Rankin who allegedly based some of his characters on people in the pub. Both the staff and regulars are receptive to visitors and happy to chat which provides for a nice friendly atmosphere. Definitely a pub to search out, but do not confuse with the Cambridge a little further along Young St. '
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Edinburgh Pubs : Tolbooth Tavern pub in Edinburgh
'A pleasant old pub with a history as the name suggests. Based on two levels, a shelf runs around most of the lower bar with old pots, plates, books and other memorabilia. Located towards the lower end of the Royal Mile so probably has little passing trade and relies on its regulars. '
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Watford Pubs : Dunnings Bar & Restaurant pub in Watford
'Neither a restaurant nor a bar really, it’s definitely a pub, which will come as a great relief to those who previously knew it as the Stag. An underused restaurant area has been added and the décor has been tarted up a bit but it has retained all it’s previous character. This is a proper Irish pub. No juke box but pleasant piped music and live music every Saturday night. Fruit machines, video poker, dartboard, pool table and large screen TV for sport. The Guinness is the best in Watford. Not a large pub but friendly and has a good atmosphere when busy. '
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London (EC) Pubs : Dirty Dicks pub in London (EC)
'Good range of Youngs beers both draught and bottles. Good atmosphere and one of the better City pubs. '
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London (EC) Pubs : Hamilton Hall pub in London (EC)
'More or less in Liverpool St Station this is an ideal stopping off point for the many commuters. Standard Wetherspoons fare but in a magnificent building.'
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London (EC) Pubs : Hoop & Grapes pub in London (EC)
'Typical large City pub, fast(ish) food and everything overpriced. '
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London (EC) Pubs : The Bull pub in London (EC)
'Tucked away just off Bishopsgate near Liverpool St Station this is a typical small City pub. They have a range of guest ales which change regularly but unfortunately they tend to run out too often. '
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London (E) Pubs : The Market Trader pub in London (E)
'Good pub for a beer but as it is quite a narrow bar you always seem to be in someones way during busy times. The Thai restaurant upstairs has a good reputation.'
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London (N) Pubs : Wenlock Arms pub in London (N)
'A really good real ale pub and if you didn’t know it by reputation you would realise it as soon as you walked in. A large, well kept range of ales including a mild and real cider. The food looks appetising and guaranteed to keep your thirst going. There is loads going on in this pub and the best thing I can say is give it a visit.'
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Folkestone Pubs : The British Lion pub in Folkestone
'A real old pub which is hidden away near the churchyard. Serves Green King ales and guests and has a separate area for food. Nice old building, a library "snug" and some intriguing doors that you imagine could once have lead to secret passages. Closes in the afternoons'
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Folkestone Pubs : The Happy Frenchman pub in Folkestone
'A large high ceilinged pub which looks a bit rough but is quite friendly. It has a good atmosphere with lots going on and seems to attract a mixed age clientele. Regular live music.'
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St Albans Pubs : The Duke Of Malborough pub in St Albans
'Small and friendly with a nice country pub feel to it. Two bars and an enclosed beer garden out the back. Green King IPA and Adnams Bitter available. Located at the bottom of Holywell Hill and an ideal excuse for a little snifter before attempting the climb. '
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St Albans Pubs : Mokoko pub in St Albans
'I found this pub during the afternoon break in the St Albans beer festival. It’s a proper pub with old boys in old cardigans and old suits, swearing, checking their 10p yankees and getting pleasantly drunk. Decent ales, friendly atmosphere, it would probably not survive in many towns but St Albans loves these sorts of pubs. Located at the junction of Verulam Road and Upper Dagnall St. '
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Watford Pubs : Nascot Arms pub in Watford
'Usually a good selection of real ales including the GK range, but always seems to be served too cold. '
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Watford Pubs : The White Lion pub in Watford
'Decent enough place but not very visitor friendly. Always annoys me that you have to push your way through the regulars sitting at the bar to get served.'
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Northwood Pubs : Sylvan Moon pub in Northwood
'Nice looking corner pub, quite small for a Wetherspoons, which gives it a nice local feel '
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Northwood Pubs : The Gate pub in Northwood
'Used to be a proper pub but since being taken over by Ember Inns it's been turned into a rather souless gastropub.'
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London (EC) Pubs : The Throgmorton pub in London (EC)
'Generally considered to be one of the best pints of Guinness in the City. '
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London (EC) Pubs : Woodins Shades pub in London (EC)
'City pub near Liverpool St Station, always packed and difficult to get served. Pool tables upstairs.'
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St Albans Pubs : The Peahen pub in St Albans
'Large pub with comfortable furnishings and decent food. Stocks beers from the local McMullens brewery. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Vintry pub in St Albans
'Large cavernous place with a warehouse feel to it. Tables and chairs look as if they have come from a school canteen. Attracts a young element at the weekends. Better pubs around if it's a proper pub you want. '
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St Albans Pubs : The White Lion pub in St Albans
'Just down the road from the Goat where one of its ex-regulars told me that it had gone down hill a bit recently. I wasn't disappointed though, it's clean, comfortable, friendly and serves a drinkable pint. It's a decent enough place but maybe suffers from there being so many good pubs within walking distance. '
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St Albans Pubs : The King Harry pub in St Albans
'A good pub but a little way out from the centre of St Albans. It is now under threat of closure from developers so go there while you can. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Cock Inn pub in St Albans
'A Green King pub with Green King fayre, largely unremarkable. '
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Manchester Pubs : The Seven Oaks pub in Manchester
'A proper pub amongst all the theme bars that seem to be taking over. Small and frindly with decent beer. '
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Dover Pubs : The Mogul pub in Dover
'Dreadful news that the Mogul is to close down, it is by far the best of Dover's entries in the 2004 GBG. A little out of the way, located up an incline giving views of the Channel ferries and the docks. A proper community pub with a small front "drinkers" bar and larger saloon bar and garden at the rear for families and food. Beers drawn direct from the cask. Go there while you still can. '
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Dover Pubs : The Golden Lion pub in Dover
'I found this pub a bit disappointing given that it is a Good Beer Guide entry. Needs a bit of attention and a bit of money spent as it is in a prime location.'
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Harefield Pubs : The White Horse pub in Harefield near Uxbridge
'I remember this pub from back in the mid 80’s, it was known as the best place in Harefield for real ale and good pub grub. Located directly on Church Hill with a small car park out front where I recall dwile flonking on summer afternoons (it’s a Suffolk pub game – really, go and check it out, it does exist). '
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Rickmansworth Pubs : Long Island Exchange pub in Rickmansworth
'Late bar and cheap decent accomodation after a pub crawl round Rickmansworth.'
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Folkestone Pubs : Chambers pub in Folkestone
'From outside it looks more of a club or a wine bar than a pub however I was drawn in by the list of real ales advertised and was pleasantly surprised. There are two bars with plenty of room and the place has an underground cavern feel to it. An eclectic clientele mixes well, with the trendy youngsters drinking harmoniously alongside the real ale enthusiasts. CAMRA newsletters and local information leaflets are available and there's an unusual little alcove near the main bar where the telephone sits. A good place for a beer'
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Folkestone Pubs : Mustang Sallys pub in Folkestone
'A nice open plan pub with comfy sofas and a DJ/dance floor area. I had a good pint of Old Hookey in a branded glass, which I always think is a mark of good customer service. The toilets were clean which is another. '
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Folkestone Pubs : Samuel Peto pub in Folkestone
'I almost didn't find this pub but when I did I was glad I persevered as it's a really impressive church conversion. On entering you are faced with a double iron staircase which leads up to a galleried area with drinking booths looking down on the main bar. In each corner of the main bar are raised areas with armchairs and bookcases which give a comfortable homely feel. There is a small horseshoe bar, above which the old church organ can be seen. Original statues and features of the church have been retained and the whole thing is rounded off by "Hymns" and "Hyrs" hymn boards outside the toilets. Bit of a shame they couldn't come up with a more original name for the pub. Has to be the best church/pub conversion I have seen since Frankensteins in Edinburgh. '
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Edinburgh Pubs : Festival Ale House pub in Edinburgh
'Has an old Firkin feel to it, wooden floors, cheap deals on keg beers, not a particularly nice place. There are better pubs around. '
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London (NW) Pubs : The Euston Flyer pub in London (NW)
'A large Fullers pub situated between Kings Cross and Euston stations opposite the British Library. Fruit machines, piped music and a big screen TV. Standard Fullers fare, Pride, ESB, Chiswick, Stella, Grolsh and Scrumpy Jack plus a full menu. The french doors at the front are often opened onto the main road in summer. There is plenty of seating including three raised areas, one of which contains comfortable leather armchairs and sofas which are excellent for people watching outside. A popular pub for an after work drink with friends before heading home'
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London (E) Pubs : City Of Carlisle pub in London (E)
'Small "city type" pub but in an out of the way location. Decent beer, pool table. '
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London (EC) Pubs : King Of Diamonds pub in London (EC)
'Fairly good city pub, real ales available, full of suits lunchtimes'
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London (EC) Pubs : The City Tup pub in London (EC)
'Good city pub, populat at lunchtiomes, upstaits eating area'
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London (EC) Pubs : The Minories pub in London (EC)
'Large, sprawling, expensive, gastropub'
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London (EC) Pubs : The Peacock pub in London (EC)
'A tired looking pub that has a decent location but needs some money spent on it.'
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London (EC) Pubs : The Reliance pub in London (EC)
'Decent pub near Old St Station. The menu is a bit pretentious and pricy. Good range of beers on draught, Czech lagers, Belgian beers and three handpumps. '
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London (EC) Pubs : Sir Paul Pindar pub in London (EC)
'Not sure how they got their CaskMarque accreditation. They have only two handpumps and both were turned around on a Friday lunchtime. Otherwise it's a pretty good city pub, plenty of room and they'll reserve an area if there is a group of you. '
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London (EC) Pubs : The Underwriter pub in London (EC)
'An underground celler bar with it's entrance near the "Gerkin". '
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London (W) Pubs : The Goat Tavern pub in London (W)
'Another of London’s historic pubs, the Goat Tavern claims to have stood on the site for over 300 years and be the oldest in Kensington. It’s an old Watney’s house but thankfully I didn’t spot a red barrel. Standard selection of real ales available. It is a long low ceilinged bar split into three, an eating area at the rear, the main bar and a bright circular front room that looks out on to Kensington High St. There's a bus stop right outside for buses towards Notting Hill or Olympia/Hammersmith. No under 18’s rule in place even during the day. '
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London (EC) Pubs : The Bull pub in London (EC)
'Bad news about the Bull. Have just heard that the Spirit Group have sold out, it will be closing around end of June and will no longer be a pub. No doubt another deli or overpriced coffee bar will appear to add to the plethora already plaguing the City. Shame on you Spirit Group, you've only owned this place for a few months. '
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Eccles Pubs : Lamb Hotel pub in Eccles near Manchester
'Fantastic pub and easy to get to, near the tram bus and train stops in Eccles just 20-30 minutes from Manchester. Old Holts multi-roomed pub that has a nice look and feel to it. There’s the public bar, all bench seating, wobbly tables and betting slips on the bar. Then there are two comfortable and well decorated lounges and an incredible snooker room with spectator seating around the table. Full range of Holts draught and bottled beers. I recommend a visit. '
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Manchester Pubs : The Britons Protection pub in Manchester
'Great looking Grade II listed pub both externally and inside with a well stocked bar. The layout isn’t very practical for the area in which it now finds itself and once all the suits arrive after work it can get a bit uncomfortable. Good beer, the service was OK on my visit and definitely worth a visit. Heard a rumour that they intend moving the pub about 20 yards to the left to make way for a block of flats - philistines. '
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Manchester Pubs : The Castle Hotel pub in Manchester
'It’s a bit shabby but the fact that nothing seems to have changed in this pub for a number of years adds something to the charm. Run by an old style landlady with a rod of iron, so don’t ask for a pint of Old Tom or you are likely to be thrown out. There’s a full range of Robinsons beers and the bar is packed with knick knacks, souvenirs and brewerania. A real breath of fresh air in these days of Wetherspoons, Yates’s and the like. If you like good beer and have fond memories of what pubs used to be like, pay a visit to the Castle. '
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Manchester Pubs : The Marble Arch pub in Manchester
'I’ve only been to this place once but it is now on my list of favourite Manchester pubs. The high vaulted ceiling, the sloping mosaic floor and the solid wooden furniture give it a bit of a beer hall feel. The beer was excellent on our visit and had we not been on our third day of drinking, with another three pubs still to find, we would have stayed longer. Will definitely pay another visit next time I am in Manchester. '
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Manchester Pubs : The Seven Oaks pub in Manchester
'Paid another visit recently and it's still a good pub. When St Paddy's Day and the Cheltenham Gold Cup coincide you know the Seven Oaks is going to be packed - and it was. Still a favourite of mine when in the centre. '
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Manchester Pubs : The Moon Under Water pub in Manchester
'Notoriously difficult to get served, even for a Wetherspoons. Now re-branded as a Lloyds No1 bar. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Peahen pub in St Albans
'Wow, this place has changed a bit since my last visit. Still a McMullens house but they have gone big time for the gastro pub experience. Structurally it is still the same but there is now more wood furnishings than you’d find in an Ikea showroom. Two cask beer pumps remain one with McMullens County and the other possibly a guest. Whilst you can get a beer at the bar the intention is quite clearly that you avail yourself of the “full table service”, something I find unnecessary in a pub. Non smoking throughout. Prices don’t look cheap with the Sunday roast at £7.95 but it is a decent place and I suspect they will get plenty of custom. '
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London (NW) Pubs : Royal George pub in London (NW)
'Decent enough pub with a good beer selection but it does have an air of being a station pub being so close to Euston. Judging by the atmosphere in there yesterday they'll go bust once the smoking ban kicks in. '
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London (NW) Pubs : The Euston Flyer pub in London (NW)
'I heard they had a selection of Belgian beers in so paid a visit to check it out. Leffe on draught plus a few bottled fruit beers didn't really inspire me. Full Fullers range plus a couple of Archers beers made up for it. Why they feel the need to charge £2.95 for a pint of 4% beer is beyond me. Also saw something that looked suspiciously like a mousetrap lurking by one of the fruit machines. '
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London (NW) Pubs : The Hollybush pub in London (NW)
'Can be difficult to find and it's a bit of an uphill walk from the tube station. Worth the effort though as it's a great pub. Very friendly, good food and great beers, St Peters Golden Ale on my last visit '
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Manchester Pubs : Sinclairs Oyster Bar pub in Manchester
'Nice looking Sam Smiths pub that along with the Old Wellington Inn are collectively known as The Shambles. An alternative name is The Great Survivors given that the pubs have both been moved twice, the first time in the 1970’s when the Arndale Centre was built and again in the late 1990’s to allow for regeneration of the area after the IRA bomb blast. There is a small bar downstairs along with a low ceiling snug. There’s more room upstairs where food is served. Usual Sam Smiths beers served by friendly staff. '
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Manchester Pubs : The Old Wellington Inn pub in Manchester
'This is the better looking of two adjoining historic pubs, the other being Sinclairs Oyster Bar, that are collectively known as The Shambles. An alternative name is The Great Survivors given that the pubs have both been moved twice, the first time in the 1970’s when the Arndale Centre was built and again in the late 1990’s to allow for regeneration of the area after the IRA bomb blast. It has a nice old feel to it with leaded windows, aged timbers and stone floors. They had posters advertising an upcoming beer festival, hope there will be something more interesting than the GK IPA, Broadside and Boddies that we were faced with. They’re happy to take off the sparklers for us southerners. '
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Worcester Pubs : The Swan With Two Nicks pub in Worcester
'This pub is actually called The Swan with Two NICKS. You’ll probably be drawn in because of the interesting name and you’ll also find an interesting pub. Difficult to describe the atmosphere, there seems to be a bit of a student/Manc/gay/couples/Irish/whatever thing going on, eclectic is probably the word I‘m grasping for. I wasn’t even sure I was in the right place as there is also a restaurant and a nightclub in the same building with connecting doors and staircase. It seems a bit of a regulars pub but it’s friendly enough and the sort of place I imagine gets busy on a Fri/Sat evening as it is close to the area where most of the nightlife is. I was a bit disappointed with the real ale, they have a large number of pump clips on the ceiling but London Pride and Old Speckled Hen didn’t really inspire me and the quality was below par. Go for the name, and to say you’ve been there. '
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London (W) Pubs : Devonshire Arms pub in London (W)
'Difficult to describe this place, it’s clearly a typical old style local boozer and you can still see “Public Bar” etched on the glass doors. It no doubt suffered when the local clientele changed - it’s right opposite a massive gated mews development - and has had to change itself. They seem to have added a number of ad hoc things they think will fit in and it is now an assortment of high rustic tables, chrome framed stools, exposed ventilation pipes and some garish art deco orange lighting over the bar. They do get away with it though, it’s more eccentric than pretentious. Three cask ales and six continental lagers on draught, plus a selection of bottled beers and a good wine list. Tapas style menu with prices befitting of its new found affluent clientele. Sunday is quiz night. Nice outside patio for smokers that looks as if it would be a sun trap in the Summer. Interesting place, couldn’t tell you how to get there as I was lost when I stumbled across it. '
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London (N) Pubs : Pembury Tavern pub in London (N)
'After hearing great things about the Pembury Tavern I eventually called in after a visit to the Pig’s Ear beer festival in Hackney. The pub is one of three owned by Individual Pub Ltd with its sister pubs being the Oakdale Arms in Harringay and the Coalheavers Arms in Peterborough. The pubs are an outlet for the many different beers from the Milton Brewery and the Pembury has at least 12 pumps with both Milton beers and guests. After being spoiled by the vast range of dark beers at the festival I was delighted to continue with the excellent Nero stout at 5% moving up to the powerful 7.5% Marcus Aurelius. Decided to do the sensible thing and “downgrade” to the Minotaur mild but unfortunately it was not on. This did however allow me to explore the Belgian bottle range as a palate cleanser before making my way home. We arrived around half past four and it was remarkably quiet, especially with the festival nearby, but it picked up during the evening and there was quite a buzz going on by 7pm. I was greatly impressed by the pub and its beers and will certainly plan further visits. Food is available from midday to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm Monday to Sat and all day Sunday. Note that this is a non-smoking pub and also has a no piped music policy. It has a minimalist like décor which can make it a bit soulless when it is not busy. There is a pool table and bar billiards plus board games available behind the bar and a chess club that has just started on a Tuesday evening. '
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Worcester Pubs : Ye Olde Talbot Hotel pub in Worcester
'Called in here on a visit to Worcester Oct 06. The first barman walked straight past me and went to collect some glasses. The second stood at the other end of the bar chatting, oblivious to my presence. Other than that I can't really tell you much about this place as I left and went to the much more welcoming Cardinal's Hat close by. '
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Watford Pubs : The White Lion pub in Watford
'If there's a pub in Watford with more Christmas decorations than the White Lion I am grateful for not having been subjected to it. Not a criticism just an observation. The beer was on pretty good form. '
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Watford Pubs : Wellington Arms pub in Watford
'A better pub than it used to be and the interior is now quite pleasant. Have not had a proper meal in here but the meals look good and plentiful. The bar snacks on the other hand I found to be microwaved and decidedly uninspiring. They could do with paying a bit more attention to the real ales, like making sure the first one of the day is pulled through properly and adding a notch or two to the temperature. The pub certainly looks after its sports fans with a number of plasma screens showing different channels but this investment doesn’t seem to be reciprocated. The last time I was there the pub miraculously filled up with “regulars” 10 minutes before a big game kicked off. Admittedly many had probably been dragged out Christmas shopping with the missus. '
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Worcester Pubs : The Cardinals Hat pub in Worcester
'A must visit place for any fans of continental beer as there are a number of imported Austrian beers on offer including a Dunkel, a Pils and a Weissbier. Back in 2002 the bureaucrats at the Weights & Measures department stopped the Austrian landlady from selling in half and full litre earthenware steins insisting that pints and half pints were used. That must have confused the hell out of the “metric martyrs”. There are newspaper cuttings about the story in the corridor. The pub itself is an absolute gem with a roaring log fire in the small main bar for those long winter evenings and two other small cosy rooms including a beautiful panelled snug at the back. I think there may also be an adjoining restaurant. The building clearly has some age to it, 15th Century maybe, and probably gets it’s name from sheltering Cardinals and others when on pilgrimage to the nearby Cathedral. It was believed to be known as the Cardinal’s Hat back in the mid 18th Century since when, for religious and political reasons, it underwent a number of name changes before being restored to it’s present name in the 1950’s. '
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Watford Pubs : Champions Bar pub in Watford
'When I first knew this pub it had the magnificent name of The Leviathan with a pub sign to match. It then got sold to some philistines who took down the signage, replaced it with a tacky banner and renamed it Champions. Clearly they had no idea how to run a pub and it went down hill quickly. A new guv’nor arrived called John who instilled a bit of discipline, and a lot of professionalism, adding a couple of hand pumps along the way. John has now left but the pub continues to flourish, serves a decent pint and is a good place to watch sports. Can be a bit difficult to get to the bar, removing the semi-circular bench seating and moving the bar stools to pedestal tables away from the bar would be an improvement. '
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London (NW) Pubs : The Doric Arch pub in London (NW)
'Yes, some time after the Fullers takeover the Head of Steam has finally been renamed the Doric Arch as had been rumoured. Now serves Fullers beers of course but all the old favourites are still there as well as regular guests. Regulars will give a sigh of relief that not too much has changed - including unfortunately the toilets. For anyone trying to find this pub do not get taken in by the google map which seems to think the post code is some streets away. The pub is just outside Euston mainline station near the bus terminus. '
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London (NW) Pubs : The Lords Tavern pub in London (NW)
'Struggles a little with it's identity, is it a pub or a bar/restaurant. It tends towards the latter and is a bit pricey. Always full when there is a game on at the Lords Cricket Ground next door. '
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Glasgow Pubs : Frankinsteins pub in Glasgow
'Went in expecting an atmosphere similar to Frankenstein’s in Edinburgh, which admittedly is helped by being built inside a church. I guess it must be the same owners as there were some similarities but I was disappointed with this one, too much chrome and PVC covered furniture. '
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Glasgow Pubs : The Horseshoe Bar pub in Glasgow
'One of my favourite Glasgow pubs and always like to try to get there when visiting. Good beer and a friendly and vibrant atmosphere. '
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Glasgow Pubs : The Scotia Bar pub in Glasgow
'One of Glasgow's traditional old pubs - may it never change'
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Glasgow Pubs : Counting House pub in Glasgow
'A well located and busy Wetherspoons which as others have said is one of the many bank conversions around the country. Huge place with high ceilings that make it feel even bigger. '
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Watford Pubs : One Bell pub in Watford
'The One Bell has struggled for the last 3-4 years to make itself back into a decent pub but it has failed. There’s just not enough care and attention paid to the place, the beer, the bar, the seating areas etc.etc. Friendly enough but it seems to have got lazy and relies on it’s regulars to keep it going. '
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Watford Pubs : The Moon Under Water pub in Watford
'Like so many Wetherspoons unfortunately, atracts the cheap drinks crowd and has bar staff with no idea what they're doing. '
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Watford Pubs : The Red Lion pub in Watford
'Right opposite Watford Football Club so gets horrendously busy on match days '
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Harefield Pubs : The Pickle Jar pub in Harefield near Uxbridge
'It’s been The Pickle Jar for a while now but has had a number of names over the years and has always been a bit of a strange pub. I recall back to when it was the King’s Head and run by Bernard who at times went beyond the no t-shirts rule and wouldn't let people in without a tie. '
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Harefield Pubs : The White Horse pub in Harefield near Uxbridge
'Sadly I must report the closure of the White Horse. It has been systematically ruined by successive owners over the last 4-5 years and the rumour has it that it has been run into the ground so that it can be sold for a housing development. A shocking thing to happen to a wonderful old 16th century property. '
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London (EC) Pubs : Counting House pub in London (EC)
'An impressive bank conversion like many others in the City. Range of Fullers beers available including he excellent ESB. I usually find service friendly and efficient. There seems to be a pricing policy of adding 10-15p to other Fullers houses presumably to keep the crowds down. It does work so if you can afford it you can normally avoid the Friday lunchtime scrum that happens in other city pubs. Plenty of function rooms for private hire both at the back and upstairs although generally you have to go back to the main bar for cask beers. '
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London (EC) Pubs : Melton Mowbray pub in London (EC)
'Decent pub with efficient staff, half tourist pub half city pub and the mix seems to work well. '
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London (EC) Pubs : The Bull pub in London (EC)
'I’m pleased to report better news about the Bull, it reopened at the beginning of the year and is still a bar and still called the Bull with it‘s original livery. It has undergone some changes though and thankfully the toilets have been refurbished. Draught beers include Amstell plus pleasingly a cask beer, London Pride. Prices around £3 pint, don‘t know about the food I haven‘t eaten there. It does struggle a bit with it’s identity, you can still sit at the bar and have a drink but it is laid out in a bistro style with a waiting service for both food and drink. The deciding factor for me is that they have someone behind the bar who’s sole purpose is to work the coffee machine, can’t therefore be a pub in my book, must be a bar, decent enough place for a drink though and better than being a Starbucks. '
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London (EC) Pubs : The Three Lords pub in London (EC)
'Youngs pub near Aldgate station, popular at lunchtimes with local office workers. '
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London (WC) Pubs : Coal Hole pub in London (WC)
'Nice interior and well worth a visit to have a look around. Beer quality OK, standard Nicholson's offering but all in all one probably best left for the tourists. '
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London (WC) Pubs : Harp pub in London (WC)
'I can’t believe that other London reviewers have missed this gem of a pub, sitting so near to many other great pubs around the Covent Garden area as it does. It is easy to miss as it only has a small frontage but I urge anyone in the area to pay a visit. It’s a traditional old boozer run by a friendly landlady who always has time for a chat and employs friendly and efficient staff. The bar is quite small and can get busy but that’s a reflection of it’s popularity. There is a no smoking room upstairs with the gents toilet precariously position half way up the rickety staircase, so be careful. On summer afternoons the large front windows are opened up providing a vista of the busy streets outside. The beer quality is excellent, there are generally at least four pumps on with regulars Harvey’s Best and Landlord with ever changing and interesting guests. There’s usually a real cider available as well. Add to all of this the superb sausage and onion rolls and you’ve got a place that you’ll want to keep coming back to. '
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London (WC) Pubs : Sherlock Holmes pub in London (WC)
'A magnet for fans of the famous sleuth. This is a nice looking somewhat touristy pub with a well stocked large horseshoe shaped bar and food available both in the bar and in an upstairs restaurant. Upstairs there is also a tableaux of Sherlock Holmes study complete with Victorian artefacts. Old Holmes movies play on the TV’s in the bar but are not obtrusive. I think the Sherlock Holmes connection is due to the fact that the pub stands on the site of the old Northumberland hotel that featured in some of the books. '
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London (WC) Pubs : Ship & Shovell pub in London (WC)
'The Ship & Shovell is allegedly (and I have no evidence otherwise) the only pub in London built in two halves. It stands either side of a narrow alleyway just off Northumberland Avenue close to the Sherlock Holmes pub. We went there during a pub crawl and much debate ensued about pub crawl rules upon encountering such an establishment. Does going into only one count, must we go in both or maybe splitting into two groups would be allowed. In the end we decided we would all go into the smaller pub where we all plumped for the Badgers beer. As if to emphasise the size of the pub, the snug at the rear is little more than a broom cupboard with just enough room for two chairs and two people, who have to be really close friends. Take care going down to the toilets, the stairs are a bit difficult to negotiate, especially after a few beers. The larger pub is well decorated with a lot of mirrors and etched glass. The two pubs are connected by a cellar that runs under Craven Passage. '
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London (WC) Pubs : The Salisbury pub in London (WC)
'This Grade II listed pub is deservedly on the CAMRA National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. There are many decorative screens giving rise to the creation of booths and alcoves for couples or small groups. The lighting is subdued but this adds to the beauty of the etched and polished glass and mirrors that are spread throughout the pub. The walls on the steps down to the toilets are festooned with old theatre posters reminding you of the area that you are in. One tip here, just before you get to the stairs look upwards and you will see a spiral staircase that seemingly goes on as far as the eye can see. Decent beer quality, I recall St. Austell's Tribute and Deuchars being available, and the food seemed popular. '
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London (NW) Pubs : Elixir Bar pub in London (NW)
'If you’re around Euston Station and have the time, take a walk down Eversholt Street, past the Prince Arthur and find Rowleys. Unashamedly Irish décor with the ceiling strewn with pots and pans, a fishing net and even a rusty old penny farthing. It comes across as a bit new and sterile, however the eclectic and disorganised collection of hats, banknotes and pub merchandise to be found behind the bar give a reassuring feeling that the place has some history. A hyperactive and somewhat eccentric barman provides both efficiency and entertainment. Not cheap, but an interesting pub and one that I visit now and again. '
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Worcester Pubs : The Postal Order pub in Worcester
'Not one of the gems of the Wetherspoon’s estate but has a decent location near to Foregate St train station. Standard JDW fayre with guest beers and plenty of space to enjoy them. '
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Worcester Pubs : The Dragon Inn pub in Worcester
'One of the premier real ale pubs in Worcester and one that all enthusiasts will head for when visiting. A good ever changing range that usually includes a stout or porter and a real cider. It’s not a large bar but there are a few tables outside at the back that act as an overflow. Visit there if you get the chance, we need real pubs like this to survive. Only 5 minutes walk from Foregate St station. '
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Worcester Pubs : Eagle Vaults pub in Worcester
'Lively corner pub on Friar St just off the main shopping street. Popular for watching sports. '
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London (NW) Pubs : The Euston Flyer pub in London (NW)
'You know how pubs go up and down in your estimation , well after a visit the other night this one is certainly going up in mine. The range of bottled Belgian beers has been expanded and there are some interesting ones available. Fullers ESB and the excellent London Porter were also available so I was spoilt for choice. Add to this a range of lagers, an extensive wine list and a good menu and there’s something for everyone. Fullers seem to have a policy in London of trying to price the flotsam and jetsam out of their pubs and it does seem to work in an area where it is much needed. But if you’re not bothered by £3.00 a pint and can pay £15 for a bottle of Pinot Grigio or Merlot without flinching then you’ll be fine. '
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Manchester Pubs : Derby Brewery Arms pub in Manchester
'Effectively the brewery tap as it is right next door to the Derby Brewery on Empire St. Nice old building with one of those large open main bars that could easily double as a community centre - and I guess in a way it does. There is also a small spartan public bar where Manchester's lost souls stare vacantly at a small TV screen whilst smoking roll ups and spending their pension on cheap Mild. It almost bought a tear to the eye of this London boy, well it did when I got back home and found myself paying £3.20 a pint in a pub packed with braying City boys again. '
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Manchester Pubs : Crown & Anchor pub in Manchester
'Decent enough Holts pub in an area where there are so many good pubs. '
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Manchester Pubs : The Brewery Tap pub in Manchester
'This pub is now boarded up and looks unlikely to open again. '
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Manchester Pubs : The Castle Hotel pub in Manchester
'Paid another visit to the Castle recently which is now sadly without its figurehead landlady who has passed away. In a somewhat macabre but moving tribute a mosaic within which some of her ashes are included now presides over the bar. The pub itself has changed little although it looks as though it might need to soon, there's surely a point where the lived-in threadbare look ceases to be quaint and starts turning people away. I also noted that the clips were turned around on five of the nine pumps. For a pub that so proudly advertises that it stocks the full range of Robinson's beers, even complaining in the local CAMRA newsletter that they hadn't mentioned the fact, this seemed strange. I'm hoping I just caught them on a bad weekend and that the pub continues to thrive well into the future under the new management. '
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Manchester Pubs : The Moon Under Water pub in Manchester
'Now one of JDW's non smoking pubs in preparation for 1st July. Opens early for beakfast and does a great fry up'
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Manchester Pubs : The Old Monkey pub in Manchester
'Tinytony, I wonder if you've got the right pub, the Circus Tavern and the Grey Horse Inn are next door and both very small. The Old Monkey is quite a large Holts pub. Get's busy at weekends as a meeting place for people going elsewhere. '
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Stockport Pubs : The Armoury Inn pub in Stockport
'Robinson's pub on the roundabout at the top of the road leading to Stockport County FC. As it is the first pub you see when arriving by train it is also a meeting place for visiting supporters who seem to be welcomed by the landlord and tolerated by the locals. Standard Robinson's offering of Unicorn Bitter and Hatters Mild and they also have Old Tom at £1.30 a half. Rolls available from behind the bar. Friendly place for a beer, it was a bit packed when we were there as Hartlepool were in town. '
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Stockport Pubs : The Jolly Crofter pub in Stockport
'Unremarkable pub on the road that leads to Stockport County's ground. No real ale, just keg Boddies, Guinness and fizzy lager. It was the only pub we could find with it's doors open as it was Saturday afternoon and the word was going around that a number of Hartlepool fans had been thrown out and were looking for a pub to drink in. Bit of a dreary pub, we didn't find the Crofter and I suspect that if we had he wouldn't have been very jolly'
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Manchester Pubs : Crown & Kettle pub in Manchester
'An interesting looking pub at the end of Oldham St in the Northern Quarter that I seemed to have missed on previous visits. On walking inside I was convinced that it was a converted church due to the arched and leaded windows, and the high decorative ceiling, albeit most of the latter had been destroyed. However I was to find that the building has been a licensed premises since the 18th Century and it's decorative nature is due to the fact that it was originally designed to be Law Courts. Unfortunately much of its beauty has now gone due to a fire that gutted the building some years ago. The shell is still there but it now gives a strange impression of a pub built within a building. As well as the main front bar there is a vault bar and a small comfortable snug. Since reopening it now gets regular mentions in the CAMRA newsletters for both the quality and selection of real ale. There were four pumps on when we were there and both beers we tried were excellent. The problem was we only found it an hour before our train was due so couldn't stay as long as we would have liked. This pub will definitely be on the list on my next visit to Manchester. '
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Manchester Pubs : Mulligans pub in Manchester
'Irish corner pub on a back street off Deansgate that is popular with local office and shop workers for lunchtime food when it gets quite busy. Service is both friendly and efficient although at £3 for a pint of Guinness it made me think I was back in London. Decent pub that could be improved by adding some real ale. '
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Manchester Pubs : Bar Fringe pub in Manchester
'Don't be put off by the rather unappealing exterior, some veritable gems lurk inside. I paid a second visit whilst in Manchester recently and I continue to be impressed. There are five hand pumps all with interesting beers, including an excellent Glencoe Oat Stout when we were there. There are Belgian fruit beers and continental lagers on tap plus a bottled beer range that would challenge even the most fastidious of punters. One of the finest jukeboxes I have encountered for some time (maybe the drink helped). For those khazi connoisseurs out there, I know there are some, the Gents contains monolithic urinals from J Duckett of Burnley. There are knowledgeable staff and a real friendly atmosphere (in the bar not the Gents !!) and I would recommend a visit, especially if you are on a crawl around the Northern Quarter. '
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Stockport Pubs : The Florist pub in Stockport
'Great example of a multi-roomed pub on Shaw Heath and one of the many Robinson's houses in the area. There are at least 5 rooms including a games room, a snug and a smoke room, in fact the whole pub seems like a smoke room, I hate to think what will happen come 1st July. Central to all of these rooms is a small bar that has so little counter space that during busy times (like when County are playing at home) the punters have to queue up like at McDonalds. There is also an upstairs function room. About 10-15 mins away from the station and the football ground but far enough away so as not to attract too many away supporters (they'll be in the Armoury. Nice pub, friendly locals and decent beer (no Old Tom), worth a visit if you're in the area. '
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Manchester Pubs : Grey Horse Inn pub in Manchester
'Friendly pub with a good atmosphere and decent beer (Hydes I think). The only problem with the Grey Horse Inn is that once you’ve got the grey horse in you can’t get anyone else in. Probably gets away with it because it’s bigger than the Circus Tavern next door. '
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London (EC) Pubs : Woodins Shades pub in London (EC)
'Sorry to report that this place has gone downhill recently. Hamish has moved to the White Hart, the bar staff have little idea what they are doing and the bar manager is rarely to be seen. It’s unusual for more than two of the four advertised real ales to be available and on occasions they’ve run out of lager and cider. The downstairs toilets have been out of action for the last couple of months meaning that everyone has to try to use the miniscule ones in the upstairs bar. '
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Watford Pubs : The Wishing Well pub in Watford
'Another mediocre pub from the Wishing Well chain which seems to specialise in Irish style pubs that just don’t give a damn. Pretty good for sports with plenty of TV’s but the beer selection is unimaginative and I always get the impression the staff are doing me a favour by taking my money. There is a dearth of decent pubs in the area though so it does quite well. '
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Watford Pubs : ONeills Irish Bar pub in Watford
'Pretty good for sports with a large screen and a few TV’s. Fruit and quiz machines. Usual O’Neills menu. Obsessed with serving every beer extra cold. Service can be unreliable and at times non-existent. '
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Watford Pubs : Yatess Wine Lodge pub in Watford
'Typical Yates’, cheap and tacky, but being located between two of Watford nightclubs there are no end of cheap and tacky clients flocking there on a weekend. '
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Watford Pubs : Estcourt Tavern pub in Watford
'Large corner pub tucked out of the way between the town centre and the station. Pool table, eating area, GK IPA but sadly little else ale wise. '
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Watford Pubs : The One Crown pub in Watford
'A small pub of the traditional kind with a fairly open plan layout. There’s a horseshoe shaped bar with a snug on one side and an area with a pool table on the other. Doing away with the pool table would provide a lot more space but there is usually enough for the regulars. It does get busy when Watford are at home as it is used by many home fans. One real ale on usually from the local Tring Brewery. Close to the bottom of the High Street and well away from the WKD and shots bars in the Parade so it retains a traditional feel. '
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Watford Pubs : The Victoria pub in Watford
'Decent split level pub right on the main road at Bushy Arches. Haven’t been in for a while but the beer was generally good and the welcome friendly. '
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Manchester Pubs : The Sawyers Arms pub in Manchester
'Large pub on two floors on Deansgate. Popular for watching sports especially football when it gets very busy and for horseracing. No real ale '
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Manchester Pubs : The Waldorf Hotel pub in Manchester
'Located close enough to Piccadilly station to be a good alternative to the awful bar on the station concourse. You’ll find it down a side street on the left hand side near the Malmaison Hotel. Large bar with separate areas including a raised “snug”. Lots of wood panelling and comfortable seating. Function room upstairs. Real ales available including Taylors Landlord and Cally XPA when we were there. Large screen for sports. '
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Watford Pubs : Bar Bodega pub in Watford
'Up market bar at the top of the Parade near the Town Hall. Low lighting comfortable seating and smart décor make for a nice atmosphere. Roving waiting staff, good menu that specialises in pizzas, various beers including one cask beer, Pedigree. Expensive but presumably so to keep out Watford’s low life. I don’t frequent it much but visit now and again for nostalgic reasons as I used to work there when it was a branch of Nat West Bank. '
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Watford Pubs : Walkabout pub in Watford
'Large cavernous bar that follows the Walkabout theme. Popular for watching sport due to the numerous TV and massive screen. Interesting and good value menu. '
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Watford Pubs : The Horns pub in Watford
'Located next to the Town Hall and opposite the Library reached via the underpass from the High St. Popular with students from the local college at lunchtimes but at the evening and weekends it’s claim to fame is regular live music. Although entrance is free they do have an annoying habit of increasing prices when live music is on. Separate eating area and a pleasant beer garden. '
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Watford Pubs : The Flag pub in Watford
'Convenient location right by Watford Junction Station but can be unreliable in both quality of beer and levels of service. Large bar space with a raised area with comfortable sofas. No smoking area. No real ale and there seems to be a double pricing policy with drinks going up Friday & Saturday when they also have a door policy. Regular live music. Pool table and various games machines. Tends to close it's doors during big football games - will be OK next year when Watford go down again!! '
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Watford Pubs : The Southern Cross pub in Watford
'Large gastro pub with a great selection of real ales with regularly changing guests. Outside drinking patio at both the front and the back make for even more room. Accommodation available. Easy wheelchair access. 10 minute walk from Watford Junction Station. '
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London (W) Pubs : Jack Horner pub in London (W)
'Nice looking and well kept Fullers Ale & Pie House located on Tottenham Court Rd opposite the Odeon cinema and close to the Dominion Theatre. London prices of course so it‘s not cheap, the famous pies are around £8-£9 but the quality of both beer and food is good. '
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London (W) Pubs : The Prince of Wales pub in London (W)
'Located opposite the church on the corner of the High St and Kensington Church St. A small but decorative frontage leads into a long narrow pub with comfortable seating and a no smoking area. Five cask beers available of the standard Broadside, Youngs variety and I had a nice pint of Landlord. Two continental lagers also on draught. It’s not been that busy on either of my visits but I suspect it is quite a popular pub. '
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London (N) Pubs : The Connaught Tavern pub in London (N)
'Just to add a little to my previous comment. It was back in 2003 that I went here, I guess it could have changed for the better but I think it is more likely to have been demolished and I've had no desire to go back and find out. I obviously picked the wrong time to visit as I found myself in the middle of Joshua’s christening party. My senses were therefore accosted by Whigfield and Village People courtesy of someone’s sister who’d been put in charge of the music. Difficult to judge the pub really, no real ales and I can’t imagine it gets too busy. '
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London (NW) Pubs : Cobden Arms pub in London (NW)
'A fairly basic and non-descript drinkers pub on Camden High Street. Couple of real ale pumps, only one in use (GK IPA of course!!). A number of well placed TV’s for sports. Two raised areas at the rear that could be used for private functions. '
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London (NW) Pubs : Quinns pub in London (NW)
'One of the better pubs in Camden but thankfully not on the Friday night alcopop circuit. Don’t get put off by the garish exterior, once inside you’ll find a real gem. It’s an Irish pub as the name suggests and decorated in the traditional style with it’s fair share of bric-a-brac around the walls and some nice old screens with etched glass. There are usually 4 or 5 real ales on but they are best known for their range of bottled beers that are shown on a menu above the bar. There are around 70-80 listed from Germany, Holland and of course Belgium including some interesting looking ones that I had never heard of. Outside patio at the back and a couple of tables on the pavement, food available and two TV screens that I imagine are often split between football and racing. Known for the excellent and sometimes eccentric service of the Messrs Quinn’s, Snr and Jnr. Good pub and worth a visit, especially if you are a fan of continental beer. '
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London (NW) Pubs : The Camden Tup pub in London (NW)
'Part of the Tup chain, owned I think by the Massive Pub co. A bit difficult to find as it is tucked away in an alleyway round the back of NatWest Bank near the Worlds End. Due to its location it doesn’t get any sun so has a bit of an underground bar feel to it. Quieter than some of Camden’s pubs and clearly trying to attract a “better class” of clientele based on the menu and their prices, Bombardier £3 a pint. Decent pub for watching sports, big screen, lots of pine furniture and wooden floors. Apparently I had just missed “Tup Idol” some crass Karaoke competition running across the chain when I visited - what a shame! '
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London (NW) Pubs : The Hope & Anchor pub in London (NW)
'Interesting two tier layout, the bar is at street level with a larger area reached by stairs either side of it. Nice looking traditional back street boozer, etched glass, brewery mirrors, pool table, no tourists, locals chatting, that sort of thing. We need proper pubs like this to survive, so many are disappearing and being sold for development. It is opposite the disgusting looking Purple Turtle. '
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London (NW) Pubs : The Bree Louise pub in London (NW)
'Previously the Jolly Gardeners and now called the Bree Louise. Small corner pub near Euston station that gets busy in the evenings. They made a big effort to get some real ales in here last year but struggled a little with the quality, especially during the hot months. They haven’t given up but don’t have such a big selection now. '
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London (NW) Pubs : The Worlds End pub in London (NW)
'It was about 5 years ago last time I was in the Worlds End and I thought it was about to. It’s really one for the younger crowd and admittedly not my sort of place so perhaps I am a little biased. Popped in again recently for research purposes and was delighted to see six real ales advertised on a painted board on the wall. Strange given that here were only two pumps and one of those was turned around. Decided not to risk either the Directors or a trip to the gents toilets which I recall was always underwater. I hate to think of overseas tourists flocking to the famous Worlds End in Camden and coming away thinking this is typical of our pubs. It’s one for the younger backpacker crowd, and those strange followers of obscure rock bands who always seem to be in black t-shirts. I’m sure there’s some excellent nights to be had in here but suspect the moneyed, more subdued locals are more likely to be in the Camden Tup nearby. '
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London (WC) Pubs : The Cambridge pub in London (WC)
'Large corner pub close to Leicester Square and Covent Garden. Real ales on offer but the quality is questionable and it looks as if they don’t try very hard, rather typical of some other pubs in London that rely on tourists and passing trade. '
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London (WC) Pubs : The Nell Gwynne pub in London (WC)
'Whilst still open at the time of writing, the Nell Gwynne is in danger of being closed down and sold off for development. A disgraceful state of affairs for one of London's old historic pubs. Will post updates when I hear more. '
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London (NW) Pubs : Father Teds pub in London (NW)
'Nice little old style bar, almost like a small working men’s club, near Camden Road BR station. It’s a bit imposing walking in as you have to walk the length of the room to get to the bar. But here‘s a tip, watch out for the dip in the floor that will mark you out as a grockle if you’re not ready for it. It’s the sort of place where everyone knows each other but they’re a friendly bunch, I watched the Grand National there (which competed with the Arsenal game) and was invited in to the sweepstake. Four plasma screens that can be split between two sporting events. Keg beer, decent Guinness at £2.40 a pint and half a dozen optics screwed to the wall. Newspapers available and a pool table. In keeping with the name of the pub the toilet doors are marked Father Dougals and Mrs Doyles. There’s a rather worrying “Lease for Sale” sign outside, hope it doesn’t change much, it’s an interesting little place. '
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London (NW) Pubs : Tommy Flynns pub in London (NW)
'I was going to reserve judgement as I feel I may have just caught them at a bad time but as I may not pass this way again soon I thought I’d post my experience of Tommy Flynn’s. It’s clearly an Irish pub by name and this is also noticeable when you walk in. Nicely decorated, lots of exposed brickwork, an open fireplace and the type of bric-a-brac that typifies Irish run pubs. However I’m not sure this is Irish run judging by the bar staff. I might be wrong but I don’t see a proper Irish guv’nor employing the acne kid and the wannabee more interested in her mobile than her customers who were serving when I went in. Thai menu, couple of TV’s, eclectic clientele, keg beer, larger than it looks from the outside. Might go back again if I’m in the area but only in the hope that my first impressions were wrong. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Garibaldi pub in St Albans
'Unusually for a Fullers House this is a local style laidback backstreet pub not a brash cavernous place on the high street. Nice friendly atmosphere, comfortable seating, unobtrusive TV and a good outside seating area. The ESB was in good condition but ridiculously expensive, I’d had a few by the time we arrived but I’m sure I got charged more than £6 for two pints. Well located to pop in whilst on a crawl around St Albans excellent real ale pubs. Quite handily, right opposite the pub is the back entrance to the beer garden of the White Lion. '
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St Albans Pubs : The White Lion pub in St Albans
'This pub really comes into its own in the Summer months due to the large garden with children’s facilities and a petanqe piste (I think that’s the official term). Plenty of room inside with various seating areas, newspapers available and a dartboard. They pay a lot of attention to their real ales and there are generally 5 or 6 on at any one time that change regularly. There’s an interesting old Watneys Red Barrel pump on the bar that looks as if it now dispenses lager. This pub has improved over the last year or so and is well worth a visit if in the area. Combine it with the Garibaldi which can be reached through the back of the beer garden. '
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St Albans Pubs : Mokoko pub in St Albans
'The refurbishment was indeed major and the new Mokoko Bar is vastly different to the old Harrow pub. All chrome and cocktails, piped music and subdued lighting, a tad pretentious and unwelcoming. I quite liked the old Harrow, for all it’s drabness, and normally the passing of such a pub would lead to feelings of outrage and sadness. However St Albans has so many good pubs, some in the immediate area, that I guess this is more a case of natural selection. It balances the pub/bar ratio up a bit more and the Mokoko no doubt has its band of dedicated patrons. I’ll not be one of them though, and I expect they’ll be grateful for it. Hopefully we can keep the photo on the site to remind us of the Harrow. '
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St Albans Pubs : The King Harry pub in St Albans
'Following my 2004 review I’m happy to say that the threat of development seems to have gone away for now and the pub still remains. It’s not a great pub and is pretty expensive but at least it’s still there. '
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Harrow Pubs : The Silver Trumpet pub in Harrow
'Bit of a depressing Irish pub on the main road between Harrow and Wealdstone. Cheapish beer, old boys with roll ups and mindless TV staring. '
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Harrow Pubs : Rat & Parrot pub in Harrow
'A rather unappealing pub in the St Anns shopping area that has a bit of a bad reputation. Today there was a “closed until further notice” sign in the window. It maybe a well overdue refurbishment but I don‘t think anyone would miss it if it disappeared altogether. '
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Wealdstone Pubs : The Sarsen Stone pub in Wealdstone near Harrow
'Used to be a Wetherspoon pub and still bears similar signage. I guess it was even too rough and depressing for them. Not a pub to search out, if you do note that it has a very small frontage - maybe another reason JDW ditched it. '
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London (W) Pubs : The Robert Browning pub in London (W)
'Looks like it could be an old hotel. Now a Sam Smith’s house that seems to promote organic beer and cider fairly heavily. No cask OBB but the Extra Stout was on good form. The food is Thai like so many pubs these days. The building is nice looking with plenty of stained glass, ornate mirrors, wood panelling and old prints. Upstairs lounge, beer garden and tables out on the main road. Mainly old locals who seem to tolerate the newly moneyed Maida Vale/St John’s Wood crowd. '
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London (W) Pubs : The Windsor Castle pub in London (W)
'It’s a while since I’d last been in the Windsor Castle but it’s still a bit like walking into someone’s living room. Bit of a strange set up with three small rooms. The front room holds the bar and has two sofas and a few bar stools, a couple more sofa’s sit in the back room. Then there’s an interesting almost hidden snug with a chaise longe that conjures up all sort of decadent thoughts. Looks like they are extending into yet another room as there is a new and rather sterile looking drinking den at the back which is in contrast to the rest of the pub. There are two hand pumps but only one was in use serving Courage Best. Bitburger on draught as well as Steinlager which reminded me of my previous visit. It used to be a Kiwi pub and I recall a map of New Zealand on the wall alongside the words, and actions, of the Maori Haka. They’ve now gone and have been replaced with ornate mirrors and some quasi erotic prints. '
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London (W) Pubs : The Churchill Arms pub in London (W)
'What a fantastic pub. In an area where so many pubs claim their place in history with faux props and 200 year old claims this place simply oozes history. It’s difficult to do justice to the eclectic and decorative items that adorn the walls and ceiling but I’ll list just a few. There are the usual copper kettles, jugs, coal scuttles etc. along with brass instruments, old radios, violin cases, an accordion, pressed butterflies, old manuscripts, lanterns, even an old parking meter. There’s also an original wooden “Always Time for a Guinness” sign complete with the toucan balancing a pint of Guinness. But the main theme is quite clearly the eponymous wartime leader and there are newspaper cuttings, photos, paintings etc. all over the bar. One wall holds photos of every British Prime Minister from Sir Robert Walpole through to Maggie. There is a large bar area although it is usually full so be prepared to compete with the friendly locals for some space . The well kept beers are from Fullers and there is a popular restaurant at the back. A little off the beaten track between Kensington and Notting Hill but this is one of London’s gems and well worth the effort of finding. '
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London (NW) Pubs : The Doric Arch pub in London (NW)
'An unusual sight tonight, I saw the guv’nor behind the bar and he was actually serving someone. Normal service was soon resumed however as he retreated to our side of the bar with his pint. If only everything in life were as reliable as a Volkswagen. '
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Derby Pubs : Standing Order pub in Derby
'Fairly typical Wetherspoons in both design and fayre. There are better pubs close by but if you must drink in a JDW in Derby go to the Babbington Arms, one of the best in England in my opinion. '
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Derby Pubs : Seven Stars pub in Derby
'This pub looks a bit run down from the outside but I'm pleased it's still open, we need to retain old character filled pubs like this one. '
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Derby Pubs : Station Inn pub in Derby
'An interesting old school boozer with an interesting old school guv’nor. I just had to try the Bass poured from a jug bought from the cellar, haven’t seen that in years, damn good it was too. Front bar has a pool table plus fruit and quiz machines for the office crowd and I think there is a rear lounge. If the door is closed it doesn’t necessarily mean the pub is closed, give a knock and you may well be let in – if you’re old school enough to appreciate the importance of politeness and consideration. '
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Derby Pubs : The Merry Widows pub in Derby
'“I’ve sold a lot of this today” says the barman as he pulls me an Old Speckled Hen. “That’s probably because it’s the only beer you’ve got on”, I thought. Decent enough quality though and in a nice friendly atmosphere. Despite the fact that it is directly opposite the train station, and probably the closest pub, it doesn’t have that anonymous rather depressing station bar feel that some others have. A big Derby County FC pub judging by the memorabilia. '
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Derby Pubs : The Tavern pub in Derby
'Decent looking pub, currently seems to be closed for a bit of a spring clean. '
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Derby Pubs : Ye Olde Dolphin Inn pub in Derby
'All the sineage points to this being the oldest pub in Derby dating back to 1530 and the cobbled corridors and low wooden doorways back up the claim. It’s a nice looking pub with some decent beers and a cheap menu. It does come across as a bit touristy though, with the eating area being named the “1530 AD Restaurant” and various advertisements for ghost walks and the like. There was also a notice about a spiritual medium appearing every Wednesday, I was there on a Wednesday and the next event was advertised as two weeks later, unforeseen circumstances maybe!! It’s worth visiting but largely one for the tourists. '
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London (WC) Pubs : The Ship Tavern pub in London (WC)
'My first experience of this pub was a bit unsatisfactory due to the just about acceptable quality of my pint. Despite the Cask Marque accreditation notices I got the impression from the staff that a request for a replacement wouldn't be welcomed so I drunk up and left after one. However I always like to give pubs a second chance before posting a negative review so I called in again last week. I still got a bit of a suspect feeling about the staff's knowledge of their product but this time the beer was excellent. One thing that cannot be doubted is the attractiveness of the pub and its décor. As you would expect it has a nautical theme with loads of wrought iron fittings, leaded windows and old naval memorabilia. There's a pleasant snug area to the right of the bar and what looks like an upstairs function room. It's only a small place and is very popular but being tucked down an alleyway away from the main road there's plenty of opportunity to go al fresco. Another thing to note is that they have pint jugs hanging up at the bar, don't see that too often these days. '
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Watford Pubs : The Flag pub in Watford
'Can this place get anymore unpopular? Passing tonight (Friday) at 10.00pm I saw a familiar sight of the side door closed and a doorman on the main door. As they weren’t charging an entrance fee, as they sometimes do, I decided to go in expecting, given the hour, to have to fight my way to the bar. But no, getting served was remarkably easy and there weren’t many more people in than I have experienced on say a Tuesday evening at 7pm. The music seemed to be on a loop and in direct contrast to what the plasma screens were showing (a less than appealing advertisement for the latest menu and cheap drinks offers). I found later that they had actually employed a DJ to play this stuff to a largely empty room. Can’t help thinking they’d be better off with MTV. I know the place gets rammed when there is live music on but the rest of the time they just don’t seem to give a damn. '
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Derby Pubs : Old Silk Mill pub in Derby
'This is a nice looking pub with a large mural painted on one of the side walls. It is located opposite Ye Olde Dolphin and near the Old Silk Mill tourist attraction. The Flowerpot, another good real ale pub, is nearby so it‘s ideal for a mini crawl. On my visit in mid May 07 I met the new management team, Phil, Louise and bar manager Pip who had only been there about a week. They seem committed to upholding the tradition of good real ale pubs in Derby and are currently trying to get Enterprise to agree that they can source their ales from SIBA members. The Derby Triple Hop, a nice creamy caramel ale, was certainly on good form and from memory there were 6-8 hand pumps. The kitchen was closed for a refurb when I visited but should be operational now. Live music is likely to be a feature concentrating on local bands. This is a more genuine pub than Ye Olde Dolphin opposite which is where the tourists will go, the “beer tourists” should go to the Old Silk Mill. '
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London (SW) Pubs : Stanhope Arms pub in London (SW)
'Nice looking old corner pub opposite Gloucester Road tube that also has a bus stop outside. Usual Spirit Group ale offering, Pride, Bombardier and the revamped Speckled Hen, in decent condition. Good selection of wines and full menu. Couple of well placed plasma screens with Sky Sports. On my visit during the Cricket World Cup I encountered for real the often apocryphal situation of meeting an American who wanted me to explain the game to him. Luckily I know the rudiments of baseball so was able to equate runs to base hits, the wicket keeper to a catcher, a six to a home run etc. An interesting little encounter until his wife came back from shopping and dragged him away. Decent pub. '
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London (SW) Pubs : Westminster Arms pub in London (SW)
'I don’t do much drinking in this area but we had come out of a drinks reception nearby (red or white wine only) and someone recommended it for a “proper beer”. Spent a pleasant evening there although it was very busy with people spilling out onto the street. Good selection of beers with 4-5 hand pumps if I remember correctly. I think I was drinking Thwaits Double Century which was in good condition. Quite reminiscent of a City pub which is probably no surprise given its location in the heart of Westminster. '
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London (W) Pubs : Cumberland Arms pub in London (W)
'You have to admire places like this, it’s clearly an old style boozer that has tried to re-invent itself to fit in with the Kensington & Chelsea crowd. Generally it succeeds, or at least judging by the Sotherbys private party going on when I was there it does. Two cask ales including Timothy Taylors Landlord (£2.90), a large wine list, good background music and a lively atmosphere. One criticism, the Gents is ridiculously small for the size of the pub, why do so many places spend thousands on refurbishing the bar and a couple of quid on the toilet facilities. Within walking distance of Olympia and Kensington High St. '
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Birmingham Pubs : The Brasshouse pub in Birmingham
'Nice looking pub both inside and out with a canal side location near Brindley Place. Serves decent real ales and has a good menu and comfortable seating. I normally drop in for a pint when I am in Birmingham on business but gave it a miss last time (6th July) as the Ozzy Osbourne tribute band was not really conducive to conversation. The Prince of Darkness himself was around later to witness the laying of a paving stone in his honour in the Walk of Stars in Broad St. '
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Birmingham Pubs : Figure Of Eight pub in Birmingham
'This is a large JD Wetherspoon pub right in the middle of Broad St, so I expect it gets packed with local chavs of an evening, getting tanked up cheaply before trying to blag their way into the many bars and clubs in the area. '
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Birmingham Pubs : The Briar Rose pub in Birmingham
'One of the better Wetherspoons in Birmingham and they usually have a good delection of guest ales. They also have acomodation for around £50-£60 per room. '
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Birmingham Pubs : The Shakespeare pub in Birmingham
'A proper pub in the middle of a city that has so many bars and chain pubs. I heard it was one of the first Birmingham pubs to go non-smoking some 3 years before the ban. Nothing unusual, nothing special, just a genuine old pub. '
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Birmingham Pubs : The Wellington pub in Birmingham
'I first visited this pub in Jan 2005 about six weeks after they had re-opened as a specialist real ale pub and they had already got through 120 different beers. They seem to have gone from strength to strength since and there can surely not be any member of CAMRA in the Midlands who hasn’t heard of it and probably been there. I try to make time for a visit whenever I am in Birmingham. Doesn’t have much signage but it is on the same side of Bennetts Hill a couple of minutes up from the JDW Briar Rose. Usually around 15 beers on which are listed on a plasma screen at one end of the bar showing brewery, strength, price etc. My only gripe is that you are asked to order by pump number not by the name of the beer, I can cope with that in a Chinese takeaway but not a pub. Has always had a problem with a smoky atmosphere but that will no longer be a problem now. I highly recommend a visit if you like real ale. '
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Derby Pubs : The Flowerpot pub in Derby
'One of the premier real ale pubs in Derby. There were 11 handpumps on, including a number of local brews, plus three more available from the cellar. The selection was excellent with a mixture of hoppy ales, session bitters, a dark mild and strong beers plus a couple of ciders. The pub is a traditional old boozer with a basic but comfortable main bar at the front. There's a Derby County FC fixture poster above the fireplace from the 1914-1915 season which includes an advert for the "New Flowerpot". Towards the rear is a "library room" which is used for eating and also a function room and beer garden. The pub is well known locally as a music venue and they also have occasional beer festivals. Good place for a beer and anyone on the trail of real ale in Derby should make the pilgrimage. '
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Derby Pubs : The Florence Nightingale pub in Derby
'A rather garishly decorated exterior with posters and banners extolling the virtues of upcoming events and attractions. Normally a place that I would stay away from but it did claim to be a Free House so thought I’d give it a go. They had two or three beers on but not of the type that I would say justified the Free House claim. It was around lunchtime when I went in and the focus is clearly on food and it looks as if they get a lot of business from the Derby Royal Infirmary next door (ah, just realised the significance of the name). Bar staff polite and friendly and overall excellent customer service. '
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Derby Pubs : The Alexandra Hotel pub in Derby
'A new and rather boring looking façade leads to a nice two roomed pub concentrating on real ales and continental beers. There is a friendly, enthusiastic and, some might say, eccentric landlord who certainly knows his beers. The sort of place where you are bound to get into conversation if you are on your own. Try the large filled rolls to soak up some of the beer. Handily placed quite close to the train station and just up the road from the Brunswick Inn. '
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Derby Pubs : Babington Arms pub in Derby
'One of the better Wethersponns I have come across, especially for their real ale selection. They have a massive 18 hand pumps with details of the brewery, strength price etc. shown on an electronic “blackboard” like the Wellington in Birmingham (q.v.). Unfortunately they also ask you to order your beer by pump number instead of name which makes me feel as if I’m in a Chinese takeaway. The pub has a nice frontage with a few outside tables. Opens at 9am and with breakfast and a pint for around £4 you can’t go wrong. '
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Derby Pubs : The Brunswick Inn Ltd. pub in Derby
'Wow - this place came with a recommendation from a friend and is definitely a must visit for real ale enthusiasts or indeed anyone interested in historic pubs. It was originally built in the 1840’s as part of a railway community and was known as the Brunswick Railway & Commercial Inn. In the mid 20th C it fell into disrepair but finally re-opened in 1987 after extensive renovation of the whole area by the local historical trust. It’s a real gem with lots of rooms to explore, the main bar, a snug, a smoke room and an attractive family parlour. A flagstone corridor runs through the pub leading to the on-site brewery which brews 6 Brunswick ales. Another 4-5 ales are also available and the food menu is quite popular. It’s only a few minutes walk from the train station and I certainly recommend a visit. '
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Derby Pubs : The Smithfield pub in Derby
'You wouldn’t stumble across this pub, it takes a bit of finding being tucked away on the edge of an industrial estate. The property looks a bit tired and I expect not a lot of money has been spent on it recently. But that’s part of the charm for those who like traditional old boozers. You do wonder how long it might last which seems a good excuse to search it out now. There are three rooms, the main bar, an Offilers room and a nice well decorated snug. There is a small outside yard with a couple of tables that overlook the river. It has a good reputation for real ales and the CAMRA stalwarts will definitely have it on their itinerary for a Derby pub crawl. '
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Birmingham Pubs : Gun Barrels pub in Birmingham
'An It's A Scream pub, so be warned. '
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Borehamwood Pubs : Hart & Spool pub in Borehamwood
'I last drank in this pub more than 10 years ago when I worked in Borehamwood and went back to see how it had changed. The answer was not a lot, there are now a couple of TV’s but everything else seems to be in a bit of a timewarp. Same layout, same furnishings, same décor and same clientele. Far from one of the best Wetherspoons, they had a good selection of ales on but it didn’t look the sort of place where you’d trust either the beer or the food. Having said that I did have a decent pint of Butcombe Blonde. '
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Bushey Pubs : The Kings Stag pub in Bushey
'One of Bushey's better pubs. The King's Stag is a nice looking pub that has a community feel to it despite being close to the main High Street. Decent beers and a pleasant atmosphere. '
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Bushey Pubs : The Royal Oak pub in Bushey
'Traditional friendly pub with real ales and Cask Marque accreditation. A few wooden tables out front and a beer garden at the rear. Restaurant area that specialises in Thai food I think. '
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Bushey Heath Pubs : The Three Crowns pub in Bushey Heath near Watford
'An attractive 18th Century coaching inn with low ceilings, wooden floors and timber beams, that I suspect aren’t original. There are two large rooms including a restaurant section and a few sofas dotted around. Attractive garden at the rear that has views of the village church. There are two real ales pumps and service is friendly and attentive. I only spent around 10 minutes there, whilst waiting for a bus, but I liked it and imagine it is very popular, being in an area that has lost a number of pubs in recent years. '
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Borehamwood Pubs : Woods Bar pub in Borehamwood
'Another pub that I remember from the late 80’s when I used to work in Borehamwood. It was quite convenient for me as there was a bus stop right outside so you could have a pint and keep an eye out for your bus coming down the hill. Having revisited I am pleased to report that the bus stop is still there, as is the pub. Hasn’t changed much from what I remember, it was always a bit minimalist and they now seem to have taken this to an extreme, either that or they can’t be arsed to spent any money on decor or furnishings. They have a pool table maybe two, cocktails, fizzy lagers and alcopops, no real ale. '
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Elstree Pubs : The Plough pub in Elstree near Borehamwood
'The old Plough pub has now become an oriental restaurant called The East. At first I thought it was a pub with Thai food but on walking in it was obvious that it is primarily a restaurant. They do still have a bar though and although the restaurant was closed and they were getting it ready for the evening session they did allow me to stay and have a drink. '
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London (EC) Pubs : The Shooting Star pub in London (EC)
'A Fullers Ale & Pie house located just off Bishopsgate so it is popular with City workers both lunchtimes and evenings. Nice interior with plush furnishings. High prices which seems to be a feature of Fullers pubs in the City. '
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London (EC) Pubs : The Masque Haunt pub in London (EC)
'A rather uninspiring Wetherspoons in an area with many good pubs. Plenty of cheap drink offers to pull in the punters. '
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London (EC) Pubs : The Lamb Tavern pub in London (EC)
'Renowned City pub in the heart of Leadenhall Market. It’s a Youngs House that has an upstairs restaurant a main bar at street level and an interestingly tiled cellar bar. Gets packed most lunchtimes with drinkers spilling out into the market. '
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Watford Pubs : Colombia Press pub in Watford
'In keeping with JDW's policy of giving its Lloyds No.1 bars names, this one has been renamed the Colombia Press. Popular for food during the day and serves as a pre club cheap drinking den for Watford's youngsters at the weekend. '
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London (EC) Pubs : King Of Diamonds pub in London (EC)
'The King of Diamonds has a good location around Hatton Garden and there are not many decent pubs in the immediate area. They are also able to open up the frontage which is a big plus point in Summer, and I guess also after the recent smoking ban. They don’t seem to exploit these advantages enough though, the décor could do with freshening up and their disinterested and lethargic attitude to customer service that has been evident for a number of years still remains. They have a couple of hand pumps, a selection of continental lagers on draught, plus Fruli, and some decent bottled beers. Prices aren’t too bad for the location. '
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London (EC) Pubs : Barracuda Bar pub in London (EC)
'Large warehouse of a pub with multiple screens showing sports. Attracts the downmarket city crowd in the evenings when it can get packed and is popular with local office workers for lunchtime food. Couple of pool tables. Real ale served but not that reliable. Previous clientele might remember it as the Springbok or the Eastern Monk. '
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London (WC) Pubs : The Chandos pub in London (WC)
'Nice looking pub on the corner of St Martins Lane just off Trafalgar Square, with the attractive Opera Bar upstairs. It’s a Sam Smiths pub with their usual fayre and currently charging £1.78 for their OBB. Be aware that they have a policy of not running tabs against credit cards, which may not endear them to local business clientele looking to entertain clients or give the corporate card a hammering. When we queried this we were told that it was company policy and that they didn’t want credit cards hanging around behind the bar and that it would get busy later in the evening and they might not be able to find us. Both logical I guess but if that is the rationale for the company policy it infers that they trust neither their staff nor their customers. It sits between the Harp and the Salisbury so ideal for including in a crawl. '
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London (WC) Pubs : Night & Day Pub pub in London (WC)
'Horrible, soul destroying and overpriced place in the middle of the tourist area around Russell Square. I really hate to think that overseas visitors go in here and think it is typical of an English pub. '
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Derby Pubs : Ryans Bar pub in Derby
'Tucked away off St Peters St between Nat West Bank and the Church. It’s a genuine Irish bar, wooden floors, furniture, fittings etc., newspapers available, no cask ale but a good pint of Guinness as you would expect. There’s a split level bar with the upstairs part being used for families and food and downstairs for drinking and smoking (prior to the ban anyway). Probably not one for the tourist but it seems to have a good local following and the decently priced menu is popular with local office staff. The bar’s claim to fame is that James Morrison was discovered there on an open mic night. '
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Derby Pubs : Waterfall pub in Derby
'A rather soulless attempt to create an American bar inside a large cavernous, ex-public building by the look of it. Minimal décor and an atmosphere to match. One cask beer available Everards Tiger which was drinkable but nothing special. Large room out the back with half a dozen pool tables. Sky Sports on a couple of plasma’s which was what lured me in to check the scores in the test match. Can’t really see me repeating the experience should I be in Derby again, especially as the excellent Brunswick is only a couple of minutes away. '
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Birmingham Pubs : Pitcher & Piano pub in Birmingham
'I’m not a great fan of the Pitcher & Piano chain but visited here for a work do recently and was pleasantly surprised. It has the usual pretentious P&P atmosphere but a big plus point is the location, in the Brindley Place complex. It’s split on two floors with the upper floor having a balcony overlooking the canal and downstairs having outside decking right on the canal side. Very pleasant on a Summer’s evening. One gripe I always have with P&P’s is that the beer taps all look the same and you have to look closely to see what is on offer, although I suspect their offering doesn’t change much. Interesting notice behind the bar said “All spirits will be served in doubles as standard, singles available on request”. Is that a P&P thing I wonder, and how does it fit with this current obsession about binge drinking? '
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Birmingham Pubs : The Solomon Cutler pub in Birmingham
'Lloyds No.1 bar and a fairly decent one although only a couple of real ales were on as I remember, the Pedigree was pretty good though. Standard good value JDW menu with plenty of tables laid out in a regimented way in the large bar. I imagine it is popular with local office workers for lunchtime food. Plenty of efficient bar staff which was good and something that JDW don’t always do well. There’s also a smaller upstairs area that I guess is used mainly in the evenings. At the quieter end of Broad St. '
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Birmingham Pubs : Yard of Ale pub in Birmingham
'An underground pub in the bustle of New Street near the train station. Don’t be fooled by the name, they don’t serve any ale never mind yards of it, it’s all keg. Nice looking bar though that concentrates quite heavily on food. They advertise live sports on Sky and there are about 6-8 TV screens dotted around so you should always be able to see one. They could probably do with having the ability to split coverage between two channels though, we went in to watch the Eng v West Indies cricket and every screen was showing Aus v SA tri-nations rugby. Not one to make a special visit for but handy for the train station. '
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Borehamwood Pubs : The Crown pub in Borehamwood
'Its current name is the Crown, before that it was Enigma and before that….well this is one of those pubs that changes its name more often than Michael Jackson changes his nose. I first drank in here in the late 80’s when I started working in Borehamwood and it certainly wasn’t the sort of place you felt comfortable in with a suit and tie on. I remember they used to have strippers at lunchtime and they even set up a sumo wrestling night. From what I gather each subsequent incarnation has both attracted and accommodated similar clientele, up until now that is. It seems the local chavs will now have to find somewhere else to have a scrap on a Friday night as they’re unlikely to even get a foot in the door of the new Crown. Even on a Saturday afternoon I saw one bloke refused service, two 20 something young ladies carded quite aggressively, and one guy made to step away from the bar so that they could check if he was wearing tracksuit bottoms. All this while I was waiting for them to do what they should be doing – selling me beer!! Still I suppose I can’t blame them, when you take over a pub with this sort of reputation you need to be strong from the outset. The refurb into a gastro pub by current owners Juniper Inns is fairly extensive and the space has been used well. The eating area is at the front of the pub leading up to the bar and round to a raised area with a couple of pool tables and a dartboard. A large beer garden completes the picture. I’ll probably drop in again in a couple of months time, if only to see if the strippers have returned!! '
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Borehamwood Pubs : The Wellington pub in Borehamwood
'They advertise cask ales on the outside signage but disappointingly there are none. It’s a pleasant enough pub though, quite friendly with a community pub feel to it. I do like pubs that have reference books on hand to settle those bar room arguments, either that or the guy studiously flicking through one was some pedantic smartarse who carries his own encyclopaedia around with him. The L shaped interior is quite nicely decorated with wrought iron light fittings and various nick-knacks behind the bar that say “we’ve been here some time”. Even despite the lack of real ale, if I lived in the area I would probably choose this place as my local, which is a fairly sad indictment of the quality of Borehamwood pubs in general. '
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Borehamwood Pubs : The Wishing Well pub in Borehamwood
'The Wishing Well chain must go out of their way to ensure all their pubs look the same. This one is a spooky clone of the one I sometimes frequent in Watford. There are the same hanging baskets outside, same furnishings, stained glass, boothed layout, beer offering (no real ale), gaming machines and strangely the same awful smell from the Gents toilets. I almost expected to see the same staff. Decent for sports as they have a number of TV’s and probably get their fair share of custom in an area with a dearth of good pubs. '
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Elstree Pubs : The Hollybush pub in Elstree near Borehamwood
'It’s such a shame to see what has become of this old pub. From the outside it's clearly a bit beaten up, but that is a mark of its age. The interior also has some wonderful historic features including a large open fireplace and a low beamed ceiling. However it seems to have been taken over by a bunch of “couldn’t care less” locals and the atmosphere is more akin to a kids playground or a crèche than a pub. Shame. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Great Northern pub in St Albans
'A fine example of an old traditional locals boozer. Very welcoming, good prices, one or two real ales, good conversation and an old school guv’nor. Although it’s on the main London Road it hasn’t got the best location being opposite a petrol station and right next door to a large old cinema building that has been boarded up for years and looks ripe for development. Hopefully the Great Northern will be around for a good few years yet. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Beehive pub in St Albans
'This pub has had a number of management changes, revamps and renovations over the past couple of years with the result that it has no real identity. Decent and popular pub for watching sports, well kept real ales, even if they are not that inspiring, and a nice patio area outside which is poplar in the Summer. Used to be a real dive, it’s an OK pub now but you need to have something special in St Albans with its many excellent pubs. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Cross Keys pub in St Albans
'Decent location at the top of Holywell Hill where London Rd meets the High Street. You can normally rely on the quality of the real ales in this Wetherspoons and they usually have a good selection. The cheaper JDW prices means it can hold it’s own in the real ale mecca of St Albans. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Goat pub in St Albans
'A gem of a pub hidden away down a narrow residential lane halfway up (or down) Holywell Hill. The unassuming exterior just does not prepare you for the delights inside, there are around six different seating areas plus a large and well-furnished patio outside. The interior is a mass of oak beams, pillars and exposed brickwork, and the furnishings add to the authentic feel. It looks as if it was an old coaching inn many years ago. Food is available from a rather pricey menu and there is a selection of board games available behind the bar. The real ales are usually in good form and go beyond the usual GK IPA and Bombardier offering that you so often see these days. In this world full of All-Bar-One's and Pitcher & Piano's it is comforting to know that proper pubs like this are still around and flourishing. '
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St Albans Pubs : White Hart Tap pub in St Albans
'Good place to stop off if you are on a crawl of St Albans’ real ale pubs as it is on the route from the Farmers Boy to the Garibaldi/White Lion. They have a good selection of real ales that is changed regularly, but I have always found the pub a bit sterile and the clientele a bit insular for my liking. Has a large beer garden out the back and a few tables out front. '
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London (EC) Pubs : The Arbitrager pub in London (EC)
'The downstairs bar provides a haven away from the turmoil of the City and the Guinness is legendary as some of the best served in London. '
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London (EC) Pubs : The Jerusalem Tavern pub in London (EC)
'A little difficult to find but well worth the effort. Definitely a pub for standing outside, mainly because there is only really enough room inside for those waiting at the bar. Wonderful old building, a bit like walking into someone’s front parlour, friendly service and of course they serve the full range of St Peters beers both bottled and on draught. '
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London (EC) Pubs : The Old Bank Of England pub in London (EC)
'Fullers do the whole grandiose refit thing really well and this beautiful high ceilinged pub is evidence of that. It made me think of the Counting House on Cornhill. Fullers range of beers and friendly service but a bit of a strange shape and nothing that makes the pub stand out in the crowd. '
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London (WC) Pubs : Green Man & French Horn pub in London (WC)
'Decent enough pub with a small frontage but a long deep bar inside. Three real ales on including Old Peculiar which you don’t see too much these days. Right in the heart of the tourist area but appalling customer service, at least when I was there it was bad. I saw a guy come in and sit at a table, look at the menu and look around a few times. After 5 minutes he left presumably thinking his business wasn’t welcome. I then heard the bar staff joking about it. I guess I could have told him myself that he needed to approach the bar to get served but I think he was probably better off somewhere a bit more tourist tolerant. Location wise the pub is opposite the Salisbury which is much more geared up for the tourist trade. '
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London (WC) Pubs : Porters Bar pub in London (WC)
'More of a restaurant than a pub but there is a small bar area and they have got a good selection of bottled St Peters beers…at a price. '
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London (WC) Pubs : Princess Louise pub in London (WC)
'Closed in April 07 for a major refurbishment that is rumoured to go on until December. The pub certainly needed a bit of work but lets hope the refurb is a sympathetic one and that the character of this historic pub will be retained. '
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London (WC) Pubs : Royal George pub in London (WC)
'Looks a bit bland and not particularly welcoming from the outside but inside it’s OK and has some decent beers. Located just off the Charing Cross Road at the end of Goslett Yard. '
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London (WC) Pubs : The Nell Gwynne pub in London (WC)
'The e-Petition to ask the government to save this historic pub has just closed with 1,805 signatures. Let's hope it works. '
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London (E) Pubs : Mr Pickwick pub in London (E)
'Well presented, low ceilinged pub that can get packed with workers from nearby offices at lunchtimes. Decent beer and good service. '
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London (E) Pubs : The Gun pub in London (E)
'Back street boozer with high street prices but it is in the City so I suppose we have to live with that. Bit of a tired looking pub and the service can be unpredictable, depends what part of Europe the barmaid comes from. '
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Birmingham Pubs : Wetherspoons pub in Birmingham
'Small JDW outlet in the Paradise Forum walkthrough. Well they have a McDonalds, I suppose they thought they should have a Wetherspoons. '
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Birmingham Pubs : Prince Of Wales pub in Birmingham
'The Prince of Wales had been recommended to me previously but it was only on my recent visit to Birmingham that I was able to search it out. It is close to the Broad St area but didn’t seem to have the chav like clientele that abounds there most evenings. The National Indoor Arena is also close by. The pub itself is an uncomplicated traditional boozer that has moved with the times but managed to retain its charm. One of those pubs where its character comes from its regulars not the décor. Excellent choice and quality of real ales, I believe it is GBG listed. Great pub and I’ll go there again. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Falcon pub in St Albans
'Wonderful little place, very much a locals pub given the location but they seemed a friendly bunch. Nice interior with comfortable seating, good décor and prints on the walls. A notice board shows evidence of the community nature of the pub. Three real ales, looks to be mainly GK but judging by the pump clips above the bar they go for some of the unusual ones, there was an excellent Ridleys Witchfinder Porter on when I visited. It’s not going to get a lot of passing trade but it’s only 5 minutes walk from the station. '
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London (WC) Pubs : The Nell Gwynne pub in London (WC)
'The response from 10 Downing St to the e-petition is as follows, Quote A building's use is a matter for the owner and the local planning authority - in this instance, Westminster City Council. The owner of the Nell Gwynne public house is at liberty to consider how they manage their own property and the purpose for which it is used, subject to the relevant planning constraints. This building is listed at Grade II, however, so decisions on whether to alter it must take its special architectural or historic interest into account and any such alterations would normally require Listed Building Consent from Westminster City Council. Unquote A bit of fence sitting but the building is Grade II listed so there's still hope. '
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Bricket Wood Pubs : Moor Mill pub in Bricket Wood near St Albans
'A pub of two sides really, on one it sits almost underneath the M25 Motorway whilst on the other is a picturesque river and garden scene. More a restaurant with a bar than a pub. It's in Moor Mill Lane which is someway away from where the map link puts it. '
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Bricket Wood Pubs : The Gate pub in Bricket Wood near St Albans
'Seems very much a regulars pub but welcoming nonetheless. Has a couple of real ales including Youngs Ordinary. Log fire, dart board and a small eating area. Sunday lunch serves it’s purpose but for what it was I thought it was a bit overpriced at £7.50. '
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London (WC) Pubs : The Dolphin pub in London (WC)
'I give this one a go now and again but always feel uncomfortable walking in and invariably sink a quick pint and go somewhere a little more friendly. The sign to the “Restaurant” is laughable, it’s just another bar, perhaps The Dolphin thinks this is the way forward in KX’s brave new world. I certainly wouldn’t recommend this pub to anyone stepping off the Eurostar and I imagine neither would it’s regulars. '
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London (WC) Pubs : Carpenters Arms pub in London (WC)
'Large fronted corner pub that doesn’t look too attractive, but I spotted a couple of hand pumps so ventured inside. They had Spitfire and Landlord on and I ordered the latter, at which point the real Landlord jumped in saying it was near the end of the barrel and offering me a taste first to make sure it was OK. I was quite impressed with that, I rarely get that sort of consideration in a pub where I am a regular let alone one where it’s my first visit. As it turned out the beer was fine, and judging by the CAMRA newsletters available it usually is. This is more of a pub for a quiet lunchtime reading a newspaper or working out a 20p yankee than for a special night out but it has a nice local feel to it which you don’t see too often these days. '
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London (WC) Pubs : Golden Lion pub in London (WC)
' was doing a few pubs in the area and sought this one out as I remembered a pub of the same name from the 80’s when I worked nearby for a couple of weeks. From the location I’m sure it’s the same one but it’s no longer a proper pub, more a pub trying to be a bar as so many do these days. Jennings Cumberland Ale was the cask offering on my visit. I went late afternoon and there were more staff than customers, no doubt they were waiting for the evening trade. '
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London (WC) Pubs : Marquis of Cornwallis pub in London (WC)
'It seems that old habits die hard as this pub is slipping back into it’s old Goose ways. If you are in the area and don’t fancy it then the Holiday Inn right opposite has a decent bar. '
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London (WC) Pubs : The Friend At Hand pub in London (WC)
'Their Cask Marque accreditation flatters them a little. Three pumps, Pride, GK IPA and Bombardier and the first two had signs saying that the pipes were being cleaned when I went in Friday evening (could be they close weekends). The two pints of Bombardier that I saw being pulled were both woefully short on measure but I got the impression this is the sort of place where neither the staff nor the customers see this as an issue. On the plus side they have Hoegaarden, Star and Leffe on tap and there are plenty of attentive bar staff. '
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London (WC) Pubs : The Norfolk Arms pub in London (WC)
'This isn’t a pub, I know it isn’t a pub because if it was I wouldn’t have spent so long at the bar without being served before walking out. As it was I was transfixed by how many people could mill about behind the bar, seemingly busy, but managing not to make any eye contact with those of us waiting to be served. I did get a couple of apologetic glances from the only bloke actually serving and I decided to hang on as they do have two hand pumps. He eventually served me with a pint of Theakstons XB which I sunk before he’d finished his next round of White Zinfandel and lime & coriander crab cakes with rocket salad and Peruvian vinaigrette. '
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London (WC) Pubs : The Queens Head pub in London (WC)
'The pub is quite small and narrow but the ornate mirrors that cover almost the entire wall on one side make it appear bigger. There’s a pool table, a roulette gaming machine and a couple of plasmas that were showing Sky Sports. Adnams was the only hand pump I saw but it was not on so I went for a Guinness which was OK. I think they had a menu but it’s not the sort of place where I would trust the food. The toilets were pretty poor which is always an indication of the overall running of the pub in my opinion. '
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London (SW) Pubs : The Blackbird pub in London (SW)
'This is a fairly attractive but unremarkable Fullers pub serving Fullers beers and standard pub grub. Probably one of the better pubs in the immediate area.'
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Berkhamsted Pubs : The Boat pub in Berkhamsted
'Fullers House with a canal side location and a nice outside patio area. Inside is nicely decorated with comfortable furnishings. One corner of the pub is given over in memory of Berkhamsted’s favourite son novelist Graham Greene. Friendly and efficient service, usual Fullers beers including bottled ESB and London Porter. They could be a bit more creative with the pub sign, it’s a bit like Clarice Cliff trying her hand at boating scenes. '
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Berkhamsted Pubs : The Bull pub in Berkhamsted
'A proper old drinkers pub with an old school landlady. Bench seating and a few tables around edge of the room and a roaring real fire giving the pub a smoky atmosphere. Pool table, juke box and probably doubles as a community centre for local residents during the day. One real ale pump, Greene King IPA, but it was still being prepared. They advertise a canal side beer garden but it’s a bit of a stroll through the car park to get to there. If you get fed up with Spirit group and M&B cloned pubs and hanker after the charming independent pubs of the past this one’s worth a visit. '
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Berkhamsted Pubs : The Crown pub in Berkhamsted
'It’s a small frontage but it goes back so far that you think you’re in the next county by the time you reach the extent of it’s environs. The low ceilings, lack of natural light and a general lack of cleanliness give it a typical dreary JDW feel. There are two staircases that lead from either side of the bar up to the toilets that give a sense of going up to meet the hangman’s noose as you ascend them. What this pub really has going for it is the range of beer, there are about 10- 12 hand pumps with some interesting beers and also some from the local Tring Brewery. So, go for the beer but little else, I’ll visit again if in the area but I think if I saw half the pump clips turned around I’d probably do the same. '
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Berkhamsted Pubs : The Kings Arms pub in Berkhamsted
'I think you may be mistaken spicester, the JDW is next door and called The Crown. The Kings Arms is primarily a hotel, although they do have a decent bar. I think there used to be a night club downstairs. '
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Berkhamsted Pubs : The George pub in Berkhamsted
'The George has all the hallmarks of a pub that has tried to turn itself into a trendy bar and failed. Consequently it’s now a pretty poor bar with, I suspect, all the characters and faults that made it fail as a pub. Not exactly dying on it’s arse but I reckon it’s fairly close. So much more could be made of the property with a little investment but I fear the only thing that would be viable would be a restaurant. '
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Berkhamsted Pubs : The Lamb pub in Berkhamsted
'A no nonsense old school boozer, low ceilinged, bench seating and well decorated with old photos of the town. Unobtrusive background conversation allows conversation. A nice locals pub that I’d be glad to have nearby. Four real ales, Adnams, GK IPA, Pride and Ridgeway Bitter from the local Tring Brewery. '
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Berkhamsted Pubs : The Rose & Crown pub in Berkhamsted
'Paid this place a visit yesterday but found it closed with a for sale sign outside. '
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Berkhamsted Pubs : The Goat Inn pub in Berkhamsted
'Looks to be aimed primarily at the younger market but is welcoming to all. There is a dedicated stage area and they have regular live music. Had a decent pint of Old Speckled Hen on a quiet Friday afternoon. '
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London (W) Pubs : The Dickens Tavern pub in London (W)
'Small frontage but long bar, claims to be the longest pub in London. It’s split up well with a front part devoid of TV’s and used for eating, the middle part is mainly a standing area and has one TV which is popular for sports. Then there is a conservatory type area further on with more TV’s that can show different channels to the main one which is handy if there are two sporting events on at the same time. Three cask ales but only one of them was on when I visited, not very inspiring, a bit like the pub itself. '
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Bath Pubs : The Old Green Tree pub in Bath
'A small cosy locals pub where visitors are tolerated although it’s not easy to get to the bar at busy times when the only free space is in the corridor that runs alongside the short bar. Decent selection of beers which are generally sourced locally'
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Bath Pubs : Volunteer Riflemans Arms pub in Bath
'Another of Bath’s small pubs, this one has some outside seating and an upstairs bistro. There’s a military theme to the décor and a large Abbey Ales mirror that dominates one wall. There was a good selection of ales on and I enjoyed an excellent pint of the wonderfully named Totty Pot Porter, the Winter ale offering from Cheddar Ales. '
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Bath Pubs : The Pig & Fiddle pub in Bath
'Strange building this, seems to be two properties, one in Broad St and one in Saracen St, that have been joined and converted into a two tier L shaped pub. The real ale offering was good by way of both choice and condition with many local Abbey Ales available. The place has a young, friendly vibe, a bit like an It’s A Scream pub without the students. There are some rather dangerous looking agricultural instruments adorning the walls that make you hope they are firmly affixed in case the local lads get feisty on a Saturday night. '
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Bath Pubs : The Bell pub in Bath
'The Bell is an old looking pub both inside and out with loads of character. It manages to combine the old with the modern quite well as they have internet access plus WiFi availability. The pub is well know for it’s live music, predominantly Jazz, which features two or three times a week. They have a large range of real ales, specialising in those from local brewers, and service is efficient and friendly. Worth a visit. '
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Bath Pubs : The Star Inn pub in Bath
'It’s well worth the trek up the hill to visit this interesting multi-roomed pub which will take you back in time to when pubs were for drinking. There are 4-5 different rooms with loads of wood panelling and a real fire in at least one of the rooms. The whole place is well decorated with old photos and there’s an amusing portrait of the Queen holding a pint of Bellringer. It was almost deserted when we called in on a weekday afternoon but I’m sure it has it band of loyal followers. It’s certainly a must visit place if in search of interesting pubs in Bath. '
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London (W) Pubs : Kensington Arms pub in London (W)
'The small but bright frontage gives the impression you are walking into a typical back street boozer but this just belies what you find inside. The high ceilings, abundance of light wood and regimented furniture layout meant my first impression was a bit like that of an Ikea showroom. However on closer inspection I found this was a really nice pub to bar conversion. There are a number of mirrors on one wall and the rest of the wall space is given over to sports photos or old railway advertisements. There’s a couple of comfy sofas and a number pf plasma screens that show all the main sporting events. A number of skylights have been added to give the bar some natural light. Didn’t try the food but the bar was well stocked. They had two hand pumps in operation, one with Sharps Doom Bar, continental lagers on draught, and some Belgian bottled beers. The bottle of Duvel I had was rather pricey at £3.90 but did come in a branded glass which I always feel is the sign of a good pub. '
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London (W) Pubs : The Princess Victoria pub in London (W)
'Kensington seems to excel in the field of pub to bar conversions and this is another good example. The smal bar space is nicely decorated with comfortable furnishings and welcomes all comers. Quiz machine plus three plasma screens showing sports so it’s always possible to see one of them wherever you are sitting. There were two hand pumps both of which were disappointingly turned around and the Guinness came in at a pricey £3.15, although it did have a pretty good shamrock in the head. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Portland Arms pub in St Albans
'Nice laid back atmosphere, Chiswick, Pride and ESB from the Fullers stable all served with efficiency and friendliness. I went in on a Sunday lunchtime and most of the tables had been reserved which is a sign of its popularity. Hear there might be a change of management soon. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Rose & Crown pub in St Albans
'Nice old pub in the historic St. Michaels area of St. Albans. The larger low ceilinged left hand bar is almost entirely given over to diners where a large black dog wanders between the tables delighting the children and no doubt prompting health & safety concerns in some. There is a more traditional pub atmosphere in the smaller right hand bar. There are four real ales available and I found the service to be friendly and efficient. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Black Lion pub in St Albans
'If you haven’t been to the Black Lion for a while you won’t recognise it now, I didn’t. It was always more of a hotel with a bar than a pub with accommodation but the bar was very much a traditional pub. Now it is definitely a hotel with a restaurant attached. The bar area is much smaller and reminiscent of a hotel lobby bar and they seem to have gone for a retro theme with plush cubed seating and beaded curtains, not particularly easy on the eye. Becks and Star on draught along with Addlestones cider. Bottles of London Pride and Leffe were also available although the latter was not served in a Leffe glass which surprised me a little. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Blue Anchor pub in St Albans
'This place reinvented itself as a gastropub some time ago and now most of the premises is given over to a dining room. There is still a small bar area which is quite pleasant and they serve local McMullens ales, AK and Country. The AK was well kept and topped up without question. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Six Bells pub in St Albans
'The Six Bells is a wonderful looking building and clearly has some age and history to it. It claims to be the only pub within the walls of old Roman Verulamium and an old Roman Bath House was discovered during excavations in the 1970’s. Inside it’s very well presented with a massive open fireplace being a focal point. I generally visit on a Sunday lunchtime when it gets very full so it can be difficult to find somewhere to sit and the service can be a bit fraught. There is a decent selection of real ales but for quality I think the nearby Rose & Crown is a little better. '
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St Albans Pubs : Verulam Arms pub in St Albans
'There’s a bit of a reverse TARDIS effect with this pub, it looks quite big from the outside but when you get inside you wonder where all the space has gone. Mainly it’s taken up with a large horseshoe shaped bar around which there are tables and comfortable chairs plus some bar stools. There’s a small “snug” area to the left of the bar which holds a single large table. There’s a small outside area that they call a patio but it is clearly an old storage area that they now use as a smoking area, they do have a large patio heater though. I think I remember seeing Hoegaarden on tap and they have three cask ales, although the Black Sheep bitter I tried was a bit dull and flat. '
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St Albans Pubs : Ye Olde Fighting Cocks pub in St Albans
'Ye Olde Fighting Cocks may or may not be the oldest in Britain but for all the 500 odd years it claims to have been around, those in the 21st Century are surely not it’s finest. Admittedly it was a Sunday afternoon but of the dozen or so staff I spotted milling around most were cooking, delivering food, taking food orders, explaining why the sea bass was off, organising seating plans and generally doing anything except what I expect in a pub, serving me beer. I suppose I shouldn’t complain, there are plenty of proper pubs in St Albans serving a good beer, I really should leave this to the hoards who for some reason find it so fascinating. I’ll probably leave it another year before calling in again, for research purposes only you understand. '
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London (EC) Pubs : Golden Fleece pub in London (EC)
'I paid my first visit to the Golden Fleece just before Christmas 07 and found it a fairly typical City pub with a good atmosphere. There is a small lowered seating area by the main entrance with a few steps up to the main part of the pub and a 12-15 person snug area at the back which can be booked for private functions. The island bar is so big that it doesn’t leave a great deal of room for punters, you can get one row standing at the bar, another round the edge of the room and just enough room to walk between the two. It looks as if they have a large downstairs area as well. The beers are Greene King and I had a few decent pints of Abbot served by the fairly efficient staff. A good City drinking pub. '
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London (EC) Pubs : Hogs Head pub in London (EC)
'Large soulless place that remarkably attracts hoards of office workers both lunchtimes and evenings. Whenever I get dragged in I’ve always found it a bit uncomfortable and very expensive. '
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London (EC) Pubs : Sir John Oldcastle pub in London (EC)
'OK for a stop off if you are on your way from/to Farringdon station but doesn’t have much going for it, even for a Wetherspoons. It gets plenty of custom due to it’s location so no doubt thinks it doesn’t need to try too hard. Opens early for breakfast which is quite handy. '
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Eccles Pubs : The Eccles Cross pub in Eccles near Manchester
'Decent selection of ales on my visit. Handy transport links with the tram and train stops close by. It's a Wetherspoons and doesn't seem to have as much focus on food as some of them. '
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Worcester Pubs : The Plough pub in Worcester
'I visited this pub in October 2006 and think I recall being told that it had recently reopened after being under threat of redevelopment. It’s a wonderful old two roomed pub with outside toilets across a new patio area. Full of friendly and chatty locals it was clear that the owner was passionate about making a go of the business and keeping the character and characters in the pub. A good selection of real ales was available and, I believe, a real cider. I hope it is still doing well and has justified being rescued. Definitely worth a visit. '
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Bewdley Pubs : Cock & Magpie pub in Bewdley
'A rather shabby pub in a good location on the banks of the River Severn. It's flanked by tea rooms but seems to make little effort to attract the tourist trade itself. Visited Oct 06. '
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Arley Pubs : The Harbour Inn pub in Arley near Bewdley
'The Harbour Inn is reputedly the only pub left in Arley itself and is located in a country lane between the village and the Severn Valley Railway station. It’s a nice old pub with low ceilings, old prints on the walls and some nasty looking animal traps hanging from the ceiling. There are a couple of armchairs in a cosy snug next to an old fireplace above which is a display of polished pre-decimalisation coins. It has a family room with a restaurant and a large beer garden with sheep roaming nearby. The pub serves two real ales and a real cider. If you are visiting Arley by train then I recommend you leave for the station a bit earlier and drop in for a pint. '
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Malvern Pubs : Great Malvern Hotel pub in Malvern
'Comfortable hotel bar that is also popular with local residents. Real ales available'
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Malvern Pubs : The Unicorn pub in Malvern
'Traditional nice looking old pub at the top of the hill leading from the station. Comfortable seating and three real ale pumps with some local beers, CAMRA newsletter available. Part of the pub is given over to an eating area. Worth a visit. '
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St Albans Pubs : The Vintry pub in St Albans
'My previous visits to this pub have been disappointing but I heard news of a refurb and called in today, not expecting too much. But it is in fact an amazing transformation and has gone markedly up market. The layout is much the same but the school canteen furniture has been replaced by some excellent reproduction furnishings and a plethora of old lampshades, one of which is the largest I have seen in a pub. There are some large decorative mirrors including two from Bass Charingtons Brewery. Outside is an attractive two-tier beer garden with loads of comfortable seating and prints on the walls. The drinks selection is excellent, there are three hand pumps (they are Cask Marque accredited) with Spitfire, GK IPA and a micro on offer on my visit. But it is their selection of lagers that really impresses, as well as the usuals like Star and Peroni there are two weisse beers, Budvar and Budvar Dark, plus Hoegaarden, Leffe and Fruili all on draught. Add to that some interesting bottles, including Duvel, and an extensive wine list and there’s something for everyone. It’s not cheap, the Franziskaner Weissbier was £3.80 and the Budvar Dark £3.20 and Sunday lunch comes at £8.90 although I didn‘t try the food. A good addition to St Albans’ bars. '
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London (W) Pubs : Fitzroy Tavern pub in London (W)
'Some Sam Smiths pubs have a rather manufactured historic feel to them but this one just oozes its own past. The walls are adorned with old photos of the pub, many including its first licensee 'Pop' Kleinfeld and famous customers from the artistic fields in the 50’s. It is said that the pub existed before Fitzrovia itself and gave the area it’s name. It’s worth visiting during quieter times just to stroll around the pub looking at the old photos and historic documents. As others have said there is no cask OBB and the service was indifferent, I was asked quite off-handedly if I knew the prices had gone up and was a bit undecided as to whether this was a pleasant courtesy or if I looked like a bloke who would walk out for the sake of 5p, or whatever the increase was. '
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London (W) Pubs : The Wheatsheaf pub in London (W)
'Small, low-ceilinged, attractive old pub with plenty of stained glass and leaded windows. Two hand pumps and the London Pride was in good nick despite my being their first customer of the day. Don’t imagine it’s a big sports pub but they do have a couple of screens and were happy to put the rugby on when a group of guys dropped in on their way to Twickenham for the England v Ireland game. '
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London (W) Pubs : The Bricklayers Arms pub in London (W)
'Tucked away off Rathbone Place and probably doesn’t get much passing trade. There is a small front bar with bench seating around the sides and a few tables. The even smaller back bar has a few stools just one table and a dartboard, there’s also a serving hatch to the bar which looked as if it was still used. Upstairs is a pleasant lounge with sofas and armchairs that feels a bit like walking into someone’s front room. It does have it’s own bar upstairs but I imagine this is only opened during busy times. '
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London (W) Pubs : The Black Horse pub in London (W)
'Nicely presented pub, clean friendly and a decent selection of beers. '
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London (W) Pubs : Ben Crouchs Tavern pub in London (W)
'Quirky, weird, inventive, scary, strange, fantastic, just some of the words that came to mind when I walked into Ben Crouch’s Tavern, although I was about 7 pints down by that stage so I could probably add confused as well. Despite its dark gothic theme it succeeds in not restricting itself to any particular clientele and is a place that everyone should visit if only out of curiosity. It reminded me of Frankensteins in Edinburgh which is a bar built inside an old church. '
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London (W) Pubs : Duke Of York pub in London (W)
'A nice looking corner pub that I found a bit disappointing once inside. There is surprisingly little space, although to be honest there weren’t many customers, and it lacked atmosphere. Standard GK beers served with a smile. Nicely decorated and one wall holds a large mirror advertising Hoopers Brighton Seltzer and Mineral Water. '
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London (W) Pubs : Marquis Of Granby pub in London (W)
'Standard Nicholson’s clone, a tad depressing, probably one best left for the tourists. '
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London (W) Pubs : The Kings Arms pub in London (W)
'Fairly large corner pub that was remarkably quiet on a Saturday afternoon despite the rugby being shown. Three handpumps serving Youngs, Blacksheep and Cumberland Ale. Looks to be trying to re-invent itself as an evening venue with the daytime trade seeming rather incidental judging by the effort they put into it. '
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London (W) Pubs : The Scarsdale Tavern pub in London (W)
'This is an estate pub but one with a difference, the estate in question is a secluded and select area off Kensington High Street. Whereas in most estate pubs one might expect shell-suits, baseball caps, cheeseburger & chips and people cashing giros, in this one you’ll find pressed chinos, designer sunglasses, bruschetta & marinated olives and everyone paying with plastic. Can be difficult to get a seat, they try to solve this by adding more tables but they are arranged so close together, both inside and out, that it seems difficult to sit anywhere comfortably. I have always found the service to be pretty good even when its busy. The pub has 4 cask beers, Everards Beacon, Pride, Youngs and Old Speckled Hen on my last visit and has Cask Marque accreditation (although I did see them pouring slops into a glass on my first visit). The menu is befitting of it’s clientele including the prices. All this might seem a bit negative but it is certainly an interesting place to go and see how the other half drink. Just when I thought I couldn’t find anything else that so stereotypically sums up the Kensington set I walked into the Gents to find not the latest pages from the Telegraph on the wall but those from Private Eye, priceless. '
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London (NW) Pubs : The Bree Louise pub in London (NW)
'Over the last 10 years I’ve usually called into this pub every three months or so and never been tempted to make it any more frequent. However my experiences over the past year have been getting better and better and I’m now preferring it to the Doric Arch. There are 5 hand pumps and 5 on gravity as others have mentioned and there always seems to be something interesting on. After a couple of chats with the landlord it’s clear how passionate he is about is trade, his beer and providing a great customer experience. The beer is pricey at £2.90 but show a CAMRA card and you’ll get 40p off. Although the last redesign made a bit more room, it’s increasing popularity means it can get packed, especially on a Thursday/Friday night, but there’s plenty of outdoor seating for those balmy summer evenings that we all hope will be arriving soon.'
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London (SW) Pubs : The Old Garage pub in London (SW)
'The Old Garage is a newish looking Greene King bar serving IPA, Old Speckled Hen and a plethora of lagers. The décor is fairly minimalist with bare brick walls and a low ceiling. There are plenty of TV’s but it was surprisingly not busy just as a Premiership game was about to start. Next door to a JD Wetherspoons so the £2.70 a pint for OSH might be a factor in this. Pleasant enough place for the Sunday papers. '
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London (SW) Pubs : The Grid Inn pub in London (SW)
'The Grid Inn is a fairly standard JD Wetherspoons pub a couple of minutes walk from Southfields tube station. Not one of their best ale wise, only one guest, and the staff don’t fill you with any great confidence. Attractive décor with loads of local photos and information. '
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London (SW) Pubs : The Trafalgar pub in London (SW)
'The Traflagar defines the subtle difference between an estate pub and a community pub. It’s a laid back friendly sort of place with no fruit/quiz machines or juke box to get in the way of idle conversation, although there are a couple of unobtrusive TV’s. It’s welcoming to locals and visitors alike and I imagine that many make the pilgrimage from afar for the excellent range of beers. There are 6 hand pumps plus 2-3 ciders and some bottled beers. I had a Hippy High from Ventnor, a Moorhouse Black Cat and the Thrupenny Hop that I believe may be brewed on the premises - the name allegedly coming from an old nickname for the pub as it was the price of the bus fare from surrounding areas. Fantastic place, gets an overall 9/10 from me, not sure where it drops the one point, perhaps the fact that it’s too far away from where I live. '
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London (SW) Pubs : The Princess Royal pub in London (SW)
'Estate pub that is not particularly visitor friendly but seems to serve its regulars well. It could do with a bit of brightening up although it is quite attractively decorated on a bit of a naval theme. '
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London (SW) Pubs : The Nelson Arms pub in London (SW)
'Has an attractive Charringtons tiled exterior and I rather expected less than I got inside. It has clearly had some money spent on it recently and they’ve spent wisely and created a nice bar. Two hand pumps one of which was serving Black Sheep Bitter. A bit expensive but I’m sure it gets plenty of custom. '
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London (SW) Pubs : The Royal Standard pub in London (SW)
'Bit of a tired looking pub and I decided only to stay for a quick half. Seems fairly well run with efficient staff and what appeared to be the guv’nor keeping an eye on things. '
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London (SW) Pubs : The Colliers Tup pub in London (SW)
'Bills itself as “SW19’s Premier Rugby Pub” and it may well be so. There are a number of TV’s including two large drop down screens. There’s a large outside seating area that I imagine is popular in the Summer months. There are 4 hand pumps although only two were in operation. I had a not too good pint of Bitter & Twisted, and after being charged £3.10 I was. Would probably try it again though as it's one of the better pubs in the area. '
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London (SW) Pubs : The Royal Oak pub in London (SW)
'Difficult to assess really, seems like a pub trying to reinvent itself as a bar/restaurant, and failing miserably. There were two Adnams pumps but didn’t feel I could trust them so had a Kronenbourg . The menu included oysters, calamari fritti, wild boar sausages, getting the idea? Good background music but clearly too loud for the size of the place and number of clientele - only a handful at 5pm on a Saturday. Finally, for a place looking to go upmarket the gents toilets were a disgrace.'
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London (SW) Pubs : Prince Of Teck pub in London (SW)
'Decent if unremarkable pub that shows most sporting events. Handy for Earls Court tube. '
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London (SW) Pubs : The Lillie Langtry pub in London (SW)
'Visited Aug 07 after the GBBF and to be honest it's a pretty poor excuse for a pub. Little attention seems to have be paid to it for some time and it's just become a rather sad place that serves cheap beer to the locals. '
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London (SW) Pubs : The Prince Of Wales pub in London (SW)
'Decent attractive looking (inside and out) pub with good service. Right on a main road but has a few seats outside in a covered area. '
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London (SW) Pubs : The Atlas pub in London (SW)
'Attractive gastro pub where, whilst the emphasis is clearly on food, they do also accommodate those only wishing to have a drink. The 'beer garden' squeezed down the side is a little cramped but does provide some extra seating during busy times. '
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London (SW) Pubs : Tom Cribb pub in London (SW)
'Decent drinkers pub that has retained some character.'
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London (NW) Pubs : Somerstown Coffee House pub in London (NW)
'This place has changed since I was last there about 4 years ago, probably reflecting the changing affluence of it’s catchment area. It has a pleasant frontage with tables outside and a restaurant area inside plus a heated patio out the back. Bit of a pretentious menu where after translation you find that it’s actually just basic food. Excellent levels of service from bar staff who were both helpful and efficient. Youngs Special £2.80, Strongbow £3.00 '
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London (NW) Pubs : The Cock Tavern pub in London (NW)
'A proper drinkers pub that doesn’t try to be anything else, a throwback to the type of place that perhaps we didn’t value enough 20 years ago. A place to write out a 20p yankee and maybe pick up something for dinner from the estate’s entrepreneurs. '
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London (NW) Pubs : Allsop Arms pub in London (NW)
'Large pub that sells decent if uninspiring ales. Actually ‘decent but uninspiring’ probably sums the whole pub up as well. You can usually find a seat although it does get fairly busy, seems to be a large transient clientele, many I suspect keeping an eye on the Greenline bus stop outside waiting for their carriage home. '
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Cambridge Pubs : The Osborne Arms pub in Cambridge
'Proving the point that you should never judge a book by it’s cover, the Osborne Arms has a bright welcoming exterior in contrast to the Flying Pig next door. However once inside it is a far inferior pub. Not sure if they are in the middle of a refurb but the horrible yellow colour scheme and minimalist décor hits you as soon as you enter. Had a decent pint of Adnams and a chat with the guv’nor but left with the feeling that I wouldn’t want to go back (other than to see if they’ve painted the walls a different colour). '
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Belfast Pubs : Crown Bar Liquor Saloon pub in Belfast
'Probably Belfast’s best known pub and one that is owned by the National Trust. The restored Victorian interior is so extravagantly ornate that it is almost overpowering. The bar runs along the left hand side as you enter and around the rest of the pub are ten separate booths/snugs lettered from A to J. Each of them are beautifully panelled with dark wood and opaque glass with a lockable door. It seems to be first come first served to occupy them but I did see some reserved signs on one of my visits. It can get very busy and I imagine it occasionally has the air of a freakish tourist attraction, certainly rarely a minute goes by without another flash from a camera capturing the magnificent décor. Despite this it’s a place that every pub lover should visit. They had three real ale hand pumps on when I was there, one of the few places in Belfast that serves good real ale. '
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Belfast Pubs : Bittles Bar pub in Belfast
'A traditional Irish bar and on reflection one of my favourites in Belfast. It’s very small being at the tip of an iron shaped building but there’s plenty of character packed in. The landlord John was always buzzing around chatting to customers recommending beers and making sure everyone, locals and visitors, were OK. There is no cask ale but they do have a range of bottled beers including many from local breweries - try Molly’s Chocolate Stout or Headless Dog from the College Green Brewery. Also serves an excellent Irish Stew. The bar has an arty theme with paintings and drawings of famous Irishmen by local artists. '
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Belfast Pubs : Duke Of York pub in Belfast
'Wins hands down in the “how much breweriana you can display in a pub” competition. There are old photos, beer trays, mirrors, adverts and a plethora of old Guinness and Watney Red Barrel promotional material. There is so much that items are even fixed flat to the ceiling to make more room. It looks like the interior has had some recent work done although it still has an aged look with lots of wooden fixtures, exposed brickwork and flagstone floors. There’s a nice four person snug with closable doors at the back. Bit of a shame about the plasma TV but it wasn’t that intrusive. The pub has a very attractive old looking exterior and is tucked away down one of Belfast’s many difficult to find alleyways, Commercial Court that runs between Donegall St and Henry St in the Cathedral Quarter. Very close to the John Hewitt. '
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Belfast Pubs : Fountain Tavern pub in Belfast
'Many pubs that have gone down the gastro route can learn from pubs such as this. The restaurant is a separate area upstairs whilst the downstairs retains it’s public bar qualities serving simple bar food. Good pub for tourists and locals alike, look out for the revolving bar stools. '
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Belfast Pubs : Laverys Bar & Gin Palace pub in Belfast
'Sort of a cross between a Yates' and an It's A Scream. Busy when I called in and it's clearly popular and has it's own clientele. '
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Belfast Pubs : Maddens Bar pub in Belfast
'Interesting place with a locked door policy, presumably to keep out undesireables. Inside it's quite friendly with a club like atmosphere. '
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Belfast Pubs : Robinsons Bar pub in Belfast
'Not the sort of place to go if you have an identity crisis but it’s interesting to trawl around the different areas and see what they have to discover. The front of the saloon provides the tourist bit with Titanic artefacts on show whilst the rear is where the locals will hang out. The rear bar is a real spit and sawdust place and the décor and atmosphere invokes thoughts of days gone by. The bistro upstairs is very pleasant and laid back and has comfortable leather sofas and armchairs to relax in. Didn’t make it to the nightclub. '
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Belfast Pubs : The Capstan Lounge pub in Belfast
'A hole in the wall bar with a small nondescript entrance leading upstairs to a nice roomy haven of peace. It’s quite modern with comfortable seating, easy listening background music and good service. Serves food until 4pm. Located near the Victoria Shopping Arcade off Arthur Square'
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Belfast Pubs : The Kitchen Bar pub in Belfast
'I heard it was one of the few places in Belfast to get real ale so I gave it a go. It is primarily a kitchen bar as the name suggests with the emphasis clearly on food. Only two hand pumps and only one in use serving Clarks Brewery’s Take the Bait, which I did. It pulled up cloudy with a worrying floating sediment and was about to send it back but it smelled and tasted OK. The barman told me "that’s the way it’s supposed to be", or at least that’s what the guy who delivered it told him, and that all English ales were like that. I begged to differ but being a proud Englishman and wanting to support it’s beer I even had another, neither cleared throughout and I suffered no ill effects. '
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Belfast Pubs : The Roost Lounge pub in Belfast
'Called in during the day for a comfort break when walking around Belfast. Was quite empty although it had a locals feel to it. Plenty of staff, good value menu but nothing remarkable about the place.'
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Belfast Pubs : Whites Tavern pub in Belfast
'As it proudly proclaims on it's outside wall, Whites Tavern is Belfast’s oldest pub, dating back to 1630. It has a rather more modern exterior but whilst it might not look like Belfast’s oldest tavern I found it one of the friendliest with the famous Irish “craic“ well in evidence. An impromptu guitar session was going on outside on my first visit and on my second it was quieter as it was during the afternoon but I got chatting to a guy about local pubs and Belfast in general and we could easily have ended up sharing a few more beers if I hadn’t had other plans. '
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Bushey Pubs : Red Lion pub in Bushey
'It had been quite a few years since my previous visit and I was pleasantly surprised when I dropped in recently. They’ve clearly spent some money on it and the décor is now quite nice and they’ve gone a bit upmarket. I suspect the one thing that hasn’t changed too much over the years is the clientele although they do seem to have grown up along with the pub. Pleasant place for a beer, cask ales available. '
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Bushey Heath Pubs : The Black Boy pub in Bushey Heath near Bushey
'With so many of Bushey Heath’s pubs closing in recent years it’s pleasing that this one remains, and deservedly so. It’s a bit off the beaten track, which can sometimes be an advantage, but it’s worth making the effort to pay a visit. You’ll find a genuine community pub with some character and a sense of history. It’s nicely decorated with old prints of the local area and there’s a bookcase with a little reading matter including back copies of the Good Beer Guide. Three pumps were on when I visited and I had a couple of decent pints of Black Sheep, London Pride and Abbot were the others I believe. Beer garden with tables at the back which is partly covered. '
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Stanmore Pubs : Man In The Moon pub in Stanmore
'A well kept and attractive Wetherspoons outlet with a decent selection of real ales. The pint of Duchy Originals Organic I ordered was clearly off and was replaced without question and with an apology with the pump clip being immediately turned around. Knowledgeable staff with a good customer focus. Bit of a dreary frontage and not a great deal of natural light inside. '
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Stanmore Pubs : The Malt House pub in Stanmore
'Was displaying a ‘To Let’ sign and was being refurbished when I passed the other day. There was no indication if it is going to remain as a bar. '
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Stanmore Pubs : Crazy Horse Gourmet Burger And Vodka Bar pub in Stanmore
'Used to be a shabby pub called the Crown. Now it goes by the name of the Crazy Horse Gourmet Burger and Vodka Bar. '
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Hemel Hempstead Pubs : Post Office Arms pub in Hemel Hempstead
'Despite the name it didn’t give the impression of being an old Post Office but it’s in a residential terrace so I guess it could be. Traditional small two bar pub owned by Fullers, with prices to match (HSB, £3.10 a pint). Well decorated and comfortable lounge plus a nice garden area at the back. Be aware that it doesn’t open until 2.30pm on weekdays. '
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Hemel Hempstead Pubs : The Fishery Inn pub in Hemel Hempstead
'Decent Ember Inns bar, plenty of room and a good canalside location. Friendly staff, decent range of beers and close to Hemel Hempstead train station. '
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Hemel Hempstead Pubs : The Grapes pub in Hemel Hempstead
'It’s a shame to see traditional pubs like this struggling. I suspect the location is an issue as it’s in a largely residential area. Nice décor, looks to have had some money spent on the interior recently. Low-ceilinged single bar with a pool table and dartboard in a back room. Unobtrusive music plus TV’s for sports. Pride and Tetley on hand pump at £2.90 a pint. '
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Boxmoor Pubs : The Three Blackbirds pub in Boxmoor near Hemel Hempstead
'Large multi-area Spirit Group pub in a residential area of Boxmoor. Tidy, clean and well presented, seemed popular with most customers looking like locals. Good menu with a number of 2 for £7 offers. Juke box, fruit machines and a dartboard. No children’s certificate so they are confined to the small garden area. Four hand pumps with standard beers and Tetley’s cask good value at £1.98. Cask Marque accredited. '
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London (EC) Pubs : City Retreat pub in London (EC)
'Plesant Young's pub. Never seems to be overbusy even though it is located near loads of offices. '
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