This page shares with you our favorite places to drink in the UK - they tend to be in the places we visit irregularly. So apologies for the large areas of the UK not listed. They are chosen primarily for their beer - good traditional British Ale and/or Belgian ales - then either for their location, ambiance and sometimes for their food - all have provided relaxation and fine memories |
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| county | town | name | Beers | Description | last visited |
| Cambridgeshire | Peterborough | Brewery Tap | The Oakham range plus guests on hand pump, guest ales from other micros/inependents and a selection of Belgians | The former Oakham Brewery is visible behind a glass partition (the main brewery has outgrown the pub and is on an industrial unit a couple of miles away), the are sofas to sit in and a Thai restaurant upstairs | May 2010 |
| Cambridgeshire | Peterborough | Charters | The Oakham range plus guests on hand pump, and a large selection of Belgians | Its a barge moored on the River Neame in the centre of Peterborough. The bar in is the hold, the deck level is a Thai restaurant, their are tables on the river bank. | Oct 2008 |
| Essex | Stansted Airport (airside) | Windmill | has real ales from the Wetherspoons range | the place to sit and wait if you have to fly through Stansted | June 2007 |
| Lincolnshire | Bourne | Smiths | sells Oakham JHB, Fullers London Pride,an ale from the group's own "Ufford Brewery" and "guests" | Large coverted shop, with lots of room on several levels. A fascinating mix of old and new. Large patio and garden. Good lunches include "pints of chips" | Oct 2008 |
| Lincolnshire | Bourne | Jubilee | sells ale from the group's own "Ufford Brewery" and "guests" plus draught Erdiger and bottled Leffe | Another shop converted by Mick Thurlby's Company, this ime with a modern feel and a different beer range, | June 2007 |
| Lincolnshire | Market Deeping | Old Coachhouse | Batemans, Adnams and Pot Belly (Grantham) beers on hand pump plus Leffe in bottles | has restaurant, relaxed sofa area, bars upstairs and down and outside drinking. Improving again after a period of decline | May 2010 |
| Lincolnshire | Market Deeping | The Vine | Wells Bombardier and Eagle | smallish local with excellent (but expensive) beer, garden/patio at rear | May 2010 |
| Lincolnshire | Market Deeping | The Stage | Oakham JHB plus others | We lived here for several weeks ehilst relocating to Deeping in 1998. Renovated since and now quite smart, beer garden/patio at rear overlooking the river | May 2010 |
| Lincolnshire | Stamford | The Otters Pocket | sells a house beer from Hopback and three other beers on handpump plus draught Leffe Blond, Bruin and Hoegaarden | Next door to the Melbourn Brewery, and once the brewery tap. | Jan 2005 |
| London | Beckenham | Jolly Woodman | A good choice of traditional ales | Near Beckenham Junction station but you may need to ask. small side street pub with beer garden. Seems very popular partivularly with traditional ale drinkers | Oct 2008 |
| London | Central | Euston Flyer | Fullers Pub with the full range plus a big range of bottled beers from around the world | On Euston Road close to St Pancras.A fine selection for a weary travellor but beware its expensive | May 2010 |
| London | Central | Mabels Tavern | A Shepherd Neame pub with no international lagers | On On Mabledon Place, just off Euston Road and close to St Pancras. A welcome watering hole for a weary travellor. | May 2010 |
| London | Central | Betjeman Arms | usually has 2 or 3 real ales - Sharps Doom Bar in Apr 2011 | On the Upper level of St Pancras station with a 1930s feel to the decor. And comprising a small bar and separate "dining room" as opposed to a restaurant and tables outside but inside the station, Relax and imagine Hercule Poirot shuffling in | Apr 2011 |
| London | Central | Doric Arch | A Fullers pub with guest ales too | Just outside the front of Euston Railway Station, by the bus stops. Lots of railway memoriabilia. A welcome watering hole for a weary travellor | May 2010 |
| Staffordshire | Caverswall, Stoke on Trent | Red House | Taylors Landlord plus 2 or 3 Guests | country pub on edge of Stoke with landlord keen to pronote real ale | May 2010 |
| Staffordshire | Etruria, Stoke on Trent | Plough | Robinsons beers from Stockport | Now really a restauramt. On the main road from Hanley towards Festival Park. Excellent meals (from the blackboard menu!) accompanied by excellent ale | May 2006 |
| Staffordshire | Harriseahead, Stoke on Trent | Royal Oak | several real ales plus draught Draught Belgian Ale, and bottles from Belgium | village pub with surprising beer selection | May 2006 |
| Staffordshire | Kidsgrove, Stoke on Trent | Blue Bell | Ever changing real ales plus draught German and Belgian Lager (Van Steenberges Sparta pils), Draught Belgian Ale, and bottles from Belgium | Small canalside pub well worth searching out, for the superb beer range | May 2010 |
| Staffordshire | Tean, Stoke on Trent | Dog and Partridge | The Greene King range | No longer the quaint little country pub/restaurant we knew in the 80s. Much extended and modernised but the old bar area is just about recognisable. Big conservatory and garden. remarkably good value food | May 2010 |
| Staffordshire | Leek | Den Engel | Large range of draught and bottled Belgian Ale plus British Ale too. | A lttle piece of Belgium without crossing the channel | May 2006 |
| West Midlands | Birmingham | The Old Stock Joint | The Fullers range on draught and in bottles | In central Birmingham, up hill from New Street station , this former bank provivides a grand feel for this busy Fullers pub. | Dec 2005 |
| West Midlands | Birmingham | Prince of Wales | Wells Bomberdier, Adnams Broadside , Brains SA plus others | In central Birmingham, behind the ICC, just off Broad Street. I remember it as a basic two roomed Brum Boozer. Surprisingly well renovated into single roomed pub | Dec 2005 |
| West Midlands | Birmingham Airport | Wetherspoons | Real Ale from Highgate plus others | On the top floor of Terminal 1 before passport control. Usual Wetherspoons fare | October 2005 |
| West Midlands | Coventry | Windmill | 7 real ales including several unusual ones | Unspoilt ancient inn in historic Spon Street, with coal/wood fires. several rooms, and genuine exposed walls | October 2005 | Yorkshire | Leeds | Arcadia | several Yorkshire Ales on hand pump plus German Wheat Beers, German Lagers, Belgian Fruit Beers all on draught and a huge selection of mainly Belgian bottles | What a find!1 2 levelled bar in the Headingley Arndale Centre (Otley Road) | Summer 2005 | Yorkshire | Leeds | The North Bar | 1 British Ale on hand pump (JHB on our visit) plus 3 German Wheat Beers, German Lagers, Belgian Fruit Beers all on draught and a huge selection of mainly Belgian bottles | Long thin basic bar on Upper Briggate in Central Leeds. And they do samplers of the draught beers. | Summer 2005 | Yorkshire | Leeds | The Scarborough | A good selection of English ales | Just down the steps and across the road from the bus station and outside Leeds Railway station in Central Leeds.Extensive food menu too. Inside and out have been restored to their Victorian grandeur. | Sept 2011 |
| Yorkshire | Scarborough | The Alma | A good choice on hand pump. | Close to the Railway Station at the junction of Northway and Alma Terrace. Popular extended end terrace pub with an interesting mix of clientelle and good beer | Apr 2010 |
| Yorkshire | Scarborough | The Angel | Malton 2 Pints plus a couple of national brands | On North Street. If the weather is nice try the surprisingly large and well sheltered beer garden | Apr 2011 |
| Yorkshire | Scarborough | The North Riding Brewhouse | Their own beers plus guests which are often Talyors Landlord,and a York beer on hand pump plus Belgian Leffe Blond and Belle Vue Kriek and German Erdinger on draught. | Stuart moved from the Cricketers to this 3 storey corner pub at the north end of North Marine Road. Turn left out of the cricket ground. Food now available too. And now in 2011 their own beers brewed by Stuart himself at his newly installed 2 barrel plant which brews twice a week - Peasholm Park Ale and Far Boys Mild have featured last visits and both were excellent. offers tird of a pint tasters (at a third of a pint price) | Sept 2011 |
| Yorkshire | Scarborough | The Lord Roseborough | local yorkshire micros feature plus the Wetherspoon standards | Large Wetherspoons on Westborough close to the Railway station. | May 2010 |
| Yorkshire | Scarborough | Scalby Mills Hotel | local yorkshire micros including Wold Top feature | situated at the far northerly end of the North Bay, cosy little pub with 2 rooms and a patio. just the place to rest after walking the sea front - and you can always take the minature train back | Oct 2009 |
| Yorkshire | York | The Maltings | Black Sheep Bitter plus 3 or 4 guests plus Budvar Dark, Leffe Blond and Erdinger on Draught and Belgian bottles | Om Tanners Moat. The nearest real ale to the railway station. good lunchtime food. Very small. A sign outside by the door says " if you want swearing, singing, loud music and crap beer - you are at the wrong pub" | Sept 2011 |
| Yorkshire | York | Yorkshire Terrier | York range plus guests on hand pump plus Belgian bottles | On historic Stonegate. The pub is through the door to the left of the York Brewery souvenir shop. | March 2006 |
