Thetownend.com

After Gazza's doom & gloom earlier about the forecast demise of the British pub, I came up with the idea for this thread.  This could become the TEF's very own Good Pub Guide.  Just let us know the places you love, and why.

I'll set the ball rolling.

1.  The Prince of Wales, Rectory Road, Farnborough, Hampshire
This is my local.  CAMRA's Hampshire Pub of the Year for 3 of the last 5 years.  Tucked away on a quiet residential road, but just 2 mins walk from Farnborough North station - so always handy for a quick pint on the way home after a home game.  Excellent choice of real ales, welcoming atmosphere, friendly locals.  Pretty much my perfect pub.

The Prince of Wales (http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/62/6279/Prince_of_Wales/Farnborough)

2.  The Market Porter, Stoney Street, Borough Market, London
My favourite pub in London.  You would have to go a long way to find a pub with a better selection of well kept beers than this place.  Nice looking pub in a great location on the edge of Borough Market, and a lovely spot to stand outside and enjoy a pint in summer.  Also a popular meeting place for away games at Charlton and Millwall.  I have many happy memories of this place over the last 15 years or so.

The Market Porter (http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/43/433/Market_Porter/Borough)

3.  The Glue Pot, Emlyn Square, Swindon, Wiltshire
As with the Market Porter, this pub is inextricably linked with football for me.  A visit here is an essential part of any day out in Swindon at the football - and has been a firm favourite of many London Reds for some time.  It’s changed hands several times over years, but there has always been a great selection of beer served up in a relaxed atmosphere.  Doesn’t feel like a town centre pub at all.

The Glue Pot (http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/32/3288/Glue_Pot/Swindon)

4.  The Hobgoblin, Broad Street, Reading, Berkshire
This pub is a gem.  I discovered it only late last year.  Bizarre really, because it’s on one of the main shopping streets in the centre of Reading and opposite the Oracle shopping centre.  I must have walked past many times in recent years before stepping inside.  When you do go inside, it’s like a cavern.  Passageways, snugs and alcoves branching left and right.  And some great, well kept beers on tap.  If you’re ever in Reading, this freehouse is the perfect antidote to the sterility of the shopping centre across the road.

The Hobgoblin (http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/36/367/Hobgoblin/Reading)

5.  The Kings Arms, Roupell Street, Waterloo, London
This is a favourite after work meeting place for me and my friends before we catch our respective trains home from Waterloo.  It’s a five minute walk from the station - so close enough for a quick visit, but far enough away for most other people using the station to not know about it.  It’s on a strange street of terraced houses that look quite out of place in central London; they look as if they would be much more at home in Leeds or Sheffield.  While pub itself does not have as big a selection of beers as the other places on this list, the London Pride and Sharp’s Doombar are always in really good nick.  A back street local in the centre of London.  Just creeps in to my top five.

The Kings Arms (http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/13/1395/Kings_Arms/Waterloo)

Bloody good post. A full response is going to take a bit of consideration.

Have they still got that step in the Hobgoblin? Fell over that many a, time in and out.  Not been around there for a bit, But The Turks Head, Purple Turtle, and The Hook and Tackle were my favourite hangouts in Reading, along with the Moderation in Caversham.

Really enjoyed The Market Porter for Millwall away in May. Good times.

Tough one this, but I'll give it a go:

1.  The Mackintosh, Mundy Place, Cardiff.

My local for many years during my student days in Cardiff.  A great mix of the quieter students and locals who mixed well together.  A great quiz on a Thursday night.  I spent many a quiet hour in there whiling away the hours and properly putting the world to rights.

2.  The Wheatsheaf, Old Town, Swindon

In many ways, my first local.  Spent most nights for at least a year in there.  Lovely place.

3.  The Piper's Arms, Old Town, Swindon.

Awful place, awful staff.  We went there religiously though for a good year before I moved away, and I remember (some!) of those times well.

4.  The Combermere Arms, Burleydam, Cheshire

Just up the road from me now.  Old manor house, quality food, superb friendly stff, and a range of ales on tap that change by the week.

5.  The Corn Mill, Llangollen

Lovely food, lovely beer - and a balcony that overhangs a fast flowing wide river (the Dee) - simply one of the best drinking spots I've ever been in.

Special thanks to Ardiles for the most fun thread started on here in quite a while.

Could only think of three.

1. The Cock Robin [RIP], a great atmosphere and good crowd, always used to have a welcome feel and made me feel at home.

2. The Bulldog, cracking night out to be had in here, good crowd again.

3. The Savoy, take the wife here when im treating her, great food, bar staff and a lovely set of fellow drinkers to mingle with.


I'll do a serious one, may take some time

In no order:

The Savoy - Good food!

Prince of Wales, Old town - Free pool & jukebox Monday-Thursday and right around the corner from me.

The Bay Horse, Ashburton, Devon - Quiet little pub in a small town, when I lived down there as a kid, the owners were great people.

Tap and Barrel - A good laugh pre-match.

Moonrakers - Good laugh when my aunt owned it, not been since though,

I'm in there most weekdays early evening, and it's free pool on fridays now too.

Happy Hour 4-7 suits me perfect, with finishing work at 3.30.

I do need to cut down on the drinking though, old habits are kicking in.

I couldnt drink when I've been in because I was working 5pm onwards in the film shop round the corner but now jobless I will be popping in for a few now and then. Mainly for the pool though  ;D

Right - here goes.

British Lion, Devizes

Proper, old fashioned pub near the town centre. No food (expect crisps and nuts), always got 4 well kept real ales and a selection of ciders. Great crowd of regulars from all walks of life. Free House.

Woodbridge Inn, near Pewsey

More of a foodie pub, but always has a good selection of beers as well. Really relaxed pub with a huge beer garden and a boules rink. Has its own campsite and does the occasional beer festival

The Otley, Pontypridd

I lived a few doors away from this one while I was a student. The owners were always keen on beer and now have their own brewery in the town - if you get a chance to drink their O2 I highly recommend it. Right next to the railway station, it was the launching pad for many a night out in Cardiff.

Hare and Hounds, Devizes

Like a second home for me. I lived next door to it for a while and played for the crib team and quiz team for years and years. Good beer, always has Wadworths Mild on. A pub I can walk in to at any time and know loads of people, and spend a happy, relaxed evening or afternoon.

Haunch of Venison, Salisbury

Real warren of a place right in the city centre - as a young man it always seemed to feature on first dates, as you could hide away in a corner and have a bit of a fumble in the gloom. Haven't been in there for years, but lots of happy memories.

Best boozer for me is the Redbarn, Woolacombe, proper surfers retreat, after a long days surf we normally head back to camp and retreat here for the evening. They sell a massive range of beer/lagers. Right close to the beach so can here the waves crashing if outside on one of the benches. The grubs quite tasty too :D Paradise in my opinion.

You've got to be taking the piss?

 :( No.. I quite enjoyed it in there. Not the biggest fan I take it?

the video shop !!!!  :D my old area. so many pubs round there. prince of wales, the castle, thee beehive, the globe

No particular order

The Porter - Bath. Bit pricey, but well bohemian and cool
The Royal Oak - Bath. Most pricey drink is only £3. Only serves local ales and ciders. Really nice
The Savoy. Swindon - Cheap place to get plastered in before a night out

There are no others I'm afraid

Any pub that sells a good beer is a good pub.

Is that the Royal Oak in Widecombe?

The Raven is pretty good for real ales and especially good for pie and chips.

Nah, on the edge of oldfield park/twerton.

I forgot about the raven. Not been there a lot but its good.

The Sloop Inn - St Ives
Glue Pot - Swindon
The Porter - Bath
Start the Bus - Bristol
White Horse - Winterbourne Bassett

Closed as of 2 weeks ago :( when I first moved up here I felt spoilt for choice :D

There is quite a few out there, and some good'uns already mentioned.....

The Porterhouse, Covent Garden, London - Big place with more international beers than you can shake a stick at, always busy with a good atmosphere, strange multi-floor layout that can get you running in circles after a few have been sunk.

The Jericho Tavern, Jericho, Oxford (booooo) - Relaxed bar/pub with live music upstairs and good beers and lagers on tap, bit pricey with a clientele to match, but a nice bar/beer/music/food establishment to spend a few hours.

Thr British Lion, Devizes - Wiggy summed it up well. Lots of well kept guest ales and interesting folk to keep you occupied.

The Pulteney Arms, Bath - Only been a in there a few times, but always enjoyed it as an escape from the crowds for a quite beer. Always found the staff friendly and the beer has always been spot on.

.... Also like to say that from my point of view you cannot beat a few beers in a good pub with some good company, think i'd get depressed sat on my sofa drinking on my own all the time  :(

Hear hear to that .

Another good pub along the similar lines of the British Lion is The Lamb in Devizes, a cracking little pub where everything appears to be £3.  Has a very good jukey and a good little pool room too.

I used to live just around the corner from there.  Long time ago though.  It sounds as if it's gone up market since I knew it.


Amen to that.

Not all pubs but:

1) Tok's little hut - Ao Pai Beach, Koh Samet
A small open air bar in a fantastic location, right on the beach of the paradise Island of Thailand's Koh Samet. Open early until the last person leaves you can literally drink all day long without moving. A night table and Thai style recliners are laid out on the beach so that you can get absolutely hammered and fuck about on the beach with friends and family. Very, very friendly staff whom almost become like an extension of the family.

Can't wait to get back

2) The crossbar - Asoke Rd, Bangkok
A sports pub run by a Brummie in the heart of Bangkok, the sportsbar is a great place to get away from it all. With a regular clientele consisting mostly of Brit's and Ozzie's it can be a home away from home for some. With good food on offer and a number of screens showing a number of different sporting events at any time, it is a great place to get away from the red-light districts and just getting fucking annihilated with friends.

3) Morning night bar - Soi Nana, Bangkok
Right on the entrance to Nana Plaza, one of the sleaziest locations in S.E. Asia, Morning night bar can offer a very interesting night indeed. A large open plan place in a great location makes it a fantastic to meet throughout any time of day. Being on the entrance of the infamous Nana plaza one can spend all day watching the filthy old men going in for their whores making it one of the worlds elite venues for people watching.

4) Shadow bar - Soi Cowboy, Bangkok.
Located deep within the infamous Soi Cowboy, the Shadow bar is one of the few drinking places on the Soi that is not a go-go bar. Open early afternoon, one can take advantage of the fabulous prices to just sit outside all day and get fucking wankered. The great location means that the possibility of meeting up with friends by chance is high, making for many an impromptu bender.

1) Tiger Lilly's - Edinburgh
2) Black Horse - Upper Wanborough
3) Ann's Beach Bar - La Pineda Spain
4) Charlie Fitzwhiskeys - Toronto Canada
5) Bee Hive - Swindon

LucienSanchez's shout of The Sloop Inn, in St Ives, is a good call. Last time I was in there I had a few too many Doom Bars and moved onto the Cornish Rattler cider, lethal but the best cider you'll taste!
http://www.sloop-inn.co.uk/
http://www.cornishrattler.co.uk/

really? i thought they were moving to the back end of that building?

great shout Luce re: the sloop. Few better places to be on a summer's day than in there smashing some Doom Bar.

So:

1. bankes arms, studland bay
http://www.bankesarms.com/

2. Sloop Inn, St Ives

3. The Ship Inn, Wokingham (where I spend most of my days)

4. Balcony Bar, Byron Bay

5. I'm with BR on this one: awesome. 1) Tok's little hut - Ao Pai Beach, Koh Samet. was in there last september.

6. The Fortescue Arms, Woolacombe

Here's mine:

1. The Ship and Anchor - Southwold, Suffolk - for the Adnams Ales. Right next to the Brewery. Adnams is one of the best ales in the country IMO. Good views over the North Sea too.

2. The Mill Inn - Aldeburgh, Suffolk. For all of the above reasons!

3. The Gardener's Arms - Loughton, Essex. Great pub. Great beers, friendly landlord who won't chuck you out when it's time at the bar, he'll just let you take as long as you want finishing your drinks. Great views of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the Dome from the hill.

4. The Dove - Hammersmith, London. My favourite London riverside pub, another being the Marquis of Whitby in Wapping. Fuller's London Pride is another great ale.

5. The Rat Trap - Highworth Road, Stratton. My local. Good ales and good food, friendly owners.

Think I went there once.  Is this the place that claims to be the smallest pub in the country?

Most of these hold good memories rather than actually being any good so don’t go visiting on my recommendation.

1 – The Wheatsheaf, Old Town – I’ve probably spent more time in here than any other pub and for that reason alone it makes the top 5. Jukebox – check, pool table – check, dartboard – check, table football – check, nutter glass collector – check. Perfect pub when I was 18. Not so much now unfortunately but the place holds some happy memories.

2 – Harry’s Bar – Stoke-on-Trent – Another old haunt, haven’t been there for nearly 8 years so maybe a dive now but an excellent bar to while away those lazy student hours. It also hosted some interesting characters when the stokies where playing at home.

3 – The Cardinal, Victoria/Westminster – The work local. Although the beer tastes terrible it is very cheap and the Friday evenings which have disappeared in here are legendary. What stays in the cards, stays in the cards.

4 – The Coach and Horses, Barnes – Living in Barnes, the local pubs are geared up for the local rich list and as such the choice is limited which is the only reason this little bar makes it in to the top 5. Cosy little bar, outside toilets and a ice cream parlour in the garden. Where would I be without the locals local?

5 – The Montagu Arm, Beaulieu – Spent a year down in the New Forest and this place was the only thing that stopped me going a bit mental. It’s probably changed now but used to have a posh food/hotel side for the tourists and a pub side for the poorer locals. Loved looking at the girls in the riding boots and jodhpurs.

Think so Ardiles. The pub next door to it as well (The Blue Boar or something? Blue Boat?) is also very nice. I think there is also The Anchor in Hammersmith.

I think you're thinking of the Blue Anchor.  We used to head there on Boat Race weekends...great (but very packed) view point, right at the top of the bend on the river.

In no particular order

Glue Pot or Beehive (cant choose) - Swindon
Square and Compass - Worth Matravers, Dorset
Blue Peter - Polperro, Cornwall
Lamb and Flag - Covent Garden
The Lamb Marlborough, or Golden Swan Wilcot, again cant choose!

Juddie, not only are we agreed on The Sloop as being top 5, you've just named my favourite pub here in Dorset: The Bankes Arms. I walked past it earlier on a jaunt around the coast! Great place, lovely benched grassy area opposite side of the road to look out over Poole Bay. Great selection of beers, many from it's own on-site micro brewery, good relaxed ambience, stunning scenery, 5* beach on the doorstep. Good call, just a little busy at times.

http://www.bankesarms.com/

 The already mentioned Square and Compass in Worth Matravers is also well renowned.

 1. Beehive....
 2. Steam...
 3. Vic....
 4. Donkey...
 5  Wheatsheaf....

 All pubs I use regularly....the order reflects the amount, and the preference.

 Wheatsheaf dropped to 5th after recently, getting hassled to sup up on a Thursday night at about 11:50, being in their with a bird and no other punters....not good.

Oooo, I forgot the green park tavern. Good pub that, though a bit pricey for poor little me.

Is it considered wrong to go to a pub on your own?

there are some really nice pubs within pissing distance of where i now live, visited one or two and they're great. enjoyed some good pints.

The Rolleston,was and still is a good pub and met my wife there.
Three Crowns,Brinkworth...great food.
The Snakecatcher in Brockenhurst...love Brockenhurst and a real nice pub.
The Blue Boar in Aldbourne...great variety of beer.
The Trout in Ringwood...lived there when younger and loved sitting in the garden in summer watching the HampshireAvon flow by.

Have been in many pubs all over the country on my lorry travels and enjoy the different cultures each area has...was in Torrington Devon last week and had a shandy in the Black Bear right in the market place ....no great shakes as a pub really but the fact Cromwell defeated the Royalists here and he stayed at the pub(coaching house then) makes it the real deal for me..love old pubs with history...........Salisbury is full of old pubs stooped in history around the Cathedral.

Other notable pubs i used to frequent and like.
Sir Dan,The Locomotive,The Worthy(Worthington)Lamb and Flag and my past Swindon favourite The Rolling Mills.

How are you settling in dude?

My current 5 faves are:

The Bunch of Grapes-London Bridge
Tattershall Castle-River thames by the London eye.
The Woodman-Carshalton Village.
The Market Porter- London Bridge
The Beehive-Carlisle.

Oh and an honourable mention to Dirty Dicks at Liverpool st.

1. Bar milan -reforma- mexico city - at the weekends its a fucking blast, great music and full of gorgeous women who fall over themselves for englishmen.

2. Beehive - swindon, my first legal pint, RIP Noel you were a gent.

3. Tiger Inn - east dean east sussex, local inn on village green, great beer and food and you couldnt get a more idlylic setting

4. Silver sands - Koh samet Thailand, late night sordid den of sex drugs and shit music on paradise island, laugh at the ladyboys noshing off pissed up blokes from bradford whilst wiggling their hips to jamelia

5. Evening star - Brighton, best beer i have encountered in any pub in the world.

:o

The Rose Revived - Newbridge, Oxfordshire

Daly Waters Pub - (NT) Outback Australia

The Retreat, Cheltenham

The King Arthur, The Gower

The Plough, Wanborough (maybe not so much anymore)

Yes! good shout... i go there once a year when we hire a boat and take the Thames to Oxford. Moor up for the night, good beer and good food in really nice surroundings!

Hi Luci...i went to the King Arthur in the Gower for a wedding last month.....stayed the night as well,very remote but as you say very nice and the main wedding meal was brilliant.

Didn't know we were doing foreign, I'll drop the beehive and stick the Fat Ladies Arms in Wellington straight to the top.

I got my first proper kicking in the Sir Dan - didn't deserve it either. I went in the Robin for years and nothing, set one foot in the Sir Dan and bang, game over. The Rolling Mills was ace. I remember being on the piss there before catching one of the specials to the Slave Traders - great atmosphere.

I seem to remember the Town End singing its name now and again.

aside from the fact the flat was close to inhabitable on the day we moved in, we're settling in well. it has driven me to drink though.

the rose revived is decent for food but i wouldn't call it a pub. nice location though

The Waterman's Arms - Richmond.  Unpretentious pub with old decor, but great Young's beers.
I always enjoy the thai food, produced by a thai cook.

Prince's Head - Richmond.  Location,location,location.On the corner of Richmond Green and near
the theatre,perfect place to watch cricket on the green, with the background of Millionaires Row!
Serves Fuller's and guest ales,the inside is full of rugby memorabilia.

Blues Bar - Soho.  Great live music venue.

The Royal Oak - Fritham.  A gem of a New Forest Pub,it has the lot! Great beer (Ringwood) great
food and a beer garden, in a small village location.

The Dispensary - WhiteChapel.  Serves a great array of beers and cider.

Word.

Silver sands is a great giggle if you can avoid getting into scraps with the bull queens.

Owned by the same chappie who owns Tok's little hut, as coincidence would have it. Bet you can't guess his name.

My favourite pub in London is The Harp, Covent Garden. You can tell by the clientele that they consider it a gem amidst a sea of pretentious trendy bars. Hope it retains it's atmosphere. Always the same friendly lady behind the bar, particularly clued up about her Real Ales, of which they have plenty. Bar surrounded by a myriad of beer mats of all the nationwide ales they have served up. The best bit though is upstairs, totally a contrast to the ground floor: it is like walking into some aristocrats drawing room! Had it all to myself for the first pint I enjoyed the day of the play-off final.

http://harpcoventgarden.com/

Massive thumbs up if you are within 2 mins of Charing Cross any time soon.

1) Raoul's in Jericho (Oxford)
2) Trout in Wolvercote
3) Saracen's Head in Beaconsfield
4) Eagle in Little Coxwell
5) Red Lion in Faringdon
6) Jericho Tavern
7) Duke of Cambridge in Jericho Oxford
8) Baba's on Cowley Road

Hate to say it, but the Jericho/St Giles area of Oxford is a quality night out

Is that the one in Bath?

If so that used to be our Cricket teams pub many moons ago.

I always used to like the Crossed guns at Avoncliffe  (mmmmm Tanglefoot)

The Lamb - Devizes
The Lamb - Urchfont
The Oak - Easterton
The Green Man - Wembley
The Green Dragon - Lavington

It is in Bath. Think theres two with the same name though, so may not be the one you're thinking of

On the A4, just outside the centre on the road to Twerton

It's on lower bristol road, which I think is the one you're on about. Nice pub and good, if expensive, beer. Friendly locals too, which is quite different to most of the pubs in my area

Yeah, sounds like it.

We used to go to Bath quite a lot when we were younger. In fact my Stag Night was a pub crawl from he Brain Surgery in Larkhall into Town.

All of mine are music pubs and memories.... Queens Tap, Bristol Bridge Inn, Riverside Lechlade, Beehive... oh and the Crown and Anchor at Dell Quay W Sussex

A bit further afield

1. The Pump and Tap - Leicester.  Now sadly been knocked down.
2. Hogans - Queens Road Leicester.  Just used to be my local so I liked it.
3. The Racehorse - Northampton.  Proper Indie / Goth / Rock pub.
4. The Picturedrome - Northampton.  As 'bars' go very nice.  Still had a stage and working cinema screen at last check.

Thats it.  I haven't really been out much since I moved back to 'Nam.  That was 3 years ago.  I really do need to get out more.

And nothing has yet been built in its place.  Fucking council.

I would recommend the Criterion to anyone when in Leicester, many beers, all well looked after, they also have a chef with a pizza oven and do superb pizza.  It used to be called the Nag's Head, just by the Magazine.  It has been the Friday night pub of choice for years.  Also, the Swan and Rushes, again good beer, well looked after, but damn fine fish and chips, rather than pizza.

 :pint:

I used to live on Queens Road and I don't even remember no 'Hogans'.....???  When is this?

The Clarendon mind, now you're talking.

In no particular order, my favourites are:

1. Marlborough Arms, Cirencester. Really bad pub, but had so many good pissed up nights there. Could tell it was getting too serious when on a couple of occasions it was 4am and we ordered a taxi to nip down Greasy Joes and pick up a takeaway.

2. The Millstone, Old Basing, Basingstoke. Used to go there with works on a lunchtime on Friday. Only place outside Wilts/Gloucs that I've had a good 6X, straight out the barrel too. 

3. Bryn-y-mor (Hill of/by the sea in English), Brynmill, Swansea. My local(ish) way back when I was a student

4. Market Porter, London Bridge. Now my preferred stop off at London games. Unless its QPR, then its the Springbok.

5. Wheatsheaf, Ciren. Circa 1990. College mates used to go there, a couple of pool tables, good music on the duke box. Bit quieter these days.

Which doesn't mean they are good pubs mind!

Shit the Nags heads gone all posh has it!  I agree the Swan and rushes is another good one.

It was criminal the bullshit that went on so the pump and tap could be forcibly closed down.  A lot of stuff goes on revolving around demont uni that is a bit shit.  The old union is still there, it was supposed to be knocked down in about 2002.  I stopped working there in 2001 because it was going to be knocked down (and because I was bored and got offered a better job I suppose)


Lived in Leicester 1995 - 2003.  Hogans was just on the left past the butchers as you went down towards vicky park.

Not posh, not posh at all.  Just damn good beer and pizza...and the occasional band.  I even sang once (just the once mind).

Council are bastards.

I remember Leicester when braunstone gate had 2 old mens pubs and one bar.  Now its nothing but bars.

Good to hear the Nags head isn't all style barred up.  Ill drop in next time Im in town.

Even Mario's Chippery is licenced!

I know!  Been there for a beer a fair few times.  Very odd.  First pint of the night with a battered sausage and a samosa.

What's the bar called as you turn out of the station in Leicester? Huge but was empty when i was in last season. Nice bar though.

It's one of my favouite spots in the country. Even thought about getting married there but jogged the idea on. Amazing spot!

There must be so many more round there and round the jurassic coast. One day I'll find em!

Time Bar.  By the statue of Thomas Cook.

County Ground Hotel.

You bunch of tossers.

TP's Sports Bar

Yep juddie. can imagine it's a great spot for weddings, just don't venture further up Studland Bay to the nudist beach for celebratary photos  :girlgiggle:

ive never been to a pub,maybe I'll try it some day.

Up until last year, I used to do quizzes and associated events in the Wheatsheaf...probably about 5 times a year, always found it a very decent boozer, the landlord has an impressive collection of sporting memorabilia.

A problem with pubs these days, is they change hands and therefore character so quickly, what was a decent pub can go downhill etc..

Many years ago, i used to go to the Bat and Ball at Broad Halfpenny Down....usually called Hambledon....a cricket pub full of 18th Century cricket memorabilia...totally awesome maan.

Take a book or a paper and often its actually preferable.

Dave is still running it, he (used to) sponsor quite a few local sports teams. In the early 90's I was happy the place was packed full of college mates. Now I'm old I'm glad its a bit more sedate!

And they sell scampi fries, so makes it even better!

In no particular order...

The Gluepot - my localest local
The Beehive - have never left sober!
JJ Cathedral Irish Pub, Florence - tiny, covered in graffitti inside (in fact they encourage you to leave your mark) but a balcony just big enough for 2, looking right onto the Duomo
The Horse and Groom, Charlton - true country pub with some of the best food ever
The Red Cow, Richmond - nice atmosphere, busy, cosy and warm on a cold night, and a lovely wine list!

Honourable mention to The Globe, Leicester - it's been poshed up a bit in recent years but during my student days it was brilliant, with a massive jukebox which is sadly missed these days.

Yeah youre not wrong. Do they still do pound a pint in the jericho tavern?

1) The Trout - Wolvercote
2) Blue Boar - Chipping Norton (my local)
3) Kings Head - Bledington (Ace food)
4) The Green Man
5) That pub before fulham away was ace (Kings Head was it?)

And an honourable mention to the Britannia - Leeds. For pre and post match amusement.

The Chandos Trafalgar Square - cheapest pint in London i reckon although no good if you don't like Sam Smiths

The Old Kings Head London Bridge - good atmosphere (even though it's full of Millwall) and they show 2 live Sky matches at once

Churchills St John's Hill Battersea - my old local. Live music, good range of beer and great lock ins. They would also put Swindon on if we were on TV at my request much to the chagrin of the other locals who were mainly Chelsea!

The Greyhound Carshalton - Slightly pricey as it's a hotel too but a decent pint and chilled atmosphere

The Butchers Arms Greens Norton - Closest pub to where i went to school! They also serve an excellent pint of Hooky

Chandos, Trafalgar Square - yeah what a pub!

This is a good read - Swindon's five hardest pubs! http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=8&s=1450&ss=0&c=7659&t=Did%20You%20Spill%20My%20Pint?

How come you know the Greyhound?  I'm in there for a quick pint later.

I live in Carshalton! Off to the Woodstock to watch the footy tonight though

Ooh brave of you! I'm in Wallington, often pop down the village for a beer, drop me a PM when your'e next about etc etc.

What a miniscule world it is that we live in.

Living in Carshalton or going to The Woodstock?!!

If it's the Morden(ish) woodstock that's very brave. was wipe your feet on the way out last time i was in there.  And depends where you are in carshalton?

That's the one - Stonecot Hill! It's still very much like that but a good atmosphere when the football's on. I live up near the hospital.........brave on both counts then!!

Seems we've got a nice little Swindon contigent down in this part of south london. I tend to drink in the Duke's Head in Wallington, although big fan of the beer garden at the Woodman when the sun's out!  :toocool:

Are there others down this way too then? My, we do get about! i will have to keep an eye out when i'm round and about to see if i can spot them!

I normally drink up town round Waterloo or London Bridge but if i'm drinking round our area normally The Sutton Arms or Ganleys in Morden. Classy bird me!

Yep i use the Dukes, Woodman, and the Fox and Hounds, tend not to use the wallington ones bar O'neills occasionally. Sutton Arms, Is that the one that renamed down Sutton high street?

Yes, it used to be the Nonsuch Arms. Bit of a dive but does decent bitter and shows the football.

Fox and Hounds in Carshalton? Not been there for a couple of years. Has it changed much? Wasn't that great when i went there last  :no:

If we're going for international boozers i'll chip in with another few...

The Lotus Bar, Koh Tao, Thailand - Open air beach bar with cheap drinks and lots of happy hours, plus plenty of spontaneous games of football on the beach with the locals when the tides out!

The Frog and Roast Beef, Val Thorens, France - Ski lodge type bar but awesome atmosphere friendly staff and a mini stage to take on the 'yard of ale challenge' excellent bar to stop by on an evening out...

The World Bar, Queenstown, New Zealand - Traveller/student/gappy type bar. Serve teapots full of booze, always a good atmosphere day or night.

Hans Brinker, Amsterdam, Holland - Cheap nasty hostel with huge beer hall style bar and a direct line to the heineken brewery, it's grubby in their but never dull!

Nope decor wise and clientel wise exactly the same, I've got a couple of mates who play in bands there now and again so pop in there then, otherwise i'll use the others mentioned.

Im with you on the frog and rosbif.  Spent many a night being entertained by shite cover bands in there whilst highly pissed.

Your other point there, i think Langers who posts on here is over towards Croydon, and there are others, in Streatham, Peckham and Brixton, there are 20 or 30 of us that meet up pretty regular, go to matches etc, in fact we have an AGM tomorrow*

*All go mental!

That's quite a few. Did you all get to know each other through the forum? I might tag along sometime if i'm not working and you don't mind a girl coming along :)

Yeh and i believe otanswell, who occasionally posts on here, lives near me aswell.

Yes mainly through here and fansonline (old rivals board) A fair few were in the old SSILA group, and a pretty good bunch all told, Good turns outs for london games, and I'll normally post up on here where we are meeting so keep an eye out, or PM me, and I'll let you know what the plans are.

I'm near there on Monday so may well try it!  Thanks!

Raoul's cocktail bar, and the Duke of Cambridge cocktail bar? You can't put those in a pub thread!

Jericho Tavern is a good shout, whoever mentioned that. Some people find it a bit poncy but its not really, and has the bonus of a music room upstairs and giant garden. The Three Goats is great because its Samuel Smith and well cheap despite being bang in the middle of the city centre. The Victoria in Jericho is nice, same owners as Raouls. Turf Tavern for a bit of nostalgia, and always has decent ales.

Right - I've got some more elaborate selections:

1) Hogans in Palma Majorca
2) Molly Malones in Palma Majorca
3) Linikers in Gran Canaria (Play del ingles)
4) Les trois diablos in Nice

Anymore holiday selections

yeah he does, my twin brother

The World bar is a good shout. I also like The Bog in Christchurch. Endless fun ringing people from there!

So there's 2 of you ugly fuckers?

I blame your parents, sometimes abortion is the kindest option.

Shut it baldy!

Hope your heads stopped peeling.

Feature on the Top 10 Unusual Pubs. Haunch of Venison gets a mention.

http://uk.travel.yahoo.com/p-promo-3312343

Three Goats - excellent shout. I've never been to Oxford without stopping in there for a cheek Sam Smith offering.

The Turf is a one off, and a fine pub.  I used to spend a fair bit of time in the Kings Arms as well.  Used to live in Jericho, but this was a while ago and most places around there were complete dives back then.  It sounds as if the area has picked up a lot since.

Hope you have an enjoyable pint, that place is a diamond pub amid a whole host of souless places.

I'm only there for a day to meet my new boss so provided I have time, a swift glass of vino could be in order. 

I hate these real ale snobs with their 'well kept beer' comments. Give me a pint of fizz any day.

Corrected for you.

I thought your favourite tipple was a pint of JIZZ, Samdy Gay.

Oh, it is. There's nothing better than downing a nice warm pint of jizz after a long hard day at work.

Oh dear.

I think you've completely missed the irony of my post.

Even i saw the irony in that one!

Wot only five.....The Lion at Basford, Nottingham...just a great pub with ever-changing menu of beers, nice garden overlooking disused factories and the tramline!!  The Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham - bit touristy, but an amazing building.  The Ceilidh Place in Ullapool - not really a pub, but the place to go if you're there - great bookshop attached. The Castle Hotel, Dornoch - they don't relly do pubs up here, but the Castle has good beer, great food, and a roaring log fire in winter, and one of the prettiest villages in northern Scotland (as well as a serious golf course if that's your tipple). The Blue Boar in Aldbourne - good solid Wadworth's pub, but gone a bit foodie.  Any pub that serves Deuchars IPA at a decent temperature.

I used to take an occasional trip....pun intended, to The Blue Boar, because of its association with Doctor Who.  Long time ago now, but an early Who favourite was the 71 Daemons, which was set in Aldbourne. The Blue Boar was called the Cloven Hoof....the Daemons were at rest in a nearby round barrow....The Master....Peter Delgado...was vicar in Aldbourne, and hoped to control The Daemons...etc

fB should make a pilgrimage...

Aldbourne is also where the band of brothers were based

......and I lived in the house around which there was a wall with(if I remember rightly) ivy that strangled passers by.....

Oh and the village is nothing like it was portrayed to be in 'Band of Brothers', but the veterans did, until recently, come back for occasional reunions.  they were actually stationed on Membury Aerodrome, which is couple of miles out of Aldbourne.

And ramsbury airfield which was huge. I have an aerial photograph of it taken in 1945.

indeed, new addington aka alcatraz
anyway, back to the top 5 pubs.

1. bulls head, south croydon
2. the skylark, south croydon
3. bar red square, croydon high street
4. blue boar, chipping norton
5. city arms, oxford

1. Crown Posada. Newcastle
2. Halfway House Edinburgh
3. Plough Old Town
4. Marble Arch Manchester
5. Oakdale Arms Harringay

Only just seen this, in Swindon my faves are The Savoy (just for curry Thursday), The Beehive and The Steam Railway, afraid i'm another who likes well kept real ale, I wont really entertain a pub if it doesn't have a decent selection!

A bit further afield:

Prince of Wales - Cardiff
Volunteer Riflemans - Bath
Allied Arms - Reading (my lunchtime local)
Mad Bishop and Bear - Paddington Station (just for convenience and an excellent pint of Fullers)
Square & Compass - Worth Matravers (I also like my Cider and there's no where better for that)

and overseas:

Delirium Cafe - Brussels (over 2,000 different beers and the best atmosphere I have experienced in a pub away from football)
CK Browar -Krakow (microbrewery and the perfect stag party destination!)

Just to make Ardiles jealous, I'm just off to the Market Porter for a couple.

It's quite sad to see Weatherspoons pubs in this thread

Agree completely, Weatherspoons pubs are lifeless, soulless hell holes.

The Hush in Bath was my favourite bar/club until it was sold to fucking Po Na Na

 

I just walked past the Market Porter on my lunch break - just reminded me how great that little pub is! 

The Hush back in my day was The Hub, a great club where I saw the likes of Oakenfold and Digweed on the karanga thursday club nights, The fall, Stereolab and even Bill Baileys early incarnation as part of the comedy duo the rubber bishops.

I wish Bath had something as good as that now.

UPDATED LIST

1) Tiger Lilly's - Edinburgh
2) Beehive - Swindon
3) Black Horse - Upper Wanborough
4) St. James Tavern - London (Tourist Trap though)
5) Heart In Hand - Blunsdon

Updated list

The Lamb - Devizes
The Three Crowns - Devizes
The Drummer Boy - Market Lavington
The Silk Mercer (Spoons) - Devizes,
The Bell By the Green - Devizes

How can a wetherspoons be in anyones top 5? Beer is flat and warm and food is cold

Crispy is going on the Pepsi and crisps....hence the name presumably

Hasn;t left Devizes.

Best pub not mentioned so far is the Crown Inn in Lechlade, Cracking boozer and home to the Halfpenny brewery and also Red Lion in Cricklade deserves a shout!

having had a think i've come up with these few.

Fox Inn - this was my local in Middle Barton, Oxon. Could always go down and know someone to sit with for a chat and a beer. lockins and Aunt Sally on a Thursday was just quality. Ace open fire in the winter with a nice homely cottage feel about the place.

Blue Boar - Chipping Norton - Again for the same reasons above (apart from the Aunt Sally). Full of old school friends and now i've moved away i appreciate it more and enjoy going back there for a beer.

Tap & Spyle - Birmingham. Proper old school pub. Saw Dust on the floor, rickety wooden chairs, local drunks dotted around but a fantastic atmosphere.

Bell & Bear - Old Hill - nice proper black country pub complete with affect of subsidence. Excellent beer garden with picturesque views of the clent hills and surrounding areas.

Bull & Bladder - Brierley Hill - A quite famous Bathams pub on the Delph Run. again proper old school black country pub with excellent beers on tap from their own brewery.

My local.....a Wetherspoons, has a fantastic landlord and he keeps his beers well and there is always at least 5 guest beers, and I have never ever had a cold meal there.

Not doing a top 5 but was sad to see that the Worthy has been knocked down in Nythe  :no:

Moles

I think Im still a member of Moles.  Not all that good though is it.

It's probably my favourite place in bath. Po's is crap and everywhere else is full of pretensious knobs. It might not be as good as in days of yore, but I like it. They still do the new upcoming bands and stuff, had mumford & sons before they 'made it'. And it's right below the porter, which is awwwwwwwwsome

Having just come back from a while down south for my son's wedding, I would have to add the Swan at Inkpen to my five....but then that would be six....ah well

No bother, HR.  As starter of the thread, I'll let you have a sixth!  The unofficial TEF 'Good Pub Guide' continues to grow.

Your barred from the blue magic

I quite like that one in Wycombe

Pervert alert ! (hopefully we get them in the cup)

Apart from the legends lounge and + green man and inside football grounds, its the only pubs i've been served it :)

1.Beehive
2.five bells bassett
3.Exeter Inn Ashbourton dartmoor ale really good Hic
4.clock Inn Jarrow
5. the trentbridge Nottingham

That was the one pub in Ashburton I never went in when I lived there, went in the other 6 pubs but never that one. For a small town, it had a fair few pubs  :beers:

Tiger Lily's in Edinburgh is awesome but crazy expensive - quality eye candy though.

All pubs in the grassmarket are spot on, but to be fair, all of Edinburgh is spot on!

If we are adding to lists, I would like to add the Anchor Inn at Oldbury-on-Severn.  Lovely beers, good food, and a boule court in the garden - a great way to relax in the sun while getting gently and slowly sozzled.

1 The Anchor Inn at Watchet (7 real ales and free bar snack and great food)
2 Tom Cobley Tavern at Spreyton, Devon (21 real ales on all the time)
3 The Cerdic in Chard (well kept beer nice atmosphere)
4 The Happy Returns (best pie champion 4 years in a row)
5 The Travellers Rest at Roundham, Somerset (4 rough scrumpy taps on all the time + Guest beers)

Was disappointed that on our camper van tour of Silverstone, Cornwall and Glastonbury I found my way there through the narrow lanes only to find it shut on a Monday lunchtime. Long way to go to try again

I forgot to put the County Hotel!....ware i am off to now.........

Thoroughly enjoyed the Cafe Royal in Edinburgh, sadly the Dark Island was only on for the first half of the week.  Did a lovely Haggis and whiskey cream pie, too.

Cafe Royal in Edinburgh is a cracker.  The Beehive in the Grassmarket is also excellent around that part of town.  If you fancy going upmarket then the Blue Bar is also lovely and if you want to risk a bit of a kicking then by all means try the Shakespeare. For afters then the Omar Khayam at Haymarket station and if you feel adventurous Hanam's Kurdish restaurant are also highly recommended.

Fuck yeah! My favourite pub of all time, so many good nights in there. The place had a bad reputation for some reason, but I always found everyone really friendly, especially when Ailsa & George were running the place.

Somebody had also mentioned the Hare & Hounds in Devizes, again another really friendly place. My parents drink in there, so I've been there loads of times! I do miss Jan being landlady though.

Strangely never got on with the British "The Fighter" Lion.

The Beehive was pretty good, too, you're right.

BUMP !

On Ardiles reccommendation on the other thread, I read through this, quite an interesting read

To add my twopenneth in no particular order

5 Bells, Wotton Bassett - a real old fashioned drinkers pub with excellent beers
The Thatch, Croyde, Devon - a surfers pub with an excellent atmosphere, good beers & ciders and excellent food
3 Crowns, Brinkworth - more of a foody place but excellent beer too. Not been there since it was taken over but heard its gone a bit downhill. Will have to try the Weighbridge soon to see if thats replaced it
Molly Malones, Helsinki - a bit of a Brits abroad place, but they do a decent pint of London Pride, good music, dirty women
The Angel, Wootton Bassett - was totally redone a year or 2 ago, now a nice place to go, bit quieter and more upmarket than the Bells

Have been in some really nice pubs around the country, including one on the banks of Loch Lomond at Christmas time with snow on the ground, but buggered if I can remember the name of it. Think I'd have to go back a couple of times for anything to make it to the top 5 though

1. Hare & Hounds, Devizes
2. One Eyed Dog, Portsmouth
3. Longs, Swindon
4. The Southgate, Devizes
5. Walkabout, Portsmouth

No 1 would have been The Reg in Pompey but in my last year at Yooni it got turned in to some cunty modern chain place and it's shit now.

The Hare and Hounds isn't anywhere near as good as it used to be. The British Lion in Devizes is much better.

Bring back the riser!

 :hmmm:

Yeh but Walkabout Saturdays were great, boozing all day watching the footy on 'our' table.

Do U frequent the silk mercer Dave?

Occassionally - have moved out of Dev now so not as frequently as before.

You can take the boy out of Devizes .................

But ya cant take da vices outa da boi.  :toocool:

6.  The Camel & Artichoke, Lower Marsh, Waterloo, London
Bit of a crap name for a pub, but still worth a visit.  Serves a decent pint (if you're OK wth Greene King).  Two floors, and within walking distance of Waterloo Station.  Not up to the same standard as the King's Arms (other direction from the station; my other Waterloo favourite...see first post in this thread) but still decent enough.  And on a really interesting street.  It's like stepping back in time.  Lots of independent food shops, clothes shops, pubs.  And without being pretentious.  See it now before the chains take over.  It will only take a year or two.

Had a couple at the Radnor Arms in Coleshill near Higworth last night....do some nice ale as they have there own micro brewery at the pub.....lovely roaring log fire as well which always helps.

Nice old fashioned pub.

On this point, can anyone recommend a decent Sunday roast in Swindon and the surroundings? A nice country pub with decent ale would be ideal.

Good shout ossie. As you say it will only be a couple of years until that street looks more like the south bank. I think they call it cunty gentrification.

My fav boozer at the moment is The lamb in Surbiton. The lamb in marlborough is also a proper pub, as are quite a few of the drinking establishments off the high st.

Best one recently was at a pub in Compton Bassett, although can't remember the name and it is a bit of a trek from Swindon.

Best one recently was at a pub in Compton Bassett, although can't remember the name and it is a bit of a trek from Swindon.

I take it no one has put forward the Liden Arms yet?  :hmmm:

The Sow & Pigs at Thundridge has a very good reputation for Sunday lunch - but you have to book 'cos it's mobbed

The white horse.  Went the other week and was very impressed.  Even my folks didnt complain.

If this included pubs abroad then I have to add the Delirium Café in Brussels, OMG over 2,000 beers on with entertainment too as suggested by Bert1981.

Its all about the Toot and Whistle.  :pint:  :pint:   miss those lock ins....

The Harp just off Leicester Square, traditional London in a melangerie of lost tradition.

That's what I thought too!

I have to say that reading the posts up to page 8 it did strike me that there were hardly any real mentions of Swindon pubs outside of the Glue Pot, Bee Hive, Wheatsheaf in OT.

I have been around the globe (the world that is) and I have drunk and gotten drunk in numerous places whose names escape me but for me this has to be about Swindon, which is a bit of a struggle sadly. The criteria to use is of course personal and in my case the ones I am about to mention have a special place in my soul mainly on a nostalgic basis.

The Harvester circa mid '80's
The Worthington late '70's
The Bell Old Town late '70's and '80's when Claude owned it
The Wheatsheaf Old Town Early '80's
The Fox and Hounds Green meadow '90's

Sadly these days my local is the barren and soulless Woodlands Edge, after the demise of the Foresters.

The woodlands edge is shit, but cheaply priced. The fox and hounds is still going, but a bit chavvy in one half, and cliquey in the other.

I would not say the Wodlands Edge is cheap, certainly not the most expensive boozer in the town i would imagine. As for the Fox and Hounds it was no different back then.

Anyone know if the Tap & Barrel still houses the Swindon Shamrock CSC (celtic supporters)? Their facebook page is locked and their website (literally) 10 years out of date.

Not sure but i would guess yes...they always have the Celtic matches on in there.

The proper classic Bell period, was late 60's early 70's....when the bar was upstairs. Downstairs was a steak and chips eaterie, proper sophisticated as the only other place where you could eat out in Swindon, aside from probably the Khyber, was The Crown at Stratton.  Blunsdon House had a tiny dining room, but that was pretty much in the sticks.

The downside, for I think Berni Inns, was that the unwashed hedonistic masses, had to have access to the downstairs, for entry and exit and maybe even bogs....which wasn't a good mix.

Turning it around, didn't help either, and the restaurant side flopped....Claude tried to remedy the situation by knocking the place about, and ripping out the stairs, which was done by a bunch of drinkers furnished with tools and some beer after closing time for a few nights.

I lived elsewhere, through most of the 70's but returned to Swindon at the end, so naturally thought give the Bell a go and it still retained a bit of its buzz...just right for starting the night, then falling into Vadims. By the start of the 80's, it started to get chavved up, and you could almost guarantee a fight....proper shame, as it lost its more chilled punters, who'd made it what it was. It never recovered.

ta, will pass it on to the bhoy at work.

How about the Dolphin - a la Kingy

They very much do, my cousin is one of the Celtic boys and always goes there, a good bunch of lads.

ta.

I worked in the butchers over the other side of the road from The Bell, Claude was a legend and I can tell you some amusing stories. Helen his ex is still in the area as is his son Marcel. Not sure if Claude still owns the place and just leases it out.

The Fox and Hounds - Warminster....proper drinking pub with beer and cider.
The County.....well...it's  rough and ready and the piss taking is second to none, I plan to get totally shit faced after Tranmere when WAM play there.
Longs- hideous expensive...but they do Hoegarrden on draught....enough.
Sir Dan - Early doors pub and deals on real ale specials.
Seymour Arms - Witham Friary or maybe Tuckers Grave.....olde drinking pubs them.

1 Tom Cobley, Spreyton
2 Hop Inn, Old Town
3 Red Lion, Cricklade
4 Glue Pot, Swindon
5 Cerdic, Chard

Used to like the Red Lion Cricklade but in my opinion gone down hill since Tom left.

The cricklade club do better beers although not a pub.

My favourite at the moment is the manor farm. Shit food but do a very nice pint of Estrella!

Definitely.  Made my list on the first post of this thread.  (Nearly a decade ago now!)

If you are ever down this way try the Tom Cobley at Spreyton just outside of Exeter.

Fantastic selection of real ales, great food, great landlord, CAMRA pub of the year several times in the last 10 years.

I'll be sure to do that.  : )

Chard? No thanks

Its my local.

Not much use but :-

1) Goasstall Pub Hinterglemm Austria
2) Six Bells Chiddingly East Sussex
3) Turks Head St Agnes IOS
4) Seven Sisters St Martins IOS
5) Giants Rest Wilmington East Sussex

Oh dear - hard luck!

TBF its a decent Wetherspoons, always 5 guest beers and 8 boxes of cider.

Can't complain about £1.89p for a pint of Ruddles either.

I am a big fan of the spoons. I offered my commiserations as I understand that those of us in the remainder of Somerset generally look down at Charred. Not sure why. I worked in Crewkerne for a while and they were very uncomplimentary about their near neighbours.

[Posted in correct thread]

My top 5 are all Newcastle and Gateshead - There are better pubs but these all represent happy memories

The Redhouse, Newcastle

http://www.theredhousencl.co.uk/

The Dog & Parrot, Newcastle

http://thedogandparrot.co.uk/

The Strawberry, Newcastle

http://thestrawberrypub.co.uk/strawberrypress/

Cumberland Arms

http://www.thecumberlandarms.co.uk/

The Central

https://www.newcastlegateshead.com/food-and-drink/the-central-bar-p888901

TBF Crewkerne is also looked down upon by people in Yeovil and Chard, that was the only place I have seen a mass brawl in the middle of the high street after closing time, rough as a badgers arse as they say.

Chard does have a reputation, you cant spell Chard with "Hard" :D its a lot better now though and Spoons is pretty decent.

Which part of the Sunny county do you live in?

Wellington

Ah I know it well, not too far down the road.