Pub of the Day
The Good Pub Guide has always recommended a wide selection of pubs with different locations and qualities. Be it good beer, good food, fantastic location or just great atmosphere the Pub of the Day will showcase the myriad of wonderful pubs across the country .
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September 3rd
Warrington, Maida Vale, London
Beautifully refurbished Victorian gin palace with extaordinary décor and short but good menu
Restored at huge expense by Gordon Ramsay, this opulent art nouveau building was reopened a couple of years ago. A splendid marble and mahogany bar counter is topped by an extraordinary structure that's rather like a cross between a carousel and a ship's hull, with cherubs thrown in for good measure. Throughout are elaborately patterned tiles, ceilings and stained-glass, and a remarkable number of big lamps and original light fittings; there's a small coal fire, and two exquisitely tiled pillars. The drawings of nubile young women here and above a row of mirrors on the opposite wall are later additions, very much in keeping with the overall style, and hinting at the days when the building's trade was rather less respectable than today. Three real ales include Adnams Broadside, Fullers London Pride, Greene King IPA and a guest such as Caledonian Deuchars IPA, and they've several unusual bottled beers as well as a dozen or so wines by the glass from a fine list.
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August 25th
Brace of Pheasants, Plush, Dorset
Fairly smart but relaxed 16th-c thatched pub with friendly service and decent garden; nearby walks
Hidden away on a little-frequented lane and well placed for walks in beautifully folded countryside, this village inn has a decent-sized garden and terrace include a lawn sloping up towards a rockery. The airy beamed bar has good solid tables, windsor chairs, fresh flowers, a huge heavy-beamed inglenook at one end with cosy seating inside, and a good warming log fire at the other. Ringwood Best along with local guests such as Palmers Copper and Piddle Jimmy Riddle are tapped from the cask and there's a good choice of wines with 18 by the glass; friendly service. From here an attractive bridleway behind goes to the left of the woods and over to Church Hill. The en-suite bedrooms are nicely fitted out and comfortable.
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August 23rd
Wonderful old drinkers' pub with up to eight real ales and in landlady' s family for five generations
Mrs Cheffers-Heard is the fifth generation of her family to run this utterly old-fashioned and unchanging gem. It's held dear in the hearts of many of our readers for its friendly, chatty and relaxed atmosphere and the fact that there are no noisy games machines, piped music or mobile phones to spoilt that. There's also a fine range of changing real ales tapped from the cask: Art Brew Brut, Branscombe Vale Branoc, Exe Valley Bitter and a seasonal beer, Exeter Ferryman, O'Hanlons Yellowhammer and Teignworthy Harveys. Organic cider, country wines, non-alcoholic pressés and decent wines by the glass, too. The little lounge partitioned off from the inner corridor by a high-backed settle has some fine old traditional furnishings; log fire; A bigger lower room (the old malthouse) is open at busy times. Outside, picnic-sets overlook the weir.
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August 18th
Enthusiastic, well travelled licensees in roadside pub with exceptional wine list and popular food
You can be sure of a friendly welcome from the hard-working licensees in this popular roadside pub. It's an enjoyable place with well liked food and fantastic wines - both Mr and Mrs Whiteman are qualified award-winning wine-makers and are more than happy to help you through their eclectic list. With helpful notes and 30 of their favourites by the glass, there are plenty of gems to choose from and you can buy them to take home, too. The bar has burgundy end walls and cream ones in between, some rather fine photographs, a huge table at one end (brought back from New Zealand), a long red-plush built-in wall banquette and a woodburning stove; afghan saddle-bag cushions are scattered around a mixture of other tables and dining chairs. On the left, steps lead down to the dining room with elegant beech dining chairs (and more afghan cushions) around stripped wooden tables, and some unusual paintings on the walls. Bays Gold and Sharps Doom Bar on handpump, Luscombe organic soft drinks, and summer cider; there may be a pile of country magazines. There are seats under outdoor heaters on a decked area amongst pots of lavender, and plenty of picnic-sets in the sloping back garden looking out over the rolling wooded pasture hills. They are growing 24 vines.
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August 17th
Country dining pub, bustling little bar, local beers, and traditional pub dishes up to imaginative modern cooking; suntrap garden and nearby walks
In lovely walking country and surprisingly isolated, this is a popular dining pub where it's essential to book to be sure of a table. And although the emphasis is very much on the imaginative restauranty food, friendly locals do still gather in the little bar where they offer West Berkshire Brick Kiln Bitter, Mr Chubbs Lunchtime Bitter and Maggs Magnificent Mild, and a weekly changing guest beer on handpump. The main bar area has dark wooden tables and chairs on bare boards, and a good winter log fire, and the extended lounge is open plan at the back and leads into a large, pretty dining room with a nice jumble of old tables and chairs, and an old-looking stone fireplace; darts and board games. This is a charming rural spot, and seats in the big suntrap garden have good views of the nearby forests and meadows.
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August 16th
Trengilly Wartha, Constantine, Cornwall
Bustling inn in several acres of gardens, plenty of room inside, too, real ales, lots of wines and whiskies, good food using local produce, and friendly atmosphere; bedrooms.
There have been quite a few changes here over the last few years. What was the restaurant is now a cosy bistro, liked by customers who want to book a table with waitress service and the function room where they serve their award-winning breakfasts now has a garden area. The long low-beamed main bar with its woodburning stove and mix of tables and chairs, is kept for those just wanting a drink and for less formal dining, and the light conservatory is popular with families; football table. Sharps Cornish Coaster, Skinners Betty Stogs and a beer named for the pub on handpump, 20 wines by the glass, and 40 malt whiskies. There are six acres of gardens with tables under large parasols and boules; lots of surrounding walks. Their cricket team keeps busy!
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August 12th
A good summer pub, with plenty of outdoor seats and very un-London feel; nicely reworked inside too, with an excellent choice of beers, reliable food, and good live blues on Fridays
They like to call this 'a country pub in London', and walking past the cricket played on the heath nearby, or sitting at one of the many tables on the grass in front, it seems no idle boast: though just a few minutes up the road, the city seems a world away. It's the outdoor space that for most visitors is the main draw, and on fine weekends it can get very busy indeed out here, with families and dogs a big part of the mix. Some tables are nicely sheltered under big trees (the pergola is slightly less effective), and there are a couple of quirky cow-print sofas under a little verandah by the entrance. The two rooms inside have been attractively modernised in recent years; both have plenty of comfortable leather armchairs and sofas, and lots of framed period prints and advertisements. The long main bar on the left also has quite a variety of wooden furnishings, including some unusually high tables and stools, and a rather grand dining table at one end; there's a TV for sport, rugs on the polished wooden floor, and an appealing little alcove rather like a private lounge, with a fireplace, and a table of newspapers; piped music and board games. You'll generally find some notable guests among the six regularly changing real ales; on our visit the choice included two from the Twickenham Brewery, as well as Adnams Broadside, St Austell Tribute, and Timothy Taylor Landlord. There's a good wine list too. On Friday nights they have a blues bar of some renown, featuring international artists specialising in vintage acoustic blues. The pub is named after the Admiralty telegraph station that used to stand nearby, one of a chain of ten between Chelsea and Portsmouth (on a clear day a message could be sent between the two in fifteen minutes).
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August 6th
White Lion, Barthomley, Chesire
Charming 17th-c thatched village tavern with classic period interior and good value straightforward tasty lunchtime food
The epitome of what a pub should be: completely unspoilt and welcoming' was one reader's comment on this friendly, unpretentious place. The main bar is timelessly informal, with a blazing open fire, heavy low oak beams dating back to Stuart times, attractively moulded black panelling, Cheshire history and prints on the walls, latticed windows and thick wobbly old tables. Up some steps, a second room has another welcoming open fire, more oak panelling, a high-backed winged settle, a paraffin lamp hinged to the wall; shove-ha'penny; local societies make good use of a third room. Five real ales include Mansfield, Marstons Bitter and guests - usually Jennings Cocker Hoop and Snecklifter, and Wychwood Hobgoblin. On a summer's day, it can be quite idyllic here enjoying a drink outside on seats or picnic-sets on the cobbles, and taking in the views of the attractive old village and the early 15th-c red sandstone church of St Bertiline (where you can learn about the Barthomley massacre).
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August 4th
Lough Pool, Sellack, Herefordshire
Black and white cottage with individual furnishings in beamed bars, a good choice of food and drinks, and lots of seats outside in pretty garden
This characterful, cottagey place is full of thoughtful touches, from books and newspapers left out for customers, to crayons and paper for children, and dogs get a friendly welcome too. Its beamed central room has rustic chairs and cushioned window seats around wooden tables on the mainly flagstoned floor, sporting prints, bunches of dried flowers and fresh hop bines, and a log fire at one end with a woodburner at the other. Leading off are other rooms, gently brightened up with attractive individual furnishings and antique bottles, and nice touches such as the dresser of patterned plates. Wye Valley Bitter and Butty Bach and a guest such as Butcombe Bitter are on handpump with around 20 malt whiskies, local farm ciders, perries and apple juices, and several wines by the glass from a thoughtful wine list. Outside are picnic-sets on an inviting front lawned area.
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August 2nd
Old Customs House, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Handsome historic building well converted in prime waterfront development
Once an 18th-c customs House, this fine brick building then became the administration centre for HMS "Vernon" and the Royal Navy's mine clearance and diving school (it has some memorabilia of those days). It's well laid out inside with several big-windowed high-ceilinged rooms off a long central spine which houses the serving bar and a separate food/coffee ordering counter - they have lots of good coffees and teas, as well as a decent range of wines by the glass, and Fullers Discovery, ESB, HSB, London Pride, and Seafarers on handpump. This floor, with good disabled access and facilities, has bare boards, nautical prints and photographs on pastel walls, coal-effect gas fires, nice unobtrusive lighting, and well padded chairs around sturdy tables in varying sizes; the sunny entrance area has leather sofas. Broad stairs take you up to a carpeted more restauranty floor, with similar décor. Staff are efficient, housekeeping is good, the piped music well reproduced, and the games machines silenced. Picnic-sets out in front are just yards from the water. Just around the corner is the graceful Spinnaker Tower (165 metres tall with staggering views from its viewing decks)
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July 30th
Appealing modern cooking in attractive dining pub, cosy beamed bars, real ales, several wines by the glass, and fine views
Handy for the M6, this extremely popular and attractive stone-built dining pub is at its most pubby at lunchtime. The bars have beams and flagstones, a cosy décor, bentwood chairs and stripped pine tables, roaring log fires and a buoyant atmosphere; comfortable carpeted dining areas with bold paintwork and leather dining chairs around polished tables lead off. Jennings Cumberland and Cocker Hoop with a guest like Sneck Lifter on handpump, and several wines by the glass; piped music. There are picnic-sets outside, and fine views through the latticed pub windows across the Calder Valley to the distant outskirts of Huddersfield the lights are pretty at night.
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July 29th
Wonderful old drinkers' pub with up to eight real ales and in landlady' s family for five generations
Mrs Cheffers-Heard is the fifth generation of her family to run this utterly old-fashioned and unchanging gem. It's held dear in the hearts of many of our readers for its friendly, chatty and relaxed atmosphere and the fact that there are no noisy games machines, piped music or mobile phones to spoilt that. There's also a fine range of changing real ales tapped from the cask: Art Brew Brut, Branscombe Vale Branoc, Exe Valley Bitter and a seasonal beer, Exeter Ferryman, O'Hanlons Yellowhammer and Teignworthy Harveys. Organic cider, country wines, non-alcoholic pressés and decent wines by the glass, too. The little lounge partitioned off from the inner corridor by a high-backed settle has some fine old traditional furnishings; log fire; A bigger lower room (the old malthouse) is open at busy times. Outside, picnic-sets overlook the weir.
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July 28th
Tempest Arms, Elslack, Yorkshire
Friendly inn with three log fires in stylish rooms, several real ales, good food, and tables outside; bedrooms
With plenty of pubby character and really friendly, cheerful staff, this bustling inn has a good mix of both locals and visitors. It's stylish but understated with cushioned armchairs, built-in wall seats with lots of comfortable cushions, stools and lots of tables, and three log fires one greets you at the entrance and divides the bar and restaurant. There's quite a bit of exposed stonework, amusing prints on the cream walls, and maybe Molly the friendly back labrador. Hawkshead Bitter, Hetton Dark Horse, Moorhouses Premier Bitter, Theakstons Best, Thwaites Wainwright, Timothy Taylors Landlord, and a changing guest beer on handpump, ten wines by the glass, and several malt whiskies. There are tables outside largely screened from the road by a raised bank, and a smokers' shelter. The bedrooms in the newish purpose built extension, are comfortable.
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July 27th
Cartwright, Aynho, Northamptonshire
Well run modernised inn with tasty food and civilised bar
The winds of change have swept warmly though this 16th-c coaching inn leaving in their wake a beautifully refurbished stone building. Its spacious neatly modernised linked areas have well chosen artwork on cream and maroon painted or exposed stone walls, smartly contemporary furniture on wood or tiled floors, and leather sofas by a big log fire in the bar. Attentive uniformed staff greet you on arrival, and they have daily papers and a nice shortlist of wines by the glass as well as Adnams and Black Sheep from handpumps on the corner counter. Outside, there are a few tables in a pretty corner of the former coachyard. In the village, look out for the apricot trees planted against the front of the pub and against some other older houses in this pleasant village.
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July 26th
Three Crowns, Brinkworth, Wiltshire
Excellent food deservedly takes centre stage here, but this is still a pub, with five good beers and a carefully chosen wine list
With a very interesting range of food from the mainstream to the exotic, this dining pub has kept some pubby elements. The bar part of the building is the most traditional, with big landscape prints and other pictures, some horsebrasses on dark beams, a log fire, a dresser with a collection of old bottles, big tapestry-upholstered pews, a stripped deal table, and a couple more made from gigantic forge bellows. Sensibly placed darts, shove-ha'penny, dominoes, cribbage, board games, games machine, and piped music. Abbey Ales Bellringer, Bass, Fullers London Pride, Greene King IPA and Wadworths 6X on handpump; a carefully chosen, extensive wine list with 25 by the glass, and around 20 malt whiskies. Most people choose to eat in the conservatory or the light and airy garden room. There's a terrace with outdoor heating to the side of the conservatory; smoking shelter. The garden stretches around the side and back, with well spaced tables and a climbing frame, and looks over a side lane to the church, and out over rolling prosperous farmland.
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July 23rd
Goat's Head, Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire
Well run old-world pub with good food; attractive location
In the centre of an unspoilt village (famous for its annual horn dance), this charming old black and white timbered pub is well liked for its good hospitable atmosphere and fairly priced tasty food. The opened-up cream painted interior is unpretentious but comfortable, with attractive oak floors, a warming coal fire in a big inglenook, and furnishings that take in the odd traditional oak settle. Served by attentive staff, the Black Sheep, Greene King Abbot, Marstons Pedigree and a guest such as Wells & Youngs Bombardier are well kept on handpump, and you can have any of the wines on their good wine list by the glass; piped music, TV. Picnic-sets and teak tables out on a neat sheltered lawn look up to the church tower behind.
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July 22nd
Hoste Arms, Burnham Market, Norfolk
Civilised and stylish with first class food and drinks, a proper bar plus plenty of lounge and dining rooms, and lovely garden; super bedrooms
Of course this is not a pub, it's a very civilised and smart old coaching inn but it does have a proper bar at the front with all the atmosphere of a village pub. This room is panelled, with a log fire, a series of watercolours showing scenes from local walks, a nice mix of chatty customers, and Greene King Abbot and Woodfordes Nelsons Revenge and Wherry on handpump; quite a few wines by the glass and several malt whiskies. There's a conservatory with leather armchairs and sofas, a lounge for afternoon tea, and several restaurants (for which it's best to book to be sure of a table). The lovely walled garden has plenty of seats, and a big awning covers the moroccan-style dining area.
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July 21st
Starbank Inn, Edinburgh, Scotland
Half a dozen real ales, good value food and great views over Firth of Forth at cheery well run pub
It's hard to believe that the city centre is just a couple of miles away from this characterful place, with its impressive views over the Firth of Forth. The long light and airy bare-boarded bar is uncluttered, comfortably elegant and friendly, with Belhaven 80/, Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Timothy Taylors Landlord on handpump alongside two or three guests from brewers such as Atlas, Broughton, Cairngorm and Isle of Skye, about a dozen wines by the glass and a good selection of malt whiskies. You can eat in the conservatory restaurant, and there's a sheltered back terrace; TV. Dogs must be on a lead. Parking is on the adjacent hilly street.
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July 15th
Counting House, Glasgow, Scotland
Impressive Wetherspoons conversion of former bank with impressive range of mostly scottish beers, and good value food all day
It's worth a look into this former bank just to see the striking conversion that has been done here. The imposing interior rises into a lofty, richly decorated coffered ceiling which culminates in a great central dome, with well lit nubile caryatids doing a fine supporting job in the corners. You'll also find the sort of decorative glasswork that nowadays seems more appropriate to a landmark pub than to a bank, as well as wall-safes, plenty of prints and local history, and big windows overlooking George Square. Away from the bar, several areas have solidly comfortable seating, while a series of smaller rooms - once the managers' offices - lead around the perimeter of the building. Some of these are surprisingly cosy, one is like a well stocked library, and a few are themed with pictures and prints of historical characters such as Walter Scott or Mary, Queen of Scots
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July 14th
Square & Compass, Worth Matravers, Dorset
Unchanging country tavern, masses of character, in the same family for many years; lovely sea views and fine nearby walks.
Much as it was around 100 years ago when the Newman family first took this on, this is a wonderfully idiosyncratic pub. There's no bar counter; Palmers Copper and three guests like Hopback Crop Circle, Miltons Caligula and Sharps Eden Ale as well as up to thirteen ciders, including one made on the premises, are tapped from a row of casks and passed to you in a drinking corridor through two serving hatches; several malt whiskies. A couple of basic unspoilt rooms have simple furniture on the flagstones, a woodburning stove and a loyal crowd of friendly locals; darts, and shove-ha'penny; a table tennis championship is held here twice a year.
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July 13th
No-frills pub with small panelled rooms, cheerful atmosphere and eight quickly changing ales
There's a new landlady running this cheerfully basic pub who is sticking to its tradition of no food and fine range of real ales. There are eight kept well on handpump which include three from the West Berkshire Brewery alongside five guests from interesting smaller brewers such as Arkells, Bridge of Allen, Dark Star, Downton, and Marble. Pump clips cover practically every inch of the walls and ceiling of the simple bare-boards bar - a testament to the enormous number of brews that have passed through the pumps over the past few years (now over 6,000). They've also lots of different bottled beers, czech lager on tap, Weston's farm cider and perry and country wines. Up a step is a small seating area, but the best places to sit are the three or four tiny panelled rooms reached by a narrow corridor leading from the bar; cosy and intimate, each has barely enough space for one table and a few chairs or wall seats, but they're very appealing if you're able to bag one; the biggest also manages to squeeze in a fireplace. It does get very busy, especially at weekends; piped music and TV.
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July 9th
Mill at Elstead, Elstead, Surrey
Fascinating building, big attractive waterside garden, Fullers beers, bar food
Rising through four storeys, this sensitively converted largely 18th-c watermill is in a special location above the prettily banked River Wey. With good flood lighting at night, there are plenty of picnic-sets dotted around by the water, with its millpond, swans and weeping willows. Inside, you'll see the great internal waterwheel, and the hear the gentle rush of the stream turning below your feet and big windows throughout the building make the most of the charming surroundings. A series of rambling linked bar areas on the spacious ground floor, and a restaurant upstairs change in mood from one part to the next: brown leather armchairs and antique engravings by a longcase clock; neat modern tables and dining chairs on pale woodstrip flooring; big country tables and rustic prints on broad ceramic tiles; dark boards and beams, iron pillars and stripped masonry; a log fire in a huge inglenook. Service is commendably helpful, friendly and personal. They have Fullers London Pride, ESB, HSB and perhaps a seasonal beer on handpump and a good range of wines by the glass; piped music; dogs allowed in certain areas only.
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July 8th
Interesting old tavern with genuinely unspoilt bar, great Thames views, organic wines, and wide range of fairly straightforward but popular food
Reached by a winding central staircase, the upstairs room at this enjoyable white-painted Thames-side pub feels just like a ship's deck. The prize seat in a big bow window that juts out over the pavement has splendid views of the river and O2 Arena. Alive with young people on Friday and Saturday evenings and at the weekends, but surprisingly quiet some weekday lunchtimes, the dark flagstoned bar has a genuinely old-fashioned feel, with rough brick walls, wooden settles, barrel tables, open fires, low lighting and narrow openings to tiny side snugs. Five real ales are likely to include Fullers London Pride Adnams Broadside, Greene King Abbot and St Austell Tribute, with a good choice of malt whiskies, and a range of organic wines; piped music. There's a busy riverside terrace across the narrow cobbled lane; morris dancers occasionally drop by. Parking is limited nearby - though, unusually for London, if you can bag a space it's free.
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July 2nd
Hard-working licensees in country pub by River Meon with comfortable linked rooms and nice food
On the South Downs Way in the heart of the Meon Valley, this is a pleasant and popular country pub with friendly licensees. The three linked rooms have a relaxed atmosphere, comfortable pub furnishings, cricket and country prints, and in the right-hand room (which is panelled), a log fire. Wadworths 6X, IPA and a seasonal guest on handpump and 14 wines by the glass; helpful, welcoming service. You can sit at one of the many picnic-sets and watch the ducks on the River Meon in the back garden and there are seats under parasols at the front. They have baby-changing facilities, a disabled lavatory and ramp access.
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July 1st
Plough at Eaves, Broughton, Lancashire
Cosy old place in peaceful spot; good value traditional food
The two homely low-beamed lattice-windowed bars at this pleasant old tavern are traditionally furnished with a mix of wooden chairs, tables and upholstered seats. There are three aged guns over a log-burning stove, and a row of Royal Doulton figurines above an open log fire in the restaurant bar, which extends into a conservatory. Thwaites Original and Lancaster Bomber on handpump, quiet piped music and games machine. This is a lovely backwater spot by a quiet country lane, with metal and wood-slat seats on the front terrace from which to watch the world go by, and a well equipped children's play area at the back. More reports please.
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