Six of the best unusual pubs

From a minuscule pub that proudly counts a mummified cat as part of the décor to a bar occupying a former public lavatory, Britain has a wealth of unusual drinking establishments bristling with weird histories, odd features and wonderful stories. Here are six of our favourites…

The Nutshell, Bury St Edmunds, England
This pocket-sized pub claims to be the smallest in Britain and with room for only 10 drinkers it can feel very cosy. Quaff a pint or two in a space no bigger than your average family bathroom. If the mummified cat that hangs from the ceiling ever fell off, there’d be no room to swing it.

The Temple, Manchester, England
Pop in for a pint at this former public toilet. It can get cramped and could charitably be described as a bit of a dive but it’s got one of the best jukeboxes in town, a great selection of continental beers and a loyal crowd of regulars, students and party people.

The Skirrid Mountain Inn, near Abergavenny, Wales
This historic inn stands in the shadow of Skirrid Mountain near Abergavenny and claims to be the oldest public house in Wales. During the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 the Skirrid doubled as a courtroom and place of execution. Almost 200 rebels were hanged here from a beam in the pub’s stairwell. You can also see the slab on which the bodies were placed. Despite this grisly history you’ll find a warm welcome, comfortable accommodation and, if reports are to be believed, the odd ghost.

Ye Olde Mitre, London, England
Secreted in an alley off Hatton Garden, Ye Olde Mitre is a snug, welcoming and ancient London pub that was once in Cambridge. Yes, that’s right – as the ancient seat of the Bishops of Ely, the pub, Ely Place to the east and the nearby St Etheldreda’s Church were all technically part of Cambridgeshire. Well into the 1970s, thieves fleeing raids on Hatton Garden jewellers would hide out here beyond the jurisdiction of the London police. Nowadays, its tucked-away location still lends it a timeless, otherworldly charm and the beer, staff and atmosphere are as good as the history.

Canny Man’s, Edinburgh, Scotland
“No credit cards, no mobile phones, no cameras and no backpackers” reads one of the grumpy signs that adorn this curmudge only pub in Morningside. The owners are legendarily grouchy to strangers but this is part of the charm in a pub where the décor looks like the collection of a Victorian kleptomaniac and you write your food orders on betting slips. Sit amidst this crazy hoard of bric-a-brac, sample one of hundreds of whiskies, including one blended by the pub itself, or retreat to the sunny garden.

Lord Nelson, Norfolk, England
Admiral Nelson’s local still has the benches that were graced by the naval hero’s behind as well as stone-floors, real ales and a warm welcome. Try the homemade ‘Nelson’s Blood’, a rum-based tipple inspired by the story of sailors taking sneaky sips from the barrel in which his brandy preserved body was shipped home from Trafalgar.

This post originally appeared on the UK Curiosity Blog

Images: Temple © hellabella, Canny Man’s © Joanna Paterson,