Best pub you have ever visited and why...

[Rudi Luftwaffe]

I'm going to go for the Oliver Cromwell in St. Ives, Cambridgeshire.

Almost right on the river, several well kept ales that change daily and a fantastic Steak and Kidney pudding.

I can't think of a boozer that touches it in this part of the world as much as I love it.

Honourable mention to the Three Kings, Hanley Castle, Worcestershire.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Can't remember the name of it, but it was is Newquay, and over 20 years ago before Newquay got ruined by stag nights. Overlooked the beach, always stays in my memory.

 

[Berrichonne shrimper]

The railway prittlewell,dont drink so diet coke is much of a muchness wherever you drink but they did great mix grills for a pre match chomp,miss it.

 

[tottenham541]

the last post in southend, not, as i got kicked out of their two saturdays ago:sad:

 

[Rob Noxious]

Too many to mention.

 

[loz]

oh my... some of the top of my head

The Dark Star Brewery pub by the station in Brighton (Morning Star? Evening Star?) - fantastic ale pub with really knowledgeable staff
The Fat Cat, Norwich - ditto, and was a minute walk from my old flat (what a year)
The Fox, Hanwell - everything a local community pub should be, really buzzing and a home for a lot of great activity.
Old Kings Head, Borough - straightforward boozer but a great one, always enjoy watching the football in there.
The Speaker, Westminster - archetypal old man pub, ales changed daily, no music. would go a lot more often if all my workmates didn't flat out refuse.

also a plug for the improvements at the Peter Boat (now managed by a mate). 4 great ales on draft yesterday, the Sun Dance and Brewers Gold were both really well-kept, and decent food too.

 

[class]

The Railway in Pitsea, God bless its soul. It taught me the invaluable lesson of how to kick a knife wielding drunk in the nuts, and run!

 

[MK Shrimper]

For purely the time I spent with my mates during the 90's, playing pool, winning pun quizzes on a Wednesday night, dancing to Indie muzak upstairs it has to be The Pigeons on Romford Road in Stratford before it changed into a chain pub. The pub itself was a dump but the memories.......:smiles:

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

The Moon on the water

I seem to remember George Orwell wrote this piece on his favourite pub,outlining its many qualities,great beer,dartboard and skittles,garden,kids friendly,fire etc before pointing out that this pub of course didn't exist.
Apparently TMOTW was based on a pub he used to go to in Islington(forgotten the name of it now but I've been there in my time).
(Which reminds me I once got chucked out of the awful MITW pub in Leicester Square because I didn't have a table to eat the cheese and tomato sandwich I'd ordered with my pint.I was quite happy to eat and drink standing at the bar but that wasn't allowed apparently.Ridiculous)!

 

[Rob Noxious]

Stop me if you've heard this before, but ... The Blue Anchor in Helston is a fantastic pub, not least because of its unspoilt old bars, great home brews, encouragement of local musicians, its unpretentious character and characters, and proximity to the bus stop for the late night bus home. This review though says it all ...

From 'Beer In The Evening' web-page:-
"Found this place by chance whilst visiting Cornwall this summer -, what an amazing pub.

Walked in about midday on a monday looking for a spot of lunch before hitting the beach a few miles away. Couldent beleive what isaw in the main bar. Most of the locals happilly singing away in a state of drunkedness that you wouldent expect for a Monday lunchtime. After a few of those Spingo ale's i found myself joining in.

The misses & kids though were not impressed. I did beg & pleed for her to take the kids to the beach & pick me up in a few hour's time...alas she was having none of it.
I would rate this pub a 10 for the beer & general charactor. Shame i live 000's of miles away in some horrible essex town where the pubs are full of chavs.

Beer outstanding, locals weird, wonderful & in a constant state of drukeness (in a freindly way)

Without doubt, Britains best pub. Long may it continue"

ThePewter - 11 Dec 2008 14:01​

 

[Rob Noxious]

I seem to remember George Orwell wrote an piece on his favourite pub,outlining its many qualities,great beer,dartboard and skittles,garden,kids friendly,fire etc before pointing out that this pub of course didn't exist.
Apparently TMOTW was based on a pub he used to go to in Islington(forgotten the name of it now but I've been there in my time).
(Which reminds me I once got chucked out of the awful MITW pub in Leicester Square because I didn't have a table to eat the cheese and tomato sandwich I'd ordered with my pint)!

It was The Canonbury Tavern.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Stop me if you've heard this before, but ... The Blue Anchor in Helston is a fantastic pub, not least because of its unspoilt old bars, great home brews, encouragement of local musicians, its unpretentious character and characters, and proximity to the bus stop for the late night bus home. This review though says it all ...

From 'Beer In The Evening' web-page:-
"Found this place by chance whilst visiting Cornwall this summer -, what an amazing pub.

Walked in about midday on a monday looking for a spot of lunch before hitting the beach a few miles away. Couldent beleive what isaw in the main bar. Most of the locals happilly singing away in a state of drunkedness that you wouldent expect for a Monday lunchtime. After a few of those Spingo ale's i found myself joining in.

The misses & kids though were not impressed. I did beg & pleed for her to take the kids to the beach & pick me up in a few hour's time...alas she was having none of it.
I would rate this pub a 10 for the beer & general charactor. Shame i live 000's of miles away in some horrible essex town where the pubs are full of chavs.

Beer outstanding, locals weird, wonderful & in a constant state of drukeness (in a freindly way)

Without doubt, Britains best pub. Long may it continue"

ThePewter - 11 Dec 2008 14:01​

I was going to say the Blue, great pub, good atmosphere and a few damn fine ales.
The East India Arms in Fenchurch Street when it was a Youngs Pub, a real mans pub as it didn't have a ladies khazi. If you put an empty glass on the bar it was immediately refilled by the brilliant bar staff, making it almost impossible to leave. Many a time I've staggered out of there to catch the vomit comet.

There's just too many to mention really.

 

[Rob Noxious]

I was going to say the Blue, great pub, good atmosphere and a few damn fine ales.
The East India Arms in Fenchurch Street when it was a Youngs Pub, a real mans pub as it didn't have a ladies khazi. If you put an empty glass on the bar it was immediately refilled by the brilliant bar staff, making it almost impossible to leave. Many a time I've staggered out of there to catch the vomit comet.

There's just too many to mention really.

I was only half-joking when I said that too, mate. There's also different bars for different occasions, different moods, etc. Some of the ones down here are brilliant for the views, but unfortunately they've also had their soul ripped out due to trying to please the tourists by going gastro.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

It was The Canonbury Tavern.

Right you are.I remember the garden well though I much prefer the Compton or even that nearby Young's pub.

 

[Swiss Tony]

Too many good pubs to mention myself,but reckon Brentford FC have the best pubs for match day(one on every corner)plus loads within easy walking distance,and near everyone of them carrying lashings of real ale,up the Bees Londons pride,bloody handsome.

 

[BrettieAngell]

the last post in southend, not, as i got kicked out of their two saturdays ago:sad:

Nice one mate! :hilarious::hilarious::hilarious:

 

[Napster]

There's a great pub in Lochailort. Middle of nowhere, great beers, great scenery. Music you had to provide yourself....

 

[ldnfatso]

I loved O'Donoghue's in Merrion Row, Dublin. Not only is this one of Dublin's oldest pubs but it was this the Dubliners favourite pub and has tons of memorabilia of theirs on the walls. It is only a small pub, has a great atmosphere, and also has an Irish band on every night.

If you are ever in Dublin, check this little gem out!

 

[GBJ]

Has to be The Flying Scotsman, just outside King's Cross Station. Legendary.

 

[Thorpe Groyney]

Going to a Southend game, there's a pub I visited in Bath (when Bristol Rovers used to play there) that had a skittles alley. Another one in Oldham, not far from Mumps station and beneath a flyover, had beer at 60p a pint (this was the mid 90's) and a roaring log fire.

There's a pub in Northern Ireland somewhere between Belfast and Portrush that has a tartan rug on the wall and serves drinks through a hatch. Another one in Kilmarnock recently had a barmaid trying to drag me across the bar for a bit of cross border socialising.

It seems that a lot of the best pubs I've ever been in I never remember the name of, just the reason why they're so good.