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The 25 best pubs in Britain
by Willard Clarke, 10/08
This list of 25 truly great british pubs accompanies an article by Willard Clarke, first published in the Independent newspaper: The British pub is alive and well.
Cornwall
Blue Anchor, Helston, ancient alehouse that started life as a monks' hospice, with its own brewery producing powerful Spingo beers.
Dorset
Square & Compass, Worth Matravers. Simple, unspoilt, delightful inn with beer served through a hatch.
Kent
Anchor, Faversham. 17th-century pub by the quayside serving beer from local Shepherd Neame brewery.
Bristol
Cornubia, Temple Street, Grade II listed Georgian building opposite the fire station specialising in West Country craft-brewed beers.
London
Buckingham Arms, Petty France, SW1, superb Victorian Young's pub, featured in all 36 editions of the Good Beer Guide; Star Tavern, Belgrave Mews West, SW1, 19th-century Fuller's pub, also in every edition of the guide, stages events to raise money for cancer research; Bricklayers Arms, Waterman Street, Street.
Cambridgeshire
Queen's Head, Fowlmere Road, Newton, pub since 1729, with beer served straight from the cask. Visitors have included the German Kaiser and the Shah of Persia.
Essex
Queen's Head, Churchgate Street, Chelmsford, handy for Essex cricket ground, shrine to local Crouch Vale brewery, with both cricketing and brewery memorabilia.
Hertfordshire
Lower Red Lion, Fishpool Street, St Albans, 17th-century coaching inn with two bars, craft beers from all over the country, regular beer festivals and handy for the Abbey and Roman Verulamium.
Suffolk
Lord Nelson, East Street, Southwold. Stone's throw from the sea. Flagstones, open fires, children and dogs welcome, the full range of Adnams' beer and excellent pub grub.
Derbyshire
Olde Gate Inne, Brassington, dates from 1616, oak beams, ghosts, open fireplaces and a cracking pint of Pedigree.
Derby
Brunswick Inn, Railway Terrace. A few yards from the train station, in row of former railway workers' cottages. Several wood-panelled rooms and its own brewery.
Birmingham
Old Joint Stock, Temple Row. Former bank with neo-Classical and Georgian design, upstairs theatre, extensive food menu, Fuller's beers and guest ales from local micros.
Lincolnshire
Bateman's Visitor Centre, proper pub within the brewery, with full range of Bateman's beers, and museum and visitor centre adjacent. Good grub.
Nottingham
Old Tripe to Jerusalem, reputedly England's oldest pub, carved from the rock of the castle and dating from the time of the crusades. Steeped in history.
Staffordshire
Coopers Tavern, Cross Street, Burton-on-Trent, former Bass bottle store, with a good range of local brewers' beers served straight from the cask. Arched ceilings and map of old Burton.
Cardiff
Mochyn Du (Black Pig), Sophia Close, next to Sophia Gardens and Glamorgan cricket ground, with lots of cricket and rugby memorabilia, restaurant area, and local Brain's beers.
Manchester
Marble Arch, Rochdale Road, listed pub with magnificent tiled interior and its own brewery making organic beer.
Leeds
Whitelocks, Turks Head Yard, dates from 1715, lots of marble, wood, glass, brass, and old brewery mirrors. Good beer and food.
York
Brigantes, Micklegate, split-level pub with wood-panelling, eight cask beers, big range of imported beers and good food.
Cumbria
Black Bull, Coniston, former HQ of Donald Campbell, spacious hotel with its own craft brewery at the back.
Durham
Dun Cow, Old Elvet, parts date from the 16th century, creakingly ancient ale house with an old-fashioned snug and larger lounge. Good range of local beers.
Newcastle
Bodega, Westgate, architectural delight with domed glass ceiling and old brewery mirrors. Next to Tyne Theatre. Brilliant choice of local cask ales.
Edinburgh
Cafe Royal, West Register Street, Sumptuous Victorian tiled pub and oval island bar, ceramic murals of great inventors. Caledonian brewery beers, upstairs restaurant; Oxford Bar, Young Street, no frills, haunt of Ian Rankin and Inspector Rebus, fine pint of Deuchar's IPA.
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