Good UK Pubs 2023

Steve and Ted’s Good UK Pubs List 2023 

The Seven Stars, Falmouth, Cornwall

These are the pubs throughout the UK that Ted and I have visited and enjoyed since 2018. We have also visited some very ordinary pubs and a few terrible ones, and they are most definitely not included. Some of the pubs listed have been visited only once, though we enjoyed them and will go back if we are in the area again. Others we have visited often and seek them out whenever we are in the vicinity. The very best are in blue text. The focus is on the beer and the atmosphere rather than food. Our favourites tend to be traditional pubs with a good local trade, unchanged over many years, though we have enjoyed visiting every pub on this list.

The Old Port Bar, the Port Askaig Hotel, Islay, Argyll

A few caveats: 

• Full details of our favourite pubs in the parts of the country we visit most regularly are in the separate guides for Northumbria and Edinburgh and Glasgow.
• There are many places where we used to have favourite pubs that aren’t included. Pubs, towns and regions that we haven’t visited since before 2018 have been dropped from this years list. Since the 2022 list we have lost all the entries in Leicestershire, Na h-Eileanan Sar, Highland and Conwy. However, the list has gained its first entries in Derbyshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Angus, East Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, and Dumfries and Galloway has re-appeared.
• There is only so much time for travelling (and for drinking – I still have a liver to protect), so there are many places we have never visited. There are others where we have been unlucky in our choice of pubs. For visitors to areas not listed here we recommend CAMRAs Good Beer Guide (book or app) and the whatpub.com website.

The Criterion, St. Andrews, Fife

All of the pubs except for a small number (mainly in Scotland) serve cask ale. Those that are in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2023 are marked GBG. We have noted the year of our most recent visit to each pub. We hope you enjoy a visit to them.

Steve Gillon  February 2023

Update 4 March 2023: Scotland – The Cyprus Inn, Bridge of Earn, Perth and Kinross is currently closed. It is not known if or when it will reopen.

Update 20 March 2023: Scotland – MacDonald Arms, Balbeggie, Perth and Kinross. Closed – most likely permanent.

ENGLAND

             The Horse and Groom, Hatfield, Hertfordshire

CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Cambridge: Mill, 2019

Ely: Cutter Inn, 2021, pictured.

Ely, Minster, GBG, 2021

Ely, Prince Albert, 2021

Ely, Townhouse, 2021

Newton: Queens Head, GBG, 2019, pictured with Ted.

Peterborough: Brewery Tap, 2022

CORNWALL

Albaston: Queens Head, 2018

Calstock: Tamar Inn, 2018

Crowlas: Star Inn, GBG, 2018

Falmouth: Oddfellows Arms, GBG, 2018

Falmouth: Seven Stars, GBG, 2018

Falmouth: ‘front, GBG, 2018

Helston: Blue Anchor, GBG, 2018, pictured

Lizard: Top House, 2018

Mousehole: Ship Inn, 2018

Penzance: Crown, 2018

Penzance: Dock Inn, GBG, 2018, pictured

Polperro: Blue Peter Inn, GBG, 2018

Polruan: The Lugger, 2018

St Ives: Castle Inn, 2018

St Mawes: Victory Inn, 2018

Truro: Old Ale House, GBG, 2018

CUMBRIA

Carlisle, 301 Miles from London, 2022

DERBYSHIRE

NEW Derby: Brunswick, GBG, 2022, pictured

DEVON

Paignton, Henry’s Bar, GBG, 2018

Salcombe: Victoria, 2018

Totnes: Bay Horse, GBG, 2018

Totnes: Royal Seven Stars, 2018

Co. DURHAM

See the separate Northumbria

Pub Guide for details.

ESSEX

NEW Bures Hamlet: Eight Bells, GBG, 2022

NEW Colchester: Ale House, GBG, 2022

NEW Colchester: Fat Cat, GBG, 2022, pictured

NEW Colchester: New Inn, GBG, 2022

NEW Colchester: Odd One Out, GBG, 2022

NEW Colchester: Other Monkey Brewing Taproom, 2022

NEW Colchester: Victoria, GBG, 2022

NEW Great Holland, Ship Inn, 2022, pictured

NEW Harwich: Alma Inn, GBG, 2022

NEW Walton-on-the-Naze: Victory, 2022

HERTFORDSHIRE

Ayot St. Lawrence: Brocket Arms, 2019

Digswell: Cowper Arms, 2019

Hatfield: Horse and Groom, GBG, 2019

Welwyn: White Horse, 2019

Wheathampstead: Reading Room, 2019, pictured

Wild Hill: Woodman, GBG, 2019  

LINCOLNSHIRE

NEW Lincoln: Adam and Eve, GBG, 2022

NEW Lincoln: Morning Star, GBG, 2022

NEW Lincoln: Strugglers, GBG, 2022, pictured

NEW Lincoln: The Treaty of Commerce. 2022

LONDON (CENTRAL)

N1 Kings Cross: Parcel Yard, GBG, 2022

N1 Kings Cross: Scottish Stores, 2018

W2 Paddington: Mad Bishop and Bear, GBG, 2018

WC2 Covent Garden: Lamb and Flag, GBG, 2019

Greater MANCHESTER

MANCHESTER

Manchester: Circus Tavern, 2019, pictured

Manchester: Peveril of the Peak, GBG, 2019

WIGAN

Wigan: Raven, 2018

MERSEYSIDE

LIVERPOOL

Liverpool: Belvedere Arms, GBG, 2018

Liverpool: Crown Hotel, 2018

Liverpool: Dispensary, GBG, 2018

Liverpool: Lion Tavern, GBG, 2018

Liverpool: Philharmonic, 2018

Liverpool: Roscoe Head, GBG, 2018

Liverpool: Ship and Mitre, GBG, 2018, pictured

NORFOLK

Norwich: Kings Arms, GBG, 2021

Norwich: Ribs of Beef, GBG, 2021, pictured

Norwich: Vine, GBG, 2021

NORTHUMBERLAND

See the separate Northumbria Pub Guide for details.

NOTTINGHAMSGIRE

Newark: Flying Circus, GBG, 2021

Newark: Just Beer, GBG, 2021

Newark: Prince Rupert, GBG, 2021

SHROPSHIRE

NEW Bishops Castle: Six Bells, 2022

NEW Bishops Castle: Three Tuns, GBG, 2022, pictured

NEW Bridgnorth: Black Boy, GBG, 2022

NEW Bridgnorth: Golden Lion, 2022

NEW Bridgnorth: Shakespeare, GBG, 2022

SOMERSET

Curry Rivel: Firehouse, 2018, pictured

Huish Episcopi: Rose and Crown (Eli’s), 2018, pictured

Midsomer Norton: White Hart, 2018

Pitney: Halfway House, GBG, 2018

Wells: Full Moon, GBG, 2018

Wells: Just Ales, 2018

Wells: Rose and Crown, 2018

Yeovil: Pall Tavern, 2018

SUFFOLK

Bury St. Edmunds: Dove, GBG, 2021

Bury St. Edmunds: Oakes Barn, GBG, 2021

Bury St Edmunds: Rose and Crown, GBG, pictured, 2021

NEW Stowmarket: Royal William, GBG, 2022

RE-ENTRY Sudbury: Mauldons Brewery Tap, GBG, 2022, pictured

TEESSIDE

HARTLEPOOL

See the separate Northumbria Pub Guide for details.

MIDDLESBROUGH

Middlesbrough: Twisted Lip, 2018

STOCKTON

See the separate Northumbria Pub Guide for details.

TYNE and WEAR

See the separate Northumbria Pub Guide for details.

WEST MIDLANDS

NEW Wolverhampton: Hogshead, GBG, 2022

WILTSHIRE

Avoncliff: Cross Guns, 2018, pictured

Bradford on Avon: Bear Inn, 2018

Bradford on Avon: Castle Inn, GBG, 2018

Bradford on Avon: Stumble Inn, GBG, 2018

Westbury Leigh: Hollies, 2018

YORK City

York, City Centre, Ackhorne, GBG, 2022

York, City Centre: Blue Bell, GBG, 2022

York, City Centre: Phoenix, GBG, 2022, pictured

NEW York, Clementhorpe: Slip Inn, GBG, 2022

REENTRY York, Clementhorpe: Swan, GBG, 2022

York, York Station: York Tap, GBG,  2022

YORKSHIRE (EAST RIDING)

Flamborough: Royal Dog & Duck, 2019, pictured

YORKSHIRE (NORTH)

Hudswell, George and Dragon, GBG, 2021, pictured

NEW Malton: Blue Bell, GBG, 2022

NEW Malton: Brass Castle Brewery Tap, GBG, 2022

Manfield: Crown, GBG, 2021

Richmond: Castle Tavern, 2021

YORKSHIRE (WEST)

LEEDS

City Centre: Scarborough Hotel, GBG, 2022

SCOTLAND

The Weston Tavern, Kilmaurs

ABERDEEN CITY

City Centre: Aitchies Ale House, 2019

City Centre: Prince of Wales, GBG, 2019

ABERDEENSHIRE

Stonehaven, Marine Hotel, GBG, 2021

Stonehaven, Ship Inn, GBG, 2021, pictured

ANGUS

NEW Brechin: Brechin Arms, GBG, 2022

NEW Forfar: Osnaburg, 2022

NEW Montrose: Market Arms, GBG, 2022

ARGYLL and BUTE

Bute, Rothesay: Black Bull, GBG, 2018

Bute, Rothesay: Macs Bar, GBG, 2018, pictured

Easdale Island: Puffer, 2019

Islay, Port Askaig: Old Port Bar, Port Askaig Hotel, 2019

Islay, Port Charlotte: Port Charlotte Hotel, 2019

Oban: The Lorne, 2019

Oban: Oban Inn, GBG, 2019, pictured

Seil, Ellenabeich: Oyster Bar, 2019

DUMFRIES and GALLOWAY

NEW Annan: Blue Bell Inn, GBG, 2022

RE-ENTRY Dumfries: Cavens, GBG, 2022

NEW Dumfries: Douglas Arms, GBG, 2022

RE-ENTRY Dumfries: New Bazaar, GBG, 2022, pictured

RE-ENTRY Dunfries: Tam O’Shanter, GBG, 2022

DUNDEE CITY

Broughty Ferry: Fisherman’s Tavern, GBG, 2022, pictured.

Broughty Ferry: Ship Inn, GBG, 2020

City Centre: Bank Bar, GBG, 2022

City Centre: Market, 2020

Hilltown: Frews, 2020

Perth Rd: Phoenix, GBG, 2020

Perth Rd: Speedwell (Mennie’s), GBG, 2022, pictured

EAST AYRSHIRE

NEW Kilmaurs: Weston Tavern, GBG 2022

EDINBURGH

See the Edinburgh and Glasgow Favourite Pubs Guide

FALKIRK

Larbert: Station Hotel, GBG, 2021

FIFE

Freuchie, Albert Tavern, GBG, 2021, pictured

NEW Hillend: Hillend Tavern, GBG, 2022, pictured

NEW Kinghorn: Crown Tavern, GBG, 2022

NEW Kirkcaldy, Betty Nicols, GBG, 2022

St. Andrews: Central, GBG, 2021

St. Andrews: Criterion, GBG, 2021

GLASGOW

See the Edinburgh and Glasgow Favourite Pubs Guide

NORTH AYRSHIRE

Arran, Brodick: Brodick Bar, 2019

Great Cumbrae, Millport: Frasers, GBG, 2018

PERTH and KINROSS

Almondbank: Badgers, 2020

NEW: Balbeggie: MacDonald Arms, 2022, pictured

Bankfoot: Bankfoot Inn, 2020

Blair Atholl: Bothy Bar, Atholl Arms Hotel, GBG, 2020

Blairgowrie: Ericht Alehouse, GBG, 2019

Blairgowrie: Stormont Arms, GBG, 2019

Bridge of Earn: Cyprus Inn, GBG, 2022

Dunkeld: Perth Arms, GBG, 2021, pictured

Dunkeld: Taybank Hotel, 2021

Dunning: Kirkstyle Inn, GBG, 2019, pictured

Milnathort: Village Inn, GBG, 2021

Moulin: Moulin Inn, GBG, 2021

Perth: Cullach Tap Room, GBG, 2022

Perth: Kirkside, 2021

Perth: Old Ship Inn, GBG, 2022, pictured

Perth: Silvery Tay (formerly Dickens), GBG, 2022

NEW Pitcairngreen: Pitcairngreen Inn, 2022

RENFREWSHIRE

NEW: Paisley: Bull Inn, GBG, 2022

SCOTTISH BORDERS

Innerleithen, Traquair Arms, GBG, 2021

Peebles: Bridge Inn (Trust), GBG, 2021

SOUTH LANARKSHIRE

Biggar: Crown Inn, GBG, 2021

STIRLING

NEW Bridge of Allan: Allanwater Brewhouse, GBG, 2022

Dunblane: Tappit Hen, GBG, 2021, pictured

NEW Stirling: Settle Inn, GBG, 2022

WEST LOTHIAN

Linlithgow, Platform 3, GBG, 2022

WALES

The Ship Inn, Red Wharf Bay, Ynys Môn

BRIDGEND

Bridgend: Coach, GBG, 2019, pub sign pictured

CARDIFF

Cardiff: City Arms, 2019

Cardiff: Blue Bell (formerly Goat Major), 2019

CARMARTHENSHIRE

Llandeilo: White Horse, 2019

Whitland: Station House, GBG, 2019, pictured

GWYNEDD

Bangor: Patricks, GBG, 2019

PEMBROKESHIRE

Fishguard, Royal Oak, GBG, 2019, door pictured

Haverfordwest: Pembroke Yeoman, 2019

Haverfordwest: Three Crowns, 2019

Pembroke Dock: First and Last, GBG, 2019

St Davids: Farmers Arms, 2019, pictured

Tenby: Crown Inn, 2019

YNYS MôN

Beaumaris: Castle Court, GBG, 2019

Beaumaris: George and Dragon, 2019

Beaumaris: Midland Tapas Bar, 2019

Menai Bridge: Liverpool Arms, GBG, 2019

Menai Bridge: Tafarn Y Bont/Bridge Inn, 2019

Red Wharf Bay: Ship Inn, GBG, 2019

Some final odds and ends:

Pub Closures: Of the 10 pubs deleted from last years list due to closure only one – the Live and Let Live in Cambridge – has reopened under new ownership. All the entries here have been checked against http://www.whatpub.com and as a result a further 5 in England and 1 in Scotland have been deleted due to closure.

A couple of reminders of 2020 and 2021

(i) surviving lockdown

(ii) Lockdown outside-only drinking: The Taybank Hotel, Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross

A note about Wetherspoon’s.

There are Wetherspoon’s pubs virtually everywhere – they share the same plusses (good choice of beer, cheap beer) and minuses (slow service, the atmosphere of a canteen rather than a pub). The quality of the beer can vary tremendously. However, do not assume that all Wetherspoon’s pubs are not worth a visit – there are places where they have the best selection of beer in town and have forced the other pubs to up their game or close.  Despite the owner’s politics we still call in for breakfast from time to time at half the price of a hotel breakfast.

A few of the breweries we’ve passed on our travels: Hook Norton in Hook Norton, Wadworth’s in Devizes and Elgood’s in Wisbech.

One which was thought to be lost has returned. This is the unspoilt Fiddichside Inn, Craigellachie, Moray, which closed in 2017 following the death of the long serving landlord. However, it reopened with new owners in 2020 and has survived Covid. Opening hours are limited – check the pub’s Facebook page.

 

Copyright: The text and all photos (except for the Old Ship, Perth, which was provided by Ken Donald) are Copyright: © Steve Gillon, 2023