The Phoenix Ale House, Inverness

Small ale house with bar opposite the seating by the front windows. Ok, bit locally

Does what it says on the tin (ignore the older reviews as this place has changed hands since then – it’s now run by the same operator as the Castle Tavern), this is a fairly straightforward ale house with an island bar which the wooden-floored interior wraps round. Shame the wood panelling and bar front are painted a naff Farrow & Ball colour rather than being varnished though. Football on the telly. Six pumps as you enter, with a selection of Scottish brews plus an English interloper in the form of Big Lamp. Went for Orkney Puffin (decent) and Spey Stout (excellent). Plenty of jugs on the bar of gratis water for your whisky. Sadly, the cheese and haggis pie for £2.50 remained unsampled as I had a dinner date with the all-you-can Chinese place by the river. I liked this one and would happily do a couple in here again should I revisit the city.

Attractive semi-traditional alehouse, with a limited amount of seating distributed around an impressive island bar. Also has a much larger 'L'-shaped dining room to the side and rear, and this has its own separate counter. Six real ales on the various handpumps when I visited, ranging from the regional Highland Dark Munro (£3.60), Cromarty Red Rocker, Crofters Pale Ale and An Teallach Ale to the 'imported' Titanic White Star and Hogs Back TEA.

Official site of The Phoenix Ale House - www.phoenixalehouse.co.uk