Pubs Galore - the UK pub guide

The tiny and narrow White Swan faces the young buck, Craftyard and the two are chalk and cheese. Renowned for their televised sport, my only visit here prior to this was in April 2013, where Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid was on TV and the night where Robert Lewandowski came of age, in a European sense, with an almost Proustian display of modern existentialist football, bagging all four goals in a 4–1 win. A freehouse with three handpumps, and a plethora of pump clips adhered to the numerous ceiling beams, we were presented with Tring Ridgeway and Fuller’s ESB, with St Austell Tribute settling in the cellar; the Ridgeway here proving to be my pint of the day. There were already a small clutch of locals in attendance on our Saturday afternoon visit, commandeering the seats by the sole window onto the High Street and we were able to have a good chat with the landlord, who prides himself on his beer quality. On this showing, he's got every reason to espouse that particular deadly sin.

Next door to Wendover Station, so the ideal spot for the start of any crawl of Wendover, this is one of this is one of Greene King’s 'Chef & Brewer' chain of — according to their website — “traditional country pubs that serve delicious food and stock a range of expertly-chosen drinks.” Although there is a slant on dining, there is a generous bar area on entry (bar to the left) and a five ale line-up consisting of three GK ales (Abbot Ale, Old Golden Hen and World Cup-themed 4-4 Brew_plus a couple of local ales (Tring Ridgeway and Chiltern Chalk Stream). The latter gave up the ghost on pour, which was a shame as it would have been good on the beer miles, so a £6 pint of an average 4-4 Brew it was.

A five-minute canter up from The George & Dragon, passing the long-closed Nags Head on the way (closed in the 1960s, now a private residence). A cosy locals’ pub occupying a corner plot it is heavy on pub games (darts, dominoes and cribbage), and was clean and presentable inside, offering Shepherd Neame Spitfire and Otter Bitter when we visited; I opted for the latter (NBSS Good). There's a small area by the bar as you enter with a small fireplace which is equal cosy to sit by (which we did). Here, there is list of licensees dating back to 1773 hanging on the wall next to the bar. The landlord was friendly to us too, albeit it's another one of Wendover's just 'OK' pubs.

A five-minute slow walk from Wendover's High Street (and a quick five-minute walk from the station), this is a fav of the local Camra branch and was a recent 'Winter Pub of the Year. A choice of two rooms on entry: the bar to the right is small and favoured by the locals, and the one to the left larger, and a music fan's treasure trove: numerous framed photos photos, including snaps of Dire Straits, Johnny Cash, Patti Smith, Joy Division, The Clash and The Velvet Underground, alongside Black Flag and Dinosaur Jr-themed skateboards. Two Timothy Taylor ales available – Boltmaker and Landlord, plus Adnam's Broadside. Weston's Old Rosie and Adnam's Mosaic Pale Ale (keg) also available. Bit of a faff as the lass behind the bar couldn't get the card machine to work due to a dodgy WiFi signal, and the landlord wasn't in, so we eventually had to transact in the old-fashioned way (i.e. cash), so a point deducted.