Lime Kilns, Hinckley

The Lime Kilns is situated well outside of Burbage on the A5 where it crosses the Ashby Canal. With a canalside garden and marquee and berths on the canal, I suspect this pub can get quite busy in warmer months. The carpeted bar is upstairs from the canal and the car park and at road level. Walls have exposed brickwork. There is a TV above a fireplace and a set of shelves were stocked with board games and books. The TV was off, with music playing instead. Dogs are welcome and it also seemed popular with cyclists. There are now only 3 handpulls. 2 of them were in use, serving Timothy Taylor Landlord & Wychwood Hobgoblin Bah Humbug. Sharp's Atlantic was on keg and once again, snowballs were being promoted. As recently as August, I could see that the pub was stocking real cider. However, the landlady seemed very confused by my query about whether they stocked any, instead pointing me towards keg options or bottles, which I wasn't interested in. I eventually settled on a half of the Hobgoblin Bah Humbug, but was concerned when the landlady asked another barman to ring a Landlord through the till. I assumed that maybe the 2 ales were the same price and were therefore rung through with the same button, but no, it was Landlord I had been served. That was soon returned, but the landlady did admit her error. Earlier in 2024, the pub was also the home for the Buswells Brewery. Whether the brewery still exists, I'm not quite sure. But there was certainly no sign of their beers at the pub. The pub was featured in the Good Beer Guide as recently as 2023. It is clear to see what it has dropped out. It was also lucky we came here early in the day, as the pub was only going to be open later on for people who had paid extra to attend some kind of New Year's Eve party.

Fine canal-side pub, with a partly covered beer garden down by the waterway. The main, partly opened-out, L-shaped bar is up at the higher Watling Street level (as it passes over the navigation), but an extra room can be found below. I found Landlord, Tribute and an excellent Butty Bach from Wye Valley (£4.30) being served from three of the five handpumps.

Not a huge amount to add to the accurate review below. If you're arriving by boat watch the bank as it's very wet. Food is available and there's a lunch/light meals menu as well as a more extensive menu with more substantial meals. We went for the lunch menu which was reasonably priced with nothing over a fiver and home cooked. You can't really go wrong with this. Beer: all Marston's - Pedigree, Burton Bitter, Bridge 51 on a homemade pump clip and Jennings Cocker Hoop. The Pedigree was in good nick. Well worth stopping in to this friendly boozer if you're ever passing.