The Black Swan, Loughborough

Excellent old pub, located slightly away from the town centre just beyond the church. Three separate rooms, with the bar front left, the compact lounge off to the right and the rear one up one step. All parts very traditional, with lots of local history pictures on the walls. I found the regular Bass (£4.60) and Abbot on two of the five handpumps, along with Castle Rock's Harvest Pale, PG Sips from Blue Monkey and Hogs Back TEA.

Bit of an old skool gem up the hill past Butthole Lane. There’s multiple rooms and areas with old Shepshed pictures, general ephemera, breweriana plus dark varnished ceiling beams and a general air of timelessness. Five ales across a range of strengths and styles, I had a superb pint of Bass (NBSS 4.5). Note the old skool clips on some of the more established brews. Everything a countryside small town boozer should be and I could have spent a couple of hours in here. I’m certainly going to make a point of coming back in future so I can. 8.5