Railway Tavern, Northampton

Proper old-fashioned local, featuring a partially opened-out 'L'-shaped bar with the pool table in one side branch and a separate room beyond the other end of the counter. Basic furniture and decor, but a real community feel (and some fruity banter that wouldn't be to everybody's taste). Beer garden advertised. No real ale, unfortunately, so it's a choice between the inevitable John Smith's (£1.45, half), a few draught lagers and ciders or a couple of bottled offerings.