The New Inn, Leamington Spa

Popular side-street pub near the eastern edge on the Old Town side of the river. Mostly opened-out L-shaped layout in four parts: the compact bar in the centre, a small seating area off to the left (in what appears to have been an adjoining terraced house at one stage), the games room in the right-hand corner (although neither the pool table or the dartboard were in use on my visit) and a dining room stretching back behind that. With five of the six handpumps in use, I found the usual Sharp's beers - Atlantic and Sea Fury - Rat Attack from Rat Brewery, Oakham's Thirteen Steps (£4.60, deliberately a bit hazy) and Thornbridge Jaipur.

Very much a back street corner local type place but well loved and seems to have a good community spirit. Traditional carpets and seating. Good Beer Guide ntry

Back street boozer, where the back street is notable from being wide enough to allow four rows of continental style parking. Although, how the cars against the curb get out is anyones guess. Open plan, multi room - 30% setup for drinking and 70% for eating. Gearing up for the six nations and prepared to change the channel from premier league football. Doombar and Sea Fury noticed, along with a lot of Sharp's bar runners. I went for a decent Oakham Citra. GBG 2023. Not sure its worth the walk from town. Unless you are a mad pub ticker. Or like Sharps.

6 years and 2 days since my last visit to Leamington Spa, I returned to visit a couple of the town's pubs that I'd missed. The New Inn is located in a residential area well outside the town centre on an impressively long and wide street. A couple of "locals" were sat at the bar watching cricket highlights on a screen above the bar, whilst discussing the day's events. In fact, the one clearly had some kind of foreign accent, which I couldn't quite put my finger on. A number of other people seemed to appear during my visit. I'm not sure whether they were staff, the owners, customers or general passers by. The bar area and seating is slightly off to the left as you enter, with a games room area containing a pool table to the right. Sharp's Atlantic & Sea Fury are regular beers. But the 2 guest beers were much more interesting - Byatt's Comet IPA & Black Iris Snake Eyes. My half of Comet was in good condition and enjoyable. A cosy local in a quiet out of the way setting that was probably my favourite pub of the day.

Official site of The New Inn - www.thenewinnleamington.co.uk

Official site of The New Inn - www.thenewinnleamington.co.uk