Bridgend Inn, Cumnock

Despite the rather unappealing exterior, this is a sizeable modern lounge bar, with lots of seating around the sides and plenty standing room. There are also bar stools at the horseshoe shaped counter. An alcove at the rear contains a pool table and there are old village pictures on the walls. A loud juke box competed with live football on the TV on the Saturday evening of my visit. The customers all seemed to be locals who knew each other and the bar staff, so I probably stood out as a stranger, although it wasn’t unfriendly. Prices were very reasonable, with Foster’s lager at £2.80 a pint. Guinness, John Smith’s, McEwan’s 60 Shilling and Strongbow cider are also on draught.