Speedwell Bar, Dundee

This is a terrific old pub with a well preserved traditional interior that’s a 10-15 minute walk from the city centre. A corner entrance leads you into a simple front bar with banquette seating under the wood panelled front wall but no tables on which to rest your pint, hence everyone in this room was stood at the bar instead. A curved servery runs along the back wall and on into the left hand room, separated by a nice partitioning screen and small doorway. There is a nice Bernard’s Pale Ale mirror at the end of the bar and the room has a beautiful decorative ceiling and checkerboard tiled floor which all adds to the pub’s traditional feel. The bar back is remarkably large and pretty ornate and it has been topped with a selection of potted plants. The left hand bar is considerably larger and constitutes the main bulk of the pub. It is similar to the front room in terms of flooring, the fine ceiling and a lack of seating options, but it does offer ample standing room and there were plenty of locals in, stood around, chewing the fat. From here there is access to two side rooms, the first of which is a half panelled front room with fixed bench seating, a fireplace on the far wall with an electric fire on the hearth, matching floral wallpaper and curtains plus a TV screen showing muted news coverage. The rear room has a homelier feel to it and offers comfier seating options, another fireplace, warm, decorative wallpaper and another TV showing the same channel. The toilets are also worth a look thanks to some remarkably large ‘Shanks Patent Odourless Urinals’ and a nice mosaic tiled floor. There were three handpulls in operation upon my arrival, dispensing Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Hanlon’s Yellowhammer and Cameron’s Strongarm. None of that took my fancy, so I instead looked to the keg range, which included a couple of interesting options, and came away with a nice pint of Siren Undercurrent (£3.75). The barmaid serving me was particularly nice and friendly and there was some good natured banter from a couple of locals as I entered the pub too. I really liked this place and thought it had a good lively feel to it whilst still retaining its attractive period features. I somewhat regret not giving their ale a try but this was undoubtedly the best pub I found in Dundee and I’m sure I will return here the next time I’m in the city.

Corner pub with a 'L'-shaped main room angled the opposite way that you might expect. Interesting heritage interior with the bar partially sub-divided by two low-height screens. Two additional lounges can be found off to one side, and all very traditionally furnished and decorated. Three real ales on handpump: Deuchars IPA, Staple Pale Ale from Edinburgh's Top Out Brewery (£3.30) and Woodfoorde's Simcoe from much further away. Also has a notable display of whiskies on the impressive bar-back.