The Albert Bar, Airdrie

This pub has now been overly modernised. There is reclaimed wood everywhere - comprising partitions, on walls and beams, and exposed brick wallpaper is on the walls as well. But on the plus side there are mainly standard tables and chairs with some fixed bench seating, and with just a couple of tall tables/tall stools. There's also a dartboard. But like everywhere in Airdrie, it doesn't do real ale although it did have Bellhaven Best on tap. There was no food on Friday lunchtime, and although they don't sell hot drinks the landlady very kindly made the three ladies in our party cups of tea for which she didn't intend to charge anything. That's a level of generosity that I've yet to encounter in London. Like everywhere in airdrie it's a locals' pub, as I don't expect they get a lot of tourists. As a pub it's OK, but a decent real ale would improve things immeasurably.

This is a modern, but not over-modernised, one room bar/lounge on the edge of the town centre. It is dominated by a long semi-circular bar top, which takes up a lot of space while leaving plenty room for customers. The walls are hung with a seemingly random selection of pictures and mirrors and there are famous drink related quotes above the bar (e.g "You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on." - Dean Martin). Carlsberg and Carling lagers, Strongbow cider, Guinness, Belhaven Best and Belhaven Light are all on draught. The TV and juke box were both on, but both at reasonable volumes. A fairly routine pub, but with a nice friendly atmosphere and staff who are on first name terms with the regulars.