Maisies Bar, Lanark

Always my favourite Lanark pub, Maisie’s hasn’t changed noticeably in all the years I’ve known it. The TV screen which formerly hung obtrusively in the middle of the gantry has, thankfully, been moved to one end, which improves the appearance of the area behind the bar. A note of caution for anyone with mobility difficulties, or claustrophobia, though, is that that the male toilet is located down a steep and narrow staircase at the end of what resembles a low tunnel. Quaint it may be, but not everyone would find it easy to reach. I assume the age and limited size of the premises mean they don’t have to make it more accessible. There is a good range on draught, including Belhaven Best (at £3), Guinness, Strongbow cider and Carling, Carlsberg, Stella Artois, Erdinger, St. Mungo and West Brewery 4 lagers.

Everything, thankfully, has remained much as before in my favourite Lanark pub, but it’s so small that there is not much scope for altering it substantially in any case. Carlsberg lager was on special offer at £2.50 a pint, with Tennents lager, Stella Artois, Belhaven Best, Guinness and Strongbow cider on draught at more customary prices. There were two unusual draught beers; Erdinger German wheat beer at £3.20 a pint and St. Mungo’s Ale (also, surprisingly, German) at £3.50. There is also an impressive range of spirits and other drinks on the old wooden gantry behind the bar.