Viewfield Tavern, Lanark

The main change since my previous visit was that there was only one other customer this time, on an early Friday evening, but most of the other comments below still apply. A pint of Carling lager cost me £3, but the draught range is now more limited, with only Tennent’s lager, Tennent’s 60 Shilling and Guinness also on tap. There is now a “For Sale” sign outside, which hopefully isn’t a harbinger of closure, as the nearest other pub is four miles away.

With more than ten customers, my latest visit found this pub the busiest I’d ever seen it, probably because I arrived later than usual and on a Saturday evening. It was the first time I’d seen the lounge open and I was surprised to find that it has a pool table in the middle of the room. There is also a small beer garden at the side, with only one bench and table seat and a two person metal chair. All of the customers, except two pool players, were in the bar, which has a real fire, two TVs, a juke box and a games machine. On draught are Tennents and Carling lagers, Tennents light, Guinness, John Smith’s and Strongbow cider. Prices, at £3 for a pint of Tennents lager, were reasonable considering that this is the only pub in the village and for miles around. As the name suggests, there is a view of the farm fields across the road from the bar and lounge windows.

A fairly basic pub, but the only one in the village and it also serves the now publess hamlet of Douglas Water nearby. There is a separate bar and lounge, the latter only opening at night. Note also that the whole place is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.