The Blue Boar Inn, Mancetter, Atherstone

Although built in about 1940 this is in a style that looks typically 1930s, as Alan said in his 2014 review below. It has features that CAMRA acknowledged as warranting listing on their inventory of historic pub interiors, though what they would make of its 1970s wallpaper remains to be seen. Two of our group took a short cut from the Maid of the Mill via the old A5, while the rest of us took the scenic route and arrived 10 or 15 minutes later, surprised to find one of them still waiting for his beer. Apparently the Doom Bar was off and he was waiting for the barrel to be changed and pulled through, but the barman was distracted by having to retune the TV or something. The owners of this pub also own a brewery at their other pub, the Lord Nelson in Ansley, and both their beers were very good: Third Party 4.8% and Band of Brothers 4.2% (both NBSS 3.5 and around £4/pint). Although it's a little way out of Atherstone this pub is worth the walk, or there are buses if it seems too far or the weather too nasty. Date of visit: 22nd August 2025

A rarity, having been rebuilt in the early part of the Second World War, but this pub has a really striking curved Art Deco frontage that must once have been a prominent waymark for London-bound traffic before the A5 bypassed the historic Watling Street alignment through Atherstone. With the main bar (with a pool table and dartboard) to one side, the smaller lounge bar at the front and another bar / dining room round the other side, the interior retains a lot of character too. Also has Churchills restaurant in a more modern extension round the back, and hotel accommodation is offered too. Now run by the local Sperrin Brewery, its Band of Brothers (£2.75) and Third Party were available from the various handpumps, together with Pedigree as a guest. I liked this one a lot, so well worth seeking out.