The Kings Head, Aylesbury

This old place is more than well described below. The Chiltern brewery that run it are one of the oldest UK microbreweries having started out in 1980. The bar has six hand pumps with on my visit one unused, a cider, Boss Brave and Chiltern Beechwood, Pale & Copper Beech. I went for the Copper Beech (£3.45) which was first class. My only reservations with this place are that it was a bit corporate and as a National Trust property is something of a tourist trap. These are minor gripes and I would gladly return.

Official site of The Farmers Bar at The Kings Head - www.nationaltrust.org.uk

With the historic King's Head inn dating from 1455, the buildings on either side of the narrow pedestrianised alleyway and courtyard are as quaint as you would expect from a National Trust property. The layout of the Farmers' Bar still retains many small rooms and seating areas, although the refurbished furniture and decor are rather more modern than I was expecting. There are also a good number of benches out in the yard too. As the Chiltern Brewery tap, three of their beers were on (Chiltern Ale, Beechwood Bitter and Gold, £3.45) plus Derventio Summer Solstice as a guest and Aspall's Waddlegoose Lane cider from a total of six handpumps. Overall, a slightly curious mix of old and new, but well worth a visit nevertheless.

Official site of The Farmers Bar at The Kings Head - www.nationaltrust.org.uk

The Farmers Bar feels like what it is: a traditional bar in a town centre coaching inn and as such, must be a real drinking highlight in Aylesbury town centre. Both the interior and exterior have been well described so I'll only add that the whole feels comfortable, solid, warm and traditional. This formula clearly works as on a chilly Tuesday evening in early January the bar was reasonably busy. This is the brewery tap for the Chiltern Brewery and boasts six handpumps which featured on our visit: Chiltern Ale, Chiltern Beechwood Bitter, Chiltern 300's, Kelham Island Fairytale of New York and one cider. A decent selection across strength and styles and our beer was in good shape. The first place I'd head to in Aylesbury town centre and I'd be happy to stay for a while.