Ring o'Bells, Lancaster

The pub was sold last year and is now a free house - and still the same, basic locals boozer. Lancaster Blonde and Red on the bar this time. If you want a straightforward pub to meet friendly locals it’s absolutely fine. Hopefully the new owners will resist the temptation to change it too much.

Old-school terraced boozer, formerly a Mitchell's house, with a simple, traditional bar at the front, a plain rear room housing a pool table and a split-level (and slightly decrepit) patio beer garden at the back. Two Lancaster Brewery beers - Blonde and Amber (£3.30, so-so) - available from the four handpumps.

A decent city centre pub. This two-roomed pub has a traditional feel and the few locals who were in on my visit were very amiable. The front room houses the bar and there were 4 working handpulls with beers from Coniston, Moorland, York and Thwaites on my visit.