The Borough Arms, Crewe

A large corner pub with 10 pulls so obviously beloved of Camra although “only” seven on; three from Thornbridge, two Oakhams and er…. Wainwright. The keg choice has a few from Belgium on the front face of the L shaped counter, casks are round the corner. To the right is a small snug with pews and benches at cast iron based tables, in common with the other rooms this is decorated with a lot of pump clips and Belgian brewery signs. My Oakham Citra was hazy so not a high score for this GBG listed pub.

Genuinely thought this pub was closed. From the main road, there is no door and it looks well shabby. The beauty is inside. An upstairs bar with every walled and ceiling surface covered in pump clips. Belgian beers and cask a speciality. The side bar showing a line up of all your favourites! I missed Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild on first pass, but the Thornbridge Crackendale was a good as I have ever had their beers. (Except spoons, but Jaipur is £2.29 which covers over a lot of cracks :-) ) Downstairs drinking area and a rather nice beer garden. Exceptional - would be be my local, no doubt.

Grubby-looking exterior but the two-tiered cosy inside is a much better affair, a real pubman’s place and a look at the cask line-up made me salivate - nine on over 10 including Old Tom, Sarah Hughes, Titanic and 4x Oakham which means it’s a GBG shoo-in. Initially took the middle ground with the Cherry Porter, which was in great shape (NBSS 4). And followed-up with an Old Tom (3). Enjoyed the free sideshow of the Xmas decorations going up, it was like witnessing a military operation undertaken by the Chuckle Brothers. I thought this one was a belter – a proper destination venue for a session.