The Laurie Arms, Castle Douglas

Situated in a small village, this was another pub that we drove past earlier in the day and had found closed. During the week, it only opens Wednesday, Thursday & Friday evenings. We found a welcoming pub with a dining room to the left-hand side and a bar/lounge to the right. A couple of real ales were on - Gan Yam Pal & Loch Lomond Highland Way. When ordering the Pal, the landlady warned me that it was meant to be cloudy. It was, but it was also a long way past its best. I suspect this would have been a very decent beer when a bit fresher, but I persevered with it regardless. I assume that when CAMRA people have visited, they put on new casks, as the pub is in the current Good Beer Guide. A discount is also offered for CAMRA members. Although I couldn't see this being promoted and I wasn't asked if I was a member. There are a number of board games that can be played, including chess. Families are welcome. As well as the worst beer of the day, the gents toilets also earned my award of smelliest toilets of the day. Having said that, I think somebody had not long emptied their bowels before my visit. Despite the negatives, I quite liked this pub.

Traditional village inn with two bars and a third sitting room, all decorated almost in English style, stuffed fish, half timbered counter, even horse brasses. Oddly a number of locals have English accents too. The right hand room is sub divided and has a pool table in the far right half. There is also a beer garden at the back. Bench seating at square tables, food is important here but not overwhelming. There is tongue and groove walling in the central bar, plain white in the others with pictures, stuffed fish and a wealth of CAMRA awards. Four handpumps with two in use both beers from nearish Five Kingdoms brewery, Fyne Ales Jarl had just gone off and something from Ayr Brewing was coming next, Five Kingdoms is a frequent visitor. The gents has a fine collection of 1960s “seaside” postcards. Friendly bantering locals, mostly with comments about those not present, and friendly, attentive staff, all in all a splendid pub.

The Laurie Arms is a family-run pub which centres its business on its bar food and restaurant and hosts locals and visitors to the area. They have been trying VERY hard to improve their real ale choice during the summer season. Friendly family, nice locals....roaring fire in the winter!