The Twa Dugs, Ayr

Traditional watering hole; wood, slate floor, pics of twa dugs (of course), old barrels, hanging jugs, booths etc. Same as Blue Scrumpy found, the TV music channel didn’t match what was coming out of the speakers! Just the one ale, Theako Best which was good (NBSS 3.5) served-up by a friendly landlady. GBG listed, understandably, but it is entirely possible you could find it caskless on a busy evening. The unusual name comes from a Burns poem.

With the nearby Market Inn having closed up early for the evening, my last stop of the evening was this 2024 Good Beer Guide entry. It looked quite promising as I walked in, with a lively atmosphere and a fair number of people inside ranging from those who were fairly sober to those who could hardly stand up. Most of the others were trying their level best to reach the drunken state with some large rounds of Guinness and for some reason Baby Guinness shots. Meanwhile, decent music was being requested on the jukebox and everybody seemed to be having a good time. The pub is long and thin with seating all along. The bar is midway against the right-hand wall and as the previous review says, there is a stage for live music to the rear. A TV next to the stage was showing a music channel with no volume, due to the jukebox being on. I could see Boy George on there, but it all seemed rather pointless! With just one barman trying to deal with some fairly hefty rounds, but doing the best he could, I had to wait a fair while to be served. The sight of a cask ale (Loch Lomond Scottish Warrior) kept me interested. However, on ordering the barman tried pouring my beer, only to tell me it had gone off. With no real ale, my keg choice was Cruzcampo, Fosters, Guinness, John Smith's, McEwan's 70/-, Strongbow, Strongbow Dark Fruits, Tennent's Lager, Amstel or Beavertown Neck Oil. Being on the spot, I chose the 70/-, only to be hugely disappointed. It wasn't the way I'd hoped to end my evening of drinking in Ayr's pubs. The barman didn't turn the pumpclip for the real ale around, leaving it for other unsuspecting visitors to order. For a Good Beer Guide pub, I was really disappointed that there was no cask ale. The number of pumpmclips above the bar suggests I may have been unlucky. Whilst I did enjoy the lively atmosphere, I don't think I'd be rushing back here.

Like so many places in the vicinity, the name is taken from a Burns quote. Once inside, this is an elongated, narrow bar with the central servery along one wall. A small stage can be found at the back, with a variety of live music seemingly available most nights. The furniture and decor are in the alehouse idiom, although only one of the pair of handpumps was actually working. This dispensed a slightly disappointing pint of Theakston's ? Two Coopers ? (£3.65).

Long narrow room with bar to right. Standard keg rubbish but worth a visit for the excellent selection of malt whiskies on sale.