The Exchequer, Kirkcaldy

The Exchequer is a large open plan high street boozer that makes most of its money on a Friday and Saturday nights. Standard seating runs across the front and there’s some raised seating in the left rear corner. There’s a piano on the right-hand wall before the serving counter that runs towards the rear where it faces a row of high tables. Standard and premium keg products are available alongside Neck Oil and the two hand pumps were badged with the same ale and were both off. My visit was during half time of the Wednesday evening football that was muted on the televisions throughout while some club music played in the background, although this music was turned off in favour of commentary when the second half kicked off. After sitting in the raised section for about five minutes a member of staff gave me a ten-minute warning that the area would be closed. He then started wiping down tables around me, so I decided to knock my half back. On my way out I noted that food is advertised, which was surprising for a pub that is cash only. I don’t think it’ll be long before the ‘to let’ sign goes up outside this pub.

A traditional freehouse, it says on the board above the front window, but this is a traditional pub just like McDonalds is a traditional restaurant. (It's not.) This is like a Wetherspoons without the quality real ale and the low prices. In fact, of course, the quality of real ale depends to a large extent on throughput, and if your atmosphere, premises and above all prices discourage the drinking of real ale, it will likely no longer be good. Like here. My half of Loch Leven Warrior Queen, a beer I had in excellent condition last year at the brewery tap in Kinross, had some strange, stray flavours which may have been down to any one of a number of faults, but almost certainly nothing that happened at the brewery; and if by some freak chance it had gone wrong before leaving the brewery, then what was it doing on the bar in the first place? There are four hand pumps on the bar here, and three beers on, the others being Doom Bar and Deuchars. Maybe one of those beers would have been in better condition than the one I had. (But then again, maybe not.)

The Exchequer pages on the Great UK Pubs website - www.greatukpubs.co.uk

The Exchequer pages on the Great UK Pubs website - www.greatukpubs.co.uk