The Curfew, Berwick-Upon-Tweed

Micropub that can be found up an alley, which leads into a courtyard with tables and chairs. Inside, there is a small bar area and a separate bottle shop area at a slightly lower level. The young barman was quite knowledgeable about the various beers, whilst a guy who obviously brewed beer was sat next to the bar talking to him. He seemed quite well oiled! 4 real ales were on - Black Isle Porter, Cross Borders Scottish Ale, Ossett White Rat & Swannay IPA. Real ciders were Weston's Old Rosie & Dudda's Tun Dudda's Original. Craft beers available were Rigg & Furrow Jett & Almasty Green. I'm a bit of a sucker for a micropub. If I lived in Berwick, this would almost certainly be my destination of choice.

Micropub hidden up a discreet side alley so keep an eye out! Enter into a covered courtyard; at first it isn't obvious where the place is but carry on up and you'll see the beer garden in front of you and a door to the right. Enter into a simple main room with wood block flooring, breweriana, plentiful CAMRA awards and a small bar that nonetheless packs in four casks, a couple of ciders and a fridge with some interesting choices from overseas. Cask selection was welcomingly eclectic across a range of styles over my three visits I had beers such as; Dancing Duck Dark Drake (NBSS 5), Mallinsons Trans Pacific (4), Beezlebub’s Tears (4.5) and Columbus (4.5), Five Points XPA (3.5) Neptune’s Forecast Godiva (4.5). Those scores are superb, very few places can knock out that quality and it’s the fact that the cask shifts - fast. There’s a selection of cold pub food, the wild boar sausage roll was very tasty with a bit of sweetness and went down well for £3.25, so much so I also had a venison and game pie as well. Friendly staff and punters (this place was busy every evening whilst most of the other pubs in town were quiet). One small downside was lack of artificial light, they seem to like it Hobbit-like in here but I sometimes found it a tad gloomy. A very minor quibble though. This is a superb ale destination. 9.5

A friendly micro down an alley, with a couple of rooms and tables outside in the alley. On pump were Oakham Inferno, Bone Machine Swordfish Trombone (yes, really), Marble Stout and TT Boltmaker, plus a couple of ciders. Food is restricted to cold pies and haggis scotch eggs. A serious drinker's pub and well worth a visit.