Cassillis Hotel, Maybole

This is probably the most rough and ready pub in town and, despite being called a hotel, residential accommodation is not prominently advertised, if it's available at all. The bar, the only section conspicuously open, consists of a long rectangular room with a pool table at one end and a dart board at the other. There are four TV screens scattered around the walls, which were all showing the same football match on the Saturday evening of my visit. It is, at least, cheap, with a pint of Guinness costing me only £2.90. Fosters, Tennent’s and Stella Artois lagers are also on draught, as are Belhaven Best, John Smith’s, McEwan’s 60 Shilling and Magner’s cider. Given its high profile location in the middle of Maybole’s main street, this is one of the first pubs you’re likely to find here, which is unfortunate, as there are much better options hidden down the side streets.