The Pestle & Mortar, Hinckley

Popular micropub which has won the local CAMRA branch's Cider Pub of the Year award for 8 consecutive years and its not hard to see why. It comprises a large, single room. The front section has walls painted yellow and maroon, whilst the rear has striped painted wooden panels. I noted a signed England rugby shirt on the wall and there are many pumpclips scattered around too. Being Christmas, a couple of Santas were parachuting from the ceiling down to the bar. Toilets at the rear are a decent size, which is often a criticism of micropubs. A sign on the gents had a picture of King Charles with a request not to do Charlie in the toilets! I don't think I've seen so many links between the royal family and toilets in pubs across the country, as I have in Hinckley. The highlight for me was the cider range. Apparently, they can stock up to 22 ciders. On this occasion, there were exactly half of that number - Purbeck Vix on the Beach, Katy Perry & Bushey Berry, Lilley's Pineapple Cider, Rhubarb Cider & Raspberry Mojito, Broadoak Purple Haze, Snail's Bank Dry Another Way, Celtic Marches Alice, Gwynt y Ddraig Ancient Warrior & Noddy's Nether Cerne Stumbler. Healey's Rattler & Hawkstone Hedgerow were the keg ciders. Bass is a regular cask ale here. Guests were Church End What The Fox's Hat & Stout Coffin & Milestone Donner & Blitzen. All are served from unclipped handpulls. Craft beers were Titanic Stout & Plum Porter & Beavertown Neck Oil & Gamma Ray. Beers and ciders are listed on boards above the bar. There was quite a friendly and lively atmosphere here on New Year's Eve. Music was playing, but did not intrude on the hubbub of conversation. Well worth a visit if in Hinckley.

An old school micropub,beloved by the local CAMRA branch which will tell you a lot about the clientele.It's a former chemists,long and thin with two square tables in either window,some well designed small high tables and stools opposite the long bar and then a back area with traditional chairs and tables. The landlady does not suffer fools gladly and can be very sharp which does influence the atmosphere.Her policy of all real ale at £3 is commendable but does lead to the sourcing of cheap barrels ,many with low ABV which will impact on choice. The ale is drawn down from stillage but served via a handpump which helps,and the guests on my trip were Bespoke Beware the Bear,Brampton MILD (strong and a regular),GK Scrum Down (?),Nelson's Jack the Knife and Brewster Hop a Doodle Doo (NBSS 2.5,boring malty brew).Bass is a regular and the fact that it was selling well tells you a lot about the guests.Worryingly the best draught seller on my visit was Veltins lager. The landlady is keen on ciders and offers a huge range grouped under sweet,medium or dry and this maybe the real USP here. I moved on after a single pint,there are better options elswewhere in town despite it's GBG listing.

Official site of The Pestle & Mortar - thepestlehinckley.co.uk

Official site of The Pestle & Mortar - thepestlehinckley.co.uk

Slightly split-level micro-pub with the main bar area supplemented by a further small seating area located up a single step. Plain furniture but plenty of pump clips and other breweriana as decoration on the long side walls. Bass always available from one of the handpumps on the counter, with three further beers - Elgoods Geese (£3.00), Wantsum Dynamo and East Side Of Providence by Hop Kettle Brewing - from the six additional pulls on the bar-back. Also has a great selection of up to 15 boxed ciders of various types.