Pubs Galore - the UK pub guide

A Hungry Horse on a main road, with a car park at one side and a fairly ordinary garden with benches, tables and instruments of torture for children at the back. The single large L-shaped bar is reasonably comfortable, but like so many of these places the atmosphere is ruined by uncontrolled children and loud cretins. The food was the usual Bake Brothers stuff, cheap ingredients microwaved by a person in a chef’s uniform. There were 3 ales on – GK IPA, Abbot and Doombar. The ale was badly kept and in poor condition. The staff were good though – very welcoming and friendly, though there was a lot of confusion about what was and wasn’t on the menu and which beers were part of which deals. I don’t think I’ll be hanging here too often.

A hard to find and possible a stumble across pub, a pair of stairs take you down to this multiply vaulted undercroft which is sort of separated inside into different areas without being fully divided. The bar is along a side wall towards the front, as you pass deeper inside there is a half staircase dropping down further to what looks like a dedicated dining area with a transparent curved roof above. The gradual stepping down despite being underground follows the terrain as the land falls towards the River Thames valley.
There is mixed seating of all currently known styles, most of the roughcast walls are washed white, some lower walls are wood panelled.
Of the four handpumps, two were on, Thornbridge Lord Marples (£4.50) and Gun Brewery Pale Ale. A selection of keg offerings plus an impressive range of bottles also available. Food served, pizze and burgers but a pub grub menu too.
I liked it, a sign made me smile and a cheery friendly welcome always counts for a lot, "We don't do Fosters, Carling, Stella, Becks or....London Pride". Controversial? Maybe someone had to raise it.....Youngs, GKIPA, DB?

A recent opening above the Walkabout bar on Corn Street, it describes itself as a “Cocktail Bar and Stick Lounge”, and for the uninitiated, that means it’s got a few pool tables. The entrance is via a small doorway which leads in to a short hallway and flight of stairs with a large pool ball mural and some urban graffiti on the walls. At the top of the stairs, it opens out in to a large U-shaped pub with a number of pool tables in rooms around the perimeter, a central lounge and a bar area.

The lounge bar was a good size and this looked quite pleasant with wood strip on the floor, some white wood panelling on the walls and rough wooden boards at one end. Low hanging lamps in metal cages were something of a feature and button backed bench seating was around much of the perimeter with round tables and chairs elsewhere. The bar area was a little more industrial perhaps, with grey air conditioning ducting on the ceiling and a copper clad bar counter. Walls were a mixture of cream paintwork and dark grey wood panelling on the lower part, whilst a TV was showing a sports channel, although the volume was off so this was not too intrusive. A few black and white photos of pool tournaments were scattered around the walls. The pool rooms themselves were off to each side, and some of these were surprisingly elegant with painted wood panelling on the walls.

Unfortunately there were no real ales on tap, although I did spot Punk IPA on keg. Ciders meanwhile were a disappointing Aspall’s Suffolk and Rekorderlig Strawberry & Lime. All in all, if you want a game of pool it’s a pleasant enough place, but I can see little reason to visit otherwise when there are plenty of better options nearby.

New place in Stockport opened today, specialising in beer, gin and pizza.

Not sure if this counts as a pub as it only opens 7am to 5pm, mainly I suspect for food. One room with bar to the right. Two keg fonts only.