Talbot Inn, Leamington Spa

This terraced locals boozer doesn't look much from the outside but is well worth a visit.The tap room to the left is quite basic with a wooden floor,darts board,upright piano and some well worn furniture with a small sky sports screen to the side of the bar.The carpeted lounge through an arch has a pleasant bay window and bench seating. It features in the 2014 GBG and the four handpumps normally feature a brew from Byatts,my XK Strong was pretty decent while the Wye Valley Butty Batch was acceptable.Lots of banter from the locals gathered around the bar,and some children (plus pram) in evidence around the interior were the landlords offspring.We got some useful information about local curry houses from the guv'nor and his wife,the pub itself is wet led. Although it is at the edge of town and tucked away,it is also close the the Grand Union Canal so should attract boaters and liveaboards.It has one of the best music tracks I have every experienced in a pub,an eclectic selection of some standards from the 60's to the modern day.It's a proper boozer.

A real backstreet pub off the beaten track that, to be frank, looked like a bit of a dump from the outside (side wall mural excepted) and the interior wasn’t a marked improvement. However there were five ales (Everards, Wye Valley, Oakham, Byatts on my visit) and five American bottled craft beers advertised (at a very reasonable £3.50 a pop). A massive Leamington FC pub with scarves, framed shirt etc. Everyone seemed to have some barmy football accumulator on - Jeff Stelling’s utterances on the gogglebox produced either groans or whoops. Items of note included darts, daily papers, back copies of Viz and Private Eye and WiFi (which I couldn’t connect to though someone else was streaming through it). To begin with I thought I’d just do a quick half or two (basic pub, surprisingly good range of beer and literature but that was kind of it) but I got rather into the swing of things and the Noah-bothering downpour outside gave me an excuse to stay a bit longer. Excellent decision, as the returning footy fans and some local characters meant the place became very lively. The dodgy-looking upright piano I spotted in the corner was fired up and a Les Dawson-esque performer who took requests ranging from an ABBA medley to a raucous rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody (I was told the piano came from salvage, rescued by the player). Having worked through all the excellent ales and having a thoroughly good time, I turned my attention to the American stuff and I really enjoyed my Flying Dog Doggie Style. The punters were friendly and I got chatting to a few who were very passionate about ‘their’ local and were full of praise for the landlord and assured me that this wasn’t a one-off sort of evening, either. I was meant to stay for a quick half or two but did five (or was it six?) pints. So that's a measure of my night here. A real backstreet gem. In a way I’d be reticent about visiting again as I’m not sure this visit could be topped. Superb.

What a delight of a pub! simple with a traditional fealalthogh updated, compleatly off the beaten track. with 4 real ales and a traditional cider always on tap you would be hard pushed to find a better pint in the area.

A little brick corner pub with black paintwork and a mural on the side where a demolished building once stood The interior had two little rooms, in white and wood panel. The bar had Sky TV, the music was mixed and at a decent level. A traditional place, there was a few small prints on the walls and some mirrors. The service was fine, but the place was near empty. Beer; tap stuff with four handpulls; an excellent Cottage Brewey's Puffing Billy, a well kept but unispiring Warwickshire Brewing Co's Shakespeare's County, Enville Ale - always a winner and BSH. This place was quality - in the middle of nowhere it seems. I would happily return