The Douglas Hotel, Langholm

I already knew this was the only hand pump in town, so had been looking forward all evening to coming here while suffering the other three pubs for the purpose of completeness, or possibly masochism. I must admit to being a little nervous about there actually being some real ale on, but there it was, slightly hidden at one end of the bar and looking understated and a little forlorn: Borderlands Esk Blonde 4.5%, brewed in Langholm itself. I'm a little mistrustful of beers calling themselves "blonde", as they can be bland and sweetish, so went for a wary half, but this one was a really good beer in great condition and I didn't put up much resistance to the thought of a pint to round off the evening. This pub was closer to the first two with regard to noise, but it was more the noise of two dozen people enjoying themselves than the sound of a fraction of that number feeling they don't exist unless they are calling attention to themselves. The pool table provided amusement, with a Friday night combination of impressive skill and comedy miscues. I somehow got into conversation with two guys from Lancashire who were here for some shooting and for some reason ended up telling them about how the Tories had decided on the policy of selling council houses to their tenants as a way of creating a guaranteed Tory majority; these were quite clearly the sort of people who "never think about politics" but always end up voting Tory. One of them went for an early night and the other was so pissed there is no way he would have remembered our conversation. I should, as the saying goes, have saved my breath to cool my porridge.

I found it. The only handpump in town. Deuchars - wasent a bad pint. It must have been the first of the day, the barman pulled a couple of pints off first - very kind most places wouldent bother. Its not a snobby food pub, theres a few locals at the bar wearing trainers, a pool table, bandit, all your basic requirements. The hanging baskets outside seemed almost out of place.

Official site of the Douglas Hotel - www.douglashotellangholm.co.uk

Official site of the Douglas Hotel - www.douglashotellangholm.co.uk