The Marine Hotel, Stonehaven

Harbour-side pub / restaurant with quite a plain façade but inside it has a traditional bar an a very attractive larger room off to the side. As a Six°North outlet, the elongated hooped fount for the 14 craft keg taps offers a modern touch, but the six handpumps are a welcome sight. I went for the brewery's Chopper stout (£3.50), but there was a good range of guest beers from Fyne Ales, Williams Bros, Orkney, Summer Wine and a Gypsy Hill / Boxcar collaboration. Also has some benches out front for when the sun is shinning, and overall this is an excellent place for a pint and you can easily see how it won all the Camra awards on display.

Built in 1884, the Marine Hotel occupies a prime spot overlooking the picturesque harbour and of the 50 or so pubs I visited around the area over a 2 week period, this was probably my favourite. The carved heads on the partly whitewashed exterior alledgedly come from the nearby Dunotter Castle which itself is worth a visit. The pub has 2 entrances, one for the first floor restaurant (that with hindsight I would certainly have made use of) and the other for the bars. The interior is a bit smaller than you would initially expect with the main bar being particularly cramped around the bar itself, one of the few criticisms I have of the place, and it was a bit tricky spotting what was available through the congregated bodies although the barman was quick to offer a guided tour of the pumps that I couldn’t quite get a glimpse of. A collection of old pump clips are displayed on shallow shelving and various certificates endorse the pub’s reputation. A large brewery mirror and a couple of flat screen TVs are also mounted in the main bar. The lounge bar (more of a term of convenience than a literal description) has quite a basic feel with solid exposed stone walls, tongue and grooved ceilings and a befitting harbouside theme with prominent lobster pots, fishing rods, netting and oars hanging from the rafters. The 6 ales available on my visit included 2 from Timothy Taylor (Landlord & Golden Best), plus 4 local ales, Caledonian Deuchars, Houston Tartan Terror, Craigmill Summer Glow and Dunottar Ale, specially brewed for the pub by Inveralmond Away from the ales there is an extensive selection of draught and bottled speciality beers and lagers as well as around 130 whiskies. Prices were far more reasonable than its close neighbour. There was a good mix of customers (and dogs) and a friendly atmosphere and despite being busy, a table was to hand. There are a few seats outside if the weather allows and it would be hard to tear yourself away from the harbour views. A highly recommended pub!