Bricklayers Arms, Luton

14 years on since my last visit to Luton, where my favourite pub had been the Black Horse, my return yielded nothing above average until my final pub of the day, the Bricklayers Arms. Finally my faith in pubs was restored. The pub is sited very close to Luton railway station in the Hightown area of the town. It's a fabulous alehouse with a main bar at the front and two further smaller rooms beyond. Locals were engaged in good conversation. Although a couple of elderly folks nearly came to blows during a discussion around Covid vaccinations. The landlord was on hand to make sure no punches were thrown! The pubs has lots of character and seemingly loads of characters. As an onlooker, I quite enjoyed the free entertainment. 5 real ales were on - Oakham JHB, Deeply Vale Equilibrium, Leighton Buzzard Vimy Bomber, Slater's Amarillo & Muirhouse Magnum Mild. Two Weston's Rosie's Pig ciders were also available - Rhubarb Cider and Raspberry & Cucumber Cider. My mild was my favourite drink of the day and this was my favourite pub in Luton by a country mile. When I'm next in Luton, I need to remind myself to head straight here.

This is a great old fashioned boozer which on my visit sold five cask ales. It's a small place with the bar and a wooden floored room at the front and another small room further back with a dart board that appeared to be blocked by a large sherry or wine barrel. On my visit the beers were Bateman's XB, Tring Ramscoat, Oakham JHB, York Minster and Nottingham Rock Mild. I went for the Mild (£3.10) which was in great nick and went down a treat. On my Thursday lunchtime visit I don't recall seeing any TV screens but I may have just been wishing them away.

Have to say the beer quality was struggling Mon eve, 3 of 4 beers tried were far from good. Let's hope it was just a blip (possibly the indecisive weather - atmospheric influence?). Further to my earlier comment, the HBs did look a little happier. 22 March 2009 Everards Tiger & Beacon, B&T Wembley Wobble, Milton Pegasus, Tring Royal Poacher– went, immediately replaced by Ramsbury Gold. Attractive woody look to the pub and warm ambience as you enter, bar to left of front room, wood tables&chairs, 3 tall barrels provide glass support & good view of plasma opposite bar (showing rugby ystdy), bookcase shelves either side give a homely feel. Further on to a second, smaller, room with a scattering of small tables and a tv quietly showing skysports news. Apparently gets busy pre-match if Luton are at home, but no sign of glass-backlog or anything when we arrived at 15:20. The £8.60 round (3pints) was the dearest of the day up here, and the exterior hanging baskets really need replanting to give a more cared-for look, but I very much liked the pub.

Official site of The Bricklayers Arms with real ale details - www.bricklayersarmsluton.co.uk

Official site of The Bricklayers Arms with real ale details - www.bricklayersarmsluton.co.uk