Elbow Room, Hinckley

Excellent micro-pub with quite a traditional feel despite being housed in a rather unpromising modern shopping / entertainment centre unit. Large windows, rustic furniture, a mix of prints and breweriana on display plus good-natured chatter all round. Also has a few tables out on the pavement for the better weather. Real ales are served on gravity from stillage in a cool room behind the counter, with five in a range of styles - including the 'house' (Furnace) Elbow Grease (£3.20) - plus a selection of craft keg beers, ciders and gins.

In a unit of the new town centre retail development ,this is more hip bar than micropub but it is a great addition to the local drinking scene. The small bar is directly infront of the entrance with a useful chalk board to the right.There will be up to 5 cask beers from a stillage in a temperature controlled cabinet,a few keg craft beers,7 real ciders,gins , spirits and a strong bottled beer menu.CAMRA discount available . The rest of the room has window bench seting below the plate glass,high tables and benches opposite ,while the tables are wooden with metal framing.Industrial ducting hangs from the ceiling,fairy lights dangle above while the industrial flooring and little soft furnishing makes for a noisy interior when busy.The muzak was cool and the punters a mixed bunch but leaning towards the young and trendy with plenty of women. Takeaway delivery of pizze and other italian food from a local diner are available and there is occasional open mic nights. The ale choice on my trip was Elbow Grease (jv with brewer Furnace),Mallinson's Chinook,Neptune Equinox,Shiny Adventure and Blue Bee Sorachi Milk Stout (NBSS 3.5).A very decent selection IMHO.The bearded barman was welcoming, keen and helpful which enlivened the atmosphere. A pub traditionalist may frown ,but for my money this is the best real ale venue in town and I would make a bee line for this place,expecting to sample a wide variety of great beer.

This is the more "crafty" of the two Hinckley micropubs. It's set in a modern unit that is part of a cinema complex near the bus station. The interior has that modern unfinished look with aircon ducts, a metal clad ceiling and aluminium lamp shades. The beer is stored in a chilled cabinet with sliding glass doors. There was a low volume music track playing and a fair number in on my Saturday afternoon visit. Five beers were available something called Baton Breakfast Black IPA, Farmageddon Oatmeal IPA, Arbor Sean Of The Red, Wishbone Abyss Stout and Abbeydale Cold Conscience. I went for the Oatmeal IPA (£4.40 inc discount) and Cold Conscience (£3.20 inc discount). Both tasted fine but neither were clear and there was no warning that they were unfined beers. I thought this was a decent micropub despite the hazy beer and is quite a contrast to the other Hinckley one.