Top pubs

Following on from top beers, here's my list of top pubs in Nottingham, and also a list of those outside the worlds best city.

In Nottingham, in reverse order:

6, The White Swan, Old Basford. There was a time when every pub in Nottingham looked like this, a bar room, a separate lounge, a hatch for off sales, tiles in the corridors & 2 different entrances. Nowadays, breweries have attempted to make all pubs the same with their central bar area and one room look. The 'Mucky Duck' doesn't serve the best beer, doesn't believe in heating the pool room and isn't full of models, but it is still an essential pub on an Old Basford pub crawl.

5, The Cock & Hoop, Lace Market. An oasis in the mire of town bars, the Cock & Hoop is a fantastic pub surrounded by some of the worst places in town. The bar staff are slow but meticulously correct, there is already a smoking ban and downstairs you get table service. If you're meeting people in the lace market, avoid nipping in here first as a; you'll be loathed to leave and b; it'll be downhill from here on in.

4, The Trip to Jerusalem. A rare pub in so much as it is a tourist attraction and a true local's pub all in one. If you had a pint in each room, you'd leave worse for where and as the pub is built into the walls of the castle rock, affords a different kind of wall covering. There are few better evenings than those sat outside in the courtyard outside the Trip mixing with bikers, tourists, students and locals in total harmony. Unfortunately, this has had to stop due to the laws against drinking outside without service, but fingers crossed, this is being sorted. And the beer's decent as well. View here & here.

3, The Canalhouse. When you go out in a group, it's always hard to agree where to go. Some want loud music, others want attractive members of the opposite sex, some want attractive members of the same sex and some just want a good pint (guilty). The Canalhouse has all of these. You can sit outside in the summer by the canal, with what seems like the entire population of Nottingham without being overcrowded, or sit inside next to the working canal that runs into the middle of the pub. If you fancy a change of scene, it's got Fellows Morton & Clayton right next door. The Canalhouse was one of the few places truly missed when I lived in Scotland.

2, The Lion, New Basford. A regular venue for the special occasion, loads of different, ever changing real ales, plenty of room and live music most nights of the week. Beer garden for the summer. A good game to play on birthdays: Look at the menu of beers, try one of each. Simple.

1, The Fox & Crown, Old Basford (otherwise known as BPitW). Brews its own beer, sells other real ales, lagers & ciders, looks after the beer well, authentic Thai food, beer garden, its own real ale shop, comfortable surroundings AND 5 minutes walk from my house. Quite easily the best pub in the world.

Outside the beautiful city:

5, Grant Arms Hotel, Fochabers, Scotland. The original, dipped a bit over the last ten years, but now re-establishing itself as the preferred venue to spend the night in Fochabers. Many a happy day spent in here over the years.

4, McDonnells, Belmullet, Ireland. Walk in, order pint, sit down, talk, drink.

3, Oxford Bar, Edinburgh, Scotland. Edinburgh is a fantastic city for a weekend away, avoid Rose Street and you'll be pretty much guaranteed a decent pub. Head towards the Grass Market, Haymarket or around Tynecastle for some fantastic pubs. Go during the fringe festival and you'll get a good atmosphere. Like many others I'm sure, I was drawn towards the Oxford Bar from the Ian Rankin Rebus books, and after initially walking straight past it, found it on one of the back streets of the new town. I wasn't disappointed. "A scout hut for the over 30's" is pretty much spot on. Watched the rugby in there one Saturday afternoon with about 20 others and the place was chocker. Next time I'm in Edinburgh, I'll be back.

2, The Richbrau Brewery Company, Richmond, Virginia, USA. Beer and America, two words that don't always sit well in the same sentence. Another brewpub, a decent bar downstairs and a pool hall upstairs.

1, The Red Lion, Fochabers, Scotland. Take off your coat, hang it up, sit down at the bar, pint waiting, ask if the others in the bar want a drink, get talking to whoever's in. My local in Scotland and still the place to go for a whole evening of socialising. I'll be up in September and it can't come soon enough.


Any comments ? Which have I missed out ?