The Scooper's pub guide!    

his new section to the site is something that scoopers have been after for many years, hence the many "who knows any decent pubs in xxx" on Scoopgen!  Well, it's about time we did something about it, comrades, so here we go... if you know any more pubs which you think should be on here, or want to amend some details of an existing entry, either email me with the gen or fill in this form here and send it off to me.  This page will only be as good as the gen we get, so I'm relying on everyone to get it as complete and genned-up as possible; cheers.

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed, especially Dave Hughes, Simon Fyffe, the Ratebeer crew and everyone else... cheers guys, you made this what it is!

*** Page under construction - it isn't finished yet!! ***

Disclaimer :

This page - nay, this whole site - is maintained by Gazza under his public service obligation to the scooping community (and anyone else who gives a toss).  Therefore, if your pub is not featured here - or anywhere else you think should be - then let me know, but I have the final say on what gets posted here... I pay the bloody bill, after all.

Bedfordshire

Bedford.

Wellington (Banks & Taylor), 40 Wellington Street.
Opening hours: Monday - Saturday 12:00 - 23:00, Sunday 12:00 - 22:30.
Cask ales: 12 Handpumps
Food: Decent filled rolls most lunchtimes.
Guest policy: Micro beers from small brewers nationwide.
Mild/dark beer policy:
Get there: Almost in the centre of town.
Public Transport:  Bus station is 5 mins walk away, the main rail station 10 minutes.
Gen: Real cider and perry, changing selection of Belgian bottles. Huge collection of historic bottles, pumpclips, breweriana and general boozy bric-a-brac. Small, shabby, atmospheric, carpet-less, redbrick, Victorian backstreet pub. Clientele mostly over 45. Beer festivals twice a year. Landlord's name is Mr Beer (honestly)!
Nearest scooping pubs: Engineers, Henlow.
Last Updated: 14/11/2008 Hughie / Gazza

Henlow.

Engineers Arms (Free), 68 High Street, Henlow SG16 6AA. 01462 812284
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 12:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-01:00, Sun ?
Cask ales: Varies
Food: Snacks
Guest policy: Regular beer festivals, up to 20 guest beers served each week
Mild/dark beer policy:
Get there: Easy to get to from Biggleswade via bus 82 or it's a mile walk from Arlesey station.
Public Transport: Bus 82 or E7 from Biggleswade, Bus M1 from Bedford. Arlesey BR (20 mins)
Gen: Pub in a linear village south of Biggleswade which does some decent beers.
Nearest scooping pubs: Strathmore Arms St Pauls Warden 11 Miles
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Dave Hughes / Gazza

Cambridgeshire

Cambridge.  Map

Famous University city with a growing number of good pubs with decent beer and one of the best offies in the UK for BCA's and Foreign beer.

Bacchanalia off-license (Free), 90 Mill Road.
Cask ales: Three on gravity, loads in bottle.
Food: None, it’s a shop!
Guest policy: Has a very adventurous policy towards the bottled beers with a huge range from all over the world.
Mild/dark beer policy:
Get there: In a cluster of decent pubs along a road with plenty of food options.
Public Transport: Cambridge Drummer St Bus Station (10 mins)
Gen: Excellent offie (used to be the Jug & Firkin) with wine at the front and beer - cask and bottled - at the rear. Huge bottled range with some real rarities in there; 3 Fonteinen Hommage, for example!
Nearest scooping pubs: Live & Let Live (5 mins), Kingston Arms (5 mins), Cambridge Blue (10 mins)
Last Updated: 24/10/2008 Gazza

Cambridge Blue (Free).  85-87 Gwydir Street, CB1 2LG, 01223 361382.
Opening hours: From 12:00 every day (?)
Cask ales: Approx 10, all guests except 1 house beer, max number of beers on at all times.
House beer(s): Nethergate do a special, unknown if rebadge or not.
Food: Decent pub food at reasonable prices (for Cambridge!), available lunchtimes and every evening 18:00-21:00
Guest policy: Getting more adventurous although little very new/rare
Mild/dark beer policy: Usually one available
Get there: 10 mins walk N of Cambridge BR: 1st R Tenison Rd, 3rd R St Barnabas Rd, follow N to Gwydir St.
Public Transport: Nearest bus stop on Mill Rd (Gwydir St)
Gen: Old-time pub which has been on the circuit for many years, now much improved under new landlord.
Nearest scooping pubs: Kingston Arms (5 mins), Live & let Live (5 mins) and Bacchanalia offy (5 mins).
Last Updated: 27/09/2008 Gazza

Elm Tree (Banks & Taylor).  Orchard Street. 
Cask ales: A dozen handpumps on the bar.  House beer(s): Obviously, B&T beers are on sale!
Food: No food available, although small snacks may appear soon.
Guest policy: Decent guest beers on sale, although the foreign bottled beer list is a stunner.
Mild/dark beer policy: Usually have B&T Edwin Taylor's stout.
Get there: In a maze of lanes close to the bus station, you need a map to find it and even then a bit of luck!
Public Transport: Cambridge Drummer Street bus station (10 mins)
Gen: Recently (Summer 08) taken over by B&T, this small pub has great potential to become a scooping hotspot in an area of the city not blessed with much beer choice.
Nearest scooping pubs: Tram Shed (10 mins)
Last Updated: 24/10/2008 Gazza

Try also :

• Kingston Arms, 33 Kingston St.  On the way from L&LL to Cambridge Blue, this pub has 10 cask ales although only 3 are guest beers.  Expensive, but worth a look as you pass.  Free Internet access wifi/terminals.

• Live & Let Live, 40 Mawson Road (Free).  Famous old free house in a quiet area although I've never been that impressed with the beer range - it's okay for a normal but not really a scooper!

• Tram Shed, Dover Street (off East Rd).  Old Tram shed, as the name suggests, owned by Everards with some proper guests and Brunswick beers too; worth a look.

Peterborough.

Charters (Oakham), Town Bridge, Peterborough PE1 1EH.  01733 315700.
Opening hours: 12:00 until "late" ("later" Fri, Sat)
Cask ales: A dozen ales on cask at most times
House beer(s): Oakham JHB, White Dwarf plus seasonals
Food: Oriental Restaurant upstairs (on deck!) plus bar menu 12:00-14:30
Guest policy: Up to eight guest beers available plus a range of boring Foreign beers - did you know Stella is French and Leffe is for connoisseurs? No, me neither…
Mild/dark beer policy: Guest mild available
Get there: On the river just South of the centre, you really can't miss a 176 foot long barge… can you?
Public Transport: Peterborough BR (10 mins), Queensgate bus station (5 mins)
Gen: 1907 Dutch barge moored under town bridge with a pretty decent range of cask ales available. Opened in 1991. Sells around 500 guests a year.
Nearest scooping pubs:
Last Updated: 15/11/2008 Dave Hughes / Gazza

Cheshire

Aston.

Village out in the Cheshire countryside with not a lot else going for it apart from this amazing pub.

Bhurtpore Arms (Free), Wrenbury Road, Aston, Cheshire.
Opening hours: M-F 12:00-14:30, 18:30-23:30, Sat open until 15:00, Sun 11:00-23:00
Cask ales: Around 11 real ales and well over 100 Foreign bottled beers.  House beer(s): Hanby Drawwell
Food: Excellent food prepared fresh on the premises
Guest policy: Guests can come from anywhere although are mainly North-Western micros.
Mild/dark beer policy: Should be a dark beer on sale
Get there: Out in the sticks of the Southern Cheshire countryside. The easiest way is by car, although there's a tiny station nearby (on the Crewe-Shrewsbury line) accessible via country lanes!
Public Transport: Wrenbury BR (10 mins) although you need a map!
Gen: Run for years with some aplomb by Simon George, this all-round great pub has a large beer festival every year with a good range of scoops. Has served almost 6,000 different beers to date.
Nearest scooping pubs: None!
Last Updated: 30/10/2008 Gazza

Chester.  Map  Report

Old walled Roman city which has a decent smattering of pubs including 2 Sam Smiths, 1 Lees and the ones listed here.  Many other pubs do a guest beer so there's usually something around to drink.

Mill Hotel (Free).  Milton Street, 01244 350035.  Opening hours: All permitted.
Cask ales: Up to 16 beers on handpump.  House beer(s): Coach House's 4.2% "house beer", named for the hotel, Weetwood Best.
Food: The hotel supplies bar meals.
Guest policy: Reasonably adventurous with plenty of micro brews, mainly but not exclusively from the Northwest. 10 guest beers.
Mild/dark beer policy: Usually a mild or stout on.
Get there: The pub is in fact the bar of a hotel alongside the canal and has been Chester's best beer range for a good many years now.
Public Transport: BR Chester (10 mins)
Gen: Busy and noisy hotel bar with everything that means (think lonely businessfolk trying to pull!) but a wide beer range means you'll not be bored watching them. The Union Vaults at 44 Egerton Street a couple of roads towards town is worth a look, too.
Nearest scooping pubs: Harker's Arms (5 mins)
Last Updated: 22/10/2008 Gazza

Old Harker's Arms (Brunning & Price).  1 Russell Street, next to the Shroppie Union canal.
Opening hours: M-S 11:30-23:00, Sun 12:00-22:30
Ownership: Brunning & Price, who have recently been taken over by "The Restaurant group".
Cask ales: Six guest beers.
Food: It's quite posh so the food follows suit
Guest policy: Was variable with some days much better than others, but with B&P's takeover I don't know now.
Mild/dark beer policy:
Get there: Close to the station, alongside the canal, on the way into the city centre and located in an old warehouse.
Public Transport: BR Chester (5 mins)
Gen: This nicely converted old warehouse is unashamedly aimed at the posher end of the drinking market but still manages to keep half a dozen cask ales on although how rare they are depends on your luck!
Nearest scooping pubs: Mill Hotel (5 mins)
Last Updated: 22/10/2008 Gazza

Try also :

• Bear and Billet - 94 Lower Bridge Street.  Ancient (1600's) half-timbered pub by the city walls which has been ruined inside yet is still worth a look beer-wise for the six cask ales on sale; you may be lucky and find a WC beer on, but probably not.

• Telford's Warehouse - Tower Wharf.  Converted canalside warehouse (yes, another one!) which is a "yoof" venue in the evenings but serves up five cask beers of which you may find some unusual (generally local) ones. A strange place but I really like it!

• Gen from the "Hard Peg" Camra site; "Local micro Spitting Feathers have bought Gamul House on Lower Bridge Street in Chester which will be called The Brewery Tap and be selling Spitting Feathers ales plus guest ales from other microbreweries. Food will also be available with the promise of freshly prepared seasonal ingredients sourced, where possible, from local growers and suppliers. What tremendous news and what a splendid building too as Gamul House is a one-time Jacobean hall, built as a part of a townhouse where (bit of history for you) King Charles I spent the night after the battle of Rowton Moor".

Cornwall

Foxfield.

Essex

Gloucestershire

Greater Manchester

Manchester city centre.  Map

Consistently a great beer dinking city and, off and on, a great scooping city.  The years of plenty may have waned slightly but it's still a cracking place for a pub crawl with, apart from these excellent places, many others which have a decent beer range; cheap, locally-brewed beer is a pastime in Manc!  The Metrolink tram and free "metroshuttle" central buses are very useful.  If you need to stay over, there are plenty of cheap chain hotels about including a huge Premier Inn in Salford and a Travelodge almost opposite the Crown & Kettle.

Angel (ex Beer House)  (Free), 6 Angel Street, M4 4BQ. 0161 833 4786. 
Opening hours: 12:00-23:00 daily, Sun 11:00-20:00
Cask ales: Four, usually 1 or 2 from Dunham Massey, House beer(s): Dunham Massey supply a lot of the real ale.
Food: Excellent scran from famous chef and not too expensive either.
Guest policy: Mainly local, decent beers with the odd surprise; getting better all the time.
Mild/dark beer policy: Bottled Dunham Massey dark mild
Get there: In the so-called "Northern Quarter"; from Victoria station, head past the big Co-op tower to the crossroads, turn left then first left.
Public Transport: Nearest station Victoria (10 mins), nearest tram stop Shude Hill, bus station there also (5 mins)
Gen: Owned by famous local chef Robert Owen-Brown and already expanded it's beer range.  More of a "gastropub" than scooping pub but has some good ales on!
Nearest scooping pubs: Smithfield, Bar Fringe, Marble Arch, Crown & Kettle all within 5 minutes
Last Updated: 01/10/2008 Gazza

Bar Fringe (Free).  8 Swan Street, M4 5JN. 0161 835 3815.
Opening hours: From 12:00 daily
Cask ales: Five, House beer(s): None
Food: Used to do toasties etc but not sure they still do?
Guest policy: Five changing beers from the Boggart list.
Mild/dark beer policy:
Get there: 2 Mins from Smithfield hotel in the Northern Quarter
Public Transport: Shude Hill tramstop is only 5 mins walk away
Gen: Unusual Belgian-ish bar with some good cask ales a changing but generally good range of Belgian (and other countries) beers in bottle.
Nearest scooping pubs: Smithfield, Crown and Kettle are a minute away. Marble Arch 5 mins.
Last Updated: 01/10/2008 Gazza

Marble Arch (Free).  73 Rochdale Road, M4 4HY. 0161 832 5914.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30-23:00, Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 19:00-22:30
Cask ales: Around 10, House beer(s): Marble beers, brewed in the cellar
Food: Very impressive posh pub food
Guest policy: Usually half Marble beers and half guests, increasingly interesting
Mild/dark beer policy: Should be one on
Get there: Five minutes along Rochdale Rd from Angel
Public Transport: Buses stop 25 metres before pub at Rochdale Road/Suddell Street, 17,64,81 and many more
Gen: Established scooping pub with it's own brewery. Good range of guests, excellent own beers, top food, amazing building… it's got it all.
Nearest scooping pubs: Angel, Smithfield, Bar Fringe all 5 minutes
Last Updated: 01/10/2008 Gazza

Smithfield Hotel (Free).  37 Swan Street, M4 5JZ. 0161 839 4424‎.
Opening hours: From 12:00 until ?
Cask ales: Eight, House beer(s): Robinsons Dark Mild and a house bitter (was Phoenix)
Food: Cheap pub snacks available
Guest policy: Around six interesting guest beers available, most come on Thursday and when they run off are sometimes not replaced.
Mild/dark beer policy: House mild
Get there: Right in the middle of the N4 crawl.
Public Transport: Metrolink Shude Hill station is 5 mins away
Gen: Cheap hotel with a good range of cask ales, but at the start of the week the range may be limited.
Nearest scooping pubs: Marble Arch, Bar Fringe, Crown & Kettle very close
Last Updated: 04/10/2008 Gazza

Try also :

• Crown & Kettle, 2 Oldham Road.  Boarded up for 20 years, this gorgeous old pub reopened in 2005 and serves a decent range of cask ales although not many scoops, but it's close to other good pubs so well worth a look.

• Lass o' Gowrie, 36 Charles Street.  Ex-Whitbread brewpub now more of a old-style ale house with a surprisingly decent range of beer.  Opposite the BBC close to Oxford Road station.

Salford.  Map

In reality a separate city but you'll be hard pressed to spot the join with Manchester.  The further out you go the more of an urban wasteland it becomes with (I think) 5 closed pubs in-between the New Oxford and the Crescent and only one open one... Pretty it ain't, but it's three good pubs are worth a visit.  Be careful around the area at night - seriously!

Crescent (Free).  15 The Crescent.  Opening hours: From 12:00 ?
Cask ales: 12 handpumps, up to 12 beers on bar and sometimes beers from cellar too
House beer(s): A couple of semi-regular beers but no house beers
Food: Basic but decent meals; curry, chilli etc
Guest policy: Not as good as when Sal and Idy were there but not bad. 
Mild/dark beer policy: A mild usually available
Get there: Situated alongside the busy A6, 2 miles West of Manchester, on a major bus corridor.
Public Transport: Many buses pass outside (stop very close) or BR to Salford Crescent then turn left past university (5 mins)
Gen: Long-time famous scooping pub, improving again after a period when closure was a real possibility - like the Beer House, might have been saved by the "credit crunch"!
Nearest scooping pubs: New Oxford (10 mins), King's Arms (12 mins)
Last Updated: 22/10/2008 Gazza

New Oxford (Free).  11 Bexley Square. 0161 832 7082.  Opening hours: From 12:00.
Cask ales: 16 or so handpumps, range varies from 6 to 16 at festivals.
House beer(s): Bazens Flatbac plus various brewers do specials for the pub.
Food: Good bar snacks and larger meals available.
Guest policy: Interesting beers, new breweries. Also good Foreign beer range.
Mild/dark beer policy: Usually 1 on.
Get there: Just off the main A6 heading out of Manchester just after Salford Central station. Set back from road on a pedestrianised square.
Public Transport: BR to Salford Central (5 mins), Free centreline (purple) to Chapel St (3 mins), many other buses pass the pub.
Gen: Excellent scooping pub, formerly a Vaux house, which has inspired the Manchester beer scene with it's enthusiasm and good beer choice. One of the shining stars of the area.
Nearest scooping pubs: Crescent (10 mins), King's Arms (5 mins)
Last Updated: 22/10/2008 Gazza

Try also :

• King's Arms, 11 Bloom Street.  Lovely Victorian pile with a maze of rooms. Serves a decent range of (usually) local beers with few scoops but it's generally worth a look on your way to the New Oxford.

Stalybridge.

Milltown out on the eastern edge of Manchester in what was once Cheshire, Stalybridge sits in the Pennine foothills and is conveniently close to Manchester, Dewsbury, Huddersfield and Leeds to make a day in any (or all) of them a possibility! 

Stalybridge Station Buffet (Free), Platform 1 (outbound), Stalybridge Station, Rassbottom Street. 0161 303 0007.
Opening hours: 11:00 - 23:00 every day
Cask ales: Up to eight cask beers.  House beer(s): Hydes "Boddingtons" bitter, "Flowers IPA"
Food: Cheap and well-made snacks available
Guest policy: Tends to favour beers from local breweries although some from further afield.
Mild/dark beer policy: Generally at least one on
Get there: This really is part of the station at Stalybridge! It's on the Leeds-bound platform which can be accessed without a ticket by walking up the cobbled slope alongside the buildings.
Public Transport: Stalybridge BR (0 mins!)
Gen: Long-time scooping pub run by Sylvia and John Hesketh for many years. Has served 6717 Guest Beers Since 1997!
Nearest scooping pubs: Manchester, Dewsbury buffet bar (on station, Manc bound platform), Huddersfield, Leeds
Last Updated: 30/10/2008 Gazza

Stockport.  Map

Stockport used to be in Cheshire until re-organisations of the boundaries.  It's a large town with a beautiful brick viaduct that towers over everything, including the best pub in town, and the whole thing is a mere ten minutes on the train from Manchester.

Crown (Free).  154 Heaton Lane, 0161 429 0549.  Opening hours:
Cask ales: Up to 12 in the week, up to 16 weekends.  House beer(s): At least 1 Pictish and 1 Copper Dragon.
Food: Unknown
Guest policy: Quite adventurous, seems to major on NW brewers but has so many pumps there's always something else interesting on and you'll be unlucky not to scoop anything - plus there will probably be some Pictish on!
Mild/dark beer policy: Should be at least one available
Get there: A short walk from the centre, right under the famous viaduct.
Public Transport: BR Stockport (10 mins), Bus station 5 mins.
Gen: Classically situated under Stockport's massive viaduct, this cracking pub is currently in one of it's better periods and sells a good range of beer plus Pictish…
Nearest scooping pubs: Woolpack (10 mins), Olde Vic (10 mins)
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Gazza

Try also :

• Woolpack, Brinksway.  This pub has done guest beers for years although it's long serving landlord died recently and it's future is unsure. It serves four guests at the less interesting end of the scooping scale although they do have some interesting beers in here.

• Ye Olde Vic, 1 Chatham Street, Shaw Heath.  Looks as if it's closed and boarded, this strange place serves 6 cask ales of the more interesting variety, although beware the "no swearing" policy…

Hampshire

Herefordshire

Hertfordshire

St. Paul's Walden.

Strathmore Arms (Free), Whitwell Road, St Paul's Walden SG4 8BT. 01438 871654
Opening hours: 12:00-14:30 (not Mon), 17:00(18:00 Mon)-23:00; 12:00-23:00 Fri-Sat; 12:00-22:30 Sun
Cask ales: 3 ever-changing Guests.  House beer(s): Fullers London Pride, Woodfordes Wherry
Food: Basic pub grub, varied menu
Guest policy: Regular ticking festivals
Mild/dark beer policy:
Get there: In a small village out in the sticks, best bet is the bus.
Public Transport: Bus 304 from Hitchin or St Albans stops outside
Gen: Worth the visit and just 4 miles from Luton Airport
Nearest scooping pubs: St Albans
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Dave Hughes / Gazza

Try also :

• Half Moon, 57 Queen St, Hitchin.  Enterprise Inns house with three guests and regular beer festivals.

St Albans.  Map  Report

Historic city with a surprisingly small cathedral, St Albans is a major commuter hub and is therefore infested with pompous twats called Tarquin Farquarson-Smythe or similar.  Some great pubs will, hopefully, drown out the braying voices and if not there are 2 rail stations to enable a quick getaway.

Lower Red Lion (Free House, due to change hands in late 2008).  36 Fishpool Street.
Opening hours: M-F 12:00-14:30 and 17:30-23:00, Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-22:30
Cask ales: Six to eight, House beer(s): Oakham JHB plus Alehouse beers.
Food: Served lunchtimes only.
Guest policy: Plenty of Alehouse one-offs plus a good range of guests from micro brewers.
Get there: In the conservation area of St Albans close to the cathedral, easily walkable from the centre but it's a steep hill going back!
Public Transport: BR St Albans City (15 mins), BR St Albans Abbey (10 mins)
Gen: Ancient pub with lots of character which has been the city's best bet for a scoop for years now, although it is due to change hands at the end of 2008 with no guarantees as to the future.
Nearest scooping pubs: Boot (5 mins), Farmer's Boy (10 mins)
Last Updated: 22/10/2008 Gazza

Try Also :

• Boot, 4 Market Place.  Old pub with 2 or 3 guests on sale, usually nothing too exciting (although rarities sometimes) but worth a look on way to Lower Red.

• Farmer’s Boy, 134 London Road.  Brewpub (although the Alehouse brewery behind the pub is a separate business) which sells two house beers and two guests.

• Mermaid, 98 Hatfield Road.  Ex-Everards pub (still serving Tiger) which has half a dozen guest ales from, usually, small brewers. Making a big effort, support them!

• White Lion, 91 Sopwell Lane.  Yet another old pub in a quiet and presumably expensive area, this is run by David (ex-LRL) who serves up some delicious food and six guest beers although little of real rarity.
   

Kent

Rochester.

Try Also :

• Man of Kent, 6-8 John Street.  Not really a scooping pub but it does have a decent range of mainly Kentish beers on sale.  Worth a look in lieu of anything else.

Lancashire

Darwen.

A post-industrial horror story writ in brick, with one redeeming feature... this pub.

Black Horse (Free), 72 Redearth Road.  01254 873040.
Cask ales: Eight or so regularly, up to 30 at festivals.  House beer(s): Fallons beers should be available
Food: Yes, decent curries
Guest policy: Rare guest ales from all over the place, the best guest beers for miles
Mild/dark beer policy: Should be one dark beer available
Get there: Darwen isn't really cask ale territory - actually, I don’t know what territory it is but it's not particularly welcoming. The pub is a short walk from the station through what was an education in urban dereliction although these (perfectly good) houses have probably been demolished by now. I'd get a map before you go.
Public Transport: Darwen BR (10 mins)
Gen: Standalone cask pub in a grim run-down town with nothing else beery for miles, the veritable oasis in a desert! Andy does a sterling job of sourcing rare beers plus finds time to run his own brewery too (Fallons).
Nearest scooping pubs: Manchester!
Last Updated: 31/10/2008 Gazza

Preston.  Map  Report

Busy town with a lot of pubs where you might get a scoop and might not, although there are is one stand-out place. 

Bitter Suite (Free), 53 Fylde Road, PR1 2XQ.  01772 827007.
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 12:00-15:00, 18:00-23:00, Fri 12:00-15:00, 18:00-02:00, Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 12:00-23:00
Cask ales: Large range of real ales with plenty of scoops, 6 pumps.  House beer(s): Rebadged Goose Eye house beer.
Food: Pie'n'peas Mon-Thu 12:00-15:00, Fri fish & chips 12:00-14:00
Guest policy: Lots of Pictish and other good Northwest beers, decent amount of scoops
Mild/dark beer policy:
Get there: Close to the university and a good walk from the station, this pub is nevertheless Preston's "must visit" for cask ales and scoops.
Public Transport: Preston BR (15 mins)
Gen: Converted club which still feels like one but it's the draw of the excellent beer range that interests us! Has all the Pictish specials which can never be a bad thing.
Nearest scooping pubs: New Britannia (10 mins)
Last Updated: 15/11/2008 Gazza

Try also :

• New Continental, South Meadow Lane.  Sadly in the opposite direction from the station from the Bitter Suite, this pub has re-opened with five cask ales of the pale, hoppy variety.

• New Britannia, 6 Heatley Street.  A shadow of it's former glory as the town's best scooping pub, but if still worth a gander.

Leicestershire

Leicester.

A melting pot of multiculturalism, which means you're guaranteed some proper curry.

Criterion (Free), 44 Millstone Lane.  0116 262 5418
Opening hours:
Cask ales: At least eight real ales plus a load of interesting Foreign bottles.  House beer(s): Usually an Oakham beer
Food: Home-made pizzas are a speciality.
Guest policy: Fairly interesting guest beers in both the UK and Foreign lines.
Mild/dark beer policy:
Get there: In a backlane not far from the centre and the other decent pubs, it's not the easiest place to find!
Public Transport: Leicester BR (15 mins)
Gen: All-round good pub with top food, cask ales and Foreign beers; well worth a session.
Nearest scooping pubs: Swan & Rushes (5 mins), OOTV (5 mins)
Last Updated: 31/10/2008 Gazza

Out of the Vaults (Free), 24 King Street.
Opening hours:
Cask ales: 12 Handpumps, 7 guests and 5 permanent
House beer(s): Oakham JHB & Bishop's Farewell, Leatherbritches Doctor Johnson & Hairy Helmet and a Beowulf dark beer
Food:
Guest policy: Good, better at festival time
Mild/dark beer policy: Dedicated pump for a Beowulf dark beer.
Get there: In the centre of Leicester, only a short walk from the station.
Public Transport: Leicester BR (10 mins)
Gen: The original Vaults closed in 2003 but Paul the landlord soon opened the "new" Vaults which is even better than the original! (plus it's not in a cellar…)
Nearest scooping pubs: Criterion (10 mins), Swan & Rushes (10 mins)
Last Updated: 31/10/2008 Gazza

Swan & Rushes (Free), 19 Infirmary Square. 0116 233 9167
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 12:00-14:45, 17:00-23:00, Thu 12:00-14:45, 17:00-00:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 12:00-23:30
Cask ales: A good range of cask ale plus a superb Foreign bottle list.  House beer(s): Batemans and Oakham are regulars.
Food: Lunchtime bar meals, evening ones too Tue-Fri (maybe)
Guest policy: The UK beers are decent enough but the 100+ Foreign bottle list has some absolute gems.
Mild/dark beer policy:
Get there: Situated on the ring road not too far from the other good pubs.
Public Transport: Leicester BR (15 mins)
Gen: Famous pub which is a haven for quality Foreign bottled brews plus the UK beers aren’t bad either
Nearest scooping pubs: Criterion (5 mins), Out of the Vaults (5 mins)
Last Updated: 31/10/2008 Gazza

Try also :

• Ale Wagon, 27 Rutland Street.  The Hoskins brothers' place with some of their own (Tower) beers plus a smattering of guests.

Lincolnshire

Stamford.

Made entirely from beige-coloured (they say honey but I say beige) stone, Stamford is a very attractive place and has a decent pub too plus the now (apparently) closed Melbourn's brewery.

Green Man (Free), 29 Scotgate, Stamford PE9 2YQ.  01708 753598
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:00-23:00; Sun 12:00-22:30
Cask ales: Six guests plus Deuchars
House beer(s): Caledonian Deuchars IPA
Food:
Guest policy: Could be anything!
Get there: Just to the NW of the centre, easily found on the main A606 heading out towards Oakham.
Public Transport: Stamford BR (8 mins), St Peter's Hill bus station is a few minutes away.
Gen: A lovely town - if somewhat beige - Stamford is also home to the Melbourn's brewery, owned by Sam Smiths, although this no longer brews. The pub has beerfests at Easter and in September plus accommodation is available. 3,000 beers sold in the last 5 years.
Nearest scooping pubs:
Last Updated: 15/11/2008 Dave Hughes / Gazza

London Map  Report

Huge, sprawling city which has far too few decent pubs for something so ludicrously large although things are slowly improving.  Thanks to the local scoopers (Simon Fyffe and John Bratley) for their help with the London section!

Borough Market (Southwark) area.

The cluster of pubs around the regenerated Borough Market is London's best drinking (and scooping) area.

Market Porter (Market Taverns), 9 Stoney Street, Borough Market, Southwark. 0207 407 2495.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 06:00-08:30, 11:00-23:00, Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-22:30
Cask ales: A dozen handpumps.  House beer(s): Harveys Bitter
Food: Bar food M-F 12:00-15:00, SX, Sun 12:00-17:00. Restaurant upstairs too.
Guest policy: Very adventurous for London! Scoops from far and wide…
Mild/dark beer policy: Not always a dark beer on, no dedicated pumps.
Get there: Just south of London Bridge, south of the river, this cracking pub is in the midst of the thriving Borough Market where, on Fridays and Saturdays, you can buy much delicious food.
Public Transport: London Bridge BR (5 mins), London Bridge Tube (5 mins)
Gen: London's oldest established scooping pub which used to brew from malt extract in the 1980's, it has recently been extended into the old brewery and had a rear bar fitted with more handpumps. London's best beer pub by a considerable margin with an extremely high turnover - beers on the front bar usually only last a few hours and those at the rear 1 or 2 days maximum. Good mixture of old favourites and lots of brand new beers. The odd rare brewery appears now and again too (e.g. Devon Earth and Dartmouth in 2008).
Nearest scooping pubs: Rake (2 mins), Brew Wharf (2 mins)
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Gazza / Simon Fyffe

Rake (Utobeer), 14 Winchester Walk, Borough Market, SE1 9AG. 0207 407 0557
Opening hours: 12:00-23:00 (10:00 Sat) to 11pm. Closed Sunday.
Cask ales: 2, main reason to come is the huge range of Foreign bottles plus 4 changing on tap.
House beer(s): None, but see below (also has Veltins Pils and Maisels Weiss on permanent fonts)
Food: Nuts and tubs of Yorkshire crisps
Guest policy: 2 ever changing
Mild/dark beer policy: Occasional
Get there: Leave Market Porter from front, turn left then first right after the crossroads after passing under bridge.
Public Transport: Short walk from London Bridge station and lots of buses just south of London Bridge
Gen: The 2 beers are ever changing from micros and sometimes new to the scene. Now and again sells O'Hanlons Thomas Hardy on draught (only pub in the UK to do so) but it's very expensive. Best known for huge bottled beer range (expensive but much cheaper at Utobeer Beer stall (same company) in the Market on Fridays and Saturdays only). 4 ever changing draught American and Belgian beers (including rarities such as Cantillon on vat). Vintage slab urinals too.
Nearest scooping pubs: Market Porter and Brew Wharf (2 mins)
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Simon Fyffe

Try also :

• Brew Wharf, Stoney Street.  Just a minute from the Porter, this brewpub (not currently brewing) is very expensive yet worth a look to see if they've started brewing again.  Also has Meantime beers on tap.

• Royal Oak, Tabard Street.  Harveys tied house, 10 mins walk from Borough Market, it has all their seasonals on cask.

Central London.

More choice than ever before, although the Wenlock is still the don't miss.

Bree Louise (Free), 69 Cobourg Street, NW1.  0207 681 4930
Opening hours: 11.30 - 00:00 Daily ?
Cask ales: Up to 10 cask ales.  House beer(s): Harveys Best, Taylor Landlord and Sharps Doombar
Food: Most of the day (to 5pm Sunday) including interesting pies
Guest policy: Up to 7 ever-changing from regionals and micros
Mild/dark beer policy: Occasional
Get there: Road is just off the concourse at Euston Station (other side from the Doric Arch (ex Head of Steam))
Public Transport: Northern and Victoria line tube, Euston rail station and lots of buses.
Gen: Nice small pub with discounted pints for CAMRA members. Guests are very varied but often has new beers to the scene.  Main outlet in London for Cottage seasonal and one-off beers (yum!)
Nearest scooping pubs: Best bet is to get the northern line via Bank for 'the London circuit' (or trains to Birmingham or Manchester !) Sadly the Doric Arch (ex Head of Steam) is now Fullers tied and although it has a good guest beer policy supporting micros such as Castle Rock and Phoenix, these tend to be standard beers rather than new ones.  Rumours of a brewery opening?
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Simon Fyffe

Castle (Redcar Pub Co), 26 Furnival Street, Clerkenwell, EC4A 1JS. 020 7404 1310
Opening hours: 12:00-23:00 Mon-Fri only
Cask ales: Up to 9.  House beer(s): Nethergate 'Redcar Bitter' is believed to be a rebadge
Food: Not sure at present - does not seem to in the evenings
Guest policy: Ever changing range of up to 8
Mild/dark beer policy: Sometimes 1 or 2
Get there: 2 minutes walk from Chancery lane tube - take south exit, walk east and Furnival Street is 1st on the right
Public Transport: Chancery Lane tube (Central Line)
Gen: Interesting everchanging range from all over the country - almost entirely from micro breweries. Predominantly established breweries (ie over a year old) but regular new beers to the scene. Always worth a visit.
Nearest scooping pubs: Holborn and Chancery Lane Wetherspoons worth a look but otherwise change at Bank for Northern Line pubs
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Simon Fyffe

Crosse Keys (Wetherspoons), 9 Gracechurch Street, EC3V ODR.  0207 623 4824
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 09:00-00:00, Fri 09:00-01:00, Sat 09:00-19:00, closed Sunday.
Cask ales: At least 10.  House beer(s): Usual McSpoons crap
Food: All day to late including breakfast
Guest policy: From usual three monthly Spoons' lists plus either several from 'Brewery of the Week' or other 'non list' beers
Mild/dark beer policy: Occasional
Get there: Short walk from tube or bus stops close to Leadenhall Market and Lloyds building
Public Transport: Bank tube (Northern and Central Lines) - five minutes walk, also Monument tube, and several buses pass straight by
Gen: Best London Wetherspoons with interesting beers from micros. Gets busy and service can be very poor.
Nearest scooping pubs: The Borough Market cluster, 10 mins walk over London Bridge
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Simon Fyffe

Old Fountain (Free), 3  Baldwin Street, EC1V 9NU. 020 7253 2970
Opening hours: 11:00-23:00 Mon-Fri only, CLOSED weekends.
Cask ales: Constantly changing range of 6, better later in the week.  House beer(s): London "Pride"
Food: Traditional pub food at lunchtime; limited range of pizzas 5-9 pm
Guest policy: Moderately adventurous. Most of the beer comes via Waverley TSB (still some winners though) but some direct deliveries with Red Squirrel beers regularly appearing.
Mild/dark beer policy: Usually one available
Get there: 1 minute walk from Old Street on City Road South exit. Pub straddles two roads next to the eye hospital.
Public Transport: Old Street Tube (exit 8) Buses 214, 141, 205, 43, 135
Gen: Owner occupied freehouse.
Nearest scooping pubs: Wenlock Arms (5 mins) and Masque Haunt (Wetherspoons) 168 Old Street is very close and worth a look.
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Paul Daly / Simon Fyffe

Wenlock Arms (Free), 26 Wenlock Road, N1 7TA.  0207 608 3406.
Opening hours: 12:00-00:00 (01:00 Thu - Sat)
Cask ales: Eight handpumps plus real cider.  House beer(s): None, but Adnams Bitter is semi-permanent
Food: Enormous sandwiches till 9, Friday lunch (usually curry)
Guest policy: Tends to be about half favourites, half new(ish)
Mild/dark beer policy: Always a mild - often other dark beers
Get there: via Windsor Terrace, North from City Road
Public Transport: Nearest tube Old Street (Exit 1). Buses 43, 205, 214, 394 stop at Windsor Terrace
Gen: Cellar runs Tuesday afternoon. Ask Burnley Dave or John Twatt at other times (if you're desperate). Occasional Festivals; one of London's two umissables.  Beers are a healthy mix of anything from old favourite brews to beer from recent breweries.  Some direct deliveries and some via wholesalers including Boggart. Anything new from Mighty Oak, Crouch Vale, Nethergate and Dark Star will come through.
Nearest scooping pubs: Old Fountain or Eagle.
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 John Bratley / Simon Fyffe / Gazza

Try also :

• Edgar Wallace, 40 Essex Street, Westminster.  Closed weekends, guests can be anything but usually from micro breweries and includes the odd new beer to the scene.  3 mins walk from Temple tube (Circle & District).

East London.

Not a lot out in the east - unless Orient are playing!

Leyton Orient Supporters Club (Free), Matchroom Stadium, Oliver Road, Leyton, E10 5NF. 0208 988 8288
Opening hours: Limited to match days, some Thursday evenings and when there are England matches.
Cask ales: 6 or 7
Food: Rolls and crisps
Guest policy: Extremely enterprising
Mild/dark beer policy: Usually at least one
Get there: It's at the back of the football ground from the High Road
Public Transport: Several buses along the High Rd and Leyton tube is 10 - 15 minutes walk
Gen: This club has now opened its doors to non members and guests. On normal days it usually sells six ever changing guests from micros plus Mighty Oak Oscar Wild Mild in a polypin. NB once a beer has sold out it is unlikely to be replaced. Guests come from anywhere with an emphahsis on Lancashire and Yorkshire plus Mighty Oak beers. Has two beer festivals a year where about half the beers on the list are brand new.
Nearest scooping pubs: Birkbeck Tavern (10 mins), William IVth (Sweet William Brewery, 15 mins)
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Simon Fyffe

Try also :

• Birkbeck Tavern, 45 Langthorne Road, Leyton.  Has three changing guest beers which can throw up some scoops if you're lucky.

• William IV, 816 High Road, Leyton.  The Sweet William brewery is here having recently restarted with Andy Skene of Canuk brewing doing the honours.

North London.

Again, somewhat of a scooping wasteland with a couple of oases.

Junction Tavern (Free), 101 Fortess Road, Kentish Town, NW5 1AG. 0207 485 9400
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12:00-23:00 (until 10.30 Sun)
Cask ales: Four.  House beer(s): Caledonian Deuchers IPA
Food: Quality food all day in the restaurant area or in the pub
Guest policy: Three ever changing from micro breweries
Mild/dark beer policy: Occasional
Get there: Short walk from tube stations
Public Transport: Tufnell Park (slightly nearer) or Kentish Town tube (both Northern Line) and a couple of buses pass straight by.
Gen: The guests can be anything but usually from the more established micros. Seems to sell quite a few Tring and Cottage monthly specials. Good beer festivals twice a year with quite a few new beers featured. The pubs a bit gastro but drinkers are equally welcome and there's a nice friendly atmosphere.
Nearest scooping pubs: Hop on the Northern Line and head South on the Bank branch.
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Simon Fyffe

Try also :

• Oxford, 256 Kentish Town Road.  Just S of Kentish Town tube with 3 ever-changing guests.

• Horseshoe, 28 Heath Street, Hampstead.  Brewpub with two of it's own beers, the odd boring guest and expensive yet delicious food.

South London.

Getting better with a pretty decent choice if you know where to look - which is where we come in!

Bricklayers Arms (Free), 32 Waterman Street, Putney, SW15 1DD. 020 8789 0222
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12:00-23:00 (Until 10.30 Sun)
Cask ales: Up to 8.  House beer(s): Full range of Taylor beers including Dark Mild and Ram Tam when brewed
Food: lunch and evenings and the owners are happy for customers to order take-aways and eat them in the pub
Guest policy: guests from micros
Mild/dark beer policy: At least one, guests can be dark.
Get there: Buses over Putney Bridge or less then 10 minutes from Putney Bridge tube (District Line). From station turn left, over Putney bridge, first right and first proper road left. Putney rail station is on High Street and nearby.
Gen: An interesting pub that usually sells the whole Timothy Taylor range (14 x 9s of Celebration Ale went in less than a week). Guests from micros include new beers. Often has Downton beers on. Best time to visit though is when they have a beer festival when lots of beers from a certain area turn up (Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria so far) with some pretty rare beers e.g. Loweswater and Bitter End in 9.08.
Nearest scooping pubs: White Horse, Parsons Green or head down to Wimbledon (The Brewery Tap is worth a look in)
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Simon Fyffe

Greenwich Union (Meantime brewery), 56 Royal Hill, Greenwich, SE10 8RT. 0208 692 6258
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12:00-23:00, Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 11:30-22:30
Cask ales: 2.  House beer(s): Meantime's full range including the excellent pale ale.
Food: Most times - decent home cooked food
Guest policy: Meantime seasonals and another guest (often Fullers)
Mild/dark beer policy: Meantime dark beers
Get there: Easily accessible by public transport - see below
Public Transport: Buses run along Greenwich High Rd and Greenwich rail / DLR station is about 5 minutes walk
Gen: Small friendly bar that sells the entire Meantime range of beers with about 8 on draft and several others in bottles. Only one of these fits CAMRA's description of real ale but just about every beer scooper counts the beers that are unpasteurised and unfiltered. Always has a few seasonals or one offs.
Nearest scooping pubs: Dog and Bell, Deptford or train to London Bridge for Borough market
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Simon Fyffe

Trafalgar (Free), 23 High Path, Wimbledon, SW19 2JY. 0208 542 5342
Opening hours: 12:00-23:00 (midnight Fri and Sat)
Cask ales: 6 cask ales.  House beer(s): Pilgrim Thru'penny Hop Bitter (3.8%) - genuine brew for this pub only and always seems to be on.
Food: Snacks at lunchtime
Guest policy: 5 guests ever changing
Mild/dark beer policy: Usually one on (had three milds on when visited in May 2008 including a winner from the Isle of Wight)
Get there: 5 minutes walk from South Wimbledon tube - walk south and High Path is first on left
Public Transport: Northern line tube (S Wimbledon, 5 mins) or regular buses along Merton High Street
Gen: Small pub with a nice atmosphere (apart from when live singers turn up). Beers mainly from the South East but often has new ones to the scene. London CAMRA's Pub of the Year 2008 and a worthy winner.
Nearest scooping pubs: The Sultan (Hop Back) is five minutes walk away and always has a guest that will be the latest Hop Back or Downton seasonal and often new. The Wibbers Down Inn (Wimbledon Wetherspoon) is worth a look as sells 'off list beers' including King and Co, Weltons and Itchen Valley seasonals.
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Simon Fyffe

Try also :

• Claret, 5a Bingham Corner, Lower Addiscombe Road, Croydon.  Five guest beers (plus Palmers IPA) at this small shop conversion with nice atmosphere. Adventurous guest beer policy that sometimes includes some new beers. The monthly list is displayed indicating what has been sold and what has not.

• Dog & Bell, 116 Prince Street, Deptford.  Guests very varied - everything from common place to the odd new beer but an emphasis on south eastern beers and direct deliveries.  Regular trains to London Bridge from Deptford station (10 minute walk).

• White Horse, 1-3 Parson's Green, Fulham.  Nicknamed the 'Sloney Poney' and one step in the pub you can tell why. Apart from selling bucket loads of Pimms in Summer, this pub has vastly changed for the better under new management. Guests now include the likes of Twickenham, Ascot and other micros from further afield plus some more well known beers. Also has about 10 foreign draught beers with about five ever changing Belgian ones. The famous Old Ale Festival (last Saturday in November) is still around plus top Belgian beer fest in 2008 with some pretty rare stuff plus a Belgian Style beer from Ascot.

• Woodies, Thetford Road, New Malden.  Four bog standard beers from the likes of Fullers, Wells & Youngs etc but usually three from southern micros eg DSBC, Weltons, Waylands etc. Can often be new beers to the scene. It's an ex sports pavilion and full of character with good beer festival in August with quite a few 'winners' in 2008.  Only issue is transport; a 20 minutes walk from New Maldon or Maldon Manor stations or buses along the nearby A3.

West London.

Very little out west, stay on the train and try Reading!

Magpie and Crown (Free), 128 High Street, Brentford, TW8 0EW. 0208 560 5658
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 11:00-00:00, Thu-Sat 11:00-01:00, Sun 12:00-23:00
Cask ales: 4 ever-changing. 
Food: Most evenings and some lunchtimes - Thai food mainly
Guest policy: Could be anything but mainly from micros
Mild/dark beer policy: Fairly often
Get there: Bus or train / walk. Buses (Key to Hounslow etc) pass right by.
Public Transport: Brentford Rail Station (approx half hourly from Waterloo) is 10 mins walk north.
Gen: Nice pub and one of London's more adventurous - has sold well over 2000 guests in about 12 years but many repeats. Sadly well off the circuit but well worth a visit if in the area. Beers vary but Twickenham and other local-ish beers from the Home Counties feature regularly. Several foreign draught and bottled beers.
Nearest scooping pubs: Red Lion, Isleworth is one train stop away.
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Simon Fyffe

Try also :

• Red Lion, 92-94 Linkfield Road, Isleworth.  Quite a few beers (9 or so) but not that adventurous although worth a peek if you're at the Magpie in Brentford.

Merseyside

Norfolk

Norwich.

Historic city with a very good cask ale scene and many pubs serving a great choice of ales.  Sounds perfect?  Well, sometimes quality could be better, it'll cost you, most of the multi-ale pubs have only local ales and there's a lot of walking to do between the pubs, but it's still one of the best cities in the UK for a day drinking cask ale and, if you're lucky, you'll get some scoops too!

Alexandra Tavern (Free), 16 Stafford Street, NR2 3BB. 01603 627772
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 10:00-2300, Thu-Sat 10:30-00:00, Sun 12:00-23:00
Cask ales: Up to six guests although usually less.  House beer(s): Chalk Hill Tap and CHB; Oakham JHB; Taylors Landlord
Food: 12:30-19:00 each day
Guest policy: Mainly local although other do appear
Mild/dark beer policy:
Get there: To the west of the city, just South of Derham Road, close to the Fat Cat.
Public Transport: Buses 16, 19 and 20 to Costessey plus 21 & 22 to the University pass on Dereham Road.
Gen: Small and welcoming pub with a good range of ales.
Nearest scooping pubs: Fat Cat; Kings Head both 10 mins
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Dave Hughes / Gazza

Fat Cat (Free), 49 West End Street, NR2 4NA. 01603 624364
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12:00-23:00, Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-22:30
Cask ales: 12 handpumps plus beer from gravity, up to 15 guest beers
House beer(s): Adnams Bitter, Woodfordes Wherry, Fat Cat beers
Food: 12-30-1900 each day
Guest policy: A lot of guests although mainly established beers and brewers
Mild/dark beer policy: Usually a dark beer on sale
Get there: Out to the West of Norwich although many buses pass by and there's a clutch of good pubs around.
Public Transport: Buses 16, 19 and 20 to Costessey plus 21 & 22 to the University pass on Dereham Road.
Gen: Good selection of foreign beer
Nearest scooping pubs: Kings Head (5 mins)
Last Updated: 05/11/2008 Dave Hughes / Gazza

Kings Head (Free), 42 Magdalen Street, NR3 1JE. 01603 620468
Opening hours: 12-12 ; 12-11 Sun
Cask ales: Woodfordes Nelsons Revenge plus up to 5 guest beers.  House beer(s): Winters Kings Head Bitter
Food: 12:30-19:00 each day
Guest policy: Mainly local beers
Mild/dark beer policy:
Get there: Head North out of the centre along Magdalen St and the pub is a short distance before the flyover (St Crispins Road)
Public Transport: Buses stop at Anglia Square very close by.
Gen: Good selection of foreign beer.
Nearest scooping pubs: Fat Cat (20 mins), Duke of Wellington (10 mins)
Last Updated: 15/11/2008 Dave Hughes / Gazza

Try also :

• Duke of Wellington, 91 Waterloo Road.  Cracking pub out in the North of the city with over a dozen beers usually available from the 6 handpumps and stillage although not that many scoops.  Bus 16 passes nearby.

• King's Arms, 22 Hall Road.  Ex Free house, now Batemans (!), this proper boozer nevertheless still offers a good range of ales (around 12) apart from the house swill and is still worth the ten minute walk.

• Ribs of Beef, 24 Wensum Street.  Riverside pub in the centre of the city which has a large range of real ales - typical for Norwich - although not a lot new.

• The Cidershed, 100 Lawson Road.  The location of the Fat Cat brewery so you may want to sup these beers at source!  Guest beers too.

• Trafford Arms, 61 Grove Road.  Old favourite south of the centre with around ten beers on handpump including some decent ones.  Not far from the King's Arms.

• Whalebone, 144 Magdalen Road.  Old Bullards pub on the way from the Welly to the Shed; around ten beers but beware of the house rebadges of Courage beers!

Northamptonshire

Kettering.

Alexandra Arms (Free), 39 Victoria St, NN16 0BU.  01536 522730
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 14:00-23:00, Fri-Sat14:00-00:00, Sun 12:00-23:00
Cask ales: Ten handpumps.
House beer(s): Nobby's brewery on-site
Food: Light snacks
Guest policy: Always a Nobbys Beer available 10 handpumps in use at weekends
Mild/dark beer policy:
Get there: In the centre of Kettering, easily walkable from the station
Public Transport: Kettering BR (10 mins), Library bus stops (5 mins). Bus M50 stops opposite School Lane every hour from Bedford and others (A, B, C, D, 19, 24) stop here too.
Gen: The home of Nobby's brewery with a large turnover of guest ales. Has served over 3,000 beers in 4 years.
Nearest scooping pubs:
Last Updated: 15/11/2008 Dave Hughes / Gazza

Northampton.

Famous for having a massive industrial-looking lager factory which you can smell from the motorway.  And some other stuff.

Malt Shovel Tavern (Free), 121 Bridge Street, NN1 1QF. 01604 234212
Opening hours: 11:30-15:00, 17:00-23:00 (Mon-Sat) 12:00-15:00, 19:00-22:30 (Sun)
Cask ales: Up to nine guests
House beer(s): Great Oakley Wot's Occurring, Harpers and Gobble - Frog Island Natterjack, Fullers London Pride
Food: Served Monday-Saturday, lunchtimes only (no evening menu) from 12 noon until 2pm with light snacks and specials.
Guest policy: Constantly changing guests. County based beer festivals twice yearly
Mild/dark beer policy: Usually a dark beer on
Get there: 10 mins walk from Northampton BR station
Public Transport: Lots of buses stop behind the pub by Morrisons. 15, X4, 1B to name a few
Gen: Guests beers are from all over UK, all new Great Oakley feature. 20 or so Belgians. Wednesday night blues bands.  Owned by landlord Mike Evans.
Nearest scooping pubs: None at present as Wig & Pen is closed (probably for good) following Fenland's closure.
Last Updated: 12/11/2008 Mark Edwards

Northumberland

Nottinghamshire

Oxfordshire

Banbury.

Famous for Banbury Cross, Fyne Ladies on horseback, Cakes and... erm... Gary Glitter, Larry Grayson and Gordon Ramsey.