Lochgilphead:
Listed in CAMRA’s historic pub interiors, this little pub keeps a timewarp feel. No real ale when we visited, sadly, but pleasant staff and locals, and the lager was bearable.
Tag Archives: canal
The Cairnbaan Hotel
Cairnbaan:
Again, it’s a hotel, but the bar area feels sufficiently pub-like. Great staff, decent beer (2 real ales), and good food- a step above average pub food. Not cheap, but not rip-off, and you have to remember overheads here are greater. Right alongside the Crinnan Canal; there’s some outside seating, and a separate restaurant if you want quieter dining. We ate here three times, and drank a couple of times on top of that, as we were staying nearby.
Richmond House Hotel
Fort Augustus:
OK, this is a hotel bar, but it passes my ‘feels like a pub test’.
This is where more of the locals and fewer tourists drink in town: it’s a typical Scottish public bar attached to a hotel. No food served in the bar, just the usual (Scottish) suspects beer wise, but friendly and cheaper: we were made welcome as were a couple of (German?) lads.
The Bothy
Fort Augustus:
Very close to The Lock Inn, this is an odd one. The name and appearance outside lead you to expect very traditional features, but nothing inside fits: modern chairs/tables, a fruit machine, a TV. There’s a large conservatory used as a restaurant.
There’s 2 real ales, except when a cross-Scotland cycle/kyak/run drinks the place the dry :-(, and food and a real fire. It’s not bad at all, but it’s a bit pricey (expected) and the food wasn’t as good as up the road, even if the beer choice was *slightly* better, plus something didn’t quite gel about it.
The Lock Inn
Fort Augustus:
Just over the Caledonian Canal from our holiday cottage, this is a friendly, traditional pub that serves both locals and tourists: it can get very busy with the latter at times.
One hand pump with a localish beer, and a good choice of others. Decent, if not cheap, food, and nice staff, and a cracking view of the locks.
The Vine (The Bull and Bladder)
Brierley Hill:
This is pretty close to pub perfection: It’s big, but has lots of small rooms, tons of atmosphere, outside space, real fire, is near the canal, serves cobs (and other food, at times), and, as if you needed more, it’s a Batham’s house. Friendliest landlord and regulars I’ve seen in a long time too. Why is this not closer to home?
The Globe Inn
Pleck, Walsall:
One of those we’ve driven past countless times. It looks a little shabby, but this is the Pleck, after all. As it its, it’s not bad: No food, no real ale, but there was Stella in a frosted glass on a warm day and a friendly landlord. We sat outside, with the scenic Darlaston Rd. That makes it sound bad, but on a sunny day it wasn’t unpleasant. The pub looks like a proper, old, local and is I’d drink there again. The canal is nearby, but access probably isn’t good.
The Pen & Parchment
Stratford-upon-Avon:
A pleasant-looking pub just on the edge of town: There’s real ale, food, and very friendly staff. The food was OK, the beer excellent, and the prices more than reasonable considering where it is. It’s part of the Old English Inns chain, as is The Dirty Duck, and it’s pretty obvious, though thankfully they haven’t left it devoid of character.
The Royal Tiger
Wednesfield:
It’s a Wetherspoons, so you know what you’re getting: cheap beer (and lots of choice), cheap food. As it is, it’s one of the better spoons, less grotty than The Imperial, for a start. It also has the advantage of 2 really good pubs nearby. The beer garden backs onto the canal and could be nice on a hot day.
The Sacks of Potatoes
Aston:
Years ago, this was a regular lunchtime haunt as I worked nearby, but I’m an infrequent visitor now. It’s a nice enough pub, even with the presence of students, with a choice of ale and outside seating. Handy after a walk along the nearby canal.