So why have I done this? I've been to a lot of pubs since I first started enjoying a pint in the late 1980s and thought it would be interesting (to me at least...) to list them all and jot down what I remember. So this is an attempt to describe every pub I've been in (meaning pubs/bars that are free to enter as opposed to night clubs, music venues, residents-only hotels etc). And I have tried to include every pub, even those I remember nothing about - some I don't remember the name, indeed for one or two I can't even recall the exact town or village.

Another reason is I enjoy being in decent pubs, whether meeting friends, relaxing for a quiet read of the paper, watching football or live music, getting something to eat or killing half an hour in town while waiting for a train. And of course experiencing the atmosphere, architecture and most importantly the ale. I like exploring new pubs, though I think the wish to try new pubs and revisit others in order to keep updating this site did become a bit of an obsession in recent years! See my pub visit totals for some details, but these days I'm trying to be more selective and stick only to places I really like rather than feel I have to try or revist pubs just for the sake of this site. Plus I'm running out of good new pubs to try in the places I tend to go to!

Anyway, if you like the same sort of pubs I do and appreciate your ale [I drink real ale if you haven't guessed, so any feelings I have about a pub will be dependent on it selling the stuff] I hope this site may serve some use as a guide to pubs worth visiting. I've not tried to make this a 'proper' pub guide so you wont find addresses, opening times, food policies, who owns it and so on. And always bare in mind I may only have called in for a swift pint and not have had time to get much of an impression - or got the wrong one! I only started making these notes in the mid 2000s so for pubs I'd only been to years before then my descriptions could be based on incorrect memories and for all pubs I dont visit regularly then over time my descriptions may become outdated - so dont blame me if the superb pub I described 5 years ago is now closed or an aleless theme bar...

I have given the year I last called in and a note as to how well I know the area, so this should help in deciding how current and accurate my descriptions are and although this site is based on my own experiences I'll sometimes update details if I've heard or read about significant changes for my more local pubs.

So what sort of pubs do I like? Well depending on my mood and the occasion I'm happy in most places as long as they sell real ale. It doesn’t have to be a range of unusual beers, though that's always welcome, but it must have at least one well kept ale ideally from an independent brewery. I will always mention when a pub had no real ale - otherwise assume it sold something proper on my visit. Other dislikes are dress restrictions, I'm not inspired by unimaginative chain pubs run by managers not allowed to deviate from the company decor and rules, while being a down to earth (tight ?) chap I do not want unjustifiably overpriced pints or expensive food served in fancy little portions. But other than that I like all manner of pubs, from traditional locals to modern cafe bars, old country inns to noisy city centre pubs, good food pubs and places where a pickled egg is thought a luxury.

As I've said this is not a complete pub guide so for addresses and more details there are many other sites which give extra and perhaps more up to date info - some can be found in the links page and where known I've given a link to pubs own websites. Plus if you dont own one then buy a CAMRA Good Beer Guide, most of the better pubs here are in it and it's what I use to choose where to try when visiting anywhere new.

Feel free to contact me if you think any of my comments are unfair or out of date, I'll always listen but cant promise you will change my mind!