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 about them. However if you like the same sort of places I do and appreciate a good pint then I hope this site may serve some use as a guide to pubs worth visiting. 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 know the name, indeed for one or two I can't even recall the exact town or village!

I've not tried to make this a 'proper' pub guide so you wont find addresses, details of opening times, food policies, who owns it (some pubs change often or it's hard to tell anyway) and so on. Instead there's a brief description or opinion based on my visits which I hope will give some idea of the place, though if I've only called in for a swift pint I may not have had time to get much of an impression - or got the wrong one!. I'll also try and give an idea of what beer it sells, at least when I can remember, but this is also something that often changes. I only started making these notes in the mid 2000s so for the pubs I've only been to years before then my descriptions could be based on faded or incorrect memories and for all pubs things could have changed since my last visit. I'll keep the notes up to date as I revisit pubs and give the year I last called in and how well I know the area so this should help in deciding how current and accurate my descriptions are. 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, such as in the local CAMRA newsletters - see their addresses on the links page.

Another reason for doing this is quite simply I enjoy being in decent pubs. I regularly visit different pubs in the areas I live and work or when seeing friends elsewhere. I also like trying new pubs - as long as they're good ones - both in places I already know or visiting new areas and sampling their better pubs, though these days nearer home I'm happier returning to pubs I like rather than trying average ones just for the sake of it. But there are few finer places I'd rather be than a good pub for meeting friends, relaxing for a quiet read of the paper, watching football, getting something to eat or killing half an hour in town while waiting for a train, and of course for enjoying a good pint.

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 at least sold something proper on my visit. Other dislikes are dress restrictions, anywhere petty enough to refuse me in my jeans and t-shirt will not get my custom. I'm not inspired by unimaginative chain pubs run by managers not allowed to deviate from the company decor, menus 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. Nor do I like pretentious image conscious places, and they probably dont like me… But other than that I like all manner of pubs, from traditional locals to more moden bars, old country inns to busy 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 of any pubs you want to visit 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. And feel free to contact me if you think any of my comments are unfair, out of date or even want to agree with me (some people have done you know). But this is my site and my opinions, so if I don't like a pub you wont change my mind!