[Closed] Who's a happy bunny with a decent local boozer then?

Several here, spoilt for choice really. NBS and The Junction are my most frequented. But lots and lots of others.

Used to be. 🙁

Locals out here in the boondocks aren't actually bad, as such, just not excellent, as my old local in That London's Famous Village Pimlico.

Used to have a couple of nice locals when I had my Greenwich flat - my new local isn't too bad though. Usually was there once a week or so, but much less so now that I'm working away much of the time.

Me. Main pub in the village. Been a regular end of ride watering hole for Sunday morning and Wednesday night rides. Let us hose our bikes down in the courtyard. Great guest ales, 4 log burners in winter. Never complained about the mud we drag in (may have helped them decide to install stone floors though!)

And don't kick you out on a Friday night/Saturday morning till around 1.30....

nearest pub to me is about 10 miles away, so wouldn't call that local

Consider my local to be the Eagle and Child as its the pub I finish my rides at I,m the local postie but live in Kendal fine range of beers and food and theres always someone in to have a natter with 🙂
http://www.eaglechildinn.co.uk/lake-district-inns/

One of the many reasons I love living where I do is that there are 8 decent boozers within a 10-15 minute walk. A fine mix of old school locals with ropey live acts at weekends, trendy hipster bars, locals-only where the whole bar stares at you from within their grime-encrusted Fluro work jackets, hippy / arty full of odd characters..... All good depending on what mood you're in.

If I go further afield (but walking distance) there's stacks of pubs (though a fraction of what there were 30 years ago 🙁 ).

I love Brizzle 🙂

Oh yes, very lucky here. 3 micro breweries within 5 miles, 2 within 1 mile. Add another 10 or so proper pubs within 2 miles and I'm sorted. Not really a local at any of them as I tend to vary which one I go to.

Just 2mins walk down the road is the craufurd arms. Milton Keynes only decent music venue. It's been home to tonnes of gigs in the last few years and seen me staggering back in the early hours (mostly week nights!!). I love the place and would be devestated if it ever closes.

Not a big pub-goer these days but having a great pub with an always-changing selection of 6 ales on tap, and decent food too, within a 4 min walk of my front door is quite a perk of living here!

Nearest to me is in Fallowfield. It's full of students and man city fans. Horrendous.

nope no local, we thought we did but the landlord took exception to us having our bikes in the garden, not been back since.

Good biking both road and mtb from the door - check.
Hills and sea in sight from windows - check.
Close enough to mountains to ski after work - check.
20 minute run through woods to work - check.
Decent boozer in walking distance - 🙁

Yarp, local boozers are indeed "most excellent" provided they like You.

I've frequented a number of locals, one in particular I have to drive to but that feels more like home than any of t'others..

The Flower Pots, Chreriton, Hampshire... too many awards to mention from its own micro brewery in the outbuilding.

😀

My MTB local has just changed hands.

It's not looking great at the moment. O ly a few of the regulars seem to be in there and they're looking more grumpy than usual.

i like a good drink more than most.......but i have never had a local, infact i dont like local boozers.
i like to search out new pubs and good beers. why settle for the same all the time?

Despite having a "local" literally 12 inches from the bottom of my garden, I tend to drink in the centre of Leeds. Would probably consider Whitelocks the closest I have to a regular pub.

All my local pubs are family places with huge playgrounds and do more food than beer, I've got kids so it's okay for a cheap family meal but I wouldn't going in just for a pint.

My 'local' is actually a 45 min drive from me, I'm going Saturday night to catch up with some mates of mine, I like to drop in every 2-3 years, they're like LBSs you've got to support them 😉

Sadly, my local boozer, where I've been drinking on and off for nearly 40 years has recently closed down again. It seems to attract amateur landlords all sharing the dream of escaping the rat race to run a country pub. on average they last about 18months before they realise it's effing hard work/run out of money/both.

My local is amazing.
Probably shouldn't advertise it though seeing as I run it. 😆

i like to search out new pubs and good beers. why settle for the same all the time?

Why go out searching for good beers when I can bring them to you? 🙂

Venison, Guinness and cranberry pie for dinner tonight. 8)

I go to a local, plenty of choice probably 10 pubs within 10 to 15 mins walking distance, also the smell of beer being brewed often wafts down from the brewery.

I've just moved to Milton Keynes.......

That'll be a no then!

Actually local isn't too bad, but not a patch on when I lived in north London
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Salisbury

Where are you sbob? I need to come and visit.

I'm a lucky boy down here in East Sussex, with 4 pubs in my village, 2 of them excellent. My Local gives us free chips after our Tuesday night rides, and the landlady reckons it's often her latest night of the week - often well after midnight!

The pub or restaurant quandry is a tough one. It's hard to survive as just a boozer these days, and the good ones get the balance right.

We don't use our local anywhere near as much as I'd like to, great little place. No telly, no games machines, no pool tables, no dart board, no music. Just good beers & good crack & a big fire (dogs welcome) Decent scran if you fancy too. It's the busiest place in town.

Proper job.
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I come from the quaint market town of Dunstable, if I'm being honest it didn't have much going for it, many might compare it to an aggressive pustulous boil on the flatulant arsehole that is Bedfordshire, but it did have the 12th century Norman King, it was sadly changing hands and a typical dunstablian took the obvious and logical step of razing it to the ground

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-19417750

We have had 3 pubs close in the past 3 years, 2 of these were 5 min walk, one was next door but one.

The closest is becoming a Indian restaurant, another was demolished, the other is now a Costcutter. I was never a big drinker, but I miss having a chat with the regulars who were outside having a smoke when I was passing with the dogs.

There is one 10 mins walk away which I've not been too since it was taken over as it is very much food oreintated now as the guy who is landlord has a posh restaurant in the next town. May pop in at some point as I can take my old bike, lock it up outside as its all downhill home 😀

It's 100 paces from my front door to the bar.

I don't know how many it is to get home....

I have a great food-pub about 2 mins walk from my house and more traditional boozer is 5 minutes walk away with a great atmos, lovely building and good ales, but they got rid of the pool table & dart board years ago.

It's torture, I'm so close to having a proper pub 😥

I haven't tried the local since we moved, does a mile down a country lane count as a local?

Ours is a mile up and down a country lane, and I reckon that counts as local! Great food and beer (and cider) and lovely people too - a proper community

Yep! My "local" (20 min walk through town) is the only place I go regularly now. On first name terms with all the staff and a lot of the regulars so often pop in there on my own for a beer or two (handily it's a 30s diversion off the cycle route from work to home). Best of all the OP would absolutely hate it as it's not a pub and doesn't even serve pints. 🙂

The Railway Inn has been our local for about 30 years. Last year we bought a house right opposite.

Just to make sure you're not my neighbour, you don't live just outside of Leeds do you Big John?!

Actually local isn't too bad, but not a patch on when I lived in north London
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Salisbury

That was my local for about 12 years, along with a side street Irish bar which looked more like someone's front room.

Just stopped off for a not-quite pint of keg Proper Job at my "local", paid about £5.30, which hardly fosters regularity.

We have a blinding local. Wide range of malts, guest on polypin which isn't ideal but better than a badly kept cask, great food as long as you like (connoiseur) pie and chips, welcomes and encourages dogs, and a great atmosphere even if you do need a thick skin sometimes.
Five miles away so ideal for the bike, quiet roads or an off road option if you can be arsed with the gates. Or we can get the bus, have a few pints, a nip to finish and chips on the bus home.

'Per ardua ad astra'

The Salisbury was my local about 8 years ago kimbers.

Awesome pub. Best in London back then, IMO.

Got a reasonable choice of pubs locally, even in town. My current regular is the White Horse in Biddestone, which featured in the Sky One programme [i]Agatha Rasin and the Quiche Of Death[/i]. Good beer, good food, nice atmosphere and the people running it are great.

I'd say yes,but the best pubs in Malvern have the same landlord, imo of course,so the choice is a little limited.

I've no idea

I can't afford £4 a pint

Never understood the obsession with the "local". Smelly dark places selling you overpriced drinks you don't need. Tried quite a lot as a student (and before and after) and could never see the attraction.

Dont personally want to associate with people who think downing crap alcohol most nights is the only way to have a circle of friends. I seem to have more friends and do more stuff with them than my work colleagues who are regular pub goers. Really don't see the fuss, would not bother me if more shut.

They aren't community centres, they are just places designed to make you stay there and drink as much as the product as possible to make more money.

EDIT/ I'm not against alcohol either, very much like it. A friend of mine owns his own brewery and I buy a lot of his stuff. Most of his sales go to private individuals and small local restaurants.

For a couple of years I lived with someone half a mile from a pub so good, with such a great social life linked to it, that I think it kept me in a relationship with her 6-8 months longer than I should have.

Still miss that pub, not her...

But I'm seeing other pubs now. 🙂

Don't go out often but in our little town there's about 5. The Brew Dog brewery being the nearest one at about 5 minute walk 😀

My local is arcadia in Headingley. Serves top quality beer and it's not full if students

Ours ain't bad,pretty reasonable beers apart from the Jennings. Food great most of time and guy that runs it amiable to muddy bikers, hikers, shooters, dogs, and his gobsh.t regulars (me and others). It's part of the village and would be a great loss if it went. On a Thursday you can often have great bit of music from some of the regulars and any passing musician.

Edit. Some on here have been in on the Dales visits.

Dont personally want to associate with people who think downing crap alcohol most nights is the only way to have a circle of friends. I seem to have more friends and do more stuff with them than my work colleagues who are regular pub goers. Really don't see the fuss, would not bother me if more shut.

As a contrast my last few locals have been excellent places with friendly people and a great place to visit. downing crap alcohol most nights not essential.

Before I left Cumbria I reckon it was the 1761 in Cockermouth, shame it shut.
In Launceston Tas it was the Excellent St John's - probably seen as a hipster beer bar but it was a proper local, stools at the bar, staff who knew you and chatted - the how are you? was not a greeting but a real question. 12 taps of craft beer, 2 taps of real cidre and 100 or so bottles to choose from. Food was ace too done by a selection of local takeaway vans that severed great fresh awesome food.
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/16401632815_c7c4cf7e67_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/16401632815_c7c4cf7e67_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qZmE1F ]Launceston Friday[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikewsmith/ ]Mike Smith[/url], on Flickr
Current one is the Winston in North Hobart - Great staff, great regulars, good beer, they just opened their own brewery and have a great rolling selection along with awesome food.
Sneak preview of the new Brews
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1456/24146300751_a9b12380cf_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1456/24146300751_a9b12380cf_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/CMJ6Yc ]The Winston Brews cheers Kris[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikewsmith/ ]Mike Smith[/url], on Flickr
Got a couple of others where we stop after a ride too, always made to feel welcome as we stack up the bikes and take over.

There are many bad ones out there, look after the good ones, you will miss them when they are gone
One from my travels
The Old Dungeon Ghyll
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/618/20687544686_a657d3b0b8_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/618/20687544686_a657d3b0b8_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/xw65hW ]Music night[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikewsmith/ ]Mike Smith[/url], on Flickr

My local is next door to a bike shop!!
"I'm just popping out for a chain link darling....."

Decent thai food, decent ale and music... 😀

I've just moved to Milton Keynes.......
That'll be a no then!
Actually local isn't too bad, but not a patch on when I lived in north London
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Salisbury
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Kimbers.... See my post on page 1 regarding Milton Keynes. It's not to everyone's liking as it is mainly a music venue but if you like heavy rock, metal or most alternative music you should check it out. Dread zone are playing in about 5 weeks which will be good.

I would probably go to a pub more often if they didn't sell soft drinks at such crazy prices. I don't always want a beer and sometimes I am driving later. its ridiculous that most pubs sell soft drinks at the same price as a pint - £2.50+ for a pint of Coke is either profiteering or you're being used to subsidise the alcohol prices. Maybe pubs wouldn't be shutting if they didn't take the mick.

My uncle lived in Canada and if a group of friends went in a bar, the designated driver would get free soft drinks all night. Seems like a good idea.

We don't get down as often as we should at this time of year but it definitely has some appealing assets:
[img] [/img]

Sitting outside on a sunny day, knacked from a ride and watching the trains come by is lovely.

[img] [/img]

My nearest pub is probably the Blue Pig aka Midgehole Working Men's Club - great quirky little place and cheap as chips. I don't get there that often though - the pub I probably go to most is Old Gate. Great selection of beers in there and under £3 for a well-kept pint of Magic Rock Ringmaster.

The Fox and Goose is further away - probably 25 mins walk from my house but feels most like a 'proper local'. Very friendly, lots of dogs, live music only, I'm not sure if they even sell lager. And I have shares in the place. 🙂

Dont personally want to associate with people who think downing crap alcohol most nights is the only way to have a circle of friends. I seem to have more friends and do more stuff with them than my work colleagues who are regular pub goers. Really don't see the fuss, would not bother me if more shut.

Wow! you sound like a right old laugh a minute! I'm not surprised you've so many friends.

Just out of interest... how many pubs have you been in? Its more than one, right?

[img] [/img]

Never understood the obsession with the "local". Smelly dark places selling you overpriced drinks you don't need

Could do better.
The Cascade Hotel is adequate for an after ride jug or 2, but don't ask for food after 8pm.

So lucky to have 6 great pubs (all real ales, open fires etc.) within a 3 mile radius of home - makes for some lovely walks out. Wouldn't really class one as the 'local' however, frequent the closest one the most, but also like to change it up!
RM.

but don't ask for food after 8pm.

Binners - most of them in Huddersfield multiple times!

Maybe it's the more country type pubs that are nicer, town ones tend to be a bit grim.

There's a couple of nice ones in Hudds town centre or just outside but that'd need a drive to them which kinda doesn't make them local any more.

Seems to be a good tea/coffee shop selection nowadays and they all seem to do a decent trade - maybe they are the new pubs?

Back to two in the village again. Just need to [s]murder the kids[/s] get a baby sitter and we might even get to go to one of them.

We have two pubs. One is a very well behaved, does good food, real ales and is child friendly. The other one is a debauched drinking pit.

We like both.

We have 1 pub in the village, the next nearest is 2.5 miles...

The 1 pub we have is OK.. nice enough.

Last went there in about Sept, maybe Oct I think. I don't really do socialising with random people and stuff in honesty.

Just moved, so for the first time in 3 years have a proper local old style boozer half a mile away - The Royal Marine near Chertsey, Surrey.

Previously I have been spoilt - for example, lived next door to a good one, with my own garden gate access into the beer garden. 🙂

My local is ok but not great. Foods ok but I don't like their beer. The standard is moorlands original which is probably my least favourite pint going. The guests are never kept very well and are stupidly expensive. Weeksy,you need a recount. You've got 2 pubs in your village although neither are that good.

3 in my village - mostly mice places and there are some lovely country pubs an easy bike ride away - very nice

plumber in his local

[img] [/img]

Local is OK, food's a bit naff (on a par with really basic home cooking, the sheppy pie is just mash on top of mince/gravy, no fancy stuff, veg is all boiled from frozen stuff). Beer is mostly OK, not much of a choice but at least 2 cask's.

Local in the next village is a bit more upmarket, poncey (but really good) pub food, but serves green king IPA (why do all green king ales taste the same and all slightly oxidised). They're like Sol or Corona*, so bad that actually people start to think that's how expensive beer should taste.

*The technical term for their unique taste is "Skunked", it's what happens when you put a clear bottle of hopped beer in the sunshine, the lime is there to mask the flavor.

Ah that means I'm a billy-no-mates miserable e****er then - no local pub
(they try and have a local pub in the village hall a couple of hours a week; like most village halls it's a brick built soulless 70's/80's design)

The nearby larger village has 3 pubs but none worthy of the good local name...

I've always viewed my local as an extension of my front room..

I would visit daily

It was a place to relax, laugh til your ribs hurt, share your problems or your ideas, hear the gossip or catch up on views of the world news.. Maybe even snarl and raise your hackles a bit if that's what took your fancy..
The camaraderie was second to none and everyone was fiercely loyal.. There was no problem too big or too small that wouldn't get plenty of eager offers of help..
You could borrow money, trade almost anything, find work, love, inspiration or simple companionship and shelter etc etc

A true community hub

In fact the landlady would call us if we weren't waiting outside at opening time to check that we were OK! 🙂

I use the past tense because I have drifted out of the scene due to young kids and financial constraints, and the scene has definitely slowed in my favourite boozer because the most recent tenants have a bit of a lacklustre approach to ale..

I'll definitely get back into it when finances allow though, we've got our eye on a very suitable hostelry for our patronage and as for the long term outlook, I've got no worries about being old and doddery cos I will be happily sat in the boozer when that time comes

Heh!! 🙂 This was me before the smoking ban.. ahh the good old days 😆 Frank Gallagher is the voice of the drinking class for sure

[img] [/img]

I think for me a defined a good/great pub as somewhere you can turn up on your own, have a beer, relax and have a good evening.