Great British Pub Week kicks off this Friday and what better way to celebrate than with a pint of Bishop’s Finger or a cherry beer at one of these cosy English pubs, recommended to us by local experts around the country.
The Fleece Inn in Bretforton is one of the only pubs in the country owned by the National Trust. It holds the annual British Asparagus Festival, serves local food and drink produce and is only a few miles from Honeybourne station on the London Paddington Cotswold Line. Nearby by is the beautiful honey-coloured village of Broadway.
Victoria Carman, Destination Worcestershire
The Lindsey Rose is a 15th-century Suffolk inn and one of the country’s oldest pubs. With a warm and friendly atmosphere and located in the scenic and peaceful village of Lindsey, it welcomes families and dogs and can be relied upon for a tasty meal and a refreshing pint of local ale. Seasonal menus and fresh ingredients make this a top pub and a Suffolk hidden gem. There’s lots of cycling and walking routes in the area too and this pub is great for rewarding yourself afterwards!
The Phoenix is a great little corner pub just along from the Kings Theatre in Southsea, Portsmouth. Great beer, great atmosphere and always buzzing like a street party in a pub! Very friendly and full of Kings Theatre memorabilia and a local hangout for performers and production crews at the Kings. I cannot praise it highly enough!
Mike Williams, Kings Theatre Southsea
The Ship Inn in Alnwick is a great place to cosy up with your other half while sipping a pint of ale and tucking into fresh seafood like local hand-picked crab sandwiches and The Ship Inn’s famous fish pie while gazing out to sea.
Katie Rowe, VisitEngland
The Fur & Feather Inn sits opposite Woodforde’s brewery and is situated in the pretty village of Woodbastwick in Norfolk. Renowned for its quality food, Woodforde’s ales – available by the pint and also used in the menu – and relaxed atmosphere, it features in The Good Pub Guide and is referred to as ‘a legend in Norfolk’ by locals and tourists alike. Sit outside on a sunny day or cosy up by the log fire with a drink or two in the winter.
The Gipsy Moth is one of my favourite pubs in Greenwich, which sits right next to Cutty Sark in the centre of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. It’s atmospheric and cosy inside and there’s a fantastic garden which looks out at the famous old clipper ship which was re-opened, after a long conservation process, in the spring. The pub serves excellent food and drink and it’s an instantly relaxing place to chat the afternoon, or evening, away. Whenever you go, and you really should, you’ll come across groups of friends doing just that. Try it!
Al Barker, Royal Borough of Greenwich
The Turf Tavern in Oxford lies hidden behind high walls, down St Helen’s Passage (real name Hell’s Passage) and has been frequented by town and gown for hundreds of years. ‘Tis said young students from New College would lower baskets over the wall to haul up tasty victuals and liquid refreshment. Bob Hawke, former Prime Minister of Oz, still holds the record for downing a yard of ale here. With a fine range of local beers and foods it’s a great place to see and be seen – as well as eat and drink – right in the heart of Oxford’s heritage.
Heather Armitage, Visit Oxfordshire
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem may not look like one of England’s oldest pubs at first glance – the brick and timber exterior dates from the 17th century – but step inside this Nottingham institution and you’ll find yourself in a cave. Yes, a cave! People have been brewing and drinking in these caves since 1189 and they’re just as cosy today. Order a pint and settle down on one of the padded leather benches that line the soft sandstone walls, as generations of people have done before you. A drink here is like stepping out of time.
The White Hart on Great Suffolk Street in London is a lovely old Victorian pub that’s worth a visit after a trip to Tate Modern or great for that after-work pint. The pub offers a traditional pub menu along with a selection of real ales. The landlady Veronica has been there for 26 years and has seen all the transformations that have taken place in Bankside. It’s great all year round – in the summer there is plenty of outdoor seating and its lovely cosy atmosphere is perfect for those winter months. It’s the perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Louise Errington, Visit Bankside
Your favourite pub not on the list? Share it with us below.
Do you guys realise that there are people actually living in the north of England..?
It’s an absolute disgrace how southern-biased these mails are.
Suggest you look here
http://www.pubhub.co.uk/england.htm
Hi Geordie,
We’re sorry you feel our blog and emails have a southern bias. We do try our best to make sure we include all parts of England throughout our content but we’ll try even harder following your feedback. In the meantime, please do feel free to recommend your favourite northern pub in the comments here, and we’ll talk to our resident experts in the north and ask them again for a recommended pub to add to this list.
Kind regards,
Emma
There are some cracking pubs all over the North. Even in Lincolnshire!
Well said Geordie! I opened up this link looking forward to a pub at least in my vicinity. Visit England…very lazy. You should be ashamed.
I have to say I really agree with Geordie, I’ve spent years doing great pubs throughout the UK from Shetland to Cornwall, and as I scrolled down the list I expected it to start South working North… but Nottingham seems to be the limit? (with the very justifiable Ye Olde Trip), whilst yes there are some cracking pubs there, some of the best in the Country are in the North – Not one in Yorkshire..or the Lakes!, also as a Northerner (I live in Wigan) I’m not biased towards the North, I’m astounded to see none mentioned in Cornwall/Devon either, here’s a quick list of Pubs which are quite frankly, real unmissable gems. I’m only listing 10 as I’d be here all day . . . in no order..
1. Ship Inn, Low Newton by the Sea (northumberland)
2. The Boat House, Wylam (Tyne and Wear)
3. The Fat Cat, Sheffield (South Yorks)
4. The Bridge Inn, Topsham, Devon (phenomenal!!)
5. Eagle and Child, Bispham Green, (Lancashire)
6. The Hop Vine, Burscough, (Lancashire)
7, The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers, Dorset (My favourite pub bar none – and not Northern biased)
8. Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge (North Yorks)
9. The Church Inn, Uppermill, (Gtr Manchester)
10. The Prince of Wales, Foxfield, Cumbria
I hope this is helpful and may give you a few more ideas for your Northern readers
Regards
Pete
Hi Pete,
This list is fantastic! Really useful and much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Emma
Yep- supped at the Lion on Blakey Ridge. Excellent food too even if the portions are on the (very) generous side!
How about 2 of my favourite English pubs – if a Scotsman can presume?
Ye Old Fighting Cock in St Albans, and Ye Olde White Harte in the old quarter of Hull.
My wife and I have just had an enjoyable break in the Lake District. Look no further than the “Drunken Duck” at Barngates, near Ambleside for a classic inn. Great food, service and location plus it’s own micro brewery round the back!!
What about the Cornwall ? Hundreds of brilliant pubs whether in towns or tucked away in the countryside. Check out The Barley Sheaf in Liskeard if you want a ‘proper pub’.
Yep, Geordie’s right. There are some truly great “English” pubs in the north. Might I throw in my suggestion as Yorkshire’s representative selection? The Falcon in Arncliffe, in the beautiful Dales. Good homely pub, on the village green, with hearty wholesome food, and still serving great beer by gravity.
I echo Pete’s view though, that there are great pubs throughout the whole country. Terrific list Pete, and I wouldn’t disagree(apart from 3 that I haven’t tried). The Square & Compass must be my all-time fave pub too!
I’m glad you’re open to comments – I didn’t think that remark would be posted. try these 5 for starters:
1. Shiremoor Farm, Tyne & Wear.
2. The Keelmans Lodge, Newburn.
3. The Falcon, Prudhoe.
4. The Snowy Owl, Cramlington.
5. The Badger, Ponteland.
Ye Olde trip to Jerusalem in Nottingham is a superb pub, full of character, atmosphere and history. The beer is good too! A definite favourite of mine.
The Fleece Inn. A rather fitting name seeing as we are taxed to the point we don’t go out drinking any more. Fleec-ing government!
I agree with Geordie. I live in York. The Guy Fawkes pub by out famous York Minster is a lovely atmospheric pub with good beers. Also, The Minster Inn is a fabulous pub which is a varied list of real Ales. Remember us up in the North. Its not grim up north!!!
I think you may find the Birling Gap Hotel at Birling Gap near Eastbourne is also owned by the National Trust.
Country walking in South and West Yorkshire will be enhanced by visits to the following excellent establishments:
1 Rose & Crown, Thustonland
2 Golden Cock, Farnley Tyas
3 Woodman, Thunderbridge
4 Fleece, Holm
5 Bridge, Holmbridge
6 Anglers’, Winterset
7 Spencers, Cawthorne
Best regards
Philmo