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Crossste
04-09-2012, 18:09
Just got back from our annual beer and boating holidays and called off at some marvelous places for a pint. Stone and Burton being most memorable. But! There is always a down side.

The worst town for beer i have been, either boating or just a day out, has got to be Marple (just outside Stockport). Every pub that we found in the centre was Robbies, the only variety being it was either bad Robbies or crap Robbies, although to be fair the Robbies in the Ring O' Bells just outside the centre was good. One good pint in one pub out of six is a very poor ratio in my opinion. Not even a JDWs to fall back on.

So other worst ale drinking towns. (Sorry if its been done before and i missed it).

p.s. Why is speel chucker telling me i have speelt centre wrong.

ROBCamra
04-09-2012, 19:04
Oldham is pretty bad.

There are two JDW's and The Ashton Arms is very good, but the rest is almost entirely complete dross.

Thirsk is a nice town but has some of the most boring pubs for beer you could imagine.

oldboots
04-09-2012, 19:10
There are quite a few wastes of space out there, Scotland has more than its fair share but confining myself to England, here's a short list:


Letchworth (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/areas/letchworth/hertfordshire/) (haven't been for years one visit was enough, I see it now has a 'spoons)

Wantage (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/areas/wantage-town/oxfordshire/) - largely ex Morlands pubs now GK there are two worth while pubs, Abingdon is almost but not quite as bad

Thirsk (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/areas/thirsk-central/north-yorkshire/) - almost wall to wall John Smiths. Northallerton and Richmond are saved by a couple of good pubs each but are also quite poor.

Brackley (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/areas/brackley-town/northamptonshire/), Northamptonshire - my winner, poor to undrinkable beer in almost every pub, what is drinkable is boring or the pub is disgusting or both.

Spinko
04-09-2012, 20:15
I can think of a number of towns that are salvaged by one or two that stand out.

Headingley is pretty bad considering the rugby league and cricket fans that visit, except you have Arcadia hidden away at the top end of town.

Castleford in West Yorkshire has a JDW but that's about it.

Bolton is by-and-large pretty poor once you get past Ye Olde Man and Scythe (although I've not been there and going off reputation!)

A couple of mid-Wales towns in Newtown and Welshpool don't have any memories of any decent boozers for me, and thinking about it even Aberystwyth is pretty poor apart from Ship & Castle.

I think a combination of student and working class tends to be a place to avoid.

Millay
04-09-2012, 20:31
p.s. Why is speel chucker telling me i have speelt centre wrong.

These American spoll chuckers really puss me oof. Why can't they detect that we are in England and use the Queen's English.

Strongers
04-09-2012, 21:32
NW9 is great for Guinness but no so for cask ale.

aleandhearty
04-09-2012, 22:51
Castleford in West Yorkshire has a JDW but that's about it.

...Apart from local institution The Shoulder of Mutton, described by Roger Protz as 'one of the best pubs in the country', the nearby Eagle,a new ale venue, which was recently mentioned in a CAMRA newsletter for the quality of its beer. Finally, the much lauded Junction which has up to six pumps featuring local micros, including beers from Ridgeside and Five Towns served from the wood.

Aqualung
04-09-2012, 22:57
Wembley is pretty awful. The Spoons is really not one of their best and I can't think of anything else even worth considering.

In fact the whole of NW London outside of the more trendy or gentrified areas (Hampstead, Camden and Kentish Town etc) is pretty grim. Harlesden has a jettisoned Spoons and Fullers pub and a very tired looking Young's pub (the Grand Junction).

Tottenham and Edmonton are pretty dire too. I haven't returned to the Edmonton Spoons since having rubbish pints on two consecutive visits, and haven't been to the 2013 GBG listed Beehive.

Large parts of London don't really have a viable choice apart from Wetherspoons, happily I have other options even though a number of the Spoons in my area seem to be some of their better ones (well at least the beer is drinkable!).

Mobyduck
05-09-2012, 05:12
Basingstoke is pretty Grim, The Queens Arms (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/13327/) aside, not a place for a decent crawl.

hondo
05-09-2012, 07:33
Thirsk is a nice town but has some of the most boring pubs for beer you could imagine.

just discovered Crown & Anchor (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/29797/)
http://www.crownandanchorsowerby.co.uk/ last month a short walk from Thirsk town centre

Spinko
05-09-2012, 07:39
...Apart from local institution The Shoulder of Mutton, described by Roger Protz as 'one of the best pubs in the country', the nearby Eagle,a new ale venue, which was recently mentioned in a CAMRA newsletter for the quality of its beer. Finally, the much lauded Junction which has up to six pumps featuring local micros, including beers from Ridgeside and Five Towns served from the wood.

I'm not sure the Junction was around when I last visited :( although it'd be my first destination now - my main knowledge to Castleford pubs is the town centre, and primarily the route from the station to the rugby league ground. :sick:

Sports venues always seem to me a perfect launching pad for real ale, a high throughput - so why is it they always end up serving the same rubbish. There's one, I think Harlequins, who have regular real ale festivals 3 or 4 hours before kick-offs. With a ready made venue and the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, it's a great idea. More places should do it.

Oggwyn Trench
05-09-2012, 08:04
Dawley is pretty bad with only the Elephant and Castle (decent) and Wrekin View(ok) serving real ale out of 14 pubs , just up the road Madley is nearly as bad with only the All Nations(great) and Foresters(decent) serving anything other than the odd pint of Banks Mild/Bitter or GK crap , South Telford is realy dire

Thuck Phat
05-09-2012, 11:45
Wantage (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/areas/wantage-town/oxfordshire/) - largely ex Morlands pubs now GK there are two worth while pubs, Abingdon is almost but not quite as bad



The changes here (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/58075/) may help Wantage out of this group.

Daventry is pretty poor with the only real option being a mediocre 'Spoons and the last time I visited Chertsey, albeit some years ago, it was dire with no options for a decent pint at all.

Bucking Fastard
05-09-2012, 12:36
My slow progress around the inland waterway network has thankfully only thrown up a handful of really bad real ale towns but here are some black holes



Waltham Abbey. After demolition of The Old English Gentleman (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/74580/),whats left is a lot of McMullen's tied houses and several keg only outlets.

Uxbridge. Lots of pubs,nothing to write home about on the real ale front.

Wolverton Milton Keynes is not blessed with many good real ale pubs,and none of them are based here.

Market Harborough Attractive looking town ,but never found any decent ale here.

Goole Lots of characters in the pubs,especially around the docks,but no pubs with character,or decent beer.

Blackburn My heart sinks when the only GBG listing is for a 'spoons and I am not keen on Thwaites either.

Chertsey As mentioned by Mr Phat,the mere mention is enough to cause a panic attack, so I've avoided it like the plague ever since.


This may be all very unfair,places change and although it might be frustrating to discover that I missed a gem,I would dearly like to know if there is a decent real ale option in any of these places.That's what Pubsgalore is all about.:)

Grailhunter
05-09-2012, 12:46
The changes here (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/58075/) may help Wantage out of this group.



I suspect this (the Shoulder of Mutton) was one of the two worthwhile pubs Old Boots was alluding to. The other being the Royal Oak. Those 2 though are both excellent pubs which IMHO save Wantage from winning this award.
Now Abingdon, I'm with you on that one Old Boots. A dire town for pubs and I should know I live there.

gillhalfpint
05-09-2012, 12:47
Chertsey may have changed a bit as we were there last month, and the pub Thyme at the Tavern was good. They had 2 run of the mill type beers on 2 pumps, but the other 2 were good and changed regularly. In the couple of days we stayed in Chertsey we had Ascot Alley Cat, Tillingbourne Evolution No 1, Surrey Hills Shere Drop, Windsor & Eton Eton Boatman, and Twickenham Sundance. Not bad, so as you say, things do improve. The pub was voted CAMRA Pub of the Year 2012, and is in the new 2013 Good Beer Guide. We are back to Chertsey November 15 - 18 for the Egham beer festival, and will certainly be back in this pub.

Bucking Fastard
05-09-2012, 13:08
Thanks for that Gill.Next time I am floating down the Thames ,I will give Chertsey another go.Sounds like it is now worth making the long walk from the river.

Al 10000
05-09-2012, 15:34
I am happy drinking in any town i hav'nt been to before as long as there are about 20 pubs to go at,if i get 60% of pubs on real ale then i am even more happy.

Regarding bad towns i found Watford to be very short on pubs and Colwyn Bay had very few pubs, me and the Wife were well fed up trying to find pubs in both of these towns.

One of the worst towns i have been to for real ale was Leigh 18 pubs done and only 7 had real ale on.

RogerB
05-09-2012, 15:43
Are we looking for the town that has the worst selection/choice of Real Ale (in which case many of Kent's Shepherd Neame strogholds such as Sittingbourne and Faversham are prime contenders) or the worst towns for actually getting a Real Ale given the number of pubs around (several chunks of London fall into that category).

PaulOfHorsham
05-09-2012, 18:17
Basingstoke is pretty grim, not a decent place

Fixed that for you, Moby. :D

Agreed, though, the Queens Arms is pretty good and saves having to venture too far from the station for a fast exit.

oldboots
05-09-2012, 18:43
just discovered Crown & Anchor (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/29797/)
http://www.crownandanchorsowerby.co.uk/ last month a short walk from Thirsk town centre

The people of Sowerby would be appalled to be lumped in with Thirsk, my dear old mum lives there. The Crown & Anchor is a fine pub though.

oldboots
05-09-2012, 18:45
The changes here (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/58075/) may help Wantage out of this group.


The Shoulder of Mutton and the Royal Oak were the two decent pubs I alluded to.

Ah! just seen Grailhunters post. On the subject of Abingdon I thought the Brewery Tap and The Harp were quite good and the White Horse not too bad otherwise I think everywhere else I tried had fairly awful Morlands "Original".

No for me Brackley it has to be.

Mobyduck
05-09-2012, 20:31
Fleet (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/areas/fleet-town/hampshire/) is only a small town but my nearest town and I have lived there at various times ,real ale pub heaven it aint. Only four pubs in Fleet centre,
The Oatsheaf (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59600/) Ember Inns,seems to have a refurb every two years.
The Prince Arthur (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59601/)A poor J.D.W.
Propaganda (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59603/)A music bar/pub formerly a Hogshead.Hasn't even been reviewed on the dark side since 2006.
Emporium (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59598/) A Greene King pub.

I haven't been to any of these pubs bar the Prince Arthur for at least five years because quite honestly they're crap.Seeing that two of them have no reviews and I am a ten minute drive away,I should sacrifice pleasure and do the honourable thing even though I object to spending my time and money on places I know are rubbish,(in my view). :sick:

Crossste
05-09-2012, 21:44
Oldham is pretty bad.

There are two JDW's and The Ashton Arms is very good, but the rest is almost entirely complete dross.

Thirsk is a nice town but has some of the most boring pubs for beer you could imagine.

Talking of Oldham. You would have thought this chap could have found a better pump to stand behind, other than the one on the left, to promote his real ale choice.

http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/72993/good-beer-guide-ill-drink-to-that

ROBCamra
06-09-2012, 07:58
Talking of Oldham. You would have thought this chap could have found a better pump to stand behind, other than the one on the left, to promote his real ale choice.

http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/72993/good-beer-guide-ill-drink-to-that

I musr admit I'd forgotten about Whittles http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/13007/ a proper Rock / Biker venue with live music on a regular basis.

Crossste
06-09-2012, 09:34
I musr admit I'd forgotten about Whittles http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/13007/ a proper Rock / Biker venue with live music on a regular basis.

Oh! Cheers Rob. I hadn't realised that Whittles was that particular pub. We used to drink in it in my youth (early 70s) under its former name before going into Bailey's.

I am now going to spend all day trying to remember its name.:)

ROBCamra
06-09-2012, 09:50
Oh! Cheers Rob. I hadn't realised that Whittles was that particular pub. We used to drink in it in my youth (early 70s) under its former name before going into Bailey's.

I am now going to spend all day trying to remember its name.:)

Can't help you there.

Our pub of choice before going to Bailey's (early 70's) was The Star Inn (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/73263/)

Strongers
06-09-2012, 10:13
I wouldn’t plan an ale trail along the Northern Line north of Hampstead. And the Jubilee Line north of St John’s Wood is hardly worth the effort.
I agree with Aqualung’s earlier post that NW London beyond Camden borough is pretty dire.

Urban sprawl and real ale don’t seem to go hand in hand north of the river and I imagine that this is the case through most of the country.

rpadam
06-09-2012, 19:56
NW London beyond Camden borough is pretty dire
I think you can add most of NE London beyond the North London Line railway corridor too...

ROBCamra
07-09-2012, 09:50
Oh! Cheers Rob. I hadn't realised that Whittles was that particular pub. We used to drink in it in my youth (early 70s) under its former name before going into Bailey's.

I am now going to spend all day trying to remember its name.:)

Is your head hurting now Crosste?

In that case I can tell you that Whittles was formerly the Sergeant At Arms. :p

Crossste
07-09-2012, 11:21
Is your head hurting now Crosste?

In that case I can tell you that Whittles was formerly the Sergeant At Arms. :p

Nice one Rob. Would never have got that. Where did you pluck that from.

Quinno
07-09-2012, 19:43
Near me:

Newbury is pretty poor for its size and wealth, two new Spoons opening up a while ago was greeted eagerly by the local CAMRA brnach which says a lot.

Swindon is also pretty crap.

But the winner is Slough. Though given it's almost an outpost of Pakistan these days it's hardly a surprise.

General Staal
09-09-2012, 16:33
Easy - the Castle Bromwich/Hodge Hill area of Birmingham. Never go there for ale.

Crossste
09-09-2012, 16:45
But the winner is Slough. Though given it's almost an outpost of Pakistan these days it's hardly a surprise.

Slough could well give Marple a run for its money from what i remember of it. We stayed in a Copthorne hotel prior to a Rugby League world cup final some time in the 90s and it was dire then. If its got worse the heaven help it.:pray:

John Betjaman would appear to have been right.

ROBCamra
09-09-2012, 16:57
Slough could well give Marple a run for its money from what i remember of it. We stayed in a Copthorne hotel prior to a Rugby League world cup final some time in the 90s and it was dire then. If its got worse the heaven help it.:pray:

John Betjaman would appear to have been right.

Apart from here The Rose & Crown (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/1870/) which is excellent.

My saviour when I worked in Slough for 16 months!!

Maldenman
09-09-2012, 17:15
I may be doing these towns a disservice as it's been a while, but my years of trawling around Conference North football grounds has provided me with several poor drinking towns. The lowest accolades would probably go to Gainsborough, Alfreton and Hucknall, although two of these are still ok destinations due to their proximity to Nottingham.

In the south, well yes, Slough no question and for similar demographic reasons Southall, but Woking is very disappointing for a town of its size. As for Farnborough! Except the one out of town near Farnborough North. Prince of Wales (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59583/)

Spinko
09-09-2012, 18:35
Near me:

Newbury is pretty poor for its size and wealth, two new Spoons opening up a while ago was greeted eagerly by the local CAMRA brnach which says a lot.

Swindon is also pretty crap.

But the winner is Slough. Though given it's almost an outpost of Pakistan these days it's hardly a surprise.

There's around 7 decent boozers in Swindon. The Steam Railway Company is my pick of the lot, handily separated into a little room for real ale (around 6 or so on, from memory) and chat, with another area for us kids to watch sport and play pool.

oldboots
09-09-2012, 18:51
As for Farnborough! Except the one out of town near Farnborough North. Prince of Wales (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59583/)

Yes definitely an awful place (apart from the PoW), foul beer, foul pubs and foul people.

Mobyduck
09-09-2012, 18:56
Yes definitely an awful place (apart from the PoW), foul beer, foul pubs and foul people.

Harsh but spot on.

Bucking Fastard
10-09-2012, 15:00
The lowest accolades would probably go to Gainsborough........

If you are going back to Gainsborough Trinity FC and are prepared to walk down the the river front,The Eight Jolly Brewers (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/21215/) has always proved a lifesaver when ever I've stopped overnight on the pontoon mooring.Shame the local yoof aren't as welcoming,but that's another story.

sheffield hatter
10-09-2012, 15:38
...my years of trawling around Conference North football grounds has provided me with several poor drinking towns. The lowest accolades would probably go to Gainsborough, Alfreton and Hucknall, although two of these are still ok destinations due to their proximity to Nottingham.

Fortunately Luton haven't got as low as the sub-Conference divisions yet. We played at Alfreton on Saturday for only the second time, but my first visit. Actually, "played" is probably not quite right, and even "turned up" has connotations of commitment that probably didn't apply to several of the Hatters on the pitch. Anyway, I was there. :(

I went in the Victoria (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/6618/) near the ground, although the police had designated it a home fans only pub (I slipped in under the radar;)). Two real ales on, Flipside On Your Marks and Clarks Classic Blonde - kept a little on the cold side. Very nice pub, and friendly landlord. Just along the road is Bluey's (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/6582/) (formerly Hudson Bay), which some friends of mine tried when we had a game here in April, and they said there were a couple of real ales on, although it's an "Aussie bar and bistro". In the town centre there were six real ales at the King Alfred (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/6626/), though the pub is a little too 'Spoons-like and impersonal for my taste. Nearby the Blue Bell (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/6563/) only had Abbot. The Devonshire (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/6577/) was a pleasant little pub with two Oakwell beers: Barnsley Bitter and the excellent Dark MILD. Just across the road was the Miners (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/6594/), which only had Pedigree, though this was in good condition and only £2.30 a pint (but served in plastic on "police instructions":mad:). I didn't go in the Waggon & Horses (JD Wetherspoon) (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/6619/).

I also had time before kick-off to meet some friends from Luton in South Normanton where we visited the excellent GBG-listed Devonshire Arms (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/6575/) and the Clock (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/6566/). (Reviews of most of the above will follow in due course.)

So, all things considered, the beer drinking in Alfreton was a lot better than the football. (We lost 3-0 if you must know.)

The Eight Jolly Brewers (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/21215/) in Gainsborough has been a destination pub for a number of years - I always include it in my Lincoln-and-back by train (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/crawl/viewcrawl.php?crawl=730) crawl. It's off the main shopping street, just around the corner from a Smith & Jones and a 'Spoons , but as far as I know that's about it for this small town.

Now if you really want to hear about poor real ale towns, how about Kyle of Lochalsh (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/areas/kyle-of-lochalsh/highland/) and its opposite number across the water on Skye, Kyleakin (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/areas/kyleakin/highland/)? Truly dire.

Al 10000
10-09-2012, 15:40
Swindon is also pretty crap.
.

I have made the effort to go to Swindon on train about six times and have done lots of pubs in Swindon and surrounding towns,i have always enjoyed drinking in Swindon probably because i like Arkells beers,so i would disagree about Swindon being crap.

Farway
10-09-2012, 16:05
As for Farnborough! Except the one out of town near Farnborough North. Prince of Wales (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59583/)

Even my expensive, seen off again, pint at his year's Air Show was crap, out of a tin & in a plastic "glass" :mad:

Bucking Fastard
10-09-2012, 16:12
The Eight Jolly Brewers (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/21215/) in Gainsborough has been a destination pub for a number of years - I always include it in my Lincoln-and-back by train (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/crawl/viewcrawl.php?crawl=730) crawl. It's off the main shopping street, just around the corner from a Smith & Jones and a 'Spoons , but as far as I know that's about it for this small town.



Great minds think alike ;)...and it is about all there is,I popped in a few others but none compared with the Brewers

oldboots
10-09-2012, 19:37
Now if you really want to hear about poor real ale towns, how about Kyle of Lochalsh (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/areas/kyle-of-lochalsh/highland/) and its opposite number across the water on Skye, Kyleakin (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/areas/kyleakin/highland/)? Truly dire.

Most of Scotland, and to an even greater extent Ulster, is fairly poor for real ale drinkers. In Scotland you are often faced with the choice of icy Tennants, the very nasty Belhaven Best or one of the lacklustre national kegs familiar to the English. The only thing to be said for Jockland is that you'll usually get a decent choice of malts and in a bigger measure than south of the border. The Scots/Celtic drinking culture can produce some "challenging" bars, think Rab C Nesbitt etc. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness can offer some first rate bars and hotels but I'd write off most other places from an ale point of view and just enjoy the local culture and the hopefully friendly natives. North West Scotland is not a good place for ale but there are a few compensations.

756

Outside of Belfast and to a much lesser degree Derry, the same "when in Rome" attitude applies to Ulster, enjoy the scenery and the local approach to life. Ditto the Republic away from Dublin and Cork.


A quick look through the posts shows Slough and Farnborough chasing each other to the bottom with North London as a whole not far behind.

sheffield hatter
11-09-2012, 23:01
Most of Scotland is fairly poor for real ale drinkers. In Scotland you are often faced with the choice of icy Tennants, the very nasty Belhaven Best or one of the lacklustre national kegs familiar to the English. North West Scotland is not a good place for ale but there are a few compensations.

I was pleasantly surprised by Oban when I was there a couple of weeks ago. I particularly liked the Lorne (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/54112/), and both the Woodside (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/47811/) and Coasters (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/54666/) were OK (though only one real ale in each). Surprisingly, the Oban Bay Brewery tap, Cuan Mor (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/70297/), had only one ale available, but perhaps this was because it was Monday, and a particularly wet one at that.

Inverness, as you say, has some high points. A few miles outside of that city there are the Dores Inn (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/78170/), which has four hand pumps and is worth the trip out (I believe there is a regular bus service, though I was on my bike), and I can strongly recommend the Benleva (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/67227/) at Drumnadrochit, where the Loch Ness brewery is run by a real enthusiast.

Much further north, if you're passing the Scourie Hotel (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/70508/) it would be a shame not to stop.

There are other oases but generally this is not an area to visit for beer and, as you say, there are other compensations when in the Highlands and Islands.