Your All Time Top 10 pubs 2020

[Aqualung]

Given that everyone is twiddling their thumbs surely it's tine to resurrect this not entirely useless exercise.
As the title suggests it is just TEN pubs so if you can't count use you hands!
I'm going for five from my original list and five new ones. I've almost completed my 10 and will post shortly before going into hospital. I'm looking at two micropubs and a different JDW this time with one each from Scotland & Wales..

Here's the last thread :-

http://forums.pubsgalore.co.uk/showthread.php?28917-Your-top-10-pubs&highlight=all+time+top+10

[Mobyduck]

As difficult as ever....

The Nags Head (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/1691/) Reading
The Wenlock Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/23683/)N1
The Antelope (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/53206/)Surbiton
The Wonston Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/14200/) Wonston
The Alfred Freehouse (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/35750/)Upper Hale
The Gardeners Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/31724/) Oxford
The Cornubia (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/308/) Bristol
The Evening Star Brighton (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/10425/)
The Marble Arch (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/26061/) Manchester
The Hand In Hand (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/10454/) Brighton

After much editing here's my list in no particular order.

I could happily left it as the original list but have knocked out six and replaced with equally good establishments. I look forward to Aquas new list but I look forward even more to his first post after he gets out of hospital.

[sheffield hatter]

Well, this is an interesting challenge. It's only 15 months since we last did this exercise, so you wouldn't necessarily expect too many changes, but I made a point last year of visiting some of the pubs in the top half of the list that I hadn't previously visited, just so that I could see what others might have seen in them. (In fact, I've now been to all but six of the 48 pubs that were selected by two or more of the 28 contributors.)

So here are some that I visited last year (and in the early part of this year) just because they were on the list and recommended by you guys, some of which I really liked:
(Numbers refer to the pub's place on the spreadsheet, which is partly down to the number of recommendations, partly the average review rating, partly alphabetical order.)

8 Bell Inn, Aldworth, Reading - now Camra's pub of the year, of course
18 Hope, Carshalton
20 Royal Oak, Borough, SE1 - I had already visited this one before, but my memory was hazy
23 Cover Bridge Inn, Wensleydale - my top pub visited this year
26 Half Way House, Brenchley, Tonbridge
37 Ye Old Mitre, Holborn, EC1
43 Antelope, Surbiton
46 Orange Tree, Winchmore Hill, N21
79 Elephant, Faversham
108 Cricketers, St Helens
164 Princess Louise, Holborn, WC1
185 Warrington Hotel, Maida Vale, W9

I reckon at least three of these 12 could well appear on my next list of Top Ten Pubs.


Here are the six out of the top 48 that I still haven't been to:

48 Hand & Shears, Smithfield, EC1 - I was going to go on Good Friday before the Luton game at home to Barnsley
44 Cask, Pimlico, SW1
33 Bridge, Topsham, Exeter
24 Bhurtpore, Aston, Nantwich
21 Star Inn, Bath
13 Square & Compass, Worth Matravers, Swanage

Looking further down last year's list, here are six more that I've been meaning to go to:

56 Hare & Hounds, Wadsworth, Hebden Bridge - I was planning a little trip in May or June to Hebden to do this one, and a few others in Sowerby Bridge and Halifax
63 Kays Bar, New Town, Edinburgh - I had this on the agenda for the next time I visit my daughter in Scotland
75 Bridge End Inn, Ruabon, Wrexham
78 Dove Street Inn, Ipswich
81 Flowerpots Inn, Cheriton, Alresford
125 New Oxford, Salford - I was going to do this next time the Rhinos played the Red Devils away

So, the above 12 will not be on my list this time around. I hope they're still available to visit when /if things get back to normal.

[Aqualung]

I've come up with my 10 and feel terribly guilty that there isn't a Batham's outlet. You get the feel of what judges on reality shows must go through while deciding what to leave out!

Great Western (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/39188/), Wolverhampton
Cumberland Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/36426/), Byker
Angels Micropub (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/84285/), Belper
Albion (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/54162/), Conwy
Hare & Hounds (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/40555/), Wadsworth, Hebden Bridge
Caley Picture House (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/84817/), Edinburgh
Wigan Central (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/82614/), Wigan
Red Lion (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59104/), Snargate
Yard Of Ale (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/82119/), Broadstairs
Queens Head (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/38672/)Stourbridge

I hope Will will grasp the nettle as I'll be out of action from Friday but hopefully not for good.

[Aqualung]

So, the above 12 will not be on my list this time around. I hope they're still available to visit when /if things get back to normal.
You're in luck with the Hare & Hounds. I've included it again for the location, nostalgia and sheer bloody mindedness as nobody has reviewed it since!
Just as with my first visit 44 years ago it still does the full range of TT beers. If you walk or cycle there rather than get the bus from the station you'll have no trouble going through the card. Obviously it helps if it's a clear day.

[Wittenden]

[QUOTE=sheffield hatter;106455]





23 Cover Bridge Inn, Wensleydale - my top pub visited this year
26 Half Way House, Brenchley, Tonbridge
/QUOTE]

Glad you found the Cover Bridge in good form;the Northern Aunts said it had changed hands,so with great difficulty I resisted visiting last year. It's on the list for this Autumn if allowed,and remains one of my top ten, as does no 26.

[Bucking Fastard]

Given this a lot of thought,but the only change I would make is to substitute The Wenlock Arms for the Cask,Pimlico done with a very heavy heart.


1. Vine (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/38031/),Brierly Hill
2. Wenlock Arms (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/23683/) ,Hoxton
3.Old Swan Inn (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/53681/),Netherton
4.Great Western (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/39188/),Wolverhampton
5.Grove (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/40654/),Huddersfield
6.Harry's Bar (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/60167/),Wakefield
7.Marble Arch (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/26061/),Manchester
8.Nags Head (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/1691/),Reading
9.Organ Grinder (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/20818/),Loughborough
10.Royal Exchange (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/34611/),Stone

There is an obvious bias here,all these pubs are walkable from a canal :D

[oldboots]

Just one change, one southern pub for another. I am looking forward to revisiting the Black Boy if our Winchester jaunt goes ahead.

The Blue Bell (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/43505/)
The Cover Bridge Inn (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/58503/)
Templar Hotel (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/42952/)
Harrogate Tap (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/81224/)
Crown Posada (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/36424/)
The Fat Cat (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/43149/)
Beacon Hotel (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/38292/)
Black Boy (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/14135/)
The Vine (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/38031/)
The Wellington (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/37946/)

[sheffield hatter]

I hope Will will grasp the nettle as I'll be out of action from Friday but hopefully not for good.

OK, all right already! As suggested in my previous post, there are three newcomers on my list. However, last time I got away with "accidentally" nominating 11 pubs, so I've had to take out four to make room. Here goes:

The Barley Mow (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/6628/), Kirk Ireton
Barrels Ale House (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/30396/), Berwick upon Tweed
Bell Inn (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/61608/), Aldworth
Blake Hotel (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/43068/), Sheffield
The Brunswick Inn (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/7022/), Derby
The Cover Bridge Inn (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/58503/), Wensleydale
Halfway House (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/53015/), Brenchley
Manor Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/6008/), Broughton in Furness
Talbot Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/55447/), Settle
Yew Tree Inn (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/68013/), Cauldon

Honourable mentions to:
The Abbotsford (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/55815/), Edinburgh
Coopers Tavern (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/34227/), Burton on Trent
Plough & Harrow (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/38667/), Stourbridge
The Royal Oak (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/24284/), Borough
The Swan & Railway (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/19085/), Wigan

[ETA]

Of those still open (well, before last Friday anyway), and in no particular order.

The Anderson, Fortrose (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/64670/)

The Shipwrights Arms, Oare Creek (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/16050/)

The Ringlestone Inn, Kent (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/16370/)

Red Lion, Snargate (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59104/)

Halfway House, Pitney (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/33020/)

The Wyndham Arms, Salisbury (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/41766/)

The Coopers Arms, Rochester (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/16639/)

The Guide Dog, Southampton (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59830/)

The Brace of Pheasants, Plush (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/60574/)

The Swan, Enford (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/41644/)

[Spinko]

I'm not going to look at what I posted last and see what has changed..

Magic Rock, Huddersfield
York Tap
Craft House, Lytham
Moorbrook, Preston
Marble Arch, Manchester
Golden Smog, Stockton-on-Tees
Dubliners, Stockton-on-Tees
Grove, Leeds
Grove, Huddersfield
Wharf, Manchester

[Wittenden]

In no particular order,taken from those pubs visited in 2018,2019 and 2020 upto Closure. This explains the non appearance of the Red Lion, Snargate, and other favourites.

Surrey Oaks (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/35618/)Newdigate
The Bull Inn (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/15788/)Benenden
The Kentish Rifleman (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/66271/)Dunk's Green
Larkins' Alehouse (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/85780/)Cranbrook
The Cover Bridge Inn (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/58503/)East Witton
Halfway House (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/53015/)Brenchley
The Salehurst Halt (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/11066/)Salehurst
The Shipwrights Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/16050/)Hollow Shore
Rock (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/64085/)Chiddingstone Hoath
The Farmers Arms (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/63200/)Muker

I just hope that these will survive the next months.