Pubs that we call 'home': Our geographical and spiritual locals.

[Millay]

That's a marvellous rant for this time of the morning ETA

[Eddie86]

Bloody hell. At least give me a chance to have a cuppa first!

[trainman]

There's no doubt that Didsbury's Nelson Inn (in its old, very different, guise) used to cover both categories for me as it was my first pub and where I later worked & even lived for a while. It has very much changed and I hardly ever drop in these days, when up there, though I should as some of the old gang can still sometimes be spotted on occasion.

My personal (current) national number one, The Crown, Stockport (Heaton La), would have to get my spiritual vote these days and, due to geography, The Trafalgar, South Wimbledon, is my most visited ale pub in striking distance (still a train & tube though!).

http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/26093/
http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/53526/
http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/24699/

[ETA]

Bloody hell. At least give me a chance to have a cuppa first!

Sorry chaps - I think it was quite a frustrating experience going into the Royal Oak in Brookland (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/16719/) last night - absolutely nothing wrong with the pub, it's a good place to drink, nice building, good food, some very classy eye-candy. But it was really quite - nice. That's about it - nice. An instant pub - "just add alcohol and stir - a perfect pub every time!" Very "this Century". Compared with the Red Lion in Snargate (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59104/) and the Woolpack in Brooklands (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59101/) where I'm heading tonight, both superb archetypal Kentish country pubs which are under threat from modern life. Maybe I'm just a dinosaur who can see the comet coming and can't find anywhere to hide.

Now, where did I put that dartboard?

But on a cheerier note, in response to the OP:

The Wyndham Arms (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/41766/)
Deacons (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/41671/)
The Earl of Normanton (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/62896/)
The Winterbourne Arms (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/41757/)

[hopwas]

Right..

Spiritual home pub.. The White Lion, Upper Gungate. Visited there for good 15 years and still visiting. Also I regularly visit The Fox, Hopwas nearest pub to my house and my first visit there was in 1985 when I was 7 year old.

Home JDW.. of course, most of you already know, The Silk Kite. Also I regularly visit other JDW in town, The Bole Bridge.

[gillhalfpint]

If we want to go local we travel into Birmingham and do the Wellington, Briar Rose, Anchor and Lamp and bus home. Never done the White Swan in Digbeth. What do they usually have on?

If we feel the need to travel, as we do for this weekend, we go to Sheffield and do the Harlequin, Riverside, Fat Cat, Kelham Island Tavern, Gardeners Rest, Wellington and Hillsborough Hetel. If we haven't had a festival worth of beers by then, there are plenty of others on route to fit in.

I too remember the days when it was so easy to have a game of darts with a beer or two. Even pubs with dartboards seem to have a table put in front of it these days.

[hopwas]

Hmmm..

If I visit Brum then Wellys will be my first port of call, Square Peg (JDW), Old Joint Stock and Cambridge. White Swan is Listed building but not sure about what they have. I am sure Soupy will tell you that as he visited it few months ago. My last visit was in 2005.

If I visit my second home, Derby then legendary Bruswick is for me. Also The Flowerpot (note no spaces there), Babington Arms (JDW) and Wardwick Tavern. I know some of you saying what about Brewery Tap. I have never visited there but I have been to it's previous life, The Royal Standard.

[aleandhearty]

I've enjoyed trawling through all the nominations and links. There truly are some great pubs out there, but reading what they mean to people makes it even better. I think The Wellington, Brum and The Crown, Stockport are the two that really caught my eye. Sorry 'Strongers' but The Orange Tree definitely wins first prize in the 'absolute hole' competition!

P.S. I'm just so jealous of Gill's lifestyle. Marvellous.

[gillhalfpint]

Brewery Tap looks a bit clinical, but there is nothing wrong with their beers.

Derby beers of course, but they have plenty of pumps for guests, and they held a very good fest there. We tend to include it on a crawl of Derby.

We usually do Babington, Old Silk Mill (much improved ale choice),walk through Dolphin to see if anything other than standard beers, and Flowerpot, then go to Brewery Tap. We call in the Alex and Brunswick on the way back to station.

[ROBCamra]

If we want to go local we travel into Birmingham and do the Wellington, Briar Rose, Anchor and Lamp and bus home. Never done the White Swan in Digbeth. What do they usually have on?

It's an ex Banks's pub, so they have the Marstons stable of beers on. It's worth a look for the decor and the beer is well kept, even if the range isn't stunning.

It's only a two minute walk from the Anchor so it's hardly a detour.