A lot of that problem, at least among the rural pubs I nose around is simply down to demand. Many such pubs could probably last Monday to Thursday on a 36 pint poly pin. When I see three or four pumps clipped up on a midweek afternoon and the few punters are either all on lager at one end or are final-salary lunchers on red wine at the other I know it isn't going to end well.
Time to re-visit this list four years on, not many survivors from above. In no particular order....
Brunswick Inn
Fat Cat
Fat Cat
Jolly Fisherman
Marble Arch
Coopers Tavern
Southampton Arms
Hope
Evening Star
Hole In The Wall
A bit more widespread than the previous ten and theres bound to be something I've forgotten, It will be interesting to see how others list have varied in the passing of time.
"Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
-W.C.Fields
My tuppence worth, in no particular order, but perhaps biased by recent experience:
Pulteney Arms
The Old Crown
The Oak
The George Inn
Royal Oak
The Elephant
Halfway House
The Guide Dog
The Brace of Pheasants
The Cricketers Inn
OK, a Southern bias.
'Beer is for all day, not just for breakfast'.
2023 update:
The Farmers Arms closed
The Black Dog closed
The Rake lost its magic
Leaving, though I can't guarantee that I've been in them recently :
The Cover Bridge Inn
The Blue Bell
Red Lion
The Shipwrights Arms
The Salehurst Halt
Earle Arms
The Three Stags Heads
Three replacements:
Larkins' Alehouse
Surrey Oaks
The Kentish Rifleman
This is a subjective list, and I'm not 100% sure!
"At that moment I would have given a kingdom, not for champagne or hock and soda, or hot coffee but for a glass of beer" Marquess Curzon of Kedlestone, Viceroy of India.
The only question mark for me would be The Great Western on Wolverhampton which I believe has much less guests ales and is now more of a Holden's tied house.However I'm visiting there in July so will reserve judgement until then.I am visiting the Cask at the end of January as I hear it's back on form with some great ale selection,having gone through a difficult patch during Covid with a much reduced ale line up.
"Good people drink good beer" Hunter S Thompson
Last edited by Mobyduck; 05-01-2023 at 17:14.
"Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
-W.C.Fields
The Cask is good.