Best pubs visited in 2021

[sheffield hatter]

I've been looking back through my reviews of pubs visited in 2021 to refresh my memory. I made 501 visits to 251 pubs, of which 122 were pubs that were new to me. The following pubs achieved scores of 9 or 10, or in some cases (the second group) probably will do when I get around to writing up my notes.

The Crow Inn, Sheffield
New Barrack Tavern, Sheffield
Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield
The Victoria, Paddington
The Salisbury Hotel, Harringay

Vat & Fiddle, Nottingham
Chantry Inn, Handsworth
Bricklayers Arms, Putney
George Inn, Upper Denby

I should also mention some of my favourite regular haunts, such as the Blake Hotel (40 visits in 2021) and the Sheffield Tap in my adopted home town, and the Brunswick Inn, Derby, which would have got similar scores if I had updated their previous reviews.

The clear winner is the Victoria in Paddington - I've never before had a reasonably drinkable beer almost snatched from my hand and replaced with something better. A pub that, as well as being a beautiful building, really lives up to the promise on its A-board: serving the freshest real ale.

[Mobyduck]

My top 6 in no particular order...

The Express Tavern
The Fat Cat (Norwich)
The Fat Cat (Sheffield)
The Southampton Arms
The Wonston Arms

as an edit I have to include The Alfred to the list bearing in mind the vast majority of my BOTWs come from there as well as the fact that although I don't record every pub visit I have attended the place well in the region of 100+ visits in the last year despite closures.

[rpadam]

Top five, for very different reasons, in alphabetical order:

• The Beer Seller, Tonbridge, Kent
• The Berry, Walmer, Kent
• The Caley Picture House, Edinburgh
• The Guildford Arms, Edinburgh
• The Magpie, Botcherby, Carlisle

And the winner - the 'spoons on that list (shock, horror, probe!).

[Quinno]

Three pubs on the magic 10 for me

Fat Cat, Norwich
The Fat Cat

Kay's Bar, Edinburgh
Kays Bar

Lamp Tavern, Dudley
Lamp Tavern

The Lamp wins - it had everything (alright, no Bathams MILD) and it hit the sweet spot for all three of us who were in there. I was gutted when time was called at the bar.

[Brainypool]

Best new visits:

The Front, Falmouth
Peveril of the Peak, Manchester
Ye Olde Vic, Stockport
The Victoria, Durham

Best revisits/regular visits:

Masons Arms, Billinge
Lower Angel, Warrington
Roscoe Head, Liverpool
Ship & Mitre, Liverpool

[Bucking Fastard]

I gave three pubs a score of 10 in 2021

Tamworth Tap

Express Tavern

and POTY The Castle Only three ales on,both of mine were superb.The interior is a joy to behold and so glad to see it reopen after a very long closure.A very good pub in a very good drinking town.