Pints at the local

[robotsmfc]

Luckily for me, my four most local of pubs are two real ale pubs and two student bars.

Tonight, I've had a swift couple of pints with my lovely amigos at this wonderful pub: www.victoriainn-durhamcity.co.uk/

My question is this: where do you consider to be your local, and is it any good?

[DazaB_WCFC]

I now consider The Plough to be my local - less than 10 minutes walk from my flat, on the edge of town and a fantastic pub. There are more 'local' pubs which I occasionally visit, but the Plough is the nearest pub that one would recommend.

[thevicar]

The Hope, which is pretty good, although I haven't spent enough time in their recently.

[ambersalamander]

I don't really have one any more. When I lived in Sutton, it was Sutton United FC! I was always drinking down there The nearest pubs to where I am now are all rubbish and don't feel cosy enough to be my local. I guess that means my "local" is now 4 miles away

[Col ISIHAC.]

I am in a quandary with mine.

There is a pub within 60 seconds of home and it sells Elgood's beers -VERY fine indeed and wonderfully kept. But the pub has just one bar, it's the size of my lounge and Burton Latimer is a funny place. Not as in ha-ha, but it's posh yet crammed with drongos. The drongos use my pub. LAndlord is great, he has live music and open mike nights; but attracts all the under age crew and people who have managed to spawn 7 kids under the age of 5 just so they can take them there...

Up the road, about 5 minutes, is another pub - the Duke. Now this is a fine establishment in terms of staff, regulars, but there's no fleckin' beer! Top notch quiz machine, music is faultless and the conversation sparkles. But Speckled Hen via the fizz pump is as good as it gets.

[AFC J Esaj PRA]

I don't 'live' in the place where I spend most of my time - I just exist there. Locally, the pubs are notoriously rubbish - the closest to the roof over my head geographically is a dross estate pub, filled with the previously mentioned slobs and their litter of 7 from the last 5 years. The next closest has been shut down - they are thinking of converting it into a library... I have no idea what they do/did serve on the beer front.

Stretching my legs a little there are some nice village pubs within an hour on the hoof, most offering top quality ales. The GBG listed one is The Plough at Simpson, but I don't think much of it. Both the Cross Keys and the Barge Inn at Woolstone are better in terms of beer, historic interiors and location. Milton Keynes village has a snobby Wells house that I try to avoid and a surprisingly good new-build modern style sports pavilion, which always seems to have at least one ale from Tring Brewery on tap.

There are actually two ale bars on site where I work, but they have an odd habit of only being open when I'm working - I don't think this does much for the beer sales. I remember a mini celebration breaking out amongst the bar staff when I dropped in for some lunchtime 'do' and ordered a pint. "We've got a drinker!" One is a cosy underground cellar bar with ale exclusively from Hook Norton; the other is a pavilion bar overlooking the cricket pitch that serves ales from Jennings (strangely no other W&D stuff). Probably two of the best bars in the town, but I doubt they're open for more than 4 hours a day, rarely after 8pm and hardly ever at weekends or holidays.


Back in Tamworth, where I do actually live a bit, the choice is simple: The Sir Robert Peel. Best range of ales, biggest selection and greatest turnover. Also offers a very good chance of a late pint for the regulars and even commissions one-off brews for weddings, christenings, birthdays and funerals. If I can choose, this is 'my local'.

[amberaleman]

I've actually been to the Victoria In Durham (the pub mentioned by Robot), although that was way back in June 1982. Good to see it's still going strong!

My own local is the Sultan in South Wimbledon, the sole London pub owned by Hop Back brewery of Downton, near Salisbury. It's an uncomplicated two-bar pub where the emphasis is on good ale and (intermittently!) good conversation.

I often fall in there on my way back from a home match, and can pretty well guarantee to meet at least a couple of friends whose opening greeting will be 'how did Sutton get on today?'. We may then go on to discuss the varying fortunes of Brighton & Hove Albion, Leyton Orient, Stenhousemuir, AFC Wimbledon, Watford, West Ham and Nottingham Forest - all of whom have supporters among the regulars.

There's also a pub cat, which can never be a bad sign in my book.

[robotsmfc]

It probably hasn't changed since 1982!