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A very nice jet-black Fullers pub with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The food was simple and filling, and the beer cool and refreshing. One of the best pubs for away fans visiting Stamford Bridge.
The Blackbird, 209 Earls Court Road, London, SW5 9AN
020 7835 1855
www.hotels-london-hotel.com/pubs/earls-court/the-blackbird/
Norwich cathedral (well worth a look in itself - second tallest spire in the England) sits in a very lovely and quiet "close", with grassy areas dotted with trees and a rich mix of architecture in the surrounding buildings - an oasis so close to the city centre.
Turn left with the main (west) door behind you or walk straight ahead from St Ethelberts Gate and take the path away from the city centre, straight down to the river Wensum. You'll reach the picturesque spot known as Pulls Ferry. Then turn left to walk beside the river for a few minutes to Bishop Bridge and the Red Lion pub (outdoor seats by river). Keep to the river walk that diverts briefly behind the pub, to reach Cow Tower, (ruined 14th century fortification) and continue by the river for a short while until the pathway forks. Take the left fork, away from the river to reach the Adam and Eve - oldest pub in Norwich (also has outdoor seating but not much of a view).
Reaching the road just beyond, turn right and follow it until you reach the junction with Whitefriars and Palace St. Keep left along Palace St and you'll find the Erpingham Gate leading to the cathedral just inside.
A pretty and restful walk just a few minutes from the market. It takes only 30-40 minutes - without pub stops!
Starting from Norwich Cathedral, NR1
This is a really good bar in Southwark, great for an after work drink and not too expensive for where it is! (good chips too)
Home to the world famous Irish music session fronted by the award-winning Grace Kelly.
Holder of the world record for biggest Irish session held in a pub.
Session every Wednesday, live Irish music every Saturday and Sunday. Friendly staff, cosy atmosphere.
Opening Times
Monday 11am - 11pm
Tuesday 11am - 11pm
Wednesday 11am-11pm
Thursday 11am - 11pm
Friday 11am - 12midnight
Saturday 11am - 12midnight
Sunday 11am-11pm
www.myspace.com/unionpub
Union Irish Music Lounge
845 Stockport road
Levenshulme
Manchester
M19 3PW
0161 224 1271
Gardenstown is a gem of a village with pretty painted cottages surrounded by sandstone cliffs and the north sea. Mitchell's Cottage is on main street just a one-minute walk from the atmospheric local pub Garden Arms. The cottage has just been renovated with a superb dining kitchen, working fire in the sitting room for those cosy nights in and a big shower bath to soak in at the end of the day. If you're exploring Scotland don't miss Gardenstown and Mitchell's Cottage.
Local pub, great welcome, open fire, good English bar food. Must be the only pub in the world to keep an ancient skull (stuffed with newspaper) in the cupboard by the side of the fire. Lemon tart to die for.
After eating take a walk through the pretty village with an old church that has a runic headstone. Then up to the site of a stone burial site.
Great Urswick is a few miles from Ulverston, and quite near Barrow in Furness.
Probably the best views from a pub in Cornwall, beautiful views over the River Fal, Flushing, St Mawes and the ever moving Falmouth Harbour. Live jazz on Sundays, real guest ales, huge and very reasonably priced breakfasts (£3.99) and some very original art on the walls!
There is also free original beach binoculars to gaze at people on their boats or the quaint village of Flushing. A must for all visitors to Falmouth! Kids are also welcome before 7pm.
52 High Street (Greenbank end) Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 2AF
01326 318313
One of my favourite beaches is South Beach in Studland, the last stretch of sand before the chalk cliffs, where you can get a real mug of tea from Joe's cafe and take it down to the beach.
Head further west along the Isle of Purbeck to the Square and Compass pub in the village of Worth Matravers, an old whitewashed beer and table skittles pub, where you can enjoy a homemade pasty and views to the sea between the East and West Man.
Once described in Penguin's 1949 guide to Wilts and Dorset as having 'some reputation for providing a bit of local colour', it is full of character and charm not least provided by the free roaming hens clucking around your feet.
About two miles west of Ilfracombe - as the crow flies - lies this small gem of a seaside village. It's set in a very deep 'combe' or valley and is one of those places where you genuinely feel as though you've stepped back in time. The village can be reached by road where you can experience the vertiginous descent through narrow lanes or by footpath across the cliffs from Ifracombe with wonderful sea views.
Once there you can enjoy a variety of pleasures - visiting the Fuschia tea gardens or the Grampus pub, taking one of several excellent walks, or just enjoying the wonderful little rocky cove and beach which for many is the highlight that really provides Lee with its charm.
From Ilfracombe take the B3231 passing through Slade valley and Lincombe then descend into Lee.
www.leebay.co.uk/
Get the train from Exeter to Teignmouth, walk from the station to the seafront, and walk towards the ness, along the beach, around from the channel to the mouth of the river Teign, then walk along the river beach - you will be opposite Shaldon, and see Dartmoor up the River Teign.
Get the Teignmouth ferry to Shaldon, walk up to the ness, go through the smuggler's tunnel on to the beach. Return to Teignmouth on the ferry, and continue walking along the river beach, you will pass a row of original fisherman's cottages, and come to the Ship Inn, buy a pint and watch the sun setting over the moors.
A teeny tiny pub in a teeny tiny village. Try the sit-down-be-cider. Visit the geology museum. But what you really need to do is find the local expert - Mr Cooper, who has written a book on the history of the pub. Ply him with a pint of the aforementioned cider and he will tell you all you want to know about the pub, the Purbeck coast or the art and architecture of Rajasthan.
Worth Matravers
Swanage
Dorset
BH19 3LF
01929 439 229
Small, vibrant and atmospheric, this pub venue is a great place to get your socks off. This place makes city bars, with their coolness and high pretensions, seem comparatively parochial. Get out to the sticks and enjoy this wunderland for music lovers.
2, High St, Midsomer Norton, Bath, BA3 2HW
Tel: 01761 410904
Free parking
Just down the road from the mighty Shepherdess Cafe, towards Old St station and on the left-hand side of City Road, is a little street called Westland Place (there's a shop on the corner called Renaissance which sells gothic fireplaces).
This is the home of St. Jamie Oliver's original Fifteen restaurant but also featured in the execrable film, Closer. A door on the left-hand side of the street labelled Westland Place Studios, between the fireplace shop and an old piping company premises, was the Julia Roberts character's front door in the vacuous, self-regarding snorefest.
In this scene, Jude Law's character makes a reference to going to "the pub round the corner". He was talking about the Eagle, a pleasant old boozer behind the Shepherdess Cafe, that features, along with City Road, in a less well-known verse of the nursery rhyme, Pop Goes the Weasel.
The Dispensary on Renshaw Street, like all Cains pubs, sells excellent beer. It is small and welcoming with a very diverse clientele.
Try the other Cains pubs - the Brewery Tap or the Baltic Fleet as well.
87 Renshaw Street, near Lime St railway station.
The Volunteer is a pub hidden down a back street near the sea front in Waterloo not far from the railway station. It is a small, traditional pub, little bigger than the terraced houses which surround it.
It's a hidden gem - there is no jukebox or music playing, worth a visit if going to see the Iron Men on Crosby beach.
East St Waterloo nearest station Waterloo
Great traditional pub in Crosby not far from Anthony Gormley's Iron Men (Another Place) on Crosby Beach. Well worth a visit!
Victoria Rd, Crosby, L23
Nearest station Crosby & Blundellsands on the Northern Line
A tiny pub with a brilliant atmosphere. Cosy, underground, with framed newspapers carrying stories about Liverpool from around the world on the walls - The Titanic, Liverpool and Everton Football Clubs, Derek Hatton, The Beatles, Boris Johnson etc. A beer called, 'The Echo' is brewed on site and is delicious. The visitor's book is well worth a look too. Unpretentious and a real gem.
On the corner of Blenheim Road and Russell Road, which is just off Penny Lane. L18. There is stone gull on the door.
TFITL is an ace pub on Hardman Street. Does lagers from all over Europe, including one thats 14%!
35 Hardman Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 9AS, five minutes walk from Liverpool Central.
A city within a city. Salford is well worth exploring, if only for the great ale pubs and architectural delights off Chapel Street (a three-minute walk from Deansgate). Salford Quays is just the gentrified (read: largely dull) part of a very characterful city.
Chapel Street and elsewhere, Salford
Ludlow's oldest pub, where I first discovered Scrumpy.
traveller.uncommontraveller.com/2007/02/07/ludlow-shropshire--church-chocolate-beer-and-sausage.aspx
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