I was told that I wouldn’t need a watch when I first visited Sherkin as an 11-year-old and almost 30 years later the situation is very much the same.
Although only a short ferry ride from the Cork coast, the island is at a step out of time. This far west, the Atlantic commands the pace.
One hot afternoon from the cliffs at Horseshoe Bay, we watched through a telescope a yacht head out to the ocean before we descended along a gorse-choked path for a bracing dip in the turquoise shallows.
But as well as the natural beauty the island has other diversions. The story goes that when asked by summer visitors what time The Jolly Roger pub closes, locals joke ‘October’.
Sherkin doesn't fit with the conventional notion of a desert island but then sometimes paradise is right under our noses.

www.sherkinisland.ie
Google map: bit.ly/wU0Cqw

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The word 'gastropub' is so overused these days but this establishment certainly deserves that tag.
Have been here many times before and as usual it did not disappoint. Good food, friendly service and great value. There is a wide choice on the menu (and on specials board).
My wife had lentil soup as well as mackerel pate with oatcakes while I had the homemade burger. Portion sizes were big and together with two drinks only set us back £22.
This place never seems to be in various restaurant listing publications but it is well known to people from the Leith area as a place to be treasured.
Kitchen open 10 am - 10pm.

44 Queen Charlotte street, EH6 7EX Edinburgh
+44(0)131 554 1979
www.facebook.com/thecompassleith
Google map: bit.ly/z5Zxmi

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Although actually in Gateshead, this superb restoration of a Victorian pub is well worth crossing the Tyne for. Tucked behind the monolithic Hilton Hotel, it's a peculiar wedge-shaped building that was originally built in 1856. Not so long ago it was a decrepit wreck but thanks to the efforts of the Head of Steam company plus a generous grant - it's back on song. There's a beautifully restored buffet and snug and even a roof terrace on which to quaff 14 ales. Oh, and Sting's been in.

www.theheadofsteam.co.uk/gateshead/
Half Moon Lane, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE8 2AN
+44(0)191 478 2543
Google map: bit.ly/zHgru9

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Good location for food and drink. The menu while on the face of it looks like a typical bar menu is inventive. You'll find things like rabbit burgers and pheasant on the menu that you wouldn't normally find in a bar. The food is very much moving towards 'gastropub' territory.
On Saturday nights the bar is packed as they have live music. Even when it is quieter it is nice to sit down with a nice pint.
Family friendly.

www.noblesbarleith.co.uk/
44a Constitution street, Edinburgh EH6 6RS
+44(0)131 629 7215
Google map: bit.ly/z8TeR1

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This is a lovely pub, just out of the way of all the tourists. The staff are great, the food is terrific and the price very good indeed.

www.stagsheadinnexmoor.co.uk/
10 West Street, Dunster, Exmoor, TA24 6SN +44(0)1643 821229
Google map: bit.ly/v1GYCL

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Its a lovely, real, no pretence English thatched village. With a proper village pub, a proper village shop and just an all round relaxed place. The Church House Inn is just amazing. We had their Church House Pudding. What a feast, and such lovely people. Anthony is a marvelous landlord. Go there and have your faith in Englishness restored.

www.stokeinteignhead-village.co.uk/
Google map: bit.ly/sCXnNp

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Pub with grub.
Sarah and her team create a homely atmosphere with log fire, generous portions of well cooked food and a good range of ales.
Well priced too!

63, Main Street, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria,
LA8 9LN
+44(0)1539821447
Google map: bit.ly/uwyz6r

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Free House, wide range of beers, with a very wholesome and home cooked menu. Has food theme nights eg curry night, choice of curries and drink for an inclusive price. Also has an extensive and reasonable menu. Well used by locals and tourists. The landlord comes from Bury and has a very dry Northern sense of humour. Loved the place.

Botallack, St. Just, Penzance, Cornwall TR19 7QG
+44 1736 788318
Google map: bit.ly/tSb7YY

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The First and Last might be the first or last pub in England, depending on which way you approach it. Fair sampling of locals and loads of tourists, football screen and pub food. The food is ok but as its a managed pub its a bit like cookingbynumbers and corporate food.

www.firstandlastinn.co.uk
Sennen, Cornwall, TR19 7AD
+44(0)871 720 0066
Google map: bit.ly/vKXw9p

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Found by the picturesque harbour of Solva, an inlet that fills and drains completely of water, depending on the tide.
The Harbour Inn is a great place to sample Brain's bitter, a creamy, nutty brew. We enjoyed the fish and chips out in the sheltered beer garden and soaked up the last rays of the October sun while admiring the little boats stranded high and dry at low tide.

www.harbourinnsolva.com
31-33 Main Street, Solva, Pembrokeshire SA62 6UT
+44 1437 720 013
Google map: bit.ly/pG6cDA

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Cromwell's Tavern is a friendly local pub, found near the castle in the heart of Pembroke.
It's a great place to try Welsh bitters and admire all the music memorabilia: framed pictures of Kiss, Jimi Hendrix and others line the walls and we didn't dare take on the locals at pool, after spotting all the trophies in a glass cabinet!

2 Westgate Hill, Pembroke, Dyfed SA71 0NU
+44 1646 682718
Google map: bit.ly/qC3vOO

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Charlie's Bar is the place to go for a great night out in Milford Haven. Situated near the docks and the marina, it's a small bar with several rooms, a pool table, pub quiz machine and very loud music blasting out on a Friday evening.

The Old Sail Loft, The Docks, Milford Haven, Dyfed SA73 3AF
+44 1646 690098
Google map: bit.ly/o1ndu7

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Sheffield has a reputation for being the beer capital of England, so it's only right that you indulge in exploring it's offerings. The ale trail is a loose collection of pubs centred on the Kelham Island area of the city, a short walk from the city centre. Working your way out from the city centre, kick off at The Shakespeare on Gibraltar Street, then wind your way on to The Ship, the award-winning Fat Cat, the award-winning Kelham Island Tavern, The Riverside, The Gardeners Rest (tap pub for the Sheffield Brewery Company), Hillsborough Hotel (with on-site Crown Brewery), and a little further out, The New Barrack Tavern. Don't worry, you can jump on the tram back in to the city centre...or retrace your wobbly steps.

The Shakespeare: 146-148, Gibraltar Street, S3 8UB; Google map: bit.ly/opIVTY
The Ship, 312 Shalesmoor, S3 8UL, +44(0)114 281 2204; Google map: bit.ly/qzGEio
The Fat Cat: 23 Alma Street, S3 8SA, +44(0)114 249 4801; Google map: bit.ly/orm3ue
Kelham Island Tavern: 62 Russell Street, S3 8RW, +44(0)114 272 2482; Google map: bit.ly/n31uiv
The Riverside: 1 Mowbray Street, S3 8EN, +44(0)114 281 3621; Google map: bit.ly/qR9w2D
The Gardeners Rest: 105 Neepsend Lane, S3 8AT, +44(0)114 272 4978; Google map: bit.ly/p993qF
The Hillsborough Hotel, 54-58 Langsett Road, S6 2UB, 0114 232 2100; Google map: bit.ly/n4TGPk
The New Barrack Tavern: 601 Penistone Road, S6 2GA, +44(0)114 234 9148; Google map: bit.ly/rfHATF

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This place has new owners and it's like it a totally new pub. It used to serve pile it high meals with chips, now it's got a great new menu, pasta, local produce, decent wine (it used to come from a pump like the beer!). What a difference a few months make! A good, local pub.

Ixworth Road, Bury St Edmunds IP31 3LP
+44(0)1359 230440
Google map: bit.ly/pJItqk

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This is a really cool gastropub and hotel in a picture postcard Suffolk village. The building has beams, open fires etc, but with a modern twist and the food is London restaurant standard. Great service and the home baked bread is to die for.

www.thebildestoncrown.com
High Street, Bildeston, Suffolk IP7 7EB
+44(0)1449 740510
Google map: bit.ly/rlhmaj

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Excellent food, well appointed bedrooms and a friendly village pub atmosphere. The dinner and B&B offer is particularly good value. Just off the M5 and close to Worcester and Stratford-on-Avon.

www.bants.co.uk/
Upton Snodsbury, Worcestershire, WR7 4NN
+44(0)1905 381282
Google map: bit.ly/qriruv

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The Flask is a pub in Hampstead which was built in 1874 on the site of the Thatched House, which used to bottle spring water and sell it to taverns and coffee shops in London.
A beautiful Victorian gem, after you've had a blustery weekend walk from Highgate over Hampstead Heath, this is definitely the place you want to go to. The food is top notch, you can get a venison burger there if you so wish, and with a range of ales on tap and a warm dark wood interior that has plenty of little corners in to sit this is the place to go to warm up and relax.

www.theflaskhampstead.co.uk
14 Flask Walk, Hampstead, London, NW3 1HE
+44(0)20 7435 4580
Google map: bit.ly/nqf7x2

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I suppose you could call this my local, and indeed it has the most 'local' feel of any of the pubs in the area. It's never full, just a couple of regulars lurking at the bar who look like they've been glued to the same spot for years. However, it's a great place to watch the footie on big screens and you can be sure of getting a seat and a pint.

43 Lyndhurst Grove, London SE15 5AN
+44 207 703 8057
Getting there: buses 12, 36, 171, 436 to Southwark Town Hall then walk up Shenley Road
Google map: bit.ly/n7xkhp

Lucy is our Been there local for London. You can read her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/london-local-lucy-mallows.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/LucyRM.jsp

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Old-style boozer in the heart of Peckham with a pool table and cheap pints. Local artists hold exhibitions of their work in the back room.

96 Peckham High Street, London SE15 5ED
+207 639 2490
Getting there: overground train to Peckham Rye, buses 12, 36, 171, 436
Google map: bit.ly/nr4x0Q

* Lucy is the Been there local for London. You can read her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/london-local-lucy-mallows.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/LucyRM.jsp

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A lovely pub on the Gallic Choumert Road with a 'Back Room' cinema club and a long menu offering organic roasts for Sunday lunch
The fish is fresh and comes from sustainable sources & British seas. The supplier is F.C Sopers fishmongers in Nunhead (www.fcsoper.com), a local institution since 1898.
The meat is free-range and organic. The chicken, pork & lamb comes from a small farm, Gillwing, in Sussex (www.gillwing.co.uk/farm) and is delivered by Andrew, the farmer, who makes the sausages all by hand.
The opening times seem to vary, the staff are exceptionally friendly and continued to pour the beverages long after midnight on a Thursday, as everyone was still having a good time and reluctant to leave!

www.themontpelier.net
43 Choumert Road, London SE15 4AR
+44 207 635 9483
Open Mon-Thur & Sun 12.00-23.00, Fri-Sat 12.00-01.00
Overground to Peckham Rye, buses 12, 171, 197
Google map: bit.ly/p4e0OB

Lucy is our Been there local for London. You can read her profile here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/london-local-lucy-mallows.jsp and follow her tips here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/travellers/LucyRM.jsp

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