Pubs then

[shoulders]

I'm currently in Toner's in Dublin after having a couple in the Gravediggers. Will try and knock off the rest of your Dublin top 5 before my 24 hours here is over. Been in Belfast for a few days and might post about the pubs I found decent when I get home/sober up.

But yeah, ta shoulders!

Glad you're having fun... And jealous. I think Gravediggers isn't just a favourite in Dublin but overall Top 10er. Would happily turn into Pintman Paddy Losty there if I could afford it.

[Psybro]

Crawl for my birthday the other day in Sheffield taking in the Gardener's Rest, Wellington, Kelham Island Tavern and Shakespeare's.  Would've hit Fagans and Red Deer too but somehow picked the only sub-25 degree day for a week and people were wanting dinner, which is weakness.

Real smack of reality paying £3.80 for a pint of mild in the Welly of all places.  But still fortunate to have such a succession of proper boozers within a 15 minute walk.

[shoulders]

Excellent, going to Sheffield on Wednesday but probably only visiting 2 pubs max as it's a friend's birthday and they are strongly disinclined against ever moving from the same place they always go.

[shoulders]

10 days til Antwerp. Hitlist:

Mombasa
Zeezicht
Witten Herte
Tante Lies
Stadt Aalst
Gaarkeuken 110
ter Dokken
Scaldis
Petras
Hovenier
Boer van Tienen
Kulminator
Duifkens
Oud Arsenaal
Half Souke
Beveren
Ware Jacob
Billekletser
Paters Vaetje
Quinten Matjsis
Pelikaan
De Kat

If anyone has any top recommendations to add to that list they would be gratefully received.

[DJ Bob Hoskins]

If anyone has any top recommendations to add to that list they would be gratefully received.

If you like jazz, or at least are not put off by it, De Muze is a really atmospheric place to while away an evening.

[shoulders]

If you like jazz, or at least are not put off by it, De Muze is a really atmospheric place to while away an evening.

Ah great, yes. Someone else recommended this. I almost associate jazz with great bars abroad. Papa Joe's, Em Pootzke, Yorckschlösschen.

That will be a nice wild card, cheers.

[poodlefaker]

Went to the Bell Inn at Aldworth at the weekend, first time in about 30 years. One of the country's great boozers, perhaps the ideal of the English country pub / community local / centre of village life etc.
Had a great pint of local mild at midday, then did a two-hour circular walk up to The Ridgeway and had a couple more. If anything the place has improved since my last visit because in those days the beer was just Arkells bitter, which is yer typical S English stewed cold tea. They keep it on for the old boys but have some decent microbrewery stuff now as well.

[shoulders]

Yes that's a pub I will need to make a special trip to.

Have to been to the Six Bells in Beenham? Not quite the same area, somewhere between Reading and Newbury, but looks great.

[poodlefaker]

Don't know the Six Bells. Trouble with The Bell is you need a car, although you could prob. make a day of it by getting a train to Goring then walking along the Ridgeway (about 4 miles I think).

[shoulders]

Don't know the Six Bells. Trouble with The Bell is you need a car, although you could prob. make a day of it by getting a train to Goring then walking along the Ridgeway (about 4 miles I think).

Yes, that's probably what will happen. My friend moved to Reading not long back so I might propose this if the weather's alright.

[kalowski]

It's a huge thread so there might be stuff already here, but any recommendations for North Norfolk? Preferably not the Boxley Wheatsheaf.

[shoulders]

Relying on others here:

Three Horseshoes, Warham
Hill House, Happisburgh
Crown & Mitre, Kings Lynn

I would also be interested in any recommendations.

[shoulders]

Brussels the neet. So long as it's not too blazing hot I'm looking forward to getting in Goupil Le Fol, one of my favourite bars.

[shoulders]

In Antwerp, already drowning in ace old pubs

Den Engel
De Pelikaan
Het Elfde Gebod (notable for volume of religious figurines)
De Kat
De Duifkens
De Kroon Van Hopland

Seen a vagina in a statuettes leg, two sausages served in a bowl of urine, a rhino with a boars face, classic Belgium.

Antwerp's standard order is a 'Bolleke' of De Koninck pale ale which is keg pour and has more in common with English than US pale but is popular nonetheless with beer monster tourists.

Loads of good, possibly better bars open tomorrow including Oud Arsenaal and the world famous Kulminator.

[shoulders]

Being serious for a sec, if you want to blast all this trans scare bullshit about toilets with a bazooka, just show people how toilets are in Belgian cafés and restaurants. It's actually pretty common to walk in man, woman or anything in between and see someone pissing directly in front of you, and usually the hand washing will be close or next to such pissing activity. No-one gives the slightest shit except some posh old women from Britain and a few pathetic clingers on men who want to impress them.

[buttgammon]

I remember there being some proper pub toilets in Belgium (filthy and covered in interesting graffiti). The transphobes would do well to use toilets in mainland Europe. In Italy, you're thankful for a working lightbulb that stays on for more than two seconds  or a seat. That said, I shudder to think what they'd say about bidets.

[shoulders]

Kulminator, Antwerp.

This is fucking marvellous.

Run by an old couple who age Belgium beer in their cellar. It offers the finest strong dark ales and sours. Classical music plays throughout. The proprietor is currently horizontal on one of the benches in some sort of trance state. There is a trove of board games. Absolutely fantastic.

[poodlefaker]

Went drinking in Antwerp 30 years ago and blummen loved it (esp. Kulminator). Have been wanting to go back ever since.

Always thought De Koninck tasted a bit like Bass.

[shoulders]

It's quite low maintenance but drastically unexciting by Belgian standards. I'm having to fall back on it otherwise I'll be wrecked by Monday.

Further nice pubs since Kulminator today:

Oud Arsenaal
Billie's
Quinten Matjsis

[shoulders]

After 3 days in Antwerp my ratings of bars from highest to lowest!

Some venues were closed for summer holidays but that's how it goes.

Antwerp has a distinctive nightlife with the famous Bolleke of De Koninck available and drunk nearly everywhere, the beautiful preserved tiles and brown cafés, as well as quirky venues with true Belgian spirit.

Kulminator 9.6 ⭐
Oud Arsenaal - 8.6 ⭐
Den Engel  8.5 ⭐
Kroon Van Hopland 8.5 ⭐
Quinten Matjsis 8.4 ⭐
Gaarkeuken 110  8.3 ⭐
De Kat 8.3 ⭐
Het Elfde Gebod 8.2 ⭐
De Pelikaan 8.1 ⭐
Paters Vaetje 8 ⭐
Billie's 7.9 ⭐
't Licht der Dokken 7.9 ⭐
Dansing Chocola 7.9 ⭐
De Muze 7.9 ⭐
Boer Van Tienen 7.8 ⭐
De Vagant 7.6 ⭐
De Duifkens 7.6 ⭐
Bier Centraal 7.5 ⭐
Café Pardaf 7.3


Gaarkeuken and Licht ter Dokken probably the best for friendly local life but still full on working class venues.

Kulminator matchless for beer.

Oud Arsenaal a preserved gem. De Kat and Kroon Van Hopland, effortless timeless cool.

[shoulders]

Our week in Belgium is over. While it may not be apparent from the below we did a lot other than pubs. Leuven Begijnhof and University tower, Mechelen Cathedral and Het Anker brewery tour, Rubens House, Museum an der Stroom and lots of free stuff in Antwerp, boat tours and two outdoor concerts in Bruges.

That said, there were a lot of pubs too. The star indicates 1st time visits but also ones that I'd recommend. Old favourites were visited as well.

Only slight drawback is that some were shut for summer holidays. For example, we were in A la Mort Subite the day before it closed for a fortnight. With Vlissinghe, Tilt, De Ware Jacob and about 10 more we weren't so lucky.

The venue of the trip, Retsins Lucifernum in Bruges is incredible and more like a museum experience that ends in the pub and yet... continues.

Antwerp:

Kulminator - 9.6 ⭐
Oud Arsenaal - 8.6 ⭐
Den Engel - 8.5 ⭐
De Kroon Van Hopland - 8.5 ⭐
Quinten Matjsis - 8.4 ⭐
De Kat - 8.3 ⭐
Gaarkeuken 110 -  8.3 ⭐
Het Elfde Gebod - 8.2 ⭐
De Pelikaan - 8.1 ⭐
Paters Vaetje - 8 ⭐
't Licht der Dokken - 7.9 ⭐
Billie's - 7.9 ⭐
Dansing Chocola - 7.9 ⭐
De Muze - 7.9 ⭐
Boer Van Tienen - 7.8 ⭐
De Vagant - 7.6 ⭐
De Duifkens - 7.6 ⭐
Bier Centraal - 7.5 ⭐
Café Pardaf - 7.3

Bruges:

Retsins Lucifernum 9.7 ⭐
't Brugs Beertje 9.5
De Garre 8.5
Yesterday's World 8.2 ⭐
Café Brocante 7.9 ⭐
The Vintage 7.9
Café Rose Red 7.8
De Windmolen 7.7 ⭐
Bieratelier 7.6
Cambrinus 7.4
De Kelk 7.3
De Halve Maan 7.2

Brussels:

Goupil Le Fol - 9.5
Poechenellekelder 8.7
Brasserie Verschueren 8.5 ⭐
Delirium Café - 8.5
A la Mort Subite - 8.1
A L'imaige Nostre Dame 8
Le Coq - 7.9
Moeder Lambic Fontainas - 7.9
Moeder Lambic Original 7.8 ⭐
Au Vieux Saint Antoine 7.8 ⭐
Au Labourer - 7.6 ⭐

Ghent:

Folklore 8.3 ⭐
Dulle Griet 8.1 ⭐
Den Turk 8.1

Leuven:

De Blauwe Kater - 8.3 ⭐
De Metafor - 7.9
Café Belge - 7.7 ⭐
Domus - 7.6

Mechelen:

De Gouden Vis - 8.4 ⭐
Café Hannekeef - 7.8
't Ankertje aan de Dijle - 7.5 ⭐
Het Anker - 7.4

[Calistan]

I'm currently in Toner's in Dublin after having a couple in the Gravediggers. Will try and knock off the rest of your Dublin top 5 before my 24 hours here is over. Been in Belfast for a few days and might post about the pubs I found decent when I get home/sober up.

But yeah, ta shoulders!

Where did you go in Belfast? When I have more time I'll write more but Bittles, Maddens, Kelly's Cellars and The Sunflower are my favourites.

Yesterday we went to Dublin and managed four bars in Smithfield: Cobblestone, Frank Ryan and Sons, The Hacienda and Slatterys. I'd obviously heard about the Cobblestone from all the news coverage a few months back whenever plans to knock down the smoking area and back bit to build a hotel were met with widespread condemnation and even a protest and it lived up to the hype - fantastic bar with a fantastic Guinness. Apparently it's usually bunged but when we arrived there was a table free at the back. We were only sat a few seconds before my mate reckoned it was too busy and we should sit in the smoking area. Ah well. Still, lovely pints and we were happy to sit and knock back three in quick succession.

Then we went to the dimly-lit Frank Ryans which I guess is Ireland's equivalent to a dive bar. There were only a few lights in the whole bar rendering it a massive safety hazard and indeed our mate's girlfriend led us in using the torch from her phone. Anyway it's another great pub and even has a resident dog roaming the floors for added jeopardy. Again we went out the back (one negative was that the music was very, very loud) and just about resisted the temptation to buy their pizza which looked and smelled amazing.

Then onto the Hacienda - definitely worth adding to your site, Shoulders. You have to ring the buzzer to gain entry and luckily the flamboyant owner let us in. Inside it's class. Loads of bar bits and bobs, aquatic accoutrements and a massive display of photos of celebrities who have graced the bar. The pint was top class too. It's quite cramped and two pool tables means it's near certain that you will have someone's arse near your head if you're sat on one of the outter stools. Worth it though.

Next we went to Slattery's a little walk away. It's unlucky that we went to three other great establishments beforehand because it was the lesser of the four pubs but on any other night it would be near the top of the list. Definitely the cleanest of the four bars we went to - it has a nice interior with loads of interesting pictures on the wall (especially in the bathroom). Can't comment on the state of stout as I was very, very drunk at this stage.

[shoulders]

Cheers, I'm aware of the others but will note the Hacienda down for next time.


Yesterday I went to the Old Bridge Inn, Ripponden halfway through a hike. Cracking place, genuinely old as well as old-looking. The inn is built into a slope and situated by cobbled streets and a packhorse bridge + church, lovely riverside setting. Inside there's exposed beams and crooked doorframes. Bar area isn't immediately impressive but once you sit down and take a moment it's very nice. And if all of that seems superfluous they have a bloody good beer selection for a provincial pub. Full TT's range in excellent condition, several guest cask, 3 craft keg fonts, decent German lager and a dozen plus brands of Belgian beer in the fridge. Nice to see most people were there for drinking and socialising. Sunday lunch was decent though.

It's reachable on bus via Halifax/Sowerby Bridge. Not too much of a walk from the latter but perhaps further than some would be arsed with.

Sadly the wasps have arrived and two cyclists were stung during our stop off there, and the cunts were bothering us throughout lunch to the point where I took my plate and pint and sat outside. Honestly don't know how people stick it out, it's so annoying and easily resolved by moving indoors.

[grainger]

I've had a couple of trips to Liverpool, recently. In my opinion, the following pubs are really good:

• The Grapes (the one on Roscoe Street - very good beer, nice atmosphere)
• The Kazimier Garden (very good beer choice; not sure what it would be like in cold weather, though)
• The Swan (a metal pub that hasn't changed in 35 years; I dislike metal as a genre (sorry CaB), but I find some kinship in this pub)
• The Bridewell (a former prison and police station where the cells are now snugs)

[Crenners]

• The Kazimier Garden (very good beer choice; not sure what it would be like in cold weather, though)

Every time I visit my bro, I insist we go here. Beers are good but atmosphere and music are often even better. Best bar I've been to in Liverpool and feels like 'more than a beer garden'. Italian street food snacks are also fucking good.

[thelittlemango]

A lot of people pointing out the similarities between these:

https://twitter.com/BrewDogJames/status/1559818762345500672

https://twitter.com/mralistairgreen/status/1379714709050552320

The definition of s4c.

[shoulders]

Such a cunt

[amateur]

Were we talking about pies months ago?

I had the pie in the Barley Mow in Marylebone, London today and it was great.

Great pub!

[Crenners]

Went to Berry and Rye in Liverpool over the weekend, visiting mates. It's not a pub, it's a 'speakeasy' style whiskey bar but the drinks were absolutely fantastic. Atmosphere, staff, music also superb. I had a couple of Sazeracs which were as good as any I've had, plus the 'Dream Dram' 23yo Glenfiddich for cost price. Not my favourite distiller but a beautiful drop, especially for the money. My wife had a Julep and couple of Grasshoppers, all really fucking good. I'll defo be going back there this Christmas.

[shoulders]

Looks like a decent, pseudy, cunty but ultimately effective bar. Anything with distressed red,  candles and a piano helps. Will give it a try next time out.