2014 Pub Cruise (LONG post)

[Mac of Cygnet]

I thought about putting this in the Virtual Pub, but the pubs I 've visited are real pubs, and in the course of a real cruise, so here we are.

 

In the course of my extended cruise this year (April 25 to Sept 22), I visited 94 different pubs, most just once but some several times. I do this every year, but this time I decided to score them, in most cases with comments, which may seem downbeat at times, but usually try to explain why the 'everything else' score isn't higher. I did in fact, enjoy the vast majority of these pubs. My route out was the same as back (except for a diversion to Crick), allowing me to revisit the best, and explore some I missed on the way out (explaining some apparent pub crawls!)

 

Mine is a very specific scoring system , and the first thing I should say is that FOOD IS NOT INCLUDED. I didn't eat out in any pub this year, and only twice last year. So if you visit pubs to eat, you can look away now!

 

There are 20 points: 10 for beer and 10 for everything else. Up to 5 for beer choice to include one non-national brand or unusual beer type, and 0 to 5 for quality (0 and 1 would be sent back - only happened once - 2 means wouldn't have another, up to 5 absolutely superb). To make it clear, I'm talking about real ales (cask beers) here. I'm a beer fanatic.

 

So a score is in three parts: Beer choice+beer quality+everything else. e.g 1+5+7=13 has the same total score as 4+2+7=13, but the first pub has 1 superb beer, but the second 4 rubbish ones. So you can tell quite a bit from the scores as opposed to the comments

 

Everything else includes service, staff, clientele, general almosphere, situation, decor, interesting pictures, special features (eg library!), quirkiness, cleanliness, price, and the presence of live or other music, juke box or fruit machine (all minus) and whether there is a place for drinkers as opposed to diners. And beermats.

 

Not all of these pubs are canalside - I'm prepared to make an effort to find a good pub. Some are well known, but others are very obscure, but you never know where the people on CWDF get to! If you feel I've missed a pub I should have visited, then I probably have been there, but on a previous cruise - this is just the 2014 pub cruise diary!

 

Right? Obviously this is just a snapshot, not an in-depth assessment of the pubs. You might feel you need to comment on some of my scores for pubs you know and I'll try to justify them if I can.

 

GBG means the pub is in the latest (2015) Good Beer Guide.

 

So here we go.

 

Rochdale Canal

PUZZLE HALL INN, Sowerby Bridge GBG 5+5+=18 A little gem. Go with an open mind.

Calder & Hebble Navigation

BARGE & BARREL, Elland GBG 5+5+7=17 Ten excellent beers, but a bit dull

RED ROOSTER, Brighouse (Brookfoot) GBG 5+4+7=16 A rather gloomy barn

Huddersfield Broad and Narrow Canals

ROYAL & ANCIENT, Cooper Bridge 3+4+8=15 Old-fashioned and very relaxing.

SAIR INN, Linthwaite GBG 5+3+8=16 Not quite what it was, but still worth the climb.

COMMERCIAL INN, Slaithwaite GBG 5+4+7=16 A comfortable makeover.

THE SWAN, Slaithwaite. 3+4+7=14 Three good cheap beers. Fairly basic.

WHARFE INN, Slaithwaite 4+3+5=12 Copper Dragon pub. Empty and soulless.

ROSE & CROWN. Cop Hill (Above Lock 31E) 3+3+6=12. Great views. Mediocre beer.

RIVERHEAD TAP, Marsden GBG 5+5+9=19 Ten great beers, mostly brewed in-house.

DIGGLE HOTEL, Diggle GBG 3+4+7=14 Food-oriented.

HANGING GATE, Diggle 3+4+6=13 A basic local

NAVIGATION, Dobcross GBG 4+5+7=16 Four excellent beers. Friendly staff.

HARE & HOUND, Uppermill 2+3+7=12 Two mediocre beers.

WAGGON INN, Uppermill 3+4+7=14 Three good beers. Lively.

GRANBY ARMS, Uppermill 3+3+5=11 Felt uncomfortable here.

RAILWAY INN, Greenfield GBG 4+5+8=17 Real tradition - felt transported back in time.

BRITANNIA INN, Mossley GBG, but can't see why. 3+4+6=13.

BEST O'BRASS, Mossley 2+3+7=12 A local dive.

COMMERCIAL INN, Mossley GBG, but again I can't see why. 4+3+6=13 Unmemorable.

Peak Forest Canal

DUKE OF YORK, Romiley GBG 3+4+7=14 Basic and friendly

FRIENDLY INN, Romiley 2+3+4=9 Misnamed. In transition, or on the way out.

SPORTSMAN, Strines GBG 4+5+8=17 Great view from light, airy bar.

NAVIGATION INN, Bugsworth Basin. GBG 5+4+8=17 Great situation and pleasant atmosphere.

Macclesfield Canal

RING O'BELLS, Marple 4+4+8=16 Not a Robinson's fan, but quality good in an interesting pub.

BULL'S HEAD, High Lane 3+3+5=11 A disappointment. Not what it was.

MINER'S ARMS, Four Lane Ends. 4+2+7=13 Beer poor. Family oriented.

POACHER'S INN, Bollington GBG 4+4+7=15 Maintaining the Bollington reputation!

SUTTON HALL, Gurnett 5+4+9=18 A mansion with a fantastic interior and friendly staff.

RISING SUN, Scholar green 4+4+8=16 But I can't remember! Must have been good.

BLEEDING WOLF, Scholar Green 4+4+7=15 A busy roadhouse, but OK.

Trent & Mersey Canal

RED BULL, Red Bull 4+4+7=15 A home from home, but the parrot has gone!

LAKESIDE TAVERN, Barlaston (Bridge 102) 2+3+5=10 Oh dear! What a decline! Bleak.

ROYAL EXCHANGE, Stone GBG 5+4+8=17 Possibly the best pub in Stone now.

CLIFFORD ARMS, Great Haywood GBG 3+4+8=15 A large pleasant busy bar.

LAMB AND FLAG, Little Haywood 2+2+2=6 On its last legs?

RED LION, Little Haywood 3+3+5=11 The village desrves better.

OLD PECULIAR, Handsacre 4+3+6=13 Unmemorable

CROWN, Handsacre 3+3+7=13 Beer OK, better atmosphere, laid back.

THE SWAN, Fradley Junction GBG 5+5+9=19 Justly famous, and keeping a very high standard.

Coventry Canal

PLOUGH, Huddlesford 2+3+5=10 A poor trendy makeover and two run-of-the-mill beers.

ROYAL OAK, Polesworth 2+3+7=12 A friendly locals' pub.

HAT & BEAVER, Atherstone 3+3+7=13 Scruffy but cheap! Beer OK.

MARKET TAVERN, Atherstone. 5+2+6=13 Beer mediocre, service casual.

STAG & PHEASANT, Hartshill 1+2+2=5 An awful place. Took my mediocre pint outside.

MALT SHOVEL, Hartshill 2+3+6=11 Better, but still not worth the walk up the hill.

Oxford Canal

GREYHOUND, Sutton Stop GBG 4+4+8=16 Good, but not quite coping with its popularity.

BARLEY MOW, Newbold 3+3+6=12 Under newish management. Didn't feel welcome.

CROWN, Newbold 2+3+6=11 Pretty basic.

Grand Union Canal

PLOUGH, Braunston 3+3+7=13 Pleasant enough (damning with faint praise!)

ROYAL OAK, Crick GBG 3+3+6=12 Pinned down by rain in Crick!

RED LION, Crick 4+3+8=15

WHEATSHEAF, Crick GBG 3+4+9=16 A renaissance. Now the best pub.

PLUME OF FEATHERS, Weedon 5+4+8=17 Beer festival just finished. Helped myself at £2 pint.

FORESTER'S ARMS, Nether Heyford 1+2+5=8 Forgettable

OLDE SUN, Nether heyford 3+4+7=14 Much better - perhaps it was just the contrast.

WALNUT TREE, Bridge 49 3+3+6=12 The former Blisworth station hotel. Mostly residential.

ROYAL OAK, Blisworth 3+2+5=10. A sad case. On its last legs?

COMPASS, Milton Malsor 1+3+6=10 Very disappointing for a former GBG listed pub.

GREYHOUND, Milton Malsor 4+3+6=13 Large eatery. Beer expensive.

River Nene

ROYAL OAK, Cogenhoe 3+3+3=9 New management have no idea. Closed at 7.30PM(!) Sunday, so went to

THE CROWS NEST, Cogenhoe Mill 0+9=9 Caravan site bar No real ale, great atmosphere.

HORSESHOE, Irthlingborough 3+3+5=11 A basic boozer.

KING'S HEAD, Wadenhoe 4+4+8=16 Given over to food, but the owner made me welcome.

CHEQUERED SKIPPER, Ashton 4+3+8=15 Attractive situation, but a bit impersonal.

CROWN, Elton GBG 4+5+9=18 A real find. A little gem of a thatched pub.

CUCKOO, Alwalton 4+4+7=15 A food pub,but large enough to find a corner.

Middle Level

BOAT, Whittlesea GBG 5+4+8=17 Made very welcome. Rather dark.

GEORGE HOTEL, Whittlesea GBG 5+4+9=18 The best Wetherspoons I've been in.

FIVE ALLS, Benwick 3+4+6=13 Banished to the back room on bingo night.

RAILWAY, Ramsey 3+3+6=12 Handy for mooring, but nothing special.

JOLLY SAILOR, Ramsey 4+4+8=16 A friendly little bar with odd corners.

LION, Ramsey St Mary's 3+3+6=12 Basic village local.

GEORGE, Ramsey Forty Foot 3+4+8=15 Making some effort. A cut above the rest.

THREE HORSE SHOES, Turves (Twenty Foot River) 2+3+5=10 Empty on World Cup Final!

ROSE & CROWN, March GBG 4+4+8=16 Quite a trek, but worth it!

GLOBE, Upwell 1+5+7=12 Landlord very chatty and informative.

FIVE BELLS, Upwell 3+3+6=13 Under new management.

River Great Ouse, etc.

JENYN'S ARMS, Denver Sluice 3+4+7=14 Great situation, rather large & food-oriented.

PRINCE ALBERT, Ely GBG 5+4+5=14 Cheap and packed. Slow inefficient service

FOUNTAIN, Ely 4+4+5=13 Expensive and empty. Bored barmaid.

WEST END HOUSE, Ely 4+4+8=16 Found it eventually!

CUTTER INN, Ely 3+2+5=10 Driven in by a sudden thunderstorm.

MINSTER TAVERN, Ely 4+3+6=13 Large impersonal town centre bar.

MAID'S HEAD, Wicken 3+4+8=15 From Wicken Fen mooring. A beautiful pub.

LAZY OTTER, Old West River 4+4+8=16 A nice surprise. Depends on the caravan park.

OLD FERRY BOAT, Holywell 4+4+7=15 A very busy pub, but staff helpful.

OLIVER CROMWELL, St Ives 3+3+6=12 Taken over by yoof. Beer not what it was.

ROYAL OAK, St Ives GBG 4+4+7=15 An average to good pub.

AXE & COMPASS, Hemingford Abbots 3+3+6=12 Rather disappointing. Poor service.

SWAN, Offord Cluny 1+2+2=5 A spartan retro barn. One poor beer. Landlady pleasant!

HORSESHOE, Offord D'Arcy. 3+4+7=14 Much better, reflected in the price of the beer!

BARLEY MOW, Hartford 3+3+4=10 I missed The King of the Belgians, dammit!

RIVERMILL TAVERN, Eaton Socon 4+3+7=14 OK, but not as good as I remembered.

Phew! No pubs got 20 points (no such thing as a perfect pub!) Two got 19 - The Riverhead Tap, Marsden, on the Huddersfield Narrow, and The Swan at Fradley Junction, which I'm glad to say still justifies its fame and the affection in which it is held. I'd best not dwell on the lowest scores - you can find them. I would say I would happily go back to any scoring over 12, and make a special effort (and have!) to revisit any over 15.

Cheers!

Mac

Edited November 4, 2014 by Mac of Cygnet

[Tesla]

Brilliant, green thing awarded

[YamYam]

Think you need to get out more

 

 

Sorry, tongue in cheek, great informative post

[Victor Vectis]

HOORAY!

 

A posting about pubs that focuses on beer and not food.

 

But.............................How can you have gone through Kidsgrove and not visited the Blue Bell?

 

Did you try the Swan in Stone? The Star has a nice location right by the lock but it's a Marston's pub so (IMHO) the beer selection is boring (apart from Sunbeam and New World) The Swan is just across the road and just across the lock from it, much better.

 

But I agree with YamYam, you need to get out more.

 

[b0atman]

The hatters at marple

[Cheshire cat]

HOORAY!

 

A posting about pubs that focuses on beer and not food.

 

But.............................How can you have gone through Kidsgrove and not visited the Blue Bell?

 

Did you try the Swan in Stone? The Star has a nice location right by the lock but it's a Marston's pub so (IMHO) the beer selection is boring (apart from Sunbeam and New World) The Swan is just across the road and just across the lock from it, much better.

 

But I agree with YamYam, you need to get out more.

 

Mac didn't comment on the Swan or the Star. The Star is vastly over rated as a pub, the Swan is good but the Royal Exchange is my favourite. I'll be in there on Saturday night.

 

Good post. I know some of the pubs so on the basis of your comments I can appreciate which others are worth a visit.

[GUMPY]

You also missed my two locals on the Nene

Axe and Compass Ringstead

The Cock at Denford

[john6767]

I think it is time to let your liver recover!

[Mac of Cygnet]

As I expected, I've previously visited all those mentioned above except at Ringstead, where the problem is finding an overnight mooring.

 

I know it's blasphemy, but I didn't like the Blue Bell at Kidsgrove when I went a few years back - can't stand folk music.

I was last in the Swan at Stone with Dr Bradley, where we couldn't get a seat or hear ourselves speak, so repaired to the Star, which was eerily empty.

The Hatters at Marple is quite a trek just for another Robinson's pub, although the mild was very good.

I liked the pub at Denford when I was there, but passed too early in the day this trip!

[Burgiesburnin]

Your level of dedication in compiling this information is highly commendable.

It will no doubt be the benchmark to grade pubs for the real drinking man for years to come.

This real and meaningfull survey deserves a section in the Good Beer Guide.

[Athy]

Mac's endeavour deserves strong praise, and his post may just be the best in any category on CWF since Starcoaster's memorable "Things you wish they'd told you". Greeno awarded, and merits at least 17 out of 20 for content!

 

Mind you, marking the Globe at Upwell down for having only one real ale on tap, even though he awarded that ale top marks, does seem unfair - it means that the Five Bells outscores it, which would not be the viewpoint of many locals, at least of those over 30.

[cheshire~rose]

How selfless of you to carry out this detailed research on behalf of us all.

 

Greenie awarded

[mark99]

You need a good drink following all that research.

 

NB a chap a couple of years ago visited every pub in UK (or was it England) and wrote a book on it.

[Naughty Cal]

Thanks for that. A nice insight into some of the pubs we will hopefully visit next year on the Ouse.

[Texasboater]

I was in St.Ives Cambs in May. The Oliver Cromwell is my sons local and sadly, it and most of the town pubs have been overun by "Yoof". I blame my own generation for the population explosion......mind you we did only have three TV Chanels.