Our Favorite Pubs

Listed below by country, but otherwise in no particular order, are our most favorite pubs. Each one on the list is present because we thought it had a great atmosphere (“A” in the description), a delightful setting (such as beside a lock on one of England’s canals; “S”), excellent food (quality and/or quantity; “F”), a good selection of fine wines and quality draft beers (“B”), notable people-watching opportunities (“P) or simply because we had an extra special time there while hanging out with family or friends (both old and newly acquired on site; “F”). There is, of course, no guarantee that any of our readers here will share our assessments should they visit these establishments themselves. In fact, there is no guarantee that we will come away feeling the same way about a place should we go back for another visit some day.

U.S.A.

Straightaway Cafe, Black Mountain, NC (http://www.thestraightaway.com)

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Sebago Brewing Company, Scarborough, ME (http://www.sebagobrewing.com)

Visited July 3, 1998 and hundreds of times thereafter.

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Appalachian Brewing Company, Harrisburg, PA (http://www.abcbrew.com)

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Australia

Whim Creek Pub, Whim Creek, WA

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Animal Bar, Karumba, QLD

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Little Creatures Brewery, Fremantle, WA (https://littlecreatures.com.au)

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The Deck Bar, Darwin, NT (http://www.thedeckbar.com.au)

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Lord Nelson, Sydney, NSW (http://www.lordnelsonbrewery.com)

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Harbourview Hotel, Sydney, NSW (http://www.harbourview.com.au)

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Hero of Waterloo, Sydney, NSW (http://heroofwaterloo.com.au)

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James Squire Brewhouse, Sydney, NSW (http://www.jamessquire.com.au)

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Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Pub, North Adelaide, SA (http://www.danieloconnell.com.au)

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Sail and Anchor, Fremantle, WA (http://www.sailandanchor.com.au)

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England

The Churchill Arms, Kensington, London (http://churchillarmskensington.co.uk)

The Churchill Arms is, far and away, our favorite pub on the plane

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The Shroppie Fly, Audlem, Cheshire (http://www.shroppiefly.co.uk)

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The Hollybush Inn, Denford, Staffordshire (http://www.hollybushinn-denford.co.uk)

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The Holly Bush Inn, Salt, Stafforshire (http://www.hollybushinn.co.uk)

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The Argyle Arms, London (http://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/theargyllarmsoxfordcircuslondon/)

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The Lock, Wolverly

The New Inn, Long Buckby, Northamptonshire (http://www.gillies-inns.com)

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The Star, Stone, Staffordshire (http://www.starpub.co.uk)

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The Navigation, Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire (http://www.navigationpubtowcester.co.uk)

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The Greyhound Inn, Hawkesbury Junction, Coventry (http://www.greyhoundinn.org)

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The Buck and Bell, Long Itchington, Warwickshire (http://www.buckandbellpub.co.uk/index.htm)

Visited September 20, 2012

This was an entirely unexpected find. We had been hanging out with Tanner Frizzel and Alex Ebner at the Two Boats pub alongside the Grand Union canal in Long Itchington the day before. The owner of the Two Boats suggested that if time permitted we should go into town because there were five nice pubs there.

The next morning we hiked the short 1/2 mile into the center of the very small town. It was a cool morning, and the second establishment we walked

into, the Buck and Bell, had a nice wood fire going in the fireplace (the first of the season, as it turned out), so it was immediately welcoming.

The B&B had been completely renovated in the past year or two, and it was beautifully done. Lots of different rooms and levels. Lots of art and other attractive artifacts throughout. Bright and cheery. Several very nice and unfamiliar beers on pump. Very friendly and attentive staff.

The B&B had an extensive menu (apparently the food it it’s primary draw) but we weren’t hungry enough for a full meal, so we hung out for a couple of rounds of drinks.

We hope to some day return and spend a few hours, have a meal and sit outside in the sun at one of the many picnic tables provided there.

Delightful!

for

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The Anchor, Southwark, London (http://www.pubs.com/main_site/pub_details.php?pub_id=21)

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The Salisbury, Covent Garden, London (http://www.pubs.com/main_site/pub_details.php?pub_id=206)

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Poacher’s Pocket, Chirk, Wrexham (http://www.poacherspocketpub.co.uk)

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Black Lion, Consall Forge, Staffordshire (http://www.blacklionpub.co.uk)

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Bag ‘o Nails, Victoria, London (http://www.taylor-walker.co.uk/pub/bag-o-nails-victoria/s5046/)

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Lion Quays, Moreton, Shropshire (http://www.lionquays.co.uk)

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The Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire (http://www.boatinn.co.uk)

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The Turf Tavern, Oxford (http://www.theturftavern.co.uk)

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Sutton Hall, Sutton, Macclesfield (http://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/suttonhall/)

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Dog and Doublet, Bodymoore Heath, Warwickshire (http://www.doganddoubletinn.co.uk)

Stopped here on our two-week cruise in 2008. We knew it was there from the canal guide but didn’t know what to expect until we found a crowd of gongoozlers

gathered around the lock immediately below the pub. As we rose up as the lock filled, we saw a veritable throng of people sitting out in front of the pub alongside the canal.

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Foxton Locks Inn, Foxton, Leicestershire (http://restaurantfoxtonlocks.co.uk/foxton-locks-inn-the-old-boathouse/)

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Grand Junction Arms, Tring, Hertfordshire (http://www.grandjunctionarms.co.uk)

Visited September 20 & 21, 2011

We were on the return leg of our trip from Leighton Buzzard to London via the Grand Union canal when we decided to end our day early by tying up alongside this pub. It had been recently completely renovated with the addition of lots of local art, a very nice bar area and new kitchen. The owner, Mick Bushnell, greeted us with enthusiasm and we had a nice chat. There were several excellent beers on tap, including a couple from Tring Brewing Co. (we’d never heard of it before), including Side Pocket. There was also a nice wine list - unusual in most pubs - that Debbie was quite pleased with. As the afternoon wore on, people started wandering in in quantity. We struck up a conversation with 5 folks at an adjacent table and had a hearty laugh fest that lasted hours.

We later had an excellent meal - one of the best ever in a pub (or elsewhere in the U.K. for that matter) - wild mushroom and artichoke risotto

The whole place was so welcoming and so much fun that we came back the next day - since we were ahead of schedule and had decided not to push on - and sat out under the sun in the fantastic beer garden for a few drinks. Before departing, Mick gave us a GJA logo coffee mug and a logo beer glass from Tring Brewing Co. as souvenirs. We treasure both.