Pub Guide

PUB GUIDE
As keen pub goers and members of CAMRA, we have over the years written several pub guide lists, the research has been a living hell, but some one has to it?!!

Most narrow boaters enjoy an occasional visit to a pub on or near the Inland Waterways.
Like every where else canal side pubs range from the sublime to the ridiculous, so some pointers can help towards finding a good pub in a given location.
Our Hotelboats Hind and Hart, travelled over 1500 miles each year, far more than most narrow boats and giving us the opportunity to try pubs in many different locations. More importantly we returned year after year so the ones listed have been consistently good, however times can change and like beer go off !!
For information on good pubs and the joys of real ale visit the Campaign for Real Ale website.
The following pubs in the opinion of the person who compiled each list are well worth visiting.
Waterway Pub Gems is an updated list for 2007.
NIGEL HAMILTON’S WATERWAY PUB GEMS-
30 CONSISTENTLY GOOD PUBS WELL WORTH A VISIT!

“ The following pubs are some of my favourite hostelries that I have enjoyed during 9 years of continuously cruising the Inland Waterways. A good pub is hard to define it is a subtle combination of atmosphere, your mood, quality of beer, comfort, authenticity, the crac that visit and factor X. Over a season we visit quite a few pubs and returning to a good one can be like getting reacquainted with an old friend. I hope you enjoy sampling these suggestions”.
The following are in alphabetical order of pub name not rank!
Albion, Loughborough, Loughborough Navigation
Anchor, High Offley, Shropshire Union Canal.
Black Horse, Foxton, Market Harborough Arm GU.
Black Lion, Nantwich, Shropshire Union Canal.
Brandy Cask, Pershore, River Avon
Brewery Tap, Marsden, Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Bridge Inn, Burton on Trent, Trent & Mersey Canal.
Briton’s Protection, Manchester City Centre, Bridgewater Canal.
Cap and Stocking, Kegworth, Soar Navigation
Cape, Warwick, Grand Union
Catherine Wheel, Goring, Thames
Coopers Tavern, Burton on Trent, Trent & Mersey Canal.
Crown Posada, Newcastle, River Tyne
Dusty Miller, Wrenbury, Llangollen Canal
Four Penny Shop, Warwick, Grand Union Mainline
Hobgoblin, Reading, Thames/Kennet and Avon Canal.
Lamb, Devizes, Kennet and Avon Canal.
Mad O Roukes Pie Factory, Tipton, BCN.
Old Green Tree, Bath, Kennet and Avon Canal.
Old Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham, Nottingham Canal
Rat and Ratchet, Huddersfield, Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Red Cow, Market Harborough, Market Harborough Arm GU.
Red Lion, Crick, Leicester Section GU.
Red Lion, Cropredy, Oxford Canal.
Rising Sun, Shackerstone, Ashby Canal.
Shroppie Fly, Audlem, Shropshire Union.
Spread Eagle, Camden Town, London Regents Canal
Sun Inn, Llangollen, Llangollen Canal.
Swan, Fradley Junction, Trent and Mersey Canal.
Wynstay Arms, Llangollen, Llangollen Canal
Albion, Loughborough, Loughborough Navigation
A basic quiet, but friendly pub on the edge of the town centre with mooring just outside.
No food but a good range of guest ales. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.

Anchor, High Offley, Shropshire Union Canal.
Amazing tiny two-room boatman’s pub on the Shroppie. Olive, the friendly landlady is very welcoming, in what is essentially the front room of her house. Pedigree and Wadworth 6X served on stillage. The Anchor is a throw back to an earlier age and has changed little in decades.
Beer garden, real fire, no food but canal gift shop. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Black Horse, Foxton, Market Harborough Arm GU.
The Black Horse is a welcoming local pub in the heart of a quiet village 1/2 mile from the bottom of the famous locks. Two comfortable bars, large landscaped beer garden, skittle alley and pub restaurant. Well kept Greene King & Marston beers including their seasonal ales. Regular live jazz and quiz nights. The pub over looks the cut, tie up on the moorings by Br 3, Black Horse Bridge.
Black Lion, Nantwich, Shropshire Union Canal.
Wonderful pub dating back to 1664 on Welsh Row a few minutes walk from the visitor moorings near the Aqueduct. Basic but friendly genuine free house, with regular live music and quiz nights. Also a place where regulars come to play chess! The huge Wolf Hound pub dog is a friendly highlight. CAMRA Good Beer Guide listed.
Brandy Cask, Pershore, River Avon
Brew pub in the small town of Pershore on the Avon, busy and friendly with a range of real guest beers ciders and even perry. Comfortable interior, Georgian facade in the High St. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Riverhead Brewery Tap, Marsden, Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Very friendly brewpub in the pleasant stone built town. A glass wall overlooks the small brewing room, good range of tasty beer styles produced on site. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed. Try the Porter!

Bridge Inn, Burton on Trent, Trent & Mersey Canal.
Award wining brewery tap on the edge of town centre beside the bridge. Pleasant, but basic interior with the tiny brewery outback. Pleasant change for a rather ugly town dominated by massive beer factories. Nearby is the fascinating Bass Museum. Try the IPA and the porter. No food. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Briton’s Protection, Manchester City Centre, Bridgewater Canal.
A famous old Victorian pub close to the Castlefield moorings, in the centre of the city. The ornate 1930’s tiling and lots of small rooms- the interior is CAMRA listed- make this an interesting pub, good beer too. Often crowded in the early evenings and at weekends. Very close to the Bridgewater Hall, and seems to be the favoured pub of the orchestras. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
The Cape, Warwick, Grand Union
A traditional boatman’s pub lock side on edge of Warwick, but now surrounded by an Industrial estate. Moorings opposite, with water. Good range of real ales.

Cap and Stocking, Kegworth, Soar Navigation
Back street local with a large beer garden, small range of good guest ales.
Apparently this is Bill Tidy’s local. Good moorings about 10 minutes walk away at the flood lock. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Catherine Wheel, Goring, Thames
Very old back street pub with extensive food, beer expensive but not as much as some of the others in this very prosperous village on the Thames. Gents behind hidden door! CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Coopers Tavern, Burton on Trent, Trent & Mersey Canal.
Amazingly old fashioned pub with a splendid back bar/ inner taproom with barrels on a slate shelf dispensing Kimberley Ales and Bass on stillage. Located by the back door of a vast Bass No2 beer factory. No food, occasional folk jamming sessions on Tuesdays.
CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Crown Posada, Newcastle, River Tyne
Very ornate tiny narrow pub close to the quayside in central Newcastle upon Tyne, nicknamed the coffin! Often very busy in the evenings. Free house, with stained glass. CAMRA listed interior.
CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.

Dusty Miller, Wrenbury, Llangollen Canal
Friendly pub restaurant, converted from a flourmill beside the lift bridge in this quiet village. Good range of Robinsons Real Ales, try the Old Tom. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Four-Penny Shop, Warwick, Grand Union Mainline.
Back street comfortable local near the Race Course, good range of guest ales.
CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Hobgoblin, Reading, Thames/Kennet and Avon Canal.
Small comfortable pub in the centre of Reading close to M&S, comfortable with large range of changing guest beers, in the pub desert that is this ugly, smug but prosperous city centre. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Lamb, Devizes, Kennet and Avon Canal.
Noisy, busy local behind the Town Hall. Good range of beers in what is otherwise entirely Wadworth territory. Two friendly pub dogs, watch out for the grey hound it likes ale and its head is the right shape for a pint glass! Several small rooms, one of which contains a rifle range! Small beer garden.
Mad O’Roukes Pie Factory, Tipton, BCN.
Huge weird pub locally famous for its pies, served in huge portions. Good range of beers including several local milds. Handy for the Black Country Museum moorings.
Old Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham, Nottingham Canal
One of the most famous, and perhaps the oldest pub in England claiming to date back to 1189. Carved out of the rock under the Castle in the centre of the city, yet only 10 minutes walk from the Sainsbury’s moorings. Serves Kimberley Ales, can be very busy. Small beer garden and a series of rooms and caves to sit and gawk in. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.

Old Green Tree, Bath, Kennet and Avon Canal.
Delightful oak panel small city pub close to Poultney Bridge, good range of unusual guest ales from micro breweries, friendly staff, several small rooms. A real urban gem!
CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.

Rat and Ratchet, Huddersfield, Huddersfield Narrow Canal.
Big, busy and noisy city centre real ale brew pub with large selection of beers- up to 14 on tap- many from micros. Food served. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Red Cow, Market Harborough, Market Harborough Arm GU.
The Red Cow is a Camra listed traditional basic one room local, with a friendly clientele. No food, but well kept and reasonably priced Marston Ales. Quiz night on Sundays, can be busy at weekends. The Red Cow is in the High St, about 10 minute walk from the canal basin.
Red Lion, Crick, Leicester Section GU.
An old thatched traditional High St local in the quiet village centre. Three rooms with Inglenook fire place, real fire in winter. Very busy in the early evenings, with a good reputation for its food. The pub has no music, and is mentioned in the guide The Quiet Pub. The Red Lion was our local when we are at Crick Marina, and there is always a friendly welcome from this family run pub. Moor by Br 13 and 5-minute walk into the village. Free House.
Red Lion, Cropredy, Oxford Canal.
Tiny thatched pub tucked up a narrow lane opposite the church in the centre of this sleepy village. The interior has not been messed around and boasts a real Inglenook fireplace. The pub is a fairly basic local free house, but serves food, and is heavy on atmosphere, dating back to the 1540’s. Extensive mooring near by. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Rising Sun, Shackerstone, Ashby Canal.
The Rising Sun is a quiet three room, wood panelled village local with a beer garden. Good beer, food served most nights. Shackerstone is a tiny village on the Ashby Canal, with good moorings opposite The Battlefield Line Steam railway station and depot.
Shroppie Fly, Audlem, Shropshire Union.
Large busy canal side pub in a converted warehouse, part way down the Audlem lock flight, with an emphasis on food. The bar is built from an old butty; the walls are lined canal ware, old photographs and thousands of books, comfortable seating. Tables outside on the old wharf to sit and watch the boats cruising past. Live Music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Spread Eagle, Camden Town, London Regents Canal
Young’s local close to the tube station and the famous locks. Always very busy but good beer.
CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Sun Inn, Llangollen, Llangollen Canal.
Most of the pubs in Llangollen are very disappointing, noisy and with foul beer. The Sun Inn is a notable exception; it is Camra listed two-room pub. The interior is very basic but a friendly welcome can be heaving at the weekend. No food but a wide range of changing ales which are well kept and cheap, and real cider too - even perry! To find it you must persevere and spurn the false charms of the other pubs you will pass on the good 15-minute walk away from the canal. Walk up the Main St turn left when you get to the end and keep going, bearing left. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Swan, Fradley Junction, Trent and Mersey Canal.
The Swan is a famous old canal pub, on the junction of the Trent and Mersey with the Coventry.
The pub has four rooms on several levels and an outside seating area, comfortable and a distinct canal decoration motif. Free house with well kept beers; try the cheap Ansells Midlands Mild.
It always seems to be busy and serves a lot of meals, with locals coming out from Lichfield and surrounding areas. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.
Wynstay Arms, Llangollen, Llangollen Canal
300-year-old coaching inn in an Llangollen side street. Several small rooms, beer garden, good selection of real ales, popular with locals. CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2002 listed.

PUBS WORTH A VISIT ON THE GRAND UNION CANAL
Helen Harmer’s 11 canal side pubs worth a visit on the GU Mainline
“Here are 11 pubs we have enjoyed en route from London to Birmingham. There are others of course but its jolly hard work researching every pub we pass!”
Waterside Inn, Battlebridge Basin, Kings Cross.
This is a handy pub if you don’t want to go into central London itself. It is a spacious “barn” style pub with large tables and benches. The staff are mainly antipodeans and friendly.
It is not a quiet pub and can be very busy. The waterside terrace with tables, is pleasant and can be quieter than inside, although it also has music from exterior speakers.
The Shovel, Cowley Lock.
The Shovel is a food-based pub but there is room to sit and enjoy a pint too. There are comfortable soft chairs to sink into after a hard day cruising. The seats outside by the lock allow you to watch those still working.
The Boat, Berkhamsted.
A popular Fullers pub often packed at weekends and summer bank holidays.
There are large tables inside, and plenty of outside seating on the lock side terrace.
The Ship, Aylesbury.
There are 17 locks between Marsworth and Aylesbury, but it is a very pretty arm and worth the effort. The Ship is the first building you come to as you leave the canal basin.
It is a down to earth local with a steady stream of regulars.
The Globe, Leighton Buzzard.
The exterior is wonderfully inviting, old timbers, white washed walls, flowers in abundance and a well cared for appearance generally. Inside it is separated into dining and drinking areas, and is popular for both. We were told that tables for dinner should be reserved several days in advance in summer. There is an outdoor children’s play area.
The Navigation and Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne.
The Navigation is the larger, with spacious areas for dining, eating, smoking and families. There is extensive outdoor seating, with gas heating for chilly evenings. There are indoor and outdoor children’s play areas. Mansfield Beers. The Boat Inn is thatched with a low ceiling in the small front bar and separate Northamptonshire Skittles room. It is more of a local than the Navigation, and also serves food. Free House.
Both have their attractions and both are very popular.
Heart of England, Upper Weedon.
A large pub with separate dining area and bars and a large pleasant beer garden- the route to and from the bar is rather circuitous. Children’s play area. Mansfield Beers.
New Inn, Long Buckby Top Lock.
This lock side pub is just the ticket for lock-wheelers, offering a place to rest before going onwards and downwards to Braunston. The pub has changed hands several times in recent years and the latest change has resulted in an enlarged dining area, which reduces the drinking area. There are still a reasonable number of tables inside, and the usual picnic style bench tables outside by the lock.
Braunston Pubs

Admiral Nelson, Braunston Locks. The pub has large tables, serves food and has a beer garden cum children’s play area on the opposite side of the canal. There are 3 other pubs in Braunston:
The Wheatsheaf and The Plough are in the village, which is a bit of a walk from any mooring point.
The Mill House is canal side with moorings near Br 91; this is much bigger and has an emphasis on food. Each has its own merits, but the Admiral Nelson is on the whole quieter and more convient.
We find that Braunston gets very busy for mooring around 3 p.m. in summer and so if descending the locks often tie up above the top lock rather than be disappointed at the bottom.
Do not moor on the lock pounds as the water level can alter alarmingly.
The Two Boats, Long Itchington.
The Two Boats is a favourite with us; there is a friendly atmosphere, good beer and good service.
It has two small bars and an outdoor seating area. The main bar counter is very small but this does not hinder service too much although it can be a bit of a scrum to place your order. This is one of the few pubs we have eaten in and it is very good value for money. Free House.
The Two Boats is also on the pub live music circuit, where the likes of Jeff Dennison sing and play live for your entertainment. There are five more pubs in Long Itchington, but we have never made it past the Two Boats, I am sure at least some of them are worth a try - one day perhaps?
PUBS WORTH A VISIT JUST OFF THE TOWPATH:
ON THE GRAND UNION CANAL
Guy Harmer’s 10 pubs worth a visit off the towpath on the Grand Union Mainline.
“The following 10 pubs are all within a 30 minute walk from the nearest mooring on the GU.
All serve cask-conditioned ale, although this may not be the reason for my recommendation; appearance, availability of food and atmosphere are all important.
Anyway who can define what makes a really good pub?”
Fox and Hounds, Rickmansworth.
A popular local with real atmosphere. We received a warm welcome here and once we got used to the “topless darts” on the TV, we found this a comfortable place to while away an evening.
This pub is at the south end of the High St - next to the M & S food store.
Kings Head, Hunton Bridge.
This pub welcomes you from the outside, and lives up to its promise once inside. With its curved glass windows, this is one of the best pub entrances I can remember, and it is a friendly local as well.
It is situated over Br 162, from the moorings just south of the bridge above lock 72.
The Goat, Berkhamsted.
When moored at “Berko” it is all too easy to simply frequent the canal side pubs. However it is worth walking up to the High St, which is great for a pub-crawl. Our favourite is the Goat: a lively unspoilt pub, with good guest beers and an impressive looking menu.
The Goat is on the right of the High St accessible via the bridge below lock 54.
The Red Lion, Marsworth.
Much has been written about this classic village pub. It is in all the guides, and is worthy of its reputation. There is something for everyone, with four rooms, including a tiny bar, and games area. We always seem to end up on the upper level, and ordering your round through the knee high hatch is always a pleasure. Free house, real cider too.
The Red Lion is over Br 130, from the extensive good moorings and 50 metres up the hill on the left.
The Coffee Pot, Yardley Gobion.
A busy village local; with oak beams, an intimate feel and an appetising menu which may tempt.
This pub is a brisk mile walk from the towpath but worth it.
The Coffee Pot, is accessible via footpaths from Brs 60,61 or 62, care should be taken crossing the busy A 508 into the village.
Eykyn Arms, Gayton
Another brisk walk up hill precedes a visit to this comfortable local. The Eykyn Arms has a “front room” feel to it and the landlady makes the visitor very welcome.
The pub is best reached from Br45, where the moorings are further from the railway than most. Follow the road over the railway and up into the village. Turn right at the church and then keep to the right. The Eykyn Arms is on the left as the street bends to the left. Take a torch.
White Horse, Welton.
Have faith; you will find this one, not as close as advertised on the bridge of course! However you can use the time-honoured technique of finding the church and the pub will be beside it. The White Horse is a thatched village local with a “live-in” feel to it, serving good beer and a convivial atmosphere.
Moor near the Braunston Tunnel portal; walk over Br 6, and up the hill again! Turn left off the main road in Welton and find the church.
Rose and Crown, Warwick
Wherever you moor in Warwick, there is another walk up a hill- however not so steep this time.
A stop in Warwick is a must on this section of the GU, and there are many watering holes to visit.
The Rose and Crown is my favourite because of its local atmosphere and interesting decor. Varied guest beers and real cider- a real rarity- add to the charm.
The Rose and Crown is on the corner of the Market Place in the town centre, opposite the Warwickshire Museum.
The Durham Ox, Shrewley.
The pub is on the south side of the village and is a food based local. The food looks very impressive, and the beer seems well kept.
Mooring at Shrewley always involves muddy towpaths; either side of the tunnel. If you stop on the west side, walk to the pub via the towpath tunnel, which actually only takes you up to the village.
Remember to take a torch for this one as the path is rather overgrown.
Prince of Wales, Birmingham City Centre.
The Prince of Wales retains the character of a local pub amongst all the new development. A great choice of cask ale and a “local” feel make this my “must visit” pub in Birmingham.
The Prince of Wales is tucked away behind the ICC; it is visible from Farmers Bridge Junction.
Go through the Malt Shovel’s car park and follow the road behind the ICC.
This list is by no means exhaustive and I hope no one feels I have over looked their favourite.
My comments on food are based upon visual impressions only, as the nature of our hotel boat operation means that we are never hungry when we visit them!

Guy and Helen Harmer are now the landlords of the award winning and CAMRA listed Cumberland Hotel in Alston Cumbria.

The company still continues but no longer directly operates hotelboats.
H & H now trades as a consultancy and training company, provide a unique range of services to the Inland Waterways, Marine Tourism, UK Hospitality and Mediation sectors .
To find out more please click on this link
H & H Training and Consulting Services