50 BEST PUB CRAWLS IN
ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES & IRELAND
by Barrie Pepper
A pub crawl requires a collection of distinctive drinking
establishments in reasonably close proximity. Long distance
crawls are only for the very young, the very foolish or the
inexperienced.
The object of a pub crawl is to visit a series of neighborhood
pubs on a single evening without missing any, sampling each
establishment's brew and particular character.
There's no better place to practice this recreation than in Great
Britain, where crawls are also referred to as staggers or circuit
drinking.
Barrie Pepper, a veteran pub crawler with inspiring credentials,
has compiled and mapped out the pub routes in "50 Best Pub Crawls
in England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland" (Storey Books, 2000).
Pepper's descriptions of each route, or crawl, include histories
of pubs and breweries, recommended drinks and menu items, and
detailed maps.
Arranged alphabetically by community, from Aberdeen to York, this
thirst-quenching guide covers the well-known watering holes in
Belfast, Edinburgh, London and Oxford as well as the lesser-known
pubs in villages such as Arundel, Cirencester, Kendal and Otley.
Britain is certainly a wonderful place to visit by train or bike
or automobile, but after studying this guide you'll probably
agree that the best way to tour its cities and villages is by
crawling.
PUB CRAWLING IN BATH
Excerpted from 50 Best Pub Crawls in England, Scotland, Wales &
Ireland c 2000 by Borne Pepper with permission from Storey Books,
Pownal, Vermont 05261, 800-441-5700, Dept. YE,
www.storeybooks.com.
Bath is a city of mainly Georgian elegance with many
well-preserved buildings, including the 18th-century Assembly
Rooms, the Guildhall, the fashionable terraces, Bath Abbey, and
the Roman Baths. The cultural quality of the city is reflected in
its pubs, as you shall see.
From Bath Spa railway station or the bus station, head up through
the center of the city to the Old Green Tree (1) in Green Street.
This is a charming, three-room pub, and both the wood-panelled
front and back rooms are non- smoking. The Uley Brewery brews a
house beer, and others include Pitchfork from the RCH brewery,
Wickwar BOB, and a porter. The pub does not open until 7 p.m. on
Sunday.
From Green Street cross over Milsom Street into Quit Street, and
then go to Hatchets (2) in Queen Street. This is a very popular,
genuine free house with the beers always changing, even on a
daily basis, but they are always well kept, well served, and
reasonably priced. Go back to Milsom Street and head up to the
traffic lights at the bottom of the hill on Landsdown Road.
If you feel like a brisk walk, make your way up the hill to the
Old Farmhouse (3), a lively Wadsworth house with a single
horseshoe bar and superb views over the city. Look for the
portrait of the landlord on the pub sign. Apart from Wadworth
ales there are also Butcombe Bitter, Draught Bass, and Abbey
Bellringer. Behind the pub you'll find the home of Abbey Ales,
Bath's only brewery.
Head downhill via Guinea Lane to The Star (4), a classic
city-center, two- room pub frill of atmosphere. The Star Inn
Draught Bass is served from glass pitchers filled by gravity from
the cask. Other beers include Exmoor Ale, Wadworth 6X, and a
guest ale.
A hundred yards away at the top of Walcot Street is the Hat and
Feather (5), a noisy pub that is popular with aging hippies, who
come for the live music, and students, who dominate the table
football machine. Drinks include Courage Bitter and Directors,
Smiles Best Bitter, and Cheddar Valley cider.
Down from the Hat and Feather in Walcot Street is The Bell Inn
(6), an open-plan bar that is renowned for its live music (folk,
jazz, and rock) and an excellent range of beers including Courage
Bitter and Directors, Exmoor Gold, Fuller's London Pride, Smiles
Best Bitter, and Exhibition. There is an outdoor drinking area.
Make your way to Saracen Street and the Pig and Fiddle (7). This
is an Ashvine outlet that was recently refurbished and extended.
Very lively and popular with the twenty-somethings of Bath, it is
just the place to be on a balmy summer evening and the right
place to end a crawl. Try Ashvine Bitter, Challenger, Hop and
Glory, a guest beer, and Thatcher's cider. It's downhill from
here to the stations.
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