Best pubs 2024

2024 was a good year for pubs with visits to Manchester/Stockport, Nottingham/Beeston, Peak District, Welsh borders, Chilterns and West Sussex/Hampshire giving ample opportunities to visit new pubs and revisit old favourites.  My favourite five new pubs and revisits are as follows:-

New pubs

Arden Arms, Stockport.  Stockport is a great drinking town and the vote could have gone to the Magnet or Swan with two necks but the Arden just pipped them.  A lovely multi-roomed town centre Robbie's pub with Old Tom on draught which got our Stockport tour off to a good start!







Malt Shovel, Spondon.   A friendly multi-roomed classic with a great snug and drinking corridor.  Also reminded me that Pedigree in it's heartland is a cracking pint.  Another one on the list of great Derbyshire pubs.







Boat, Penallt

It's the beautiful location on the banks of the Wye that make this pub.  The Boat is in Wales but you need to park in England and cross the Wye to reach it.  A delicious pint of Wye Valley's Butty Bach - the first of many in their heartland.







Duke of York, Elton

The basic, unspoilt, rural pubs are my favourite type of pubs and the Duke of York has been on my must visit list for many years but has always proved a tricky tick due to limited 8:30 pm opening.  I finally made it during a few days in the Peak District and it didn't disappoint- a timeless classic.  The nearby Flying Childers at Stanton-in-Peak wasn't far behind.







Cornewall Arms, Clodock

Another classic, basic rural pub in beautiful countryside in the Black Mountains on the Welsh/English border.  No real ale but delicious local cider from bottles.  Table skittles were being taken very seriously and we were made to feel very welcome.








Revisits

Bell, Aldworth

Only my second visit to this nationally renowned pub and it deserves every accolade that it receives.  Probably the closest in 2024 to 'The Perfect Pub'.








Victoria, Beeston

The Vic seems to be going from strength to strength.  Food is delicious and very reasonable, superb choice of drinks and beautiful, atmospheric rooms.  With the fantastic Crown just down the road, Beeston has a couple of England's best two pubs in close proximity.








Rifle Volunteers, Maidstone

Alongside the Elephant, Faversham the Volunteer has been my favourite pub in Kent this year.  I love it's simplicity and keenly priced Goacher's beers.  In Winter they sell their Crown Imperial Stout - possibly my favourite beer








Harrow, Steep

Not far from the A3 but tricky to find.  I visited on a lovely late Summer afternoon and the cottage garden was a lovely space to while away half an hour.








Packhorse, Little Longstone

Only half a mile from the famous Monsal Head Viaduct this little cracker deserves to be more well known than it seems to be.  The tiny bar room on the left with a couple of tables, huge range and a bar serving a good choice of Thornbridge ales, is one of the best in the country.

Looking forward to more cracking pubs in 2025 with visits to Halifax/Huddersfield and Devon already planned for February.  Happy New Year!

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