North Yorkshire
Could there be any more natural setting for a gin and tonic than in a country village watched over by a castle? This craft distillery in Ripley has…
Must-see nightlife in The United Kingdom
Belfast
Gay-owned and -operated, the Soviet-kitsch-themed Kremlin is the heart and soul of Northern Ireland's gay scene. A statue of Lenin guides you into Tsar,…
Cloudwater Barrel Store Tap Room
Manchester
Take a warehouse space under the arches behind Manchester Piccadilly Station, roll in a double deck of beer barrels and set out simple seating, and you’ve…
North Yorkshire
Spread over three floors, this branch of Leeds' famous North Bar has a lively atmosphere no matter what night of the week you rock up on. It hosts tap…
Powys
A haven for lovers of real ale and cider, this snug, welcoming little taproom with hop-festooned, baby-blue walls is easily the best house of refreshment…
The West End
A favourite Soho drinking spot, Swift has a sleek, candlelit upstairs bar for walk-ins seeking a superior cocktail before dinner or the theatre, and a…
The Cotswolds
Much the nicest of Broadway’s pubs, its cosy bar and front garden filled at the weekend with lively locals, the Crown & Trumpet has been honoured by CAMRA…
Richmond, Kew & Hampton Court
Right by the platform at Kew Gardens station (the only London tube platform with its own pub), this lovingly restored Victorian yellow-brick boozer is…
Glasgow
Drinking in former banks is a Glasgow thing and this central brewpub offers some of the best of it. The wooden, high-ceilinged space has huge windows out…
Nottingham
The Dragon has a fabulous atmosphere at any time, thanks to homemade food, a good beer garden and vinyl played on weekends. But it peaks from 7.30pm on…
South Devon
Craft beer with community spirit: this microbrewery is locally owned and run by Totnes residents, with profits helping to support the town's economy. The…
Yorkshire
This ambitious, gin-obsessed cocktail bar in the heart of Hull's Fruit Market area has dark-wood bar panelling offset by exposed-brick walls. The gin menu…
Dundee
Bentwood chairs, old laboratory stools and a handful of discreetly displayed Victorian zoological specimens pay tribute to the eponymous Dundee professor…
The West End
This intimate basement bar has DJs, comedy, drag-king cabaret, burlesque, live music and party nights, all in addition to a generally friendly and…
South Bank
Run by the founders of hop emporium Utobeer, Rake has an astonishing selection of suds, including rare brews impossible to find anywhere else in town…
Belfast
Run by volunteers, Dock Cafe has an honesty box and no price list: pay what you wish for coffee, tea, cakes, scones and soup. Everyone's welcome to lounge…
Snowdonia & the Llŷn
In 2012 this unassuming little place became the first Welsh pub to win the coveted Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) pub-of-the-year award. Run by the…
Anglesey & the North Coast
What started out as a North Coast–plying coffee van has found a more permanent home in this wonderful thimble-sized cafe. You may well find yourself…
York
Housed in a cavernous old warehouse, half the floor space in this craft brewery is occupied by giant brewing tanks while the rest is given over to simple…
Loch Ness
Set in an 18th-century manse a half-mile east of the main road, the Benleva is a rough diamond of a pub – a bit frayed around the edges but with a heart…
New Town
Perhaps the classic Edinburgh pub, the Café Royal’s main claims to fame are its magnificent oval bar and its Doulton tile portraits of famous Victorian…
Brixton, Peckham & South London
Though it's buried at the back of a security-gated working industrial estate, Fourpure has the fanciest taproom on the Bermondsey Beer Mile. Revamped and…
Belfast
Named for the Belfast poet and socialist, the John Hewitt is one of those treasured bars that has no TV or gaming machines, just the murmur of…
Cardiff
Inspired by prohibition-era bars, this swanky speakeasy is hidden behind a narrow lane in the city centre. Find the bell with a feather painted nearby (it…
Cardiff
With charmingly scruffy rooms sprawling around a central bar painted racing green and festooned with hops, the Lansdowne is esteemed for its food (mains …
York
One of York's charms is finding teeny places like this cafe, shoe-horned into historic buildings. In this case the host is a 14th-century, rotund…
Oxford
A long-established local favourite, Jericho’s finest retro-look bar is renowned for its expertly mixed cocktails – typically priced at around £7.50, and…
Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields
A charming cast has taken over this cosy corner pub, transforming it into one of London's most legendary queer cabaret venues. Order a Twink in Pink or a…
Shropshire
Bishop's Castle's finest watering hole is attached to the tiny Three Tuns Brewery, which has been rolling barrels of nut-brown ale across the courtyard…
Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog
Originally crowd-funded into being by the lads at Brecon Brewing, the Tap is a treasure trove of craft beer, traditional cider, estate wines and locally…
Chester
If you're looking for the best pint in the city, the aficionados at the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) reckon you'll get it at this boozer in a Grade II…
Belfast
On a sunny afternoon, it's hard to beat the Belfast Lough–facing beer garden at this welcoming local, just footsteps from Holywood train station. It's a…
Notting Hill & West London
This Fuller's pub, quietly located along Edwardes Sq, is a lovely place for a pint of ale or some satisfying food. Out the front in warmer weather, there…
Liverpool
An institution amongst Liverpool boozers is this venerable old pub, which serves a good selection of ales to its ever-loyal clientele. It gets pretty…
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Dedicated to the genius of black music – funk, rare groove, dance-floor jazz, northern soul, genuine R&B, lush disco, proper house, reggae and more – this…
Old Town
Owned by a local arts charity, the weird and wonderful Bongo Club has a long history of hosting everything from wild club nights and local bands to…
Isle of Man
A cocktail bar styled like a gin joint from the roaring twenties – it does excellent cocktails and on Wednesdays at 8pm there are classic films in the…
Liverpool
This multipurpose venue splits its focus between the arts and electronic music. The converted Victorian building is one of the best places in town to…
Kensington & Hyde Park
Just around the corner from the Royal Albert Hall is this blue-grey-painted godsend. Located in an adorable cobbled-mews setting off bustling Queen’s Gate…
Notting Hill & West London
Carefully choreographed randomness is the order of the day in this sizeable Fulham establishment, which has a large indoor drinking and seating space …
