Lovely Pubs

Lovely Pubs We're here to show you Britain's best and most interesting Boozers we encounter on our travels and trips. 🍻. We love The Dank!

17/06/2026

The Star Inn on Quarry Street is one of the oldest and most historic pubs in Guildford. The building originally dates back to the 15th century as a coaching inn.

The building still has heaps historic character, with timber framing, low ceilings and a layout that says centuries of evolution. Its place below Guildford Castle places it at the heart of the town's medieval core, surrounded by some of Guildford's oldest surviving streets and buildings.

The Star Inn also has a place in British music history through its connection to The Stranglers. In the early 1970s, before achieving national success, the band regularly played at the pub while building a following around Guildford and the surrounding area. 

Today, the Star continues to host live music, with acoustic acts, bands and open mic nights helping maintain its reputation as one of Guildford's established music pubs. The combination of a historic coaching inn and a link to one of Britain's most influential punk-era bands gives the venue a musical heritage that extends well beyond the local scene.

16/06/2026

The Rope and Anchor in Poole that wears its maritime heritage proudly. Even the name reflects Poole's long relationship with the sea, but it wasn't always called that. It had heaps of different names, but this one feels like it suits it the best.

What makes the Rope and Anchor interesting is how it reflects the character of Poole itself. While the Quay attracts much of the attention, pubs like this help maintain the town's traditional pub culture away from the main tourist routes.

It's a  healthy reminder of the town's identity, which has always been closely tied to the harbour, the sea and the people who worked on it.

15/06/2026

The Poole Arms on The Quay claims to be the oldest pub in Poole, with records dating back to 1635 and a history closely associated with the town's maritime trade. It's directly on the waterfront, by the quay so would have likely it seen generations of sailors, fishermen and locals. 

The pub is instantly recognisable by its traditional green-tiled exterior, while inside it retains a compact, old-fashioned layout with wood panelling, historic pictures and maritime memorabilia reflecting Poole's seafaring past. Unlike many quayside venues that have been, the Poole Arms still has the dank. 

One thing that we felt a bit down about it how hard it leaned into being a restaurant, but it is particularly well for its seafood menu, making use of the fishing heritage that has shaped Poole for centuries. The fresh seafood and local ales makes it a must see if you're on the quayside but don't expect a seat at busy days. Those are usually reserved for the diners.

14/06/2026

The King Charles Poole is one of the most historic pubs in Poole. Building is a remarkable 15th century Grade II listed building on Thames Street in the Old Town. 

The pub's name has an funny origin. It was renamed The King Charles in 1830 after the exiled Charles X of France landed at Poole Quay while getting away from the Revolution in France. Can't think of many pubs that can say they're named after a deposed French king.

Inside, the building retains much of its historic character, with heavy timber beams, low ceilings and centuries of maritime history embedded in the fabric of the structure. Its position a few yards from the Quay connects it directly to Poole's trading and seafaring past, when the harbour was one of the most important ports on England's south coast.

13/06/2026

The Bermuda Triangle in Ashley Cross is one of Poole’s best known pubs, and one we've been recommended a few times. It's in the middle of an area famous for its concentration of independent pubs, bars and cafés. 

The pub takes its name from the local nickname for Ashley Cross itself, where many a night out has lasted far longer than originally planned.

It mixes the feel of a traditional local with the energy of one of Poole’s busiest social spots. The pub serves food and drinks throughout the day and has become a regular meeting place for locals enjoying everything Ashley Cross has to offer.

11/06/2026

Josh took a trip to London to put two of the capital's most talked-about pub maps to the test: Publican Enemy's Irish Pub Map and armed with his City Stack Pack, the CityStack Pub Map.

Over the course of the day he visited pubs recommended by both maps, institutions and tucked-away backstreet locals. While they reflected very different ideas of what makes a great London pub we can confirm all the pubs were great. 

One map leaned heavily into Irish heritage pub culture. The other focused on quality independent pubs. The result was a fascinating way to explore the city and discover places we might otherwise have walked straight past.

The real winner was London itself. Few cities can offer such a variety of pubs, from centuries-old alehouses to tiny locals hidden between office blocks. Whether you're Team Publican Enemy or Team CityStack, there's a good chance you'll find a great pint along the way.


10/06/2026

The Butcher's Dog in Ashley Cross, Poole, is a modern craft beer bar that has built a strong reputation for its constantly changing selection of independent beers from the UK and beyond. Located on the popular Ashley Cross green, it forms part of one of Poole's most established social hubs, surrounded by restaurants, cafés and bars.

The venue focuses on quality and variety, with multiple keg lines, rotating guest beers and a knowledgeable team behind the bar. Unlike a traditional pub built around heritage or food, the emphasis here is firmly on discovering new breweries and styles, making it a favourite among both craft beer enthusiasts and casual drinkers.

Its position in the heart of Ashley Cross means it benefits from a lively atmosphere throughout the week, particularly when people spill out onto the green during warmer weather. Among pubs and bars in Poole, the Butcher's Dog stands out as a beer-led venue that combines independent spirit with one of the best locations in the area.

08/06/2026

The Barking Cat Ale House in Poole is an independent, beer-focused venue that has become well known among Dorset drinkers for its constantly changing selection of cask ales, craft beer, cider and international bottles.

On Ashley Road, it is a specialist ale house /micropub rather than a traditional British boozer. The atmosphere still has the feel of a community pub though, with pump clips and interested knick knacks and trinkets.

The Barking Cat was created by local beer enthusiasts and has built a reputation for showcasing independent breweries from Dorset and further afield. Regular beer festivals, tap takeovers and rotating guest beers mean the selection changes frequently, which is one reason it has developed a loyal following among real ale and craft beer drinkers.

As far as pubs and bars in Poole are concerned, the Barking Cat stands out as a place for people interested in discovering new beers rather than the usual mass produced slop, making it one of the town's most enticing drinking venues.

07/06/2026

The beer garden at The Rowbarge is one of the main reasons people make the trip to Woolhampton. It's right next to the Kennet & Avon Canal, it overlooks the famous swing bridge and is a short distance from Woolhampton Lock, giving you a front-row seat to narrowboats navigating one of the canal's most challenging stretches.

06/06/2026

The Harp on Chandos Place is one of the most celebrated central London pubs. It's not far from Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square and has a national reputation for the quality of its beer, winning CAMRA National Pub of the Year in 2011. 

The interior has been altered over the years, but it still feels like a proper London boozer. It's got a compact bar, so standing room is probably more likely unless you get there early and walls lined with pump clips showing as trophies for its beer-led focus.

The Harp's reputation is built on always being a reliable pub for a good pint. It is known for a carefully selected range of cask ales, cider and perry, often from independent breweries and producers. Despite its location in one of London's busiest tourist districts, it's still a favourite for the profession booze hounds and regularly, yes despite its location we did sit near some local old boys who had been drinking there for years.

When it comes to Covent Garden pubs, the Harp always stands out because it never became a gimmicky tourist pub. Its identity remains centred on well-kept beer, traditional pub culture and the simple idea that a great pub does not need to be large to become one of London's most respected drinking establishments.

Address

113-117 Rampart Road
Salisbury
SP1 1JA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Lovely Pubs posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category