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Find a great Classic pub in your region

By ‘classic pub’, we mean somewhere that’s more a pub than a restaurant. Food may feature but it’s probably not the main focus. A classic pub will offer a relaxing, pleasant, sociable environment where you can enjoy good beer and cider.

  • Find exceptional independents
  • Every place tried and tested
  • Website contains no advertisements
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    Derwentwater Arms

    The Derwentwater Arms is a traditional country pub. It exudes community spirit, dates back to 1708, and serves fantastic food and drink…

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    Grainstore Brewery Tap

    Upstairs is an award-winning brewery, downstairs is a traditional pub serving at least 10 magnificent beers. You can smell the hops. UK Own Brew Pub of the Year in the Good Pub Guide 2014…

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    Phipps Albion Brewery Bar

    Phipps Albion Brewery Bar is a special place. It’s like a holy church of brewing – but one where you can enjoy superb beers and honest, home-cooked food…

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    Real Ale Classroom Leicester

    The Real Ale Classroom in Leicester is a micropub that serves a breadth of fantastic beer. It’s warm, welcoming and decorated in the style of a classroom, complete with science benches, stools and desks…

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    Real Ale Classroom Lutterworth

    The Real Ale Classroom in Lutterworth is the second excellent micropub from former school teachers Ian Martin and Steve Tabbernor…

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    Round Corner Brewing

    Located in the heart of Melton Mowbray’s agricultural market, Round Corner Brewing comprises a state-of-the-art 2,000-litre brew-kit, plus a superb taproom…

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    The Bertie Arms

    The Bertie Arms in Uffington near is a well-run thatched pub offering good-quality food. A cosy free house, it offers a relaxed, friendly atmosphere…

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    The Black Horse at Aylestone

    The Black Horse at Aylestone is a lovely back-street boozer with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Expect good traditional pub food…

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    The Bluebell at Helpston

    This delightful pub with rooms really sums up what a good rural pub is all about! It’s also next door to John Clare Cottage & Garden…

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    The Brickyard

    Lincoln Green Brewing Company opened this cosy pub in Carlton just a few years ago and it’s become a hit with real ale fans…

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    The Brunswick Inn

    A historic Victorian boozer and architectural gem that used to feed and water Derby’s Railway Village. Today it’s a shrine to cask beer with its own micro brewery, serving simple but tasty pub food…

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    The Bull of Deeping

    The Bull is a Grade II listed building and a popular spot for hearty roasts and a pint of Tiger…

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    The Castle Inn

    The Castle Inn is at the centre of life in Castle Bytham and it’s not just a pub – it’s also a pantry, takeaway and now a taverna…

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    The Chequers Inn

    Located directly under the imposing Froggatt Edge ridge in the Peak District, The Chequers Inn is a wonderful stop off for walkers and foodies, alike…

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    The Cradock Arms

    The Cradock Arms feels like a 17th century country pub – one that serves very decent pub food – but is situated in the middle of Leicester…

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    The Elm Tree

    This quirky boozer in a Cambridge backstreet five minutes from Parker’s Piece is a hidden gem – a rare ‘proper’ pub – part of a dying breed…

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    The Exeter Arms

    The Exeter Arms in Derby is a proper, traditional pub serving locally brewed real ales and modern, interesting, creative food…

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    The Falcon Tavern

    The Falcon in Huntingdon keeps 18 real ales. Expect historic surroundings, excellent ales, and hearty pub grub such as pies and sausages…

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    The Final Whistle

    The Final Whistle in Southwell is a memorable real-ale pub. This place is a wonderful example of a traditional British hostelry…

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    The Five Horseshoes at Barholm

    There’s no kitchen at The Five Horseshoes in Barholm, Lincs, so we’re not featuring it for its fine dining…

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    The Green Man at Ropsley

    The Green Man at Ropsley is a good news story. At a time when many village pubs are closing, it’s an award-winner that’s bucking the trend…

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    The Hall Croft Tap

    The Hall Croft Tap in Shepshed, Leicestershire, is the latest micropub from the excellent Charnwood Brewery of Loughborough…

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    The Hearty Goodfellow

    The Hearty Goodfellow in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, is a traditional real ale pub serving good-quality home-cooked food…

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    The King’s Head of Stamford

    The King’s Head of Stamford is a small, charming, friendly pub. It’s neat and well-cared-for, offering simple but good pub food…

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    The Marquis of Granby

    The Marquis of Granby in Granby, Nottinghamshire, is a cosy and welcoming pub. Named Great Food Club Classic Pub of the Year 2020/21…

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    The Miners Arms, Carsington

    Sunday lunch is a big deal at The Miners Arms with sharing platters of meat and all the trimmings…

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    The Montagu Arms

    Known locally as ‘The Monty’, this welcoming pub can trace its roots right back to the 1800s…

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    The Organ Grinder, Loughborough

    For real ale, friendly staff and live music throughout the year, head to Blue Monkey Brewery’s Organ Grinder…

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    The Packhorse Inn

    A fantastic village pub in Little Longstone, Derbyshire, untouched by the trappings of the modern world – no frills just great ales, lovely local food, open fires and a warm welcome…

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    The Palmerston Arms

    A cosy, traditional community pub in Peterborough that’s a real Mecca for beer drinkers…