Crackling log fires, hearty home-cooked food, real ales and chatterbox friends? There’s little that can compete with a swift one at your local.
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And with the weather on the chilly side, what better excuse than to take refuge beside a roaring log fire, drink in hand? Here are eight of our favourite pubs to choose from…
1. The Gurnard’s Head, St Ives, Cornwall
Dreams of log fires and stretching sea views are realised at The Gurnard’s Head – a charming, fire-lit pub with rooms on Cornwall’s Atlantic coast. Adorned by church candles come nightfall, choose between a delicious meal at the cosy mismatched tables or prop yourself up at the wood-panelled bar to sink a delicious sherry (or beer or wine), whilst flicking through the pub’s selection of hardback books. Visit www.gurnardshead.co.uk
2. The Albion, Islington
Harking back to the Georgian era when Islington was all fields and farmland, The Albion has long been a haven of comfort to locals and visitors alike. Think a stunning wisteria-covered façade and idyllic walled garden, perfect for al fresco dining; and even better, cosy log fires, wood-panelling and snug seating spots. Visit www.the-albion.co.uk
3. The Crown Inn, Hastings, East Sussex
If you’re looking for an inviting refuge this season, The Crown Inn could well suffice. While it has all the ingredients of a top pub – delicious home cooked food, a wide selection of local ales, craft beers and specialist spirits – it also benefits from a creative vibe, with local art on the walls, live music, crafting evenings and plenty of board games to get stuck into beside the open fire. Visit www.thecrownhastings.co.uk
4. The Three Chimneys, Biddenden, Kent
Kent is brimming with cosy pubs, but The Three Chimneys – a free house flagged up as a Country Dining Pub in The Good Pub Guide 2017 – really typifies the counties’ striking assets. Dripping in history, the old, character-rich building is flanked inside by oak beams, aged hops and three crackling fires. Visit www.thethreechimneys.co.uk
5. The Craven Arms, Appletreewick, North Yorkshire
This delightful number has that extra something special. Picture-postcard perfect, visitors can escape the chaos of the every day in cosy corners, book up The Snug (a table nestled next to a cast iron range) or discover the Tap Room with views looking out to Wharfedale.
With log fires, great ales, locally sourced dishes and plenty of history to unearth, it’s a must-visit. Visit www.craven-cruckbarn.co.uk
6. The Gun, Canary Wharf
There’s little more satisfying than a boozer steeped in history, and The Gun – a waterside pub named after the foundries that produced the guns for the Royal Naval fleets in the 18th and 19th centuries – has it in spades. Get lost in stories of days past, curl up on the Chesterfield Queen Anne armchairs, graze on platters and enjoy a good ole’ ‘warming’ tipple with friends. What’s not to love?Visit www.thegundocklands.com
[Read more: Britain’s best oldest pubs you need to have a pint in]
7. The Bush Inn, St Hilary, Wales
Stop off at The Bush Inn to warm your cockles after a bracing country walk around the tranquil village of St Hilary and its surrounding areas. Known for its hearty pies and wellingtons, the yummy food compliments the restful interior which, complete with a thatched roof, stone walls, oak beams and an inglenook fireplace, makes it the ideal spot to pull up a pew and get comfy. Literally. Visit www.bushinn-sthilary.com
8. The Canny Man’s, Edinburgh
Named the “best pub in the world” by none other than seafood maestro Rick Stein, the Canny Man’s pub sure has a formidable reputation; and it’s easy to see why.
Established in 1871, this wee watering hole has an extensive bar (think over 250 types of whisky); an eclectic restaurant (choose from the famous Winston Churchill room, The Alcove or the abundance of other cosy cubby holes); plus heaps of antiques and an unchanging décor. Visit cannymans.co.uk
Which pub do you love to get cosy in? Share your favourites from around Britain in the comments section below
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