Are these the best pubs in Leamington Spa? CAMRA believes so.
Good Beer Guide Pubs - #795 to #798
The River Avon seems to provide a thin boundary column between Warwick and Leamington Spa. On the ground, it's not easy to see where one ends and the other begins,
CAMRA avoid favouritism by assigning four entries to each town. The Centenary Way has allowed me to take my time in discovering them over two trips. Warwick can be found here. The Alan Winfields of the world would do all eight in a day.
11 miles rambling the Warwickshire Canals and Countryside, I am delivered to the New Inn, a back street boozer with a difference. The back street is that wide, it can accommodate four rows of parking.
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| Flags aplenty |
It's Six Nations time, so we are festooned with external flags and internal Guinness bunting. The pool table (red baize requiring red chalk) has been moved to an unplayable position against the wall. Tables are arranged in Jazz Club style rows, with little reserved signs replacing table lamps. Oakham Citra in reasonable condition but being honest, little will linger in the memory.
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| New Inn, Interior |
But why drink in traditional boozers, when an artisan ale, wine and gin bar is available. The Boiler Room is in the heart of town, next to the museums and across the road from Jephson Gardens.
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| Modernity in Pubs |
A chalk board to peruse wares and it was my own fault in choosing a key Brewboard Brewery Sauvin for the Future. A delicious NEIPA that nearly went into the record books as my first double digit pint in pounds. £10.50, if I hadn't caught hold of myself and remembered my trendy surroundings. 2/3rds it is, when you are down with the crafty kids.
Empty on a Saturday afternoon, I saw more punters walk in and straight out again when they were disappointed with the pizza only food menu.
Like me, they were leaving for a JDW. The Benjamin Satchwell a short walkaway and ticking all the 'Spoons boxes. External Mobility Scooter rank. Packed solid. Airport style line queuing.
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| They built it and they came. |
I manage to secure a booth - recently cleaned - and smugly fire up the app. Yes, I am in the BS. Yes, I am at table 73. Oh no - App ordering not available.
Still, if you cannot trust people not to half-inch a rucksack guarding your spot in one of the posher parts of Warwickshire, when can you? I battle the pensioners at the bar, impressing them all by taking a Leffe in the meal deal.
Finally, back to back street boozers with easily the pick of the pubs. The Woodland Tavern a traditional Victorian Corner pub.
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| Winner - Best pub in Leamington, by a landslide |
The Times carrying a story about how Twickenham Rugby goers complaining of being constantly interrupted by boozers not observing the game and heading back and forth to the bar.
The irony. My boozing interrupted by rugby fans, glued to a massive screen. Even the floor sprawled dogs looking screen bound.
It generated a fine atmosphere, even if I have no idea of the game's rules. Timothy Taylor Landlord adding nicely to the joy and only relatively infrequent trains dragged me away from a lost afternoon.
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| Not a night club |
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