5 Of The Best New Year’s Eve pubs, Readers’ Travel Tips
Travel Tips,UK pubs massive and little build your list of places to go for this New Year’s Eve. And whether or not it’s for the brew, the music or the fireworks, you’ll make sure of a heat welcome
The Hanging Bat, EdinburghFor the standard of the brew and therefore the truth you'll be able to pile out of the saloon and see the fireworks from the castle at the hours of darkness, it's to be the Hanging Bat in capital. The saloon has six cask and fourteen keg lines and serves “flights” of brew, therefore you'll be able to sample 5 completely different ales (from £11.50) to seek out the one you prefer the best! however, if I couldn’t be in capital, the simplest various would be in Louth, Lincolnshire, at The Wheatsheaf (62 Westgate, 01507 606262). It’s a Grade II-listed building, that dates from the eighteenth century, and has cosy snugs, a roaring hearth, a fine choice of real ales and a good-time atmosphere.
Harbour Arms, Margate
It’s a Kent micro pub, so it’s got a headstart on being a great new year spot and has already been featured in the Guardian along with other great pubs, mainly in Thanet. The emphasis here – on Stone Pier – seems to be on meeting people, finding out what they’re about and enjoying each other’s company and conversation. Great beer and great fun with family and friends, old and new.
margateharbourarm.co.uk
The Fox, Hanwell, London
It is always a fun party for locals in what I think of as a secret gem of a pub in west London. Maggie and Colin run this wonderful pub in the heart of Hanwell, which is close to the Grand Union canal. The tickets for the New Year’s Eve event cost £5 but the money goes to charity. There’s home-cooked food, plenty of dancing, lots of real ale and general merrymaking. Brilliant fun!
thefoxpub.co.uk
sandybruce
The Clachaig Inn, Glencoe, the Highlands
It has to be the Clachaig Inn for me. I would spend every New Year’s Eve there if I could. Unfortunately I can’t. It’s miles from anywhere, surrounded by the snow-covered mountains around Glencoe, has big roaring fires, almost 20 real ales and good, hearty pub grub. The music – which is usually of the toe-tapping reels and celtic jigs variety – is also really a plus point. While it tends to get a wee bit crowded, it’s still hard to beat for atmosphere.
clachaig.com
ncfcyellowman
The Clachaig Inn, Bury St Edmunds
Two boozers around Bury St Edmunds come to mind immediately: Oakes Barn, which has a mighty list of brews, including several local ales, is in the town itself; and The Dove is on the outskirts. Both pubs major on their real ale menus but also have live music and quiz nights, a friendly local clientele and know how to look after their beer.
oakesbarn.co.uk
mignonnette