Campaign for Real Pubs: June 2020

The Old House, Ightham Common, Kent TN15 9EE

An old tile-hung cottage pub hidden away on a narrow back lane in the Kent countryside close to the romantic moated manor house of Ightham Mote. It was first licensed as an alehouse in the mid-19th century, but did not acquire a full licence until 1953. The inn sign has long gone.

The unspoilt interior qualifies for a full entry on CAMRA’s National Inventory, and comprises a large public bar to the left of the entrance door, with an impressive inglenook fireplace and a wood block floor, and a smaller parlour to the right.

Another example of those unspoilt, genteel, wet-led rural or urban fringe pubs that are still found here and there in the South of England, but are pretty much entirely unknown in the North.

The Black Horse, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2EJ

A striking redbrick corner pub on one of Preston’s main shopping streets close to the impressive Harris Museum and Art Gallery. It was built in 1898 by Kay’s Atlas Brewery of Manchester and is now owned by Robinson’s of Stockport.

The exterior conceals an even more impressive interior which merits a full entry on CAMRA’s National Inventory. There are two comfortable snugs at the front, a central lobby with a richly decorated ceramic bar counter, and a rear alcove surrounded by bench seating with mirrors on the walls above.

It is allowed to sell a selection of guest ales alongside Robinson’s own beers. The city-centre location ensures it is busy throughout the day with a wide cross-section of customers.

The photo was taken by me in the early evening of Friday 23 August 2019.

WHAT ARE REAL PUBS?

Real pubs are pubs whose primary function is still the original core purpose of pubs – for people to meet and socialise over a few drinks.

They may serve food, and very good food at that, but they don’t allow it to dominate to the exclusion of all else. They’ll probably have a strong core of regular customers, but still make casual drinkers welcome. They may well serve a good drop of real ale, but won’t be full of beer bores droning on about hop varieties and IBUs.

In many parts of the country they’re getting very hard to find. In recent years, the smoking ban, beer duty hikes, the demonisation of “one-drink driving” and the general anti-alcohol climate have all had their effect, but such pubs do still survive if you know where to look and deserve to be celebrated.

Although in many ways they are a laudable organisation, this blog is not connected with and does not in any way represent the Campaign for Real Ale.

The inclusion of a pub does not necessarily reflect a recent visit by myself, although often it does.