So just a month to go and thoughts turning to who will be my Pub of the Year 2024 and this year its a historic one as its the TENTH Year also the first without Twitter/X and the first soley on Bluesky!
With me no longer having a Twitter presence I need a new name as it was after my old Twitter handle, Real Ale Scouser, still thinking of one, may just continue the tradition but with my Bluesky/ATproto/Atmosphere name: johnmcnwoods, still to be decided though!
I think this is year is possibly the toughest, with a few new entries with a surprising pub missing, The Baltic Fleet, Liverpool, my former favourite in the City, after its disapointing refurb. Below is list of the main pubs in contention, the best pubs Ive visted and meet my criteria this year, with a month to go, in no particular order! I judge them on: sells real ale, fair price and building/location.
The Corn Mill - Llangollen, Liberty Tavern & Wine Bar - Llangollen, The Bridge End - Ruabon, Magic Dragon Taproom - Wrexham, The Monro - Liverpool, The Bridewell - Liverpool, The Denbigh Castle - Liverpool, The Vines - Liverpool, Handyman Supermarket - Liverpool, St Peters Tavern - Liverpool, The Palladium - Llandudno, The Picture House - Colwyn Bay, Black Cloak Taproom - Colwyn Bay, The Hoptinist - Abergele, The Albion Ale House - Conwy, Bank of Conwy - Conwy, The Hop Emporium - Warrington, The Albion - Warrington, The Cricketers - St Helens, Turks Head - St Helens, Irby Mill - Irby, The Harp Inn - Litlte Neston, The Magazine Hotel - New Brighton, 1260 bar - Liscard, The White Liion - West Kirby, The Black Toad - Hoylake, The Bowlegged Beagle - Heswall, Rose and Crown - Bebington, The Collaboration - Bebington, The Hop Vine - Burscough, The Thirsty Duck - Burscough, Number 12 - Ormskirk, Harkers Arms - Chester, Telfords Warehouse - Chester, Cross Keys - Chester, Deva Tap - Chester, Brewery Tap - Chester, Wigan Central - Wigan, The Swan and Railway - Wigan.
More be added if I visit or have forgotten til late New Years Eve, winner announced early 2025!
Last 3 Winners
| Year | Pub |
|---|---|
| 2023 | The Hop Emporium, Warrington |
| 2022 | Bar Bach, Caernarvon |
| 2021 | The Hoptimist, Abergele |
Latest odds: Corn Mill 6/4, St Peters Tavern/Magic Dragon/Hop Emporium/Wigan Central/Monro 11/8, Albion Ale House, Bank of Conwy, Telfords, Thirsty Duck 3/1,
