I had a brilliant day in Crewe, starting at the returning Crewe Rail Ale Festival at the Heritage Centre before heading into town for a good wander around some of its best independent pubs and bars. From The Crewe Dog and Borough Arms to Tom’s Tap, Hops, Earl of Chester, Ebenezer’s and finally The Raven, there was loads of variety along the way. I enjoyed everything from traditional cask ale pubs to brewery taprooms and modern beer bars, with plenty of great beer throughout. Crewe has a really strong independent beer scene, and this was a cracking way to explore it.
Category Archives: Brewery Taps
15/08/26 – Otley
I had a brilliant day exploring the pubs and bars of Otley, starting at Curious Hop Bière Café before meeting up with Gareth from Roaming the Ridings. From cosy old pubs like the Junction Inn, Cross Pipes and Black Horse to newer places such as North Bar Social and The Rookery, there was loads of variety along the way. We were joined by a few familiar faces during the day, which made it even more enjoyable. There was plenty of good cask and craft beer to try, with some lovely historic buildings too. I finished the day at Shadow Brewing, rounding off a fantastic wander around Otley.
08/08/26 – Leith and Edinburgh
I spent the day exploring Leith and Edinburgh, starting with some brilliant pubs around The Shore before working my way through brewery taprooms, traditional locals and a couple of extra stops along the way. Leith had a great mix of old maritime character and modern independent brewing, with plenty of excellent cask and craft beer to try. I also called into Shore Distillery and Beets before heading across to Bellfield and Otherworld. Back in central Edinburgh, I finished at two real classics, the Guildford Arms and Café Royal. A cracking final day and a great way to end my Scotland trip.
06/08/26-07/08/26 – Milngavie, Paisley and Dumbarton
I explored a great mix of pubs and brewery taps around Milngavie, Paisley, Renton and Dumbarton. I started in Milngavie with visits to Jaw Brew, The Talbot Arms and Jack O’Beers, where it was great to meet Mike and hear about his plans for the future. From there I headed to Paisley for the historic Bull Inn and Two Towns Down Brewing, before travelling on to Loch Lomond Brewery Tap in Renton. I finished in Dumbarton at No Limits Brewing, meeting Henry and Andy, chatting with locals Martin and Lolin, and even joining them for the general knowledge quiz.
03/08/26-06/08/26 – Glasgow
Over a few brilliant days in Glasgow, I explored a fantastic mix of traditional pubs, modern craft beer bars and breweries across the city. I made good use of the Subway, jumping on and off to discover places in the city centre, Merchant City, West End and beyond. Highlights included historic gems like The Laurieston and Old Toll Bar, alongside WEST, Drygate, Three Judges, Inn Deep and plenty more. There was a great mix of Scottish cask and keg beer along the way, with some really friendly welcomes too. I eventually rounded everything off at Grunting Growler after a fantastic few days exploring Glasgow.
02/08/26 – Carlisle
Sunday saw me head up the historic Settle and Carlisle Railway for a day exploring Carlisle and some of its pubs. I started at Scott & Brassey, where I caught up with friends Alistair, Michael and Jess, before moving on to the Thin White Duke. From there I visited West Walls Brewing Co, The King’s Head and the Milbourne Arms, enjoying a good mix of historic pubs and newer places along the way. I finished the day at The Spinners Arms in Cummersdale, where it was fantastic to meet Alison from Carlisle Brewing Co. A really enjoyable day exploring Carlisle and its pubs.
01/08/26 – Chesterfield
I had a brilliant day exploring Chesterfield and some of the surrounding villages, joined by Niall from From Sheffield with Pubs and Chris from Chesterfield Pubs Past & Present. Starting at the Arkwright Arms, we worked our way through New Whittington and Whittington Moor before heading into Chesterfield itself. Along the way it was great to bump into Shaun and Suzie from Chesterfield Great Historic Pub Tours too. There was plenty of history, some fantastic independent pubs and a great variety of beers throughout the day. Another really enjoyable day discovering more of what Chesterfield’s pub scene has to offer.
25/07/26 – Warrington and Newton-le-Willows
I spent the day exploring the independent beer scene across Warrington and Newton-le-Willows, visiting a great mix of pubs, bars and a brewery tap, each with its own character. It was brilliant to catch up with members of North Cheshire CAMRA and meet plenty of friendly locals along the way, making the day even more enjoyable. From modern venues in Warrington Market to historic pubs full of character and welcoming community locals, there was plenty to discover. With excellent cask ale throughout and a warm welcome everywhere I visited, it proved to be another fantastic day out exploring two thriving beer destinations.
18/07/26 – Swindon
Swindon turned out to be a brilliant day exploring a mix of historic pubs, modern taprooms and independent breweries. From the railway heritage of the Great Western Hotel and The Glue Pot to the growing beer scene in Old Town, every stop had its own story and personality. I enjoyed meeting some lovely people along the way, including Jamie, Kate and James, who all made me feel very welcome. There was a fantastic choice of cask and keg beers throughout the day, with plenty of local brews to try. It was another great reminder of just how strong and varied Swindon’s independent pub scene has become.
17/07/26 – Oxford
I had a brilliant day exploring Oxford, discovering a fantastic mix of historic pubs, cosy taprooms and independent bars, each with its own character and story to tell. It was great to meet up with members of Oxford CAMRA along the way, who made the day even more enjoyable by sharing their local knowledge and recommendations. From centuries-old pubs to modern brewery taprooms and the unique venues inside the Covered Market, there was so much variety to enjoy. Of course, there were plenty of excellent beers too, making it another memorable day that showed just how special Oxford’s pub scene really is.
Micropub Adventures 