The Alus Seta in Riga is my idea of the perfect pub. If you sit outside you can hear the music being played in the adjacent beer gardens, whilst sampling Uzavas Tumsais - the best beer in the world !

the Barrels in Hereford - home of Wye Valley Beers - and Dorothy Goodbody !

the Beacon Hotel in Sedgley, home of Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild. Behind the calm exterior lies a vibrant interior.

the Black Lion at Consall is an isolated pub in the Churnet Valley which can get overwhelmed when events take place on the adjacant railway. Arrive early if you want a beef baguette !!

the Borough Arms in Crewe may not be much to look at, but inside it has a warm homely atmosphere, a wide range of real ales and several Belgian beers (including Hoegaarden) on tap

one corner of the varied interior of The Bridge Bier Huis in Burnley, showing the bar and the extensive range of bottled beers available.

the exterior of The Bridge Bier Huis in Burnley - it was difficult to include the whole building in the photo !

the Brunswick in Derby is adjacent to the railway station, and brews its own beer (as well as offering a selection of other beers). The perfect refreshment stop when changing trains !

the Vine at Delph Road, Brier;ley Hill (commonly known as the Bull & Bladder) is the brewery tap for Bathams excellent ales. The section on the left is new, but you can't tell the join from outside

Citi Laiki on Brivibas Iela, Riga, Latvia - serves the best Pigs Trotter I've ever tasted !

The Congress is a excellent pub with welcoming locals in a back street of the former beer desert of Longton.

the Cottage, an oasis of calm in Cardiff city centre - and a good pint of Brains too !

the welcoming interior of The Crescent in Salford

the Church Inn in Ludlow is down a narrow alley, so it's difficult to photograph. Serves an excellent range of local brews.

the Doric Arch just outside Euston station, has an unpromising exterior which hides an excellent range of real ales (but the food is not recommended). It used to be part of the head of Steam chain, but has been taken over by fullers and renamed.

the Elande pub in Riga is (allegedly) open 24 hours a day ! Not a particularly brilliant pub, but it does serve the excellent Lacplesis beer, and, as you can see, there is attractive company !

the Fighting Cock in Bradford, a real ale haven amidst dereliction since the 1980s

the Gauja Bar on Terbatas Iela, Riga, Latvia. Home of the amazingly obscure Brengulu Alus. Inside it looks like a 1960s apartment !

the Great Western is virtually underneath Wolverhampton station

the Great Western in Wolverhampton has a wonderful array of railway memorabelia - and great beers from Hlodens and Bathams too !

the Head of Steam is a small chain of pubs, most of which are based at railway stations. This is the one in Huddersfield which has 4 contrasting rooms round a central bar. This is the room with all sorts of old advertising signs. Another room has a large amount of railway memorabelia. The beer is excellent - here you can even get Lithuanian Svyturis beer in bottles.

my friend Ray relaxing after sampling an excellent pint of Mansfield Cask in the Loggerheads pub in Shrewsbury - a real time warp of a place

the Little Pack Horse in Bewdley. A very ideosyncratic pub, full of all sorts of strange attractions

Mabels Tavern in Mabledon Place, London (near Euston) is famous for gatherings of Poconuts, and infamous for its burgers ! It has also been described as "the best Shepherd neame pub north of the Thames" !

the Malt Shovel in Northampton, an excellent pub in the shadow of the Carlsberg mega-brew-factory

The Maltings in York is an excellent pub with only one problem – its too small !

part of the amazing interior of the Msrble Arch on Rochdale Road in Manchester. The beer is good too, but unfortunately the food has gone "gastropubby" !

The Mill Hotel in chester is an upmarket hotel, which includes a bar with umpteen handpumps selling quality beer at cheap prices

at Muddy Maher's in Kinsale (Ireland) the craic is good ! However this does mean people dancing about in front of you (so you can't see the TV) even when there is no music !

the Newborough Arms at Bontnewydd (near Caernarfon) - a pint of Thwaites awaits !

the Old Joint Stock in Birmingham, is a former bank with a marvellously decorative interior. The beer isn't bad either !

The Old Swan in Netherton is commonly known as Ma Pardoes, after the former landlady. Brewing has now recommenced here, and the interior is as idiosyncratic as ever !

the Pump and Truncheon in Blackpool, a haven of spit and sawdust amidst the glitz and razzamataz. The pint of Lytham Royal wasn't bad either !

the Old Queens Head in Minehead - where the locals are very knowledgeable about their Exmoor Stag beer !

Ragleth Inn at Little Stretton - good beer and an enormous trampolene out the back

The Royal Oak in Luxborough (Somerset). The perfect pub at the end of an adventurous journey. Sorry this is an old photo - taken in 1996, but not much has changed

the Running Horse at Long Bank near Bewdley. A prettyy good pub in the Chef and Brewer chain

the Shire Horse at Wyaston, Derbyshire. This pub appeared like a visit after we'd missed our stop on the bus, and were rapidly being carried into the middle of nowhere !

the Shire Horse at Stafford is a newly build pub as part of the Chef and Brewer chain, but is a very good pub for both food and beer, inside and out, nonetheless

the Smithfield Hotel on Swan St in Manchester. I must have really enjoyed my visit here, because I can't remember much about it !

the Swan, Stone. Great range of beer, and friendly atmosphere.

the Swan at Wybunbury Cheshire has excellent food, a convivial atmosphere, a beer garden, and accomodation.

the Three Fishes in Shrewsbury, low beams, good conversation, and a penchant for thornbridge Beers

the Trip to Jerusalem in Nottingham is claimed to be the oldest pub in England. Certainly the back rooms disappear into the castle rock behind.

the Victory in Hereford is home of the Spinning Dog Brewery, and an excellent pub - except for the lack of customers !

the Vine, Nantwich. An excellent pint of Hydes

the Wellington in the centre of Birmingham has an unpromising exterior (and it can be difficult to find the right door) but inside is a real ale heaven with 12 different beers that you have to order by number

the Wellington at Shalersmoor, Sheffield. Formerly the Cask & Cutler. Still a good pub, but somewhat cliquey !