Canalhouse, Nottingham
Taking the concept of waterside drinking to the next level, this bar has the Nottingham canal flowing right through its centre. It has its own internal bridge, with narrowboats moored below it – and on warmer days the action at this converted warehouse spills out on to a large canalside terrace, where regulars revel in one of the city’s best beer selections. Canalhouse is owned by Castle Rock, one of the few traditional regional brewers to have successfully embraced hop-loaded, new-wave craft beers. Across 280 world beers, 10 craft keg lines and six cask pumps the Canalhouse runs the gamut from Wild Beer’s ultra-modern Evolver IPA to the legendary, 9.5% Trappist rocket fuel Westmalle Tripel (pints from £3).
Do not miss: Castle Rock’s Harvest Pale, a pre-craft classic.
Inn Deep, Glasgow
Britain hardly lacks for railway arch bars that have gone big on craft beer, but Inn Deep is a peculiarly bucolic example. Its terrace overlooks the river Kelvin as it wends its way through Kelvingrove Park. Outside of the house beers from owners William Bros, the Inn’s vast beer selection takes in cutting-edge brews from near-ish (Cromarty Brewing in the Highlands, North in Leeds, Manchester’s Cloudwater) and far. Many new and obscure global breweries, such as Austria’s Bevog, have made their Glasgow debuts here. A menu of burgers, brisket sandwiches and ribs (mains from £7.45) will soak up those hoppy-but-dangerous 9% Double IPAs.
Do not miss: the chance to bring your dog – free water bowl and biscuits supplied.
Crate, Hackney Wick, London
The Gun in Canary Wharf has the more dramatic views, while Kew’s City Barge may be the more trad pub, but on beer quality, this brewery tap on the river Lee Navigation cannot be beaten. A raw, up-cycled space (its canalside seating is made from old pallets and scaffold planks), Crate is a favourite of the arty, creative types who have colonised the formerly industrial Hackney Wick. Here they can sup on a sterling selection of global craft beers (try Crate’s Imperial Pecan Stout or Wild Raspberry Sour), and chow on tasty, creative pizzas, such as sweet potato, stilton and walnut, or Middle Eastern lamb (from £8).
Do not miss: Secret Adventures’ kayaking trips from Limehouse to Crate.
The Stubbing Wharf, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
Sat in a fork between the river Calder and the Rochdale canal, the Stubbing was badly hit by the Boxing Day floods that devastated this area in 2015. It reopened last summer, however, having undergone a spruce refurbishment, and quickly reasserted itself as a favourite among hillwalkers, real ale fans (look out for Yorkshire beers from breweries such as Saltaire or Elland) and local boaters, who work with the Canal & River Trust to maintain this section of waterway. The pub is also renowned for its gutsy grub, with reliably satisfying renditions of the classics – local sausages, mash and onion gravy; and roast belly pork with braised red cabbage and cider gravy (mains from £8.95).
Do not miss: The Stubbing Wharf Sunday lunch canal cruise.
Artichoke, Chester
This stretch of the Shropshire Union canal is where Chester drinks when the sun’s out. Pub purists may prefer the neighbouring Old Harkers Arms, but Artichoke, a bar on the ground floor of a converted warehouse – all bare brick and modish art, Barbarella furniture and exposed industrial detail – does a fine line in Cheshire ales, Belgian and craft beers, jazzy gins (it stocks over 100) and snazzy cocktails. Its food is a classy cut-above too, from brunch plates of stewed butterbeans, chorizo and roast tomatoes on toast (£6.95) to evening mains of confit rabbit on artichoke mash, with pancetta and aioli (£15.95).
Do not miss: small-batch northern gins from Manchester Three Rivers and Liverpool Organic.
Nag’s Head Inn, Abercych, Pembrokeshire
Idyllic is an overused word, but sat outside this distinctive, mustard-yellow pub amid the woodland splendour of the Cych valley, with the river flowing past a few feet away beneath an ancient stone bridge, you are certainly getting close. Inside, this easy-going, family- and dog-friendly pub is a classic rural inn, with bare tables, cosy log-burners and flagged floors. Well-kept ales from regional microbreweries, such as Mantle and Bluestone, partner with a menu of pub classics, which make proud use of local Welsh ingredients, such as gammon and chips, sausage ‘n’ mash, or pork chop with mash and creamed cabbage (mains from £9.95).
Do not miss: nearby Cenarth Falls on the river Teifi.
The Boat Inn, Ashleworth, Gloucestershire
Hidden down narrow lanes in rural Gloucestershire, the diminutive Boat Inn is beyond cute. Nearly 400 years old (it opened as a hostelry with rights to the ferry crossing under Charles II), the pub retains many of its original features, while its spot on the lazy banks of the river Severn is timelessly charming. Those basking in the courtyard or on the riverside can sup on 20 traditional ciders and upwards of five real ales from local micros, such as Bespoke and Church End, gravity-dispensed direct from the cask. Using Gloucestershire-reared beef patties from Staunton butcher Ben Creese, the Boat is well known for its burgers. These include a chilli number, Fire in the Hole, that rocks a frankly petrifying 9m Scoville units. Note: before digging in, you have to sign a disclaimer and don protective gloves (burger meals from £10.95).
Do not miss: August’s beer, cider and music festival (19-20 August).
The Bridge Inn, Topsham, Devon
Run by the same family since 1897, this Grade-II listed pub by the river Clyst is a warren of historically atmospheric, antique-dressed rooms (no muzak, no TVs, no fruit machines). The Bridge’s daisy-fresh beer arrives via serving hatches, gravity-dispensed straight from the barrel. There is an emphasis on south-west breweries – Branscombe Vale, Exe Valley, Powderkeg – and likewise, a short but high-quality food menu of pasties, sandwiches and ploughman’s lunches (£4-£7.50) showcases local suppliers, such as hams from Kenniford Farm and pork pies from Topsham butcher Arthur’s.
Do not miss: irregular folk gigs in the Malt House room.
Kirkstall Bridge Inn, Kirkstall, Leeds
A de facto tap for owners Kirkstall Brewery, this neo-Victorian boozer – a refreshingly plain canvas decorated with vintage brewing memorabilia – is a hot destination for beer lovers, despite its suburban location. Naturally, there is always a core of Kirkstall classics on the bar, such as Three Swords or Dissolution IPA (pint from £3.10), alongside a raft of international craft beers, from, for example, Newcastle’s Wylam, Manchester’s Track, Danish Mikkeller or Odell from the US. Hops aside, the inn backs on to a sweet beer garden by the river Aire, where you can bask in the sun, enjoy its summer beer festivals and, on 16-17 July, catch some art, as the garden is incorporated into the Kirkstall Art Trail.
Do not miss: the Kirkstapalooza beer and food festival (26-28 August).
The Dawnay Arms, Newton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire
With its riverside beer garden – tree-lined lawns that roll down to the banks of the river Ouse, complete with moorings for passing boats and views of the fields beyond – the Dawnay Arms is undeniably pretty. But it is more than just another picturesque country pub. Over the past 10 years, Kerry and chef Martel Smith have turned this historic inn (built in 1779) into an exemplary modern gastropub. Take your pick between the cosy bar (all open fires, exposed beams and cask ales from regional breweries, such as Treboom and Black Sheep), and a smarter dining room where Smith toggles between skilfully executed classics (such as burgers and beer-battered fish ‘n’ chips), and elevated dishes, including baked halibut with a parsley crust on fresh fettuccine, with spinach and chive velouté (mains from £13.95). His Sunday lunch is terrific, too.
Do not miss: the homemade black pudding.
The Canal & River Trust cares for 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales – a fascinating network that’s full of life and free and open to all. Discover more at http://www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
