The Grey Goose (Gilmorton)

The Grey Goose (Journey time 20 mins)

Visited on a Thursday evening, very busy but still plenty of comfortable seats available in the substantial bar area. Also had good outside space for warmer evenings, and one of the rare places which sells Pagos!

Seating - 5/5

Overall Surroundings - 5/5

Bar Staff - 4/5

Drink Selection - 4/5

Ambience - 5/5

Temperature - 5/5

Toilets - 4/5

Bonus Points - 4/5

Comments: Scores highly on all fronts, let down slightly by the unsmiling barmaid... albeit the other barmaid was fine. Justifiably sits on top of the leader board and will be hard to beat.

Overall Score = 4.50 /5

The Golden Shield (Fleckney)

The Golden Shield (Journey time 5 mins)

Visited on a Thursday evening, fairly quiet, warm outside pleasant inside. Nice beer garden.

Seating - 2.5/5

Overall Surroundings - 3/5

Bar Staff - 4/5

Drink Selection - 2.5/5

Ambience - 4/5

Temperature - 3/5

Toilets - 3/5

Bonus Points - 2/5

Comments: Scores highly for convenience and friendly bar staff but could do with a bit of a makeover inside, especially the toilets.

Overall Score = 3.00 /5

Vertu Bar (Birmingham)

Vertu Bar (Journey time 1hr+)

Visited on a Thursday lunchtime, very quiet in the day - probably more of a night time place, but even in the daylight hours a very pleasant place to be.

Seating - 3/5

Overall Surroundings - 5/5

Bar Staff - 3/5

Drink Selection - 4/5

Ambience - 3.5/5

Temperature - 3/5

Toilets - 3/5

Bonus Points - 3/5

Comments: A funky town bar, nice seating, nice surroundings, hard to fault it and good bar food too.

Overall Score = 3.44/5

The Queens Head (Saddington)

THE QUEENS HEAD (Journey time 5 mins)

Visited on a Thursday evening, been here many times before, but not recently since it was an Indian Restaurant for a few years. Now selling pub food again, the bar is a bit of an afterthought to be honest. 

Seating - 2/5

Overall Surroundings - 4/5

Bar Staff - 3/5

Drink Selection - 3/5

Ambience - 4/5

Temperature - 3/5

Toilets - 3/5

Bonus Points - 3/5

Comments: A pleasant if unspectacular establishment slightly spoiled by shit seating in the bar, however the extraordinarily cheap price of the drinks wins it plenty of kudos.  

Overall Score = 3.13/5

The Grange (Oadby)

THE GRANGE (Journey time 15 minutes)

Visited on a Thursday evening, been here several times. Bonus points for selling Pepsi Max, but the seating is a bit shit. Looks great, but uncomfortable and badly organised. Always a good atmosphere, very busy in the summer. 

Seating - 2/5

Overall Surroundings - 3.5/5

Bar Staff - 3/5

Drink Selection - 4/5

Ambience - 4/5

Temperature - 4/5

Toilets - 3/5

Bonus Points - 3/5

Comments: A good general purpose pub, if only they would sort out the seating.

Overall Score = 3.31/5

The Yews (Great Glen)

THE YEWS (Journey time 15 minutes)

Visited on a Thursday evening, been here several times. Friendly bar staff and a reasonable drink selection, nice surroundings which are broken up into smaller spaces to avoid the 'barn' feeling witnessed in The Roebuck. Used to sell Pago but sadly this is no longer available.

Seating - 4/5

Overall Surroundings - 4/5

Bar Staff - 4/5

Drink Selection - 3/5

Ambience - 3/5

Temperature - 3/5

Toilets - 3/5

Bonus Points - 2/5

Comments: Blighted by the Great Glen cackling witch, who always seems to be there whenever we go these days, not the pub's fault, but someone has to take the blame.

Overall Score = 3.25/5

Enigma (Market Harborough)

ENIGMA (Journey time 25 minutes)

Visited on a Thursday evening after finding the Oat Hill unable to furnish us with a table. A good selection of drinks including cocktails served in teapots!!! 

Seating - 3/5

Overall Surroundings - 3.5/5

Bar Staff - 4/5

Drink Selection - 4/5

Ambience - 3.5/5

Temperature - 4/5

Toilets - 3/5

Bonus Points - 4/5

Comments: Can't match up to the likes of the Oat Hill in terms of overall soundings, but when taking into consideration value for money it's hard to criticise (a very nice wine for £3 a glass).

Overall Score = 3.25/5

The Oat Hill (Market Harborough)

THE OAT HILL (Journey time 25 minutes)

Visited on a Thursday evening. Very lively with a good atmosphere. Pleasantly warm and an incredible selection of drinks, including soft drinks and cocktails. Not sure if Pepsi Max is available, probably not, but the strawberry and vanilla K20 is to die for. 

Seating - 4/5

Overall Surroundings - 5/5

Bar Staff - 5/5

Drink Selection - 4/5

Ambience - 4/5

Temperature - 4/5

Toilets - 5/5

Bonus Points - 4/5

Comments: Decor well above average with spectacular toilets, attracting a discerning clientele.

Overall Score = 4.38/5

The Roebuck (Market Harborough)

THE ROEBUCK (Journey time 25 minutes)

Visited on a Thursday evening. Very empty and consequently rather cold and lifeless. Newly built so surroundings are clean and fresh, perhaps would be better at a busier time.

Seating - 4/5

Overall Surroundings - 4/5

Bar Staff - 4/5

Drink Selection - 4/5

Ambience - 1/5

Temperature - 2/5

Toilets - 4/5

Bonus Points - 2/5

Comments: Nice place, but too big to ever be cosy.

Overall Score = 3.13/5

Shoulder of Mutton (Great Bowden)

SHOULDER OF MUTTON (Journey time 20 minutes)

Visited on a Sunday evening after the Red Lion, was struck by the improvement in atmosphere and temperature. Decor is a little shabby and seating, etc is fairly average. Good atmosphere and general ambience helps raise the score. Quiz night on a Sunday evening.

Seating - 3/5

Overall Surroundings - 3/5

Bar Staff - 4/5

Drink Selection - 3/5

Ambience - 4/5

Temperature - 4/5

Toilets 3/5

Bonus Points - 3/5

Comments: Warm and friendly atmosphere, clearly has a loyal clientele who probably don't notice the decorative shortcomings. Excellent hand driers in toilets.

Overall Score = 3.38 / 5

The Red Lion (Great Bowden)

THE RED LION (Journey time 20 minutes)

Visited on a Sunday evening, when approaching the bar to buy second round was informed that they were closing due to a staff party. It was 7:10pm. Their website said they would be open until 9pm. Great customer service. We and all the other people in the pub consequently decanted to the other pub in the village.

Seating - 4/5

Overall Surroundings - 4/5

Bar Staff - 3/5

Drink Selection - 3/5

Ambience - 2/5

Temperature - 3/5

Toilets - 3/5

Bonus Points - 0/5

Comments: Nice place, but seems to attract a rather tedious clientele. Can't believe a pub would ask paying customers to leave.

Overall Score = 2.75/5