Maps, Beer Guides, Brewery Guides & pub mapping a street atlas

This is a blog about the maps and guides I use to to help me do pub crawls.

Before the days of the internet and now smart phones people had to use maps to find their way around towns and cities. I still do to this day as I do not have a smart phone, but I do use the internet now to find pub locations to mark off on my A-Z of Bristol or Leeds, as an example. 

I must heap praise on the mapping of pubs on the Pubs Galore site, by far the best for finding most proper pub locations. I always use it to pre-plan most pub crawls by marking off on my maps the location of pubs, or even doing hand drawn maps of smaller towns by copying off the Pubs Galore pub map.

If you're wanting to know how many pubs are in an area, just look at the Pubs Galore map and you will soon find out.

It was much harder back in the '80s and '90s so Pub Guides with maps were the best and listed all pubs. Brewery guides also listed all of their tied houses, which was a big help. You just had to ask, when in a town or city, where there were pubs that appeared in these guides. The worst guides of all were the CAMRA ones that just listed real ale pubs, or even worse, listed only what they deemed to be the best real ale pubs.

Back to maps, by far the best for large conurbations is the A-Z series, and the Red Local maps were also good for separate towns.

The Beer Guides

I have guides to most counties in England but not all. The Wiltshire Pub Guide 1991 listed all pubs in Wiltshire in alphabetical order. Pretty simple but I liked it and it gave me good lists of pubs I wanted to do in Wiltshire towns.

There are some more modern guides which I really like, as they map all pubs in the town or city, even if they are keg only pubs. Here are a couple of good examples which I like using.

Real Ale in Derby

Derby CAMRA seem to do these City guides every five years or so, and this is the latest one from 2016. The whole of the city is mapped with pubs marked off by numbers. I cannot fault the guide as it lists all pubs if real ale or keg only. I wish Nottingham CAMRA would do something similar - the last proper CAMRA guide to Nottinghamshire was way back in in the '80s.

Another good fairly recent guide I picked up was the CAMRA Oxford Witney & Abingdon Pub Guide:

A very smart publication with nice mapping of all pubs in the guide, with keg only pubs also mapped. I quite like this guide and used it when going a pub crawl round Witney.

Brewery Guides

I have lots of brewery guides, many of closed breweries and several still open breweries. If they were a good brewery guide, which most were, they listed every tied house they had at the time of publication. This helped me find out where the tied houses were as I have always tried to do independent brewery tied houses over any other type of pub.

North Country Breweries Pub Guide

A guide to all North Country tied houses that lists pubs by areas of Hull and then counties. I picked this guide up for 75p from the Castle Barge in Newark which was a North Country tied house back in 1983.

Home Ales - A Pub Guide 

Home Ales brewery of Nottingham did a good guide of their large tied estate of over 400 pubs in the mid '80s. It listed all pubs with Nottingham at the start, then going onto Nottinghamshire and all other counties they had pubs in. I did not complete this guide but was not far from doing it when the brewery was closed down by S&N.

The Hoppers' Handbook - A Guide to the Harvey Pubs

A nice brewery guide listing all Harveys tied houses and all having a photo. It is a shame that I have not done that many Harveys tied houses.

Innwards - A Guide to Wards Country

A very nice guide to all Wards tied house of Sheffield. There were photos of most pubs and a map of the ones in Sheffield. This was another '80s brewery guide.

Map of Wards pubs in Sheffield

Maps

This section is about the maps I use and how I mark them off so that I know roughly where I have been. But the first maps shown listed every pub in the county map they were in, and what brewery was running the pub at the time. The maps were called Better Pubs of each county they were in.

Better Pubs Map of Kent

These maps were folded like a normal map but listed every pub in the county and and what brewery was running them. When it was opened out you could see the shape of the county.

North East Kent

South East Kent

Index

Better Pubs Map of Cambridgeshire

I have tied to get more of these maps as I only have Kent, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Better Pubs did these maps for all of the South of England but not London. I picked these up in the mid to late '80s and would love to get more of them.

Street Maps that show where pubs are located

My wife treated me to a pub crawl in Cardiff but I had no map of it. I then found a map called Streetezee which mapped all of the Cardiff area, but on a closer look it also had a tankard where there was a pub,. When I did my pub crawl round Cardiff in the '90s all tankards were therefore where I did pubs.

I was quick to order more of these maps which were only in the West side of the country.

Cardiff Central & Canton

A-Z Maps

Birmingham

I never really used this map for pub crawling round Birmingham as I do not like the city that much, but it was a big help when going round the Black Country.

Cosely

Manchester

I have worn out Manchester A-Zs due to the amount of pubs I have done in the area.

Beswick,Openshaw & Clayton

All of these areas done on foot with a bus sometimes caught out or back, but never both ways.

Ashton-under-Lyne, Dukinfied & Guide Bridge

I think I pretty much did all of this area and did not know where Dukinfield was.

Manchester City Centre & parts of Salford

I had at one point done every proper pub in the middle of Manchester and most bars.

Oldham

I made a massive effort to do every pub in Oldham and finally did 156 in the town. I wonder how many are left now.

Local Red Books

These street maps are always handy if doing a pub crawl in a town or smaller city. I have loads of these types of street maps along with the larger A-Z maps.

Norwich

A map I have used many times on my pub crawls round Norwich though I've only done 88 pubs in the city.

Weymouth & Dorchester

Very handy while on holiday in Weymouth, but I have not had a drink in Dorchester yet.

My mapping of how many pubs I've done in towns, cities and villages

I picked this road atlas for a couple of pounds from one of those cheap book shops. It took me a while to work out how to get the number of pubs done in each town and village onto the maps without writing on it, and I also had the problem of updating towns and cities where I was doing lots of pubs.

Then I came up with putting small stickers in it with the number of pubs I had done on it. My wife liked the look of it and when I showed my brother he really liked it.

So here is how it looks:

The towns north of Manchester, Skipton & Blackburn

Leeds, Bradford & West Yorkshire towns

Greater Manchester & area

Stoke-on-Trent

Nottingham & Derby

Lincoln & Newark

Hull & York

I am able to take stickers off to update to map. I think it looks really good, but then I did it so others may think different!

I've only shown a small selection here, and they are all old-school of ways of finding pubs to do when on a pub crawl. I know which way I would prefer to plan pub crawls - by looking at a map, rather than looking at a smart phone and hoping it is giving me the right directions.

So there you have it, a few of my pub guides and maps.

Otley Plus a few in Leeds Crawl 8th November 2014

This was a pub crawl that was planned at very short notice late on Friday night with the help of my wife,this was due to a bad weather forecast of heavy rain,so i decided to do a small town with a good concentration of pubs that were close to each other and Otley fitted the bill.
I had already pre booked my National Express ticket from Nottingham to Leeds,i just had to do a quick walk to leeds train station to get my train to Menston,but i noticed a pub open close to the station so had to go in for a quick half.

Leeds city centre

1:Yates's

Photo taken By Alan Winfield

Located at the bottom of the station approach and open at 10.10 am,so good in my books,it is one large room inside that seemed comfortable enough for me on my short visit,there were two real ales on,i had a half of GK IPA which went down well after the coach journey from Nottingham.

I was soon on Leeds train station and waiting to buy my return to Menston.
It was not long before i was on a fast train heading to Menston,i had no proper map for Otley but my old Leeds and area guide had a simple map with pubs marked off so all good for me.
The rain was starting to get heavier as the train approached Menston train station,i got off the train and a bus was waiting just for me to get on it as it said Otley on the front.
After a journey round the houses and up a few hills and passing some pubs i was finally in Otley and at the small bus station.
The rain was steady and i could see a pub across the road and it was open just after 11am.

Otley

2: Old Cock

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A nice looking stone built pub that is i believe not an original pub,but it looked the part from the outside and was even better once inside,there was a small stone floored bar room with a nice real fire roaring away which was nice on a cold wet day,there was a separate room that did not have a bar in it,the seating was narrow bench seating and small stools.
There was a good choice of real ales on the bar eight i think,i opted for a half of Ilkley Mary Jane,which was on top form.

It was a very short walk and i found two more pubs close to each other and the rain was not that bad yet.

3: The Bowling Green

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A Wetherspoons that has been converted from another original pub.
It was a bit different to most Wetherspoons i have been in,the front area looked quite comfortable with it being carpeted and having normal tables and chairs and a large real fire on the go,the bar was to the rear and the middle area looked like a covered courtyard,there was not much seating near the bar.
There was a decent choice of guest beers on,i had a drink of Moorhouse White Witch,which went down very well while sitting next to the now roaring fire.

Back out in the cold but it was a walk across one road to the next pub.

4: Northbar Social

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A smallish modern type bar that is next door to the Bowling Green and just down from the Otley Tavern.
Once inside there is an oblong shaped room with the bar facing,the room is bare boarded and the seating normal tables and chairs.
There were four real ales on the bar,i had a half of North Prototype,which went down well,the friendly bar lady also gave me a taster of Roosters Yankee which i did not ask for,this was another nice drink.
The pub far too quiet for my liking.

I walked past the Otley Tavern as it had not yet opened and into the town centre proper where there was a market and lots of shops and pubs.
It was now starting to rain quite heavy so it was good fortune that i was in the middle of town near pubs and shops where i could shelter from the rain.

5: Black Bull

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

  A nice looking white painted pub with a decent frontage which had market stalls in front of it,i decided to take a photo of the pub later in the day when the market was closing down.
Once inside there was a single oblong shaped room which was carpeted and the bar faced,there was comfy bench seating at each end of the room.
There were four real ales on,i had a drink of Taylor Boltmaker,which went down well.
The pub was busy and a had a good lively atmosphere.
I quite liked this pub.

A quick walk by market stalls to the other side of the road and i was in my next pub and not too wet despite the heavy rain.

6: Bay Horse

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A stone built pub that has shops either side of it.
It still had all of its old Tetley signage outside which was nice to see.
Once inside the pub had two rooms with a bar in the middle area,the room to the front right was more basic with narrow bench seating,the room to the rear left was more comfortable with it being carpeted and having very comfy bench seating.
There were three real ales on,i had to have a half of the Tetley Bitter with it being an old Tetley tied house,it was a nice drink.
The pub was packed just like the Black Bull across the road.
Another Otley pub that i liked.

It was a short walk in now heavy rain to get to my next pub.

7:Black Horse Hotel

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A grand looking pub that is situated on a busy corner.
Once inside the pub was just as grand with a large main room that is oblong shaped and carpeted,there were posh looking tables and chairs opposite the bar,i had a drink in the old tap room to the front which was just as grand with very comfortable red leather bench seating.
There were three real ales on,i had a drink of Saltaire Blonde,which went down well.
The pub not as busy as the previous pubs i had done and it was a shame the real fire was not lite,but it was still nice and warm.

I decided to do a quick walk to the West of the town to pick up two more pubs because the rain had slowed down a bit.
I walked past the the Cross Pipes and it was not long and i was in my next pub.

8: The Fleece

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A nice looking stone built pub which backs onto the River Wharfe.
Once inside there was a small room to the front left,i went into the main bar room which was a decent sized square shaped room with the bar on the left side,the front area was bare boarded and the rear area carpeted,there was a mix of seating types,the rear area has views over the river but was too busy for me to get a seat,there was a nice real fire on the go in the middle of the room.
This is a Wharfbank brewery tied house,there was a good choice of real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Wharfbank Washburn Best which went down very well.
A very pleasant and comfortable pub to have a drink in and very busy on my Saturday dinner visit.

I retraced my steps to get back to the next pub which is just away from the proper town centre.

9: Cross Pipes

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A decent looking stone built pub.
Once inside there is a single oblong shaped room which runs the width of the pub,the bar faces on entry.
The room is comfortable with it being carpeted and having comfy bench seating,the TV was showing vintage music videos,which i like watching.
There were three pumps on the bar with two unclipped and the third having John Smiths Cask on,but i was told they no longer do it,so i had to settle for a half of John Smiths Extra Cold Crap,which was crap.
A great shame as this was the only pub on the crawl that did not have at least one real ale on.

It was a short walk and i was back in the town centre with lots more pubs to do and the rain was getting slower.
I now had to take photos of all pubs i came across so i could do them later when it was dark.
It was not long before i decided to go in a pub.

10: Rose & Crown

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A really nice looking stone built pub with a fairly long frontage.
Once inside the bar faces in a single oblong shaped room that is carpeted,the seating is comfy bench type and normal tables and chairs,the ceiling was also beamed.
There were three real ales on,i had a drink of Taylor Landlord,which was a decent drink.
A pleasant pub that is quite close to the bus station.

A very short walk and i was in my next pub.

11: Korks

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

This is a modern bar that says it is a wine bar,but it did not seem like that to me.
Once inside there is a single L shaped room with the bar on the right side,there were a few bar stools and a couple of tables and chairs,this area was for drinkers and was fairly busy on my Saturday afternoon visit,the left side is divided from the right side by a small wall and is set aside for diners.
There were three pumps on the bar with two in use,i had a drink of Kirkstall Pale Ale,which went down very well.
A pleasant bar to have a drink in.

Another very short walk along the same road,in fact just two doors along and i was in my next pub,and the rain had now almost stopped.

12:Junction Inn

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A decent looking stone built corner pub.
Once inside there was a small snug to the front left,but i like to drink in the main bar room which was oblong shaped and ran to the rear of the pub,there was comfy bench seating on the right side opposite the bar and there was a nice real fire roaring away,which was nice on a cold day.
The real ale choice was very good with seven real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Leeds Yorkshire Gold,which went down very well.
A very pleasant and warm pub to have a drink in,also had a decent amount of drinkers in on my Saturday afternoon visit.

It was a a short walk up Church Street and along Walkergate to get to my next pub,but The Manor House was closed and under refurbishment,this meant i could not do all pubs in Otley on the same pub crawl,but i would still push on and do all other remaining pubs that i had not yet done.
A short walk and i was on the busy Boroughgate and in my next pub.

13: The White Swan

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

Another nice looking stone built pub and the banner outside said 8 great cask ales.
Once inside there is a single room which runs the width of the pub,the bar faces on entry and there was a good selection of real ales on it,i had a drink of Wharfbank Tether Bitter,which went down very well.
There was comfy bench seating and normal tables and chairs and a nice real fire on the go.
I really liked this pub,one i could settle in for a session.

There was no proper walking to my next pub as it was joined onto The White Swan.

14: Otley Tap House

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
Once inside there was a single square shaped room with the bar to the front right,the floor looked like stone giving the pub a cold feel.
There was a decent choice of real ales on the bar with seven being on,i had a drink of Saltaire Blonde,which went down well.
Due to the cold and bareness of this pub i did not really take to it.
But i did hear one of the best put downs while in a pub,there were two women and one bloke having an heated argument,with the women getting the upper hand in it,when the bloke shouted out to the whole pub about one of the women said "if you wore make up and a dress you would still look crap" she did not reply to this.

It had stopped raining so i decided to do a pub to the North of the town centre and the furthest from the middle.
I walked from the Otley Tap house along the busy main road and then up Bridge Street and past the Horse and Farrier which i would do later then over the River Wharf and up Billarns Hill,after a ten minute walk i was at my next pub.

15: The Yew Tree

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A nice looking stone built pub that is set sideways onto the road.
Once inside the pub has two separate rooms,the bar room was smaller had a pool table in it and was too busy for me to sit down,the lounge was larger and very comfortable,it was carpeted and had very comfy bench seating.
There were three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Titanic Night to Remember,which was a very nice drink.
The pub was doing food which seemed very popular but did not take over the pub.
This was a very pleasant locals pub that was very busy on my Saturday afternoon visit.

I had to walk back downhill and over the river again to get to my next pub.

16: Horse and Farrier

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
Once inside there were two small rooms either side of the entrance,with the left room having normal tables and chairs and a leather settee,the bar is further into the pub,the main bar room is oblong shaped and bare boarded,the rear area of this room is raised.
There was a decent amount of real ales on the bar,six in all,i had a drink of Oakells MPA,which was a decent drink.
Another Otley pub that i liked.

I now had to do the short walk back to the bus station and pick up three more pubs that i had took photo's of earlier.

17: Red Lion

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A typical looking town pub that is stone built.
Once inside there were seating areas either side of the entrance,the bar was to the rear left where there was bench seating and normal tables and chairs,there were TVs showing sky football updates,there was also a pool room to the rear.
There was one real ale on which was Theakston Best,this was a decent enough drink.
This is a proper locals pub that was very busy on my Saturday afternoon visit.

No walking to the next pub as it is next door to the Red Lion.

18: Whitakers

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

A stone built pub that looks a lot smaller than the Red Lion next door.
There is a single oblong shaped room which runs to the rear,the room is bare boarded and the seating comfy bench seating and normal tables and chairs.
There were five real ales on,i had a drink of York Guzzler,which went down very well.
Another one i could settle in for a session.

It was a short walk to my last pub in Otley and one that is very close to the bus station.

19: Otley Tavern

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
A really nice looking stone built pub.
There is a single square shaped room inside which had comfy bench seating,the rear right area was down some steps.
There were two real ales on,i had a drink of Titanic Iceburg which went down well while watching sky football score updates.
The pub was packed on my late Saturday afternoon visit.
A decent pub to end up in Otley.

A very short walk and i was back where is started,the bus station.
A bus back to Menston and a short wait and i was on the train back to Leeds.

Leeds city centre

20: The Brewery Tap

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
Very handy if getting off a train or waiting for a train as it is less than a minutes walk from the main entrance to Leeds train station.
The bar faces on entry into a single room which runs the width of the pub,there is a raised area to the left,the seating is tall tables and chairs and normal sized ones.
This is a Leeds brewery tied house and there was a good choice of real ales on the bar,i had a dink of Leeds Best,which was a very nice drink.
The pub was packed on my early Saturday evening  visit with most being younger than me,if you dont like drinking in packed rooms,there is another room upstairs which was less busy,i do not like drinking away from the main room.

I was now walking back to Leeds bus station but would get one last pub done that is fairly close to it.

21: Crowd of Favours

Photo taken by Alan Winfield

 
There is a single oblongish shaped room inside with the bar facing,the room is bare boarded and the seating chunky wood tables and chairs and normal tables and chairs.
This is a Leeds Brewery tied house and there was a decent choice of real ales on,i had a drink of Leeds Best which was a very nice drink to end my pub crawl on.
I managed to get a seat and thought this pub had a good laid back vibe to it,there was funky type background music.
I quite took to this pub,one to take the wife to.

It was a very short walk back to Leeds bus station and i was soon on a National Express bus back to Nottingham.
A great day out and all planned less than 12 hours before i started the crawl,though with the help of my good wife.
All pubs bar one did at least one real ale.