Body Ingoldmells

THREE TUNS - In the 'real' village, this previously Bateman's pub became 'free' a few years ago, although it still retains some Bateman's products. Has a family room at the rear of the pub, but we've not been in it as we were driven back by the noise; the outside seating area is not very pleasant. The interior used to be an excellent example of a real pub, I don't know whether it's still the same.

COUNTRYMAN - Another village centre pub, with pleasant, good-sized family room, serving food until 21.00. The handpump is in the main bar, but the bar staff will fetch the draught beer for you. This used to be Bass, then changed to Mansfield Bitter, but unfortunately is now the tasteless Worthington 'Best'.

CHERRY TREE - Just past Butlins, a few years ago this pub was extended to include a fairly pleasant large upstairs family room with a fenced-off outside seating/play area. The Kimberley Classic handpump is very well hidden, and the last time I was there was very empty, so I'm not sure whether real ale is still available here.

SEALANDS - On the seafront road just north of the Cherry Tree, this has a family room and a handpump. However, the place never looked very inviting, so we never sampled the quality of either. The pub has recently been smartened up, but I'm not sure about the beer anymore.

PEBBLE INN - Multi-roomed pub somewhat hidden away in the northern seafront centre. Reasonable family room, but it was a long walk to fetch the cold handpump Boddingtons from the main bar at the opposite end of the pub. So it was almost (but not quite) a relief when the Boddington's was replaced by the fizzy version.

ANCHOR - Situated in the northern centre, this pub has a very large non-descript family room. It bucked the trend quite a few years ago by providing four hand pulled ales. However, once real ale actually started to get more popular, just to be awkward they had bucked the more recent trend and scrapped real ale entirely. Mind you, we're not actually missing much, because the quality of the ale they served was so poor that it gave real ale a bad name.

SHIP - Large pub in the centre of the village. Covered and open seating areas for families. Kimberley Classic clip on handpump always seems to be turned around (so we don't drink there). I also spotted a Kimberley Best handpump a couple of years ago - we really must bite the bullet and actually go in and have a look! Phew, that was a close one - I managed to see that the hand pumps had disappeared without having to go in and waste my money.

LAST RESORT (was Toby Jug) - Close to the village centre, this was only converted into a pub less than ten years ago. We had a look soon after it opened, and the family room looked okay, and Mansfield Bitter was available on handpump. After the name changed we didn't go here for several years (the Oasis was okay then) but we've now confirmed that the name suits the place - it doesn't do real ale any more so it will only be our last resort in future.

OASIS - Modern pub in southern seafront centre with two excellent family rooms (including a no-smoking area in one). The bar in the larger upstairs room doesn't serve real ale, but the route to the main bar is easy. The menu and food hours are the same as the Lookout (see Winthorpe). There is also a small outside drinking area, densely populated with tables. The beer range has always been similar to that at the Lookout, although for a while the Bass was replaced by Bateman's XXXB - most welcome. Following an extension to the main bar, with an extra handpump, the beer selection fell to just Bass and Boddington's, with the latter disappearing a couple of years ago. This Easter, although a handpump was still present (unlike at its sister pub) it was dry. I didn't know whether it had continued to follow The Lookout into obscurity, or whether it was just because it was so early in the holiday season. Disaster, disaster, manager laziness has struck here also - the hand pumps have gone. Also just like the Lookout, it still has signs up claiming cask ale. Unfortunately there's no point getting Trading Standards to do anything about it, as they can't/won't do anything about the six or so stalls that are always selling pirate CDs at Eastgate market.

VILLAGER - In the southern of the sea-front centres, large pub with large barn-like family room (but with plenty for the children to do, including enclosed indoor and outdoor play areas). There's also a much more pleasant smaller room (unlike the barn, open all day - but does not have access to the play areas during the quiet hours). For several years Mansfield Riding was available on handpump, in the main bar only, priced at just 99p during happy hour (all afternoon!), but again I'm not sure whether any real ale is still served. (I suppose if the Oasis really has stopped doing real ale, then this might give us the encouragement to at least try elsewhere!)(Well we tried it and it doesn't serve real ale any more).

The few other lngoldmells pubs do not serve real ale.

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