ROYAL OAK - Formerly the only real ale pub in Winthorpe, with well kept Bateman's beers and a reasonable garden and family room. Sold by Bateman's during their cull, it rapidly went downhill, with the eventual loss of Batemans beers, garden and family room - the remaining XB was crap anyway. A small family room was then re-introduced (with many electronic machines but not a single table to sit at!), with Home Bitter and Theakstons XB on handpump. The pub was later totally refurbished, and included a reasonable family room and indications that they were going to do something with the garden. The ubiquitous Bass became the only real ale. Nothing has happened over the last few years, there is no progress with restoring the garden to its former glory.

SEATHORNE ARMS - On the main road through the village, this pub was re-opened about ten years ago serving Bass (now Stones) and Tetley (seemingly inhabited by the locals who used to visit the Royal Oak when it was popular). Initially there was a family room provided (small but quite pleasant), but this was soon incorporated into the lounge. The on-street outside drinking area is not pleasant, and is getting increasingly tatty, but when you're desperate for a reasonable pint....

CHARNWOOD TAVERN - Pub away from the main tourist area with smart interior. Outside drinking area was originally in a fair sized garden with swings and see-saw (part of the adjoining small caravan site), but a small children's play area was then built by the side of the pub. Bass and Stones on handpump. A couple of years ago the play area was destroyed, although there are a few tables at the front. However, with little space to sit we haven't bothered recently, so I don't know what beer is available any more. The pub now has a website that shows quite an extensive children's menu, and a recent drive past shows that the place seems to be making an effort to smarten up. All we need now is confirmation that real ale is still available and the pub will gain promotion to the green section (a rare event these days, so I'd better not count my chickens...

LOOKOUT - Stands directly on the sea front at the north end of the village (same owners as the Oasis at lngoldmells). What was initially a café was converted to a large well-equipped family room, and a densely packed outside drinking area was provided. It was somehow quite relaxing to be able to watch the kids playing on the beach whilst drinking a reasonable pint of Bass. Throughout the mid-1990s the number of handpumps increased to three, with various ales such as John Smiths Best and Magnet (surprisingly tasty), Stones, Bateman's XB and XXXB, Boddingtons, Old Speckled Hen. Good value food was available at lunchtimes (until 5.00 pm). During each winter there was always some major building project. This included a further well-planned extension to the family room, which gave direct access to the adjacent amusement arcade; a no-smoking conservatory; conversion of the arcade into another family room, with a separate café and arcade built, and a paved outside seating area between pub and café. The beer selection seemed to have settled out as Bass, Pedigree and Boddington's. However, what was the perfect family pub (where we were spending over £500 a year) has now become a no-go area. The handpumps dwindled away (not due to lack of demand - barrels of Bass would only last a couple of days - so I can only assume it was laziness) and the final one disappeared over the winter (not that it was used very often last year). Although the Bass was never brilliant, it was still better than the fizzy stuff - a point I tried to get across in an e-mail to the pub owner. I suggested that if they couldn't look after the Bass properly (it is said to be hard to keep in condition), then other ales were much more tolerant, and if they really couldn't be bothered then there were lots of bottled ales available. However, he didn't bother replying, and there's no real ale or decent bottled stuff. Of course the various signs still boast traditional ales.

BEACHCOMBER - Next door to the Lookout, with small smoky family room and tables outside overlooking the beach (although recently taken over and now looking much smarter). Once upon a time served real ale (Mansfield Old Baily), but that was many years ago now.

CHEERS Near to Butlins, with large comfortable family room. Visited a few years ago after a 5 year gap, as we'd ignored it since the deletion of real ale (Ruddles County). 'Traditional Ruddles Best' was available, although as the tap it was served through was common with the John Smiths Extra Smooth bitter (or whatever it's called), I assume this is 'traditional' fizzy beer pressurised by nitrogen. Even more recently, a two minute visit showed that unless you drink lager you'd better stay away.

SANDS This was a large club-type building in Skegness Sands Holiday Village, open to the public, with a more pleasant interior than many such clubs. Mansfield Bitter on handpump arrived very soon after its launch at the end of 1993 season, and even though when I was there it seemed to outsell the fizzy version by 5 to 1, the pump had gone by the start of 1994. The following year this huge building had disappeared under yet more caravans.

SUMMERLANDS - Another large club-type building, much improved a few years ago, with a large family room and outside seating area. Again the real Mansfield Bitter was only short-lived, and no real ale has been available for several years.

GARDEN CITY PUB (formerly the Garden City Club) - This pub was totally refurbished by Mansfield. Has a family room underneath the main bar (which we've not visited as it is closed at lunchtime and features 'childrens entertainment' in the evening). An outside drinking area exists in front of the main bar, but this is five yards away from the main road which is normally full of near-stationary traffic. The dimly-lit bar initially sported a handpump, but this soon disappeared.

The other two Winthorpe pubs have facilities for children, but at least one of them doesn't have real ale (I may be doing The Friendship a disservice, but it's never managed to tempt us in).

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