Back in April this year, we participated in the CAMRA Ale Trail 2012. Basically, we had to visit 10 real ale pubs during a 6 week period and have a pint at each. Brilliant idea!

The rules were: you visited one of the designated pubs on the form, had a pint, and got a stamp. The prize at the end? A t-shirt.

Some of these pubs were locals of ours that we had already visited previously. But we did get to go to some new ones.

The Emperor – Good selection of ales and good selection of seating. Only bummer is real food is only available a couple of nights a week…

Live and Let Live – A great wee local with a selection of real ales but also a huge list of great rums! The place is well worn, but has a great atmosphere.

The Hopbine – A large local that’s brightly lit with a colourful clientele and a pool table. We didn’t stay for long, and there was no sign of a bar billiards table (sorry Andrew!)

St Radegund – A tiny pub where half the patrons stand on the footpath outside, but it’s full of character.  It’s also one of the King Street Run pubs – a timed pub crawl some students do each year. You have half a pint at each pub in the run – these days there’s only 5 pubs but there used to be 13. I think they make you visit the pubs twice to satisfy the King Street Run these days.

We posted off our form and our tshirts turned up a month or so later.

Overall, super satisfied, even without the t-shirt.

xx