retiredmartin

Over the border (unless you live in Paisley) for the next thrilling series of top pubs from every GBG chapter, and Scotland is where the Guide counties get even more odd.

I’m sure this one used to be under “G” for Grampians once,

but I guess it is a bit dominated by the granite city,

and that Royal bit near the Cairgorns.

I never did do justice to the Grampians on my visits, never even got within sight of Balmoral,

with pub ticking trips from 1995 focused on the oil coast, and the Scotch pies to the north,

and a triumphant county finale at Findhorn, whose atmospheric tick was too posh for my Top 5.

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“Aberdeen is one of the top 10 great pub cities in the UK” I wrote in 2022, but I was drinking a nettle porter in Fierce at the time.

The craft crawl came from a time when you were still allowed to like Brewdog, as long as you stood on one leg or something, but for now I’ll have to recommend the trad options.

No, not the Blue Lamp, not quite, despite THAT interior;

Aberdeen – Krakatoa

Is the Krakatoa still as good as it was pre-Covid ? Please tell me it’s as good, someone.

Not one for the Pub Heritage gang, this is the brightly lit karaoke cellar bar with craft.

It changed my views on The Doors,

For the first time in my life, I am getting The Doors. Only murky cask can do this. #LAWoman pic.twitter.com/Qs6IBebTVA

— retiredmartin (@NHS_Martin) March 6, 2019

and urinal cakes, forever.

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I think you should probably pick the Grill as your sixth pub in the county,

but it’s not been the same since they let women in.

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My next pick is a little left-field, but it’s good to get a pub from the rural northern half of the county. a planned village with exciting grid pattern, a groundswell of support to return it to its former name of Foggieloan, and the best beer in Aberdeenshire*.

Aberchirder – New Inn

Gorgeous interior,

lovely staff, a place to linger.

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Newtonhill – Newton Arms

Newtonhill wasn’t a place to linger, the pub was manic with the Aberdeen Ale Trail in full effect,

but it gives you chance to taste the sea air,

and the beer was better than in the two Stonehaven Guide perennials.

And while the Newton Arms itself was comfortable rather than charming, the comedy was next level.

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Fraserburgh – Elizabethan Lounge

Fraserburgh, your next stop after the Brewdog HQ, feels like the end of the world.

Obviously it’s not the end of the world, you’ve just passed that, at Peterhead.

But the Elizabethan Lounge is a gem, the sort of seaside estate pub that will never grace the Guide. Except in Great Yarmouth. Blokes at the bar, Bundy live at 9.30, a hidden hand pump even the landlady couldn’t find.

Simon will love it.

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And he’ll love my fifth pick too,

Huntly – Crown Hotel

best sampled after a Scotch pie at Huntly FC’s majestic stadium.

He MAY be the only person drinking the cask, but will he care ?

The Crown is a bustling corker, albeit a bastion of male drinking on match days.

Anyway, over to you for a sixth.

*And I’m a visiting “expert”, went once five years ago, had a half, left.