Support your local (From Free Press Series)

Support your local

FORGET dogs - the British pint is a man's best friend.

Ask any hot-blooded male what gets their tongue sweating like a stowaway stuck aboard HMS Sahara and two of the most satisfying words ever born will slip longingly through their lips - 'a pint'.

Ladies too like nothing better than locking their laughing tackle around the rim of that shiny, elongated glass, while indulging in the art of bar stool banter and there's no place better to satisfy those impulsive needs than at your loyal local.

Monmouthshire has some of the best in the country - naturally - and thanks to my editor I got to find out why.

What a stroke of luck then that I live just a pint's pull away from The Somerset Arms in Abergavenny.

Landlord Ray Powell reckons there's something special about the pubs in Monmouthshire that sets the county apart from the rest.

"The area is fabulous and the choice of pubs amazing. There's lots of nice establishments here all serving good, real ales.

"We serve a different guest ale every week and the punters love them. Ninety-five percent of our business is with local brewers Brains. It's one of the most popular pints and that's probably the same with a lot of other locals," reckons Ray who has been in the pub game for 14 years.

Simon Key pulls pints at the popular Nag's Head Inn in Usk with his mum and dad Margaret and Michael. The family have owned the 550-year-old pub for 36 years and landlord Simon says they pride themselves on serving some of the best Welsh-made beers.

"We don't buy from the national brewers," says Simon. "We make a point of just selling Welsh beers like Brains SA and Buckley. They are very popular with local people."

Simon puts Monmouthshire's pub popularity down to the area's natural beauty. He also reckons the 'local' is an essential part of village and town life.

"It's very important to have local pubs because they not only bring people into the town and local villages, but also act as a focal point for local people to meet."

Jill Pocock, landlady at the Cherry Tree Pub in Tintern, says drinking at your local is a part of everyday for many people in Monmouthshire.

"There could be a tradition of drinking here. There's people from all walks of life in this area and when you consider how many old cider mills used to be here it makes sense why so many people enjoy drinking here. Monmouthshire's just such a pretty place to enjoy a pint," says Jill.

Twenty-two of Monmouth-shire's finest pubs take pride of place in this year's Good Beer Guide including the Somerset Arms, the Nag's Head Inn and the Cherry Tree. And after supping a few pints - purely for research - I've concluded Monmouthshire really is hops ahead of the rest when it comes to pulling a pint. Cheers!

The Good Beer Guide 2004 is available now from all good book shops, priced at £12.99.