The Anchor Inn, Seatown, Dorset
Few seaside pubs are better tucked away, or offer as good a view from the garden.
The Baltic Fleet, Liverpool
It's famous for having four ghosts and a tunnel leading from the cellar to the city's old red light district. This is outstanding pub history.
The Beckford Arms, Tisbury, Wiltshire
They serve vast lengths of delicious sausage roll straight off a chopping board on the bar.
Bel & The Dragon, Cookham, Berkshire
Paul Jackson, general manager, Claridge's:
"In the picturesque village of Cookham, the 600-year-old Bel & The Dragon offers decent local ale, great British food and an extensive wine list. My regular for a lazy lunch."
The Bell Inn, Aldworth, Berkshire
Owned by the same family for over 250 years, it's hard to find a more quintessentially English country pub.
+44 16 3557 8272
Bennets Bar, Edinburgh
A Victorian gem that has barely changed since it opened in 1839; boasts a fantastic malt whisky selection.
The Black Bull Inn, Coniston, Lake District
In the shadow of the Old Man of Coniston mountain; and the beer is straight from its on-site microbrewery.
The Black Horse, Naunton, Gloucestershire
Giles Coren, food writer, broadcaster and Esquire editor-at-large:
"Where I am, it's not the poshest bit of the Cotswolds, but it's quite twee. However, The Black Horse remains a good, local pub, without airs and graces. And they're really welcoming of dogs and kids."
The Blue Boar, Hay-on-Wye, Wales
Where to go if you need a sharpener but wish to avoid carafes of local pinot at the festival.
+44 1497 820884
Blue Lion Inn, East Witton, North Yorkshire
Seriously cosy little bar (with de rigueur roaring fire), and well appointed rooms above for when it all gets too much.
The Bridge Tavern, Newcastle
Nestled underneath the ominous stanchions of the Tyne Bridge, it comes complete with an on-site microbrewery.
The Cambridge Blue, Cambridge
Brilliant beer garden in the summer; aim to stop by during the street festival in June.
The Cap & Feathers, Tillingham, Essex
A very old weatherboarded free house sited in a picturesque village near the Dengie nature reserve.
+44 16 2177 9212
City Arms, Cardiff
Although it's owned by Brains Brewery, it remains free to stock whatever drinks it chooses, thus there is lots of very good beer in its taps.
The Coach & Horses, Soho, London
Brian Clivaz, proprietor, L'Escargot:
"On Greek Street, it was a favourite of Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon, and it's famous for Norman [Balon], the very rude [former] landlord. The Harwood Arms, Fulham Broadway, (harwoodarms.com) is good, too; great beer, great food and a very trendy urban crowd."
Coronation Tap, Clifton, Bristol
The city's original cider house, "The Cori" is famed for its live music. Head over in August for CoriFest.
The Crown Liquor Saloon, Belfast
A little busy with tourists but one of the most impressive bars in the world. Get a booth.
+44 28 9024 3187
The Duke of Cumberland Arms, Henley, West Sussex
Go on a hot day, take a pint into the garden and bask in a landscape of pastoral beauty.
The Duke of William, Ickham, Kent
Russell Norman, restaurateur and Esquire food columnist:
"I live in the next village along the Little Stour river, and my favourite treat is to walk the dog across the stream, past the water mill, stopping to pick some wild horseradish for the [pub's] chef, before settling down for a pint and a scotch egg."
The Free Trade Inn, Ouseburn, Newcastle
Sam Parker, Digital Editor, esquire.co.uk:
"As well as being Newcastle's leading pub for real ales, The Free Trade Inn also commands an unparalleled view of the River Tyne. Oh, and there's a resident cat."
+44 191 265 5764
The French House, Soho, London
One of few Soho institutions to feature on our list; make an attempt to purloin a stool at the tiny bar, if you can.
The George Inn, Lacock, Wiltshire
Tom Parker Bowles, writer and Esquire food editor:
"A no-nonsense drinking pub with local ale, blazing fire, beer garden and no poncey food."
The Great Eastern, Brighton
Cosy, totally unpretentious, but the whisky list is great.
+44 1273 685681
The Gurnard's Head, Zennor,Cornwall
A beacon of respite on the wild North Cornwall coast. No "London prices", either.
The Harp, Covent Garden, London
A former Camra Pub of the Year. In summer, the big front windows are swung wide open.
The Hop Pole, Bath, Somerset
Owned by the local Bath Ales; its Gem is one of the best beers you'll ever drink, my luvver.
The Hops & Glory, Islington, London
Opened in 2012, this was a relatively early entrant in the pub-with-brewery-in-the-basement stampede.
Horse & Groom, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Gloucestershire
Pub of the Year 2016 according to The Good Pub Guide, and we're happy to concede they'll know what they're talking about.
The Jericho Tavern, Oxford
Barbecues in the summer, board games and a quiz night every week plus barrels of good beer.
The Kings Arms, Bethnal Green, London
One of Peter Holt's favourites, and we trust his judgment. Follow on Twitter (@KingsArmsE2) for its #beerofheday tweets.
Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, Lake District
Five-time winner of Camra's Pub of the Year award, and a great base for exploring the Lake District.
The Lansdowne, Cardiff
Stripped-back drinkers pub near the Cardiff City Stadium, hosts its annual beer festival in June.
The Londesborough, Stoke Newington, London
An imposing corner pub with justified renown for a fantastic Sunday roast.
The Nags Head, Belgravia, London
Small, dark, pokey (mind your head), and joyfully un-snooty despite it's hoity-toity Grosvenor Estate location.
+44 20 7235 1135
The Marble Arch, Manchester
Nick Millington, creative director, Esquire:
"The Marble Arch feels every bit the local boozer; the floor is so slanted you might spill your pint. The great selection of ales from the on-site microbrewery draws in the crowds, but it's far enough out of town to keep away the Wetherspoons lot."
The Old Forge, Inverie, Scottish Highlands
Credited as being the most remote pub anywhere on the UK mainland, it sits on the Knoydart peninsula and is only accessible on foot or by boat.
Old Smugglers Inn, St Brelade, Jersey
A low-ceilinged place that proudly proclaims to be a genuine free house, so expect local island ales.
+ 44 1534 741 510
The Oxford Bar, Edinburgh
Sited on a quiet, cobbled corner in New Town, "The Ox" was Inspector Rebus's local (creator Ian Rankin also slips in for a pint).
The Pandora Inn, Mylor Bridge, Cornwall
Beautiful 13th century thatched pub featuring a big pontoon deck that stretches out into the bay.
The Porch House, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
Part of the building can be dated to 947AD, but it's still standing firm and was voted the AA's England Pub of the Year for 2015.
The Pot Still, Glasgow
A city pub, certainly, but it's exceptional for its 300 malt whiskies, often credited as being the finest selection in Great Britain.
The Prospect Of Whitby, Wapping, London
Reputed to be the oldest surviving riverside tavern in London (built circa 1520), it's secluded terrace overlooks the busy Thames traffic.
Queen Adelaide, Shepherd's Bush, London
According to Tom Parker Bowles, it's "a good afternoon boozer" — which is a concept that we can all relate to.
+44 20 8746 2573
The Queens Head, Kings Cross, London
A huge, thirst-quenching array of beers alongside a carefully curated (and ever-growing) whisky list.
The Royal Oak, Shoreditch, London
Nuno Mendes, chef:
"It's great on a Sunday when the flower market is on as they do the best bloody marys. The staff are super-friendly and many have become friends. It's a place where you can just go and strike up a conversation with someone next to you."
Sandford Park Ale House, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
The Camra Pub of the Year for 2015, so expect to drink lots of very good, well-kept, intriguingly-named cask ales.
Seymour Arms, Witham Friary, Somerset
Tricky to find but worth it. Massive garden, and local cider is served through an old hatch in the hallway.
+44 17 4985 0742
The Shakespeare, Stoke Newington, London
Allows drinkers to bring in pizzas from the takeaway next door; also hosts a brilliantly offensive quiz on Monday nights.
+44 20 7254 4190
Shakespeare's Head, Brighton
Three outdoor areas make it good for summer drinking, plus there's a dazzling sausage menu.
+44 1273 329444
The Ship, Wandsworth, London
Giovanni Spezziga, manager, Scarfes Bar, Rosewood London:
"My local has a great selection of craft beers and in warmer weather the terrace is the perfect place to soak up the sunshine (if it ever appears) and catch up with friends."
Square & Compass, Worth Mattravers, Dorset
Up on cliffs overlooking the sea, enjoy the homemade cider (with caution). And a hot pastie is obligatory.
The Stapleton Arms, Buckhorn Weston, Dorset
Great local beers and a few more exotic ones by the bottle — all best drunk with a homemade pork pie.
Stein Inn, Skye
The oldest inn (circa 18th century) on the island and Camra's Pub of the Year for Highlands and the Western Isles last year.
The Swan With Two Necks, Pendleton, Lancashire
Some locals may declare it "stuck in a time warp" but in 2014, Camra crowned it the Best Pub in the UK, so that's clearly a good thing.
The Talbot Inn, Mells, Somerset
Old coaching inn serving a very good eponymous ale, made specially for it by Keystone Brewery.
The Ten Bells, Spitalfields, London
A trendily-restored East End boozer rumoured to be where one of Jack the Ripper's victims was drinking shortly before, well, you know.
Yard of Ale, Broadstairs, Kent
One of the UK's earliest micropubs, it was designated Kent's Pub of the Year for 2015.
+44 7792 042993
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, City of London
If the brilliant name alone doesn't get you through its 1667 doors, its old world history and low-lit Dickensian ambience will.
+44 20 7353 6170
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, St Albans, Herts
One of the oldest pubs in the country (dating to the eighth century), but boasting one of the UK's most modern, progressive beer menus.