The Hanging Bat, Edinburgh

For the quality of the beer and the fact you can pile out of the pub and see the fireworks from the castle at midnight, it has to be the Hanging Bat in Edinburgh. The pub has six cask and 14 keg lines and serves “flights” of beer, so you can sample five different ales (from £11.50) to find the one you like the best! But, if I couldn’t be in Edinburgh, the best alternative would be in Louth, Lincolnshire, at The Wheatsheaf (62 Westgate, 01507 606262). It’s a Grade II-listed building, which dates from the 18th century, and has cosy snugs, a roaring fire, a fine selection of real ales and a convivial atmosphere.
thehangingbat.com
MelbourneHibby

Harbour Arms, Margate

It’s a Kent micro pub, so it’s got a headstart on being a great new year spot and has already been featured in the Guardian along with other great pubs, mainly in Thanet. The emphasis here – on Stone Pier – seems to be on meeting people, finding out what they’re about and enjoying each other’s company and conversation. Great beer and great fun with family and friends, old and new.
margateharbourarm.co.uk
TimmRan

The Fox, Hanwell, London

It is always a fun party for locals in what I think of as a secret gem of a pub in west London. Maggie and Colin run this wonderful pub in the heart of Hanwell, which is close to the Grand Union canal. The tickets for the New Year’s Eve event cost £5 but the money goes to charity. There’s home-cooked food, plenty of dancing, lots of real ale and general merrymaking. Brilliant fun!
thefoxpub.co.uk
sandybruce

The Clachaig Inn, Glencoe, the Highlands

It has to be the Clachaig Inn for me. I would spend every New Year’s Eve there if I could. Unfortunately I can’t. It’s miles from anywhere, surrounded by the snow-covered mountains around Glencoe, has big roaring fires, almost 20 real ales and good, hearty pub grub. The music – which is usually of the toe-tapping reels and celtic jigs variety – is also really a plus point. While it tends to get a wee bit crowded, it’s still hard to beat for atmosphere.
clachaig.com
ncfcyellowman

Oakes Barn, Bury St Edmunds

Two boozers around Bury St Edmunds come to mind immediately: Oakes Barn, which has a mighty list of brews, including several local ales, is in the town itself; and The Dove is on the outskirts. Both pubs major on their real ale menus but also have live music and quiz nights, a friendly local clientele and know how to look after their beer.
oakesbarn.co.uk
mignonnette

The Bell Inn, Aldworth, near Reading

I’m a creature of habit, so this year is the same as last year … I make for the The Bell Inn, followed by the 100-yard walk home! To say I moved to the village because of this pub would not be an exaggeration. It has been in the same family for 250 years, and the exterior remains largely unchanged. Nothing fizzy is available on draught. The beer is local and well-kept. The fire is as warm as the welcome.
Facebook page
toonerty

The Temple, Manchester

You’ll find The Temple on Great Bridgewater Street in the city centre; it’s a brilliant subterranean bar (and is suitably tiny) with a great crowd – many of whom are locals. Of course, it also has an interesting history, as it used to be a public toilet, but what’s far more important now is that it has an amazing jukebox and a reasonable selection of beers (Brooklyn and Duvel). Its indie music cred is reinforced by it being the pub referred to as the “hole in my neighbourhood down which of late I cannot help but fall” from the Elbow song Grounds for Divorce. I think it’s the best bar in Manchester
100 Great Bridgewater Street
albie78

The Bay Hotel, Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire

The Bay Hotel, Ye Dolphin, The Victoria and The Laurel (Bay Bank), in Robin Hood’s Bay, are all within walking distance of each other … so you can easily attempt a shirt-sleeved pub crawl on New Year’s Eve. Last year, I was in The Bay Hotel until 4.30am on New Year’s, and a wonderful time was had. The Bay serves up four cask ales, has two bars and a family room and, if you can’t face walking anywhere, offers accommodation, too. On New Year’s Day, it’s a tradition to watch the local football team Whitby Town get beaten.
bayhotel.info
ID8451332

The Old Ship, Limehouse, London

This year we’re planning to spend our New Year’s Eve at the Old Ship in Limehouse, east London (tickets cost £15). The place is a lovely, local gay pub that is also frequented by plenty of straight people, too. Yes, there will be a cabaret with a drag act, fireworks, a buffet, a raffle and, importantly, no “take the piss” drink prices. Oh, and it’s only a 10-minute walk from our home. Perfect.
oldship.net
AdrianBrett

Slutdisco at The Cowley Club

The Cowley Club is a members-run co-operative that boasts a bar, library and bookshop, as well as being involved in various aid projects – but what has kept drawing me back is the annual NYE shindig. I’ve always had a great time there during the festivities. I remember the whole place being done up with a bizarre naked-Barbie theme and dancing away till the early hours. As you’ll see from its website, it’s still open to offers for NYE themes for this year!
cowleyclub.org.uk
alliecabab