In early 2018 a plan was hatched by a motley but happy crew to create a list of pubs serving Draught Bass on a permanent basis. It’s been described as a labour of love for me, perhaps appropriate as my maternal grandfather was a brewery labourer in Burton. I do sometimes question why I started this madcap enterprise. My best guess is that I just didn’t want to see Draught Bass to die without a fight. I had a stupid idea that the common man could help reverse the decline in distribution of one of the world’s finest ales. You can read my original post here.
Social media often gets criticised for creating division and worse. However, it’s worth thinking of the positives. In this case, the listing seems to have gained followers and, more importantly, many who have been prepared to share their knowledge. Good people who just want to do their bit. To some extent it merely follows in the fine tradition of the merry band of the Honourable Order of Bass Drinkers who’ve sought to keep the Bass flag flying over many years.
The Bass Directory will only be updated in this post in the future, rather than the original post. Please click on the link at the end of this post for the listing.
To the many who have joyfully shared their knowledge, my thanks for making it possible. To those who’ve developed the idea – the start of a top 100 Bass pubs and adding ‘occasional but regular’ Bass pubs, my thanks. And most importantly, to the pubs that serve Bass and to those of you who’ve downloaded the Bass Directory to get a pint or two of Bass, my heartfelt thanks. Please keep sharing.
What could we do next? I would like to promote a National Bass Day in 2020. I have a date in mind to coincide with William Bass’ purchase of his brewhouse in Burton. More later, but in the meantime I would like to hear from any pubs, CAMRA branches, and individuals who would be willing to support the National Bass Day. As ever we’re all doing this for free.
Post-pandemic it happened. National Bass Day 2022 on Easter Saturday 16th April. A Facebook group of over 1.400 drinkers and publicans all reflecting their pleasure at a pint or two of cask Bass.
National Bass Day 2024 will again take place on Easter Saturday, this year falling on 30th March.
And please remember, it’s all about cask Bass brewed in Burton rather than the insipid bottled stuff made in Shamlesbury, near Preston.
Thank you
Whilst I lay claim to all the errors and omissions (BTW, comments and additions welcome below or by PM to my ‘X’ account), the listing couldn’t have been put together without others’ sterling efforts. The CAMRA volunteers who produce the GBG and WhatPub entries for a start. My fellow Bass obsessives – RetiredMartin, PubCurmudgeon and Britainbeermat who were willing to sit next to the strange bloke on the Bass social media bus. And everyone else amongst the twitterati and the National Bass Day Facebook group who contributes their favourite Draught Bass haunts. And of course, thanks to Mrs TWM who accepts that a lunchtime stop on a long journey might surprisingly be selling Bass.
Commercial use of this post and the Bass Directory is not permitted.
The Milford Social Club, Chevin Road, Milford, Derbyshire, does a very good (and cheap) pint of Bass. Non-members welcome, although opening hours are a bit erratic.
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Many thanks Tim. I’ll add to the list.
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My nearest Bass is a 25mile round trip!:(:(
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I was on the local CAMRA committee in the 70s when we shamed M & B to introduce Bass into six Birmingham pubs. Disgracefully it’s no longer available in the city. Time for a new campaign?
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I was over thirty miles away from home the other day, in a mad hurry, when I saw a Pub with the word that made my heart leap: Bass. I didn’t have time to stop but I wish that I could have!
We NEED a new campaign!!
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I finally got round to doing a Bass tour of Stoke on Trent in September, which I had been planning before Covid happened…
First up was the Unicorn, a very friendly and well presented pub, with what turned out to be the best Bass of the day (NBSS 4). The Woodman didn’t have any Bass, but if I remembered to ask whether this was permanent or temporary, then I forgot to write down the answer. They did have quite a few other beers on, and a tap takeover from Tiny Rebel, so quite possibly Bass will be back.
It was good to see the Golden Cup restored, but the Bass was “only” NBSS 3.5. At both the Wheatsheaf Stores and the Cross Guns [NB the latter not on the Bass pubs database] the barrel ran dry as our round was being poured, and the replacement seemed a little undercooked (NBSS 3). At the Cheshire Cheese [NB also not on Bass pubs database] I would describe the Bass as being green (NBSS 2.5).
Final Bass pub of the day was the Coachmakers Arms (NBSS 3.5). It might have reached 3.75 if the appropriate resolution had not been defeated at the Camra AGM.
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Thanks for the updates. My local keeps Bass casks for a while before putting them on and I know of some publicans who think it’s best closer to the best before date. ‘Green’ is more of an issue than past it but thankfully most landlords keep a good pint. I’ll update my records in due course.
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I’ve had that conversation with publicans. Some of them say they can’t afford to buy beer to sit in the cellar for a week or two, they just haven’t got the liquidity (sorry for the pun). This is why some of the smaller, quieter pubs are happy to get Doom Bar delivered in the morning and on the bar in the afternoon. Beers like Bass and Landlord definitely need that extra time if they’re going to be any good.
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eh how can bass be green or is this some sort of beer slang term?
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“Green” in this context means not mature, or still going through its secondary fermentation.
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ah got you. guess that explains why some real ale can be a bit iffy even if its in date and lines are cleaned. not had many iffy pints of bass though
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Great work on the Bass Directory. Winchester Hotel on Archway Road in Highgate, London would be a worth adding to the list. It has recently reopened and they have Bass on, the manager says it’s sold so well they’re keeping it as a permanent beer. One of very few places you can get a Bass in the capital.
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Thank you for your comments. That’s great news about the Winchester. I’ll add it to the next update.
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100 comments ! Blimey. I know most beer bloggers would love this level of engagement.
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Just think what a Doom Bar list would generate.
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The Waterman’s Arms in London is permanently closed according to Google.
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Many thanks I’ll remove it
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The steamboat inn, sawley has bass on when i was there on sunday. Not sure if its a guest or not
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Thanks Christopher. I’ll add it to the list. Amazing how many pubs now consider having it as a guest. When we started all this lark Bass was unfashionable and only found in longstanding Bass pubs.
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True, and it seems folk still it enjoy it where its served, your guide and other bass lovers campaign has helped it alot
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Cask Bass is now on as a permanent beer in The Marine, South Shields as of today. CAMRA Whatpub has just been updated, Cheers Ken.
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Many thanks Ken. I’ll update the list.
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Excellent work! Gloucestershire/ Bristol and Somerset look pretty accurate to me from the pubs I’ve visited recently, although all cask ales at Orchard are served via gravity. I can’t remember seeing Draught Bass there though on.my recent visit. I will check next time I’m there. Also there was no Bass in the Old Crown at Kelston on my last few visits. It seemed to disappear post-Covid unfortunately.
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Sadly the Victoria Hotel in Lytham St Annes has stopped selling Bass claiming low demand ans wasted barrels. It’s been replaced by Landlord grrr
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Many thanks for letting me know Jim. Much appreciated. If only the Bass brand owner put as much effort in as Timothy Taylor’s do with selling Landlord!
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I decided to visit the remaining 3 pubs on the Lancashire part of the list over the weekend and after the disappointment of the Victoria in Lytham, so here is the current state of play:
Rifle Volunteer, Burnley: Google maps indicated it was permanently closed, but I tried anyway as no other site said it was (Camra’s WhatPub etc.). Signage remains, but it is closed and looks like being used for accommodation. No signs on any of the windows to explain the closure, but it isn’t looking good in the current climate.
Swan With Two Necks Pendleton, Nr Clitheroe: Pub remains as great as ever, lovely countryside village and walking location, good food, and lots of well-kept cask, but no Bass on when I visited. I was told it is still a guest, but the last time was a few months ago and they didn’t know when it will be on again. Some lovely Orkney’s Dark Island was some consolation!
Saddle Inn, Blackpool: I’d managed to save the best to last. Lovely pint of well-kept Bass, which I was told was a constant beer among all the other guests. Lovely unspoiled multi-roomed pub (one of the oldest in Blackpool), good pub grub, and currently every Tuesday any cask beer – including Bass – is only £1.95/pint!!
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Thanks for the survey work Jim. Shame about the Volunteer. It was a reliable pub for the list. I’ll remove it. I know that the SWTN has Bass asca very intermittent guest but it is a lovely pub to have on the list. Great beers and hosts. Saddle Inn is the stand out Lancashire Bass pub. I’ve not been in but reports are very good.
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I was in Wragby in Lincolnshire last week and Bass was on the bar in the Ivy. I asked the licensee if he always had Bass on and he said he did. (Checking WhatPub since, there is no mention of Bass. But they also say there are four beers on, which was not the case when I was there.) Anyway, it was in very good nick (NBSS 3.5).
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I’ve been twice to Ivy post Lockdown,and no Bass was on sale,due to distribution problems.Hopefully distribution problems solved so next time I’m heading to the Lincolnshire coast I can pop in for a pint.
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Gone from the Shirley Arms, Southampton 07/23
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Thanks Tom. I’ll delete.
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No Bass at Boundary Norwich sadly . Please update the directory
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I hope
The old down inn
Emborough
Radstock
BA3 4SA
Is on the list I have been here 18 years and we have
Never not had bass on the bar
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Hi Maxine, of course you’re in the list. I have you as serving from the cask. Is that correct? All the best, Ian
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Hi Ian, I noted Bass is being sold in The Grapes in Oxford, now owned by the same people running The Express Tavern in Kew so believe it’s permenant. I didn’t try any so can’t advise you on the quality.
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Reporting that the draught Bass in the Red Lion, Penderyn last week was divine
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Gloucestershire & Bristol updates: Masons Arms, Winterbourne sells Draught Bass on a permanent basis.
Tap & Barrell, Bristol is now called The Dame, but I’m not sure if sells Bass now.
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The Pembroke Inn, Old Portsmouth, Hampshire – has Draught Bass on permenently I believe. And very fine it was, a couple of weekends ago. Sev
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Thanks Sev. It’s a long standing Bass outlet and is a top 100 pub thanks to the positive reports from people such as you.
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I recently had a Bass tour of the Stockton On Tees area (County Durham/North Yorkshire).
I’m sorry to report that the Black Bull in Yarm no longer sells Bass. The bar staff told me that this has been the case for some time.
The Sun in Stockton still sells banked Bass, but the best pints I had were in the Wellington in Wolviston. Both pubs are already on the list.
A pub to possibly add to the list is the Masham in the Stockton suburb of Hartburn. I remember this pub regularly selling Bass in the past, and I was pleased to see a Bass pumpclip when I walked in. Unfortunately the new cask wasn’t ready, although I was told that it would be on in the evening. The bar staff assured me that Bass was usually on sale. I will have another visit some time soon and report back.
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Many thanks Antony. Reports appreciated, particularly from the north and north-east. I’ll amend shortly.
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Does anybody know HOW to home-brew Bass?
ATB
Joe
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The Jolly Carter Newcastle Street Burslem Stoke-on-Trent has had Bass as its permanent cask ale for a considerable time. £3.30 a pint
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Many thanks Rob for the update. A pub that’s been in the list before but I’ve not had reports on. Much appreciated. I’ve very few contributors in the Potteries area so updates are very welcome.
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No problem.
Another Burslem outlet is Hog Noggins, Market Place at £3.50 a pint
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5 pints of Bass in The Old Manor House, Clapham, North Yorkshire, went down a treat and the landlord confirmed it would be back on. They have an ever changing roster of ales.
https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Old-Manor-House-Clapham-North-Yorkshire/61554289342489/
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Always good to get another Yorkshire tick particularly in the Dales. Many thanks.
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Yes it’s very rare to find it up here, I’ve been trying to persuade publicans to get it in but they all say the same thing, no one will drink it! Luckily the landlord of The Old Manor House thought differently and he wasn’t at all surprised that it proved so popular.
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Thank you for such a comprehensive list! I’m tempted to start at the top and work through the various pubs!
I notice my local, the Chequers in Stanton by Dale, Derbyshire isn’t on the list. Can you please add it? Their Bass is always on and is exceptional!
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Thanks Barry, very pleased to add it on the next update. Always good to add another pub to the Bass list.
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I’ve just looked up the pub’s entry on the CAMRA WhatPub database.
https://whatpub.com/pubs/ERE/12862/chequers-inn-stanton-by-dale
Seems very out of date. Worth getting the pub to update their local CAMRA branch?
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The Salmon Leap ,Totton ,Southampton have had Bass as a guest ale recently
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Many thanks Dave, I’ll add it as a ‘guest’ on the next update.
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Bass is a permanent fixture at The Tavern in Hatton, South Derbyshire DE65 5EH formerly (The Railway Tavern)
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Bass is back on in The Old Manor House Clapham, barrel went on today.
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On National Bass Eve, it is heartening to see that The Globe in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent has an “Early Bass Deal”. Monday to Thursday 11-3, Bass is £3 a pint. In good nick as well.
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The Somerville club in Bishopston Bristol has Bass permanently. Thursday is open mic night, when there is entry without membership.
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Thanks John I leave out clubs unless they specifically declare open to non-members at all times.
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Bricklayers at Sharnford, Leics no longer has Bass on unfortunately.
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Many thanks for the update David. I’ll remove it.
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The Cross Foxes in Longden Coleham and the Kings Head in Mardol , both in Shrewsbury, sell excellent pints of draught Bass .
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Thanks, They’re both in the list.
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