Feel free to add new venues and locations as you see fit and, as a guide, try and bear in mind the following criteria when posting - Price, Service, Value for Money and Ambience. Also post a link to the venue if possible.
LONDON
MANCHESTER
PUBS
The Marble Arch, Rochdale Road
Also a new little bar on Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter, and their brewhouse in Chorlton.
http://www.marblebeers.co.uk/ - Not much info at the moment, though.
A nigh-on legendary place of pilgrimage for Real Ale lovers in Manchester.
Their own-brew ales include Ginger (ginger beer, as the name suggest, and gorgeous!), Pint (a cracking session ale), Manchester Bitter (lush) and a staggeringly lovely Christmas Ale, which is a Port Stout, I think. They do many more of their own, plus a good ranges of guest ales and a fine selction of Continental beers, too. Food is great, though seating can be difficult to get, especially at weekends.
The Angel, Angel Street (off Rochdale Road)
About 200 yards towards the Northern Quarter from the Marble Arch. Nice selection of ales, big "beer garden" (its a car park with no cars), unfeasibly nice food and often there's a bizarre band on. Last time I was in a bloke was playing the spoons. Pretty cheap. http://www.theangelmanchester.co.uk/
Bar Fringe, Swan Street (off Great Ancoats Street)
Just about across the road from Band on the Wall (the place that has the equaliser thingy on the corner of it) on Great Ancoats street, so fairly easy to spot. Always has a decent selection of ales and a nice atmosphere. Some interesting crap on the wall as well. Again, relatively cheap.
Sand Bar pub quiz, Sand Bar, Grosvenor Street (off Oxford Road)
If you're coming from the centre of town you want to turn left at the Scream pub on the left, before the uni. Its about 100 yards or so down on the left. Again, its a nice pub with a decent selection of beers (favourite so far was called something like "Honey Darling", which made me feel proper manly ordering to a male barman). The main attraction though is the pub quiz on Sunday nights. Best one I've ever been to. Right level of difficult, interesting rounds, great prizes (won a bottle of Talisker last time round) and the compere bloke is .... well, he's worth going at least once just to experience. Nutter. http://www.sandbaronline.net/
Deaf Institute, Grosvenor Street (off Oxford Road)
Not really a great place, but its excellent to go to for a gig, just because its a bit unlike anywhere you've gone before. A very small room, but with a stadium seating set up at the back. http://www.thedeafinstitute.co.uk/
BIRMINGHAM
LEEDS
LIVERPOOL
NEWCASTLE
PUBS
The Head Of Steam (opposite Central Station)http://www.theheadofsteam.co.uk/
Great ales, cheapish, friendly and usually pleasantly busy. Sometimes host to small gigs downstairs in the basement.
The Forth, Pink Lane near the Station
http://www.theforthnewcastle.co.uk/
Good food, chilled-out place, plenty of seats and great for a daytime drink too.
The Cluny
Ouseburn Valley
http://www.theheadofsteam.co.uk/
Great live venue, good mix of students and locals.
The Cumberland Arms
Ouseburn Valley
http://www.thecumberlandarms.co.uk
Traditional pub, great ales, small but seating outside. Live band venue upstairs, also hosts comedy nights, live folk nights etc.
Essex
Don't come to Essex.
