Ale
WHERE TO FIND GOOD ALE IN IRVINE'S BEST PUBS
THE TURF, EGLINTON STREET (TOWN CENTRE)
A lovely old pub of the type that you just don't see so much of these days. It opens at 7am, so the first thing you should do as soon as you arrive in Irvine is have a small refreshment in here. The best way to get to The Turf from the railway station is as follows: Instead of going through the 'orrible shopping centre, head to its left, and walk left along the riverbank until you come to a pedestrian footbridge over the River Irvine. (You may have to somehow navigate your way around the Marrees Roundabout, a massive thing where pedestrians are clearly not too welcome as you are forced on the pavement to take the long way around.) Once over the bridge, walk straight ahead for a short distance and you will come to a main road. Turn left then immediately right into Seagate. This is a lovely old cobbled byway lined with rustic cottages, and even has its own castle ruins - Seagate Castle - visited by Mary Queen of Scots in 1563. At the top of the curving Seagate you will come to Eglinton Street. Turn left, and The Turf is a little ahead on the right. Inside, it feels quaint and conducive to staying all day every day. There are many original features, including old pub mirrors promoting long gone Scottish breweries like MacLachlan's in Glasgow. When I was there, the only real ale available was bottles of Belhaven 'St Andrew's Ale'. An excellent atmospheric old pub full of real folk.
A lovely old pub of the type that you just don't see so much of these days. It opens at 7am, so the first thing you should do as soon as you arrive in Irvine is have a small refreshment in here. The best way to get to The Turf from the railway station is as follows: Instead of going through the 'orrible shopping centre, head to its left, and walk left along the riverbank until you come to a pedestrian footbridge over the River Irvine. (You may have to somehow navigate your way around the Marrees Roundabout, a massive thing where pedestrians are clearly not too welcome as you are forced on the pavement to take the long way around.) Once over the bridge, walk straight ahead for a short distance and you will come to a main road. Turn left then immediately right into Seagate. This is a lovely old cobbled byway lined with rustic cottages, and even has its own castle ruins - Seagate Castle - visited by Mary Queen of Scots in 1563. At the top of the curving Seagate you will come to Eglinton Street. Turn left, and The Turf is a little ahead on the right. Inside, it feels quaint and conducive to staying all day every day. There are many original features, including old pub mirrors promoting long gone Scottish breweries like MacLachlan's in Glasgow. When I was there, the only real ale available was bottles of Belhaven 'St Andrew's Ale'. An excellent atmospheric old pub full of real folk.
THE SHIP INN, 120 HARBOUR STREET (HARBOUR AREA)
This inn claims to be the oldest pub in Irvine. The original cottage which forms the core of the structure was built in 1597, with other bits added on in 1650. Between 1688 and 1707 it served as the Burgage Cottage (an early forerunner of Burger King... I jest!), where customs duty was collected from the Royal Burgh. It was then used as the Customs House for a few decades, and in 1754 became The Ship Inn. Inside, there is a lovely musty old feel to the many small rooms. At the time of my visit the only ale was bottles of Arran Blonde, brewed in that magical island just across the water.
This inn claims to be the oldest pub in Irvine. The original cottage which forms the core of the structure was built in 1597, with other bits added on in 1650. Between 1688 and 1707 it served as the Burgage Cottage (an early forerunner of Burger King... I jest!), where customs duty was collected from the Royal Burgh. It was then used as the Customs House for a few decades, and in 1754 became The Ship Inn. Inside, there is a lovely musty old feel to the many small rooms. At the time of my visit the only ale was bottles of Arran Blonde, brewed in that magical island just across the water.
RATING
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208 x 80 pixels
£75 per annum
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