INN the BORDERS

We go first to Ettrickbridge, where Rory and Vicki Steel have taken over the very charming Cross Keys. The cellar and taps have had an extensive overhaul; on the three handpumps there are revolving real ales from local brewers such as Stow, Born and Tempest. When visiting the Ettrick Valley why not also call in to the Tushielaw Inn? Andy and Sharon took this

Another recent reopening across the other side of the Borders is the well-known First and Last in Burnmouth. Here new lessees Lucy and Ben have put a lot of hard work into rectifying the terrible damage caused by Storm Arwen, with no less than three outdoor seating areas. In the cosy bar there are two handpumps and the first Abbot Ale was about to go on sale at the time of writing. The pub is open from 8am for tea, coffee, breakfast rolls and snacks as well as normal pub hours.

In Galashiels it’s been very hard to keep the Salmon Inn out of the headlines recently. Helen, Ian, Michelle and Pam were delighted to achieve £2400 in funding for a defibrillator to be installed outside the pub. The Salmon Inn was also recently voted best food and drink in the Galashiels Heartland Awards and also enthusiastically promotes local cycling. Expect to find Stow Dhu Brew IPA as one of the regular beers on handpump here. Up the road the Braw Bear has shut down to become a restaurant, while the Ladhope Inn has sadly removed its handpumps. The Bridge is closed, the Harrow is still to let and the Woodcutter is also on the market. Thankfully real ale can also still be found at the Hunters Hall

Our intrepid roving reporters have been out seeking real ale in Hawick. They recently enjoyed Belhaven 80/- at the Bourtree, First & Last Mad Jack Ha’ at the Masonic 424 Lodge, Born IPA at the Queens Head and Born Blonde at the Exchange Bar (Dalton’s) Dean’s Bar in Hawick has closed.

Things are looking up in Melrose, where Jim and Lucille at the Station Hotel have reintroduced real ale and the Ship Inn has also brought back real ale, served from a fount rather than handpump. The town is also well served by the Kings Arms, George & Abbotsford and Burt’s.

Very sadly the Castle Hotel closed in May, leaving only the Besom as a regular real outlet in Coldstream, although the Newcastle Arms still has handpumps and is offering two real ales in the summer. Elsewhere in the Borders the Black Bull in Duns is closed while it continues its never-ending gentrification, with the real ale sales at the White Swan around the corner correspondingly buoyant. The long-closed Whip & Saddle is said to be reopening as a cocktail bar.

In Kelso the Cobbles is usually featuring three real ales these days, often including Tempest Elemental Dark. The Cross Keys, Queens Head, Rutherfords and 1905 provide further choice if a real ale trip round Kelso is on the cards.

In other Borders pub news:

• The Allan Ramsay in Carlops has been withdrawn from sale and there are rumours that some sort of community initiative may be in the offing

• There’s no real ale left in Earlston because the Red Lion has removed its handpumps. It’s the same story in Greenlaw at the Blackadder

• The Barony Castle Hotel near Eddleston is now selling real ale, usually from Broughton or Alechemy. It’s to the west of the Horseshoe Inn in the village. We hope to be able to report more fully on this venue in the next issue. The Barony Castle is owned by the same people as the Tontine Hotel in Peebles

• The Buccleuch Arms at St Boswell’s was named Pub of the Year in the Scottish Countryside Awards 2023

• There is still no sign of real ale being reintroduced at the Hemelvaart Bier Café in Ayton. It’s also being reported that the Red Lion in Chirnside may have given up real ale, although this is yet to be confirmed

• JD Wetherspoon has sold off the Cross Keys in Peebles, with Edinburgh-based Bruce Taverns being the rumoured buyer

• Also in Peebles the Bridge Inn was named Borders winner in the National Pub and Bar Awards and goes through to the finals

• There’s still no word of any significant progress towards opening at the Tower Hotel in Oxton. Nearby at the Carfraemill the handpumps were dormant in the winter but were said to be coming back into use later

Finally, the real ale pubs of the eastern Borders (ie east of Kelso!) are still putting on a good show, with regular cask ale choices at the Plough Leitholm, Wheatsheaf Swinton, Cross Inn Paxton, Craw Inn Auchencrow, Waterloo Arms Chirnside, Ship Inn Eyemouth, Allanton Inn, and New Inn Coldingham. Borders Buses’ on-demand Pingo bus service has made travelling between these pubs slightly easier.