Father Ted's

I am normally wary of Irish Pubs and get tired of seeing the same old style of having old bottles on shelves on the walls and shamrocks and other assorted items of blarney.

I went into Father Ted's on a Wednesday night after and evening in the Whiskey Shop (that's another story!) and was happily surprised. A good grungy Irish pub

The BBC say 6 pints out of 10

Duke of Marlborough

Well worth the visit. Grouse, steeped in history with victorian style tea rooms with high polished furniture, elegance at it’s beeriest. The staff were friendly and the manager was very knowledgeable about the history of the pub and was happy to take some time to talk and show the many photos on display. 

The atmosphere was historic in a good way and the decor was beautifully matched with some fine leather chesterfield chairs.

The location is fantastic and you are able to sit at tables on the beach which makes the experience all the more idyllic. Where else can you buy a pint and legally drink it on the beach and drink it?

Beer. Don’t buy the Emersons Pilsner at $12 a pint it is over priced, come on Lion. The other beers on offer Speights gold and distinction, Macs and Lion were more reasonably priced.

The BBC says 8 pints out of 10

Towai hotel

Great pub real friendly owner. Prices are good and there is a reasonable selection of beers. Monteiths and Tui features heavily on the taps. There is a band on Saturday nights and accommodation is $30 a single and $50 a double. Good place to stop on your way further north. Clean working mans pub

The BBC says 5 pints out of 10

The Sawmill

Cool style, cool ambiance, unsure about the rainwater brewing methods. Prices were reasonable music was good and the staff very friendly. Lacking any historic backbone. Beer range was good they had four of their own on tap, the 12 gauge was very drinkable, easily a session beer but it was $11 a pint so buy it at your local New World. The pale ale is worth a mention and this was $8.50 a pint, but again as the bar tender told us “Available at New Worlds all over Auckland”

A big plus for the sawmill was their beer garden, if you have kids and you are in Leigh it is a must stop. they have heaps of room for the kids to run and play including swings seesaws and a boat to climb in.

The BBC says 7 pints out of 10

Puhoi Tavern

Great location, nestled in the heart of Puhoi, an historic town well worth a visit. Plenty of space out the front. Fantastic collection of memorabilia. Beer selection was average although they do have 2 of their own on tap, Puhoi Pilsner and Puhoi draught. You can also buy 750ml bottles of Lion red. Short drive out of Auckland, an easy place to go on a day trip.

The BBC says 6 pints out of 10