OBAN

 Cuan Mor is a restaurant bar associated with The Oban Bay Brewery. Most of the space is for dining as tables are set with cutlery. There is a large bar with big bar stools/chairs that block off the bar. Not the easiest place to get served if you only want a beer. All day meals.

They produce five ales and have three pumps but mostly only one (Ginger Jakey) was on. Did not even have all as bottles. Good food and friendly service at tables.

Have one here (or two if another is on)

real ale    : Ginger Jakey. NO LONGER AVAILABLE

heavy         : McEwan's

lager         : 1664, Bier Moretta

cider         : Strongbow                                                   Guinness

The Lancaster Hotel claims lounge and Cocktail bars. There is a small lounge to the right of the entrance with no beer dispensers - remember a time when a cool cocktail bar meant no beer. Backing onto this there is a bar which could supply beer. This bar can be approached up the side of the hotel (spotted by the large red letter T, and is called The Lanny (get it!). This is a pool table with a bar around it. Small serving area backing the lounge, the bar has wood plank walls, loud music and bar stools at bar. It had run out of heavy (bitter)!

Have half pint here

real ale :nil

bitter : Ember

lager :Bud, Tennent's

cider :Magners Guinness

Markie Dan's is a basement bar in an old building and the room has original features and big old ornate booths that have to be manoeuvred into. the bar is quite dark and offers food, pool, large TV and loud rock music. There is an outside patio looking over the bay but views are not the best as this is a basement bar.

Have one here

Good Beer Guide (CAMRA) 2023, 2024, 2025

real ale : McCaig's Folly (Mull Brewery)

bitter : McEwan's 70/-

lager : 1664, Fosters, Amstel

cider : Strongbow Guinness

O' Donnell's is an Irish theme bar which has very little Irish showing in the bar. This is again a dark basement bar with wooden spars to give that closed in feel.

There is an upstairs chic evening only part called Paparazzi

Have one here

bitter         :Belhaven Best;

lager         :Carlsberg, San Miguel and San Miguel Premium

cider         :Strongbow Guinness

The Tartan Tavern is a traditional under tenement small bar . The small servery is along part of the left side wall.

Heavy: McEwan’s Export

Lager: Tennent’s; Manabrea; Heverlee;

Cider: Magners; Strongbow Dark Fruit Guinness

The Rowan Tree Hotel, now The Scot Hotel seems like a steakhouse restaurant with hotel rooms on top of it. The tables are all set but there is room at the bar. There is an interesting train layout which travels above customer’s heads. There is a small outside patio at the steps leading into the hotel.

Have half pint here

real ale    :Deuchars

heavy      : Caledonia,

lager         :Stella

cider         : Blackthorn                                Guinness

Balmoral Inn (bar of the Balmoral hotel) is a small square bar. Bar stools and 5 tables. Backpacker's hotel and local's bar.

Have a half pint here

real ale :nil

heavy : McEwan's Export, Caledonia

lager :Tennent's, Stella

cider :Magners Guinness

Woodside Hotel; bar and Creel lounge. Lovely wee bar and larger roomy lounge connected via a corridor. Small but attractive public bar with some tables and bar stools. The lounge, Creel, is a large room with tables around it. The lounge opens out to a large with patio. Bar meals are served in the lounge.

Have one in the bar and one in the Creel

real ale :Old Speckled Hen, Moorland Original Bitter

heavy : McEwan's Export, Belhaven Best

lager :Tennent's, Carling Stella,

cider : Strongbow Guinness

The Lorne is a large old fashioned oval bar with a marble top and brass columns with lights on top. there are large tables all around the bar and good food is served. There are two outside areas through to the back right. One is sheltered by a solid plastic awning and has a TV while beyond this are more conventional tables and umbrellas. Great for dogs.

Have two here

Good Beer Guide 2021

real ale : Deuchars, Oban Brewery offering (not on)

heavy :Caledonia

lager :Carlsberg, Tennent's, Budvar, Stella

cider : Magners Guinness

The Lochavullin is a back-to-back lounge and bar. The bar is to the right. neither makes any attempt to attract tourists. Both are in need of brightening up to match the outside.

Have half pint here

real ale :nil

heavy :Belhaven Best, McEwan's Export

lager :Tennent's, Carling

cider :Strongbow Guinness

The Kelvin Hotel does not make itself noticeable but is worth visiting. (Better signage recently). The bar caters for the hotel clientele - books, games, Wii, TV and pool. Close to the bar are tables and chairs while the pool is at the far end.

Have one here

real ale :nil

heavy : Punk IPA; Boddingtons

lager : Tennent's, 1664; Heverlee; Innes & Gunn

cider : Magners; Strongbow Guinness

McCaig's Return , now Claredon Hotel and just as brightly coloured on the outside. Bright exterior does not follow you inside. It has been opened up to bring together bar and lounge areas but is dominated by the bar and its customers. so that the lounge seating seems to hide in the right hand front quarter. Pool and darts to back at right with drinking area to the left. They do food at lunchtime and live music at weekends.

Have pint here

real ale : nil

heavy :Caledonia, Ember

lager :Tennent's, Stella

cider :Magners Guinness

Sloans at the Waterfront is now closed.

Wetherspoons has opened The Corryvreckan in CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2024

The Olive Garden is mainly a good Italian restaurant. It is on the pier entrance doors at the waterside and at the station. There is outside seating at both the pier and the station ends. A small area beside the bar has comfy seats and a TV. Pleasant for late night quiet pint and glass of wine.

Have half pint here

real ale :bottles from Orkney Brewery

heavy : Belhaven best

lager :San Miguel

cider : Magners

ANSWER: Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire