LONDON

The Nightjar
Tucked away but well worth tracking down to experience a 1930s-themed night out.
129 City Road, EC1V 1JB; 020 7253 4101, barnightjar.com

Mark's Bar
The unique apothecary cocktail bar is one of the main draws for last year's winner.
66-70 Brewer Street, W1F 9UP; 020 7292 3518, marksbar.co.uk

69 Colebrooke Row
The other bar run by Zetter Town House's Tony Conigliaro is small but perfectly formed. A winner in 2010.
69 Colebrooke Row, N1 8AA; 69colebrookerow.com

SOUTH & WEST

Hausbar
Intimate speakeasy that makes you feel like you're visiting somewhere deliciously forbidden.
52 Upper Belgrave Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2XP; 0117 946 6081, hausbar.co.uk

The Milk Thistle
This old-style drinking club is housed over four spectacularly decorated floors.
Quay Head House, Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 1EB; 0117 929 4429, milkthistlebristol.com

Raoul's Bar
Raoul's is a staple in Oxford and its exhaustive list of expertly made cocktails has kept it fresh.
32 Walton Street, Oxford, OX2 6AA; 01865 553 732, raoulsbar.co.uk

MIDLANDS

The Lord Clifden
Nothing's lacking at this great pub, which includes regularly changing guest ales.
34 Great Hampton Street, Hockley, Birmingham, B18 6AA; 0121 523 7515, thelordclifden.com

The Bell Alderminster
The local Alscot Ale is a big draw at this award-winning country pub.
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 8NY; 01789 450 414, thebellald.co.uk

EAST

The Cambridge Blue
Beers from around the world and 20 Scottish malts make this a must visit for anyone with a taste for either.
85-87 Gwydir Street, Cambridge, CB1 2LG, the-cambridgeblue.co.uk

The Bury Beerhouse
Their micro-brewery produces excellent pale ale and bitter.
1 Tayfen Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 6BH; 01284 766 415, burybeerhouse.co.uk

NORTH

The Castle Hotel
Feels like a proper local, despite its city-centre location.
66 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE; 0161 237 9485, thecastlehotel.info

The Cumberland Arms
Cider and real ale are the specialities here but expect live music – with the odd ukulele – too.
James Place Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1LD; 0191 265 1725, thecumberlandarms.co.uk

NORTHERN IRELAND

The Bar at the Merchant Hotel
Opulent and a little bit nostalgic, right down to the antique Baccarat chandeliers.
16 Skipper Street, Belfast, BT1 2DZ; 028 9023 4888, themerchanthotel.com

SCOTLAND

Bramble Bar & Lounge
It's all about the gin cocktails at this Edinburgh staple.
16a Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JE; 0131 226 6343, bramblebar.co.uk

Pepper
This basement cocktail bar has some interesting twists on the classics.
14 Picardy Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3JT; 0131 556 1289, steakedinburgh.com/pepper

WALES

Milgi Lounge
Cocktails are the order of the day, with 14 varieties of mojitos, five of them non-alcoholic.
213 City Road, Cardiff, CF24 3JD; 029 2047 3150, milgilounge.com

Chapter Arts Centre
Arts events aside, the lovely unpretentious bar is worth a visit in its own right.
Market Road, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1QE; 029 2031 1050, chapter.org