doncaster pubs: the best bars in doncaster

Welcome to the Drink in the Sights Guide to the best pubs and bars in Doncaster. With two town centre breweries and plenty of proper old ale drinkers pubs Doncaster is an often overlooked location for a good old fashioned pub crawl. You'll find enough quality bars in Doncaster for a good day or two drinking all within walking distance of the well connected train station. You'll also find loads of beers from Acorn Brewery which isn't too far from the town, I particularly like their Old Moor Porter, but their selection includes the usual array of light beers, bitters and a stout. I hope you find my guide to the best pubs in Doncaster useful.

Doncaster Pubs

The Queen Crafthouse

Sometimes you just fall in love with a bar and I've well and truly fallen for The Queen Crafthouse. It's just an unbelievably cool pub that belongs on everyone's list of the best bars in Doncaster. Where do we start? I love the skulls that are everywhere celebrating the bars day of the dead theme, I love the beer pins that cover any part of the wall not already covered by skulls, I love the wooden floorboards, I love the rock music, the live music, the comedy clubs, I love the cool staff, I love that it's a big place, but still feels intimate and friendly, oh and I love the beer.

You'll find 5 ever changing ales on tap plus a fridge stocked with more than enough bottles and cans to keep everyone happy, including those who need gluten free beers. You'll also find a nice little snug area if you want a little space to yourself which I always think is a nice touch in a big bar. I just think The Queen Crafthouse is a wonderfully unique Doncaster pub that would be a star attraction in any city. Make sure you visit it on any Doncaster pub crawl.

Doncaster Brewery Tap

I would imagine if you asked 100 people to name the best pubs in Doncaster at least 90 of them would start with The Doncaster Brewery Tap. In terms of a pure beer drinking experience this place is as good as anywhere in the UK. This is a tiny pub with loads of character and bar staff who know everything there is to know about the beers they're serving. On that note you'll find 6 beers on tap a few of which are brewed on site, which for me is always a huge bonus, an array of ciders, and you'll also find more cans and bottles than you could shake a stick at from around the world including gluten free options.

Despite the pubs size you'll often find little acoustic sessions going on which put the piano, ukulele and guitar in the corner to good use. When it comes to proper local pubs with real character The Doncaster Brewery Tap is one of the best you could ever hope to find, it really is an absolute beauty of a pub.

The Draughtsman

Located on platform 3B at Doncaster station you really couldn't ask for a more convenient pub to visit on a trip to the town and it's one of the best bars in Doncaster. Despite been tiny The Draughtsman boasts a total 8 beers on tap, 3 cask and 5 keg plus a healthy selection of cans and bottles, so you wont be left short of options. They also serve as a take out so I really can't think of a better way to stock up for the journey home after a session in Doncaster. Unfortunately the bar closes at 8 on a week day and 7 on the weekend so you will have to make sure you get there early.

Aesthetically The Draughtsman is really pleasing with wooden floorboards and a wooden bar, while most the seats are stools if you're lucky you'll be able to grab the comfy sofa tucked away in the corner. There's also a nice bit of greenery which somehow makes the place feel less cramped. The beers are all very well kept and the barman clearly cares about his work so really this has to be one of the top Doncaster pubs.

The Little Plough

You wont find a friendlier barman anywhere than here, the guy clearly loves the pub and the beer it serves all of which adds to the feel that this is a proper local. You'll find 4 ales on tap, a great wooden U shaped bar, comfy seats and carpeted floors which just leaves you thinking you're sat in someone's living room. There's a nice little beer garden outside, but really when a pub looks as welcoming as this why would you want to sit out there? Beyond any doubt this is one of the best bars in Doncaster.

Doncaster Bars

Marketplace Ale House

The Marketplace Ale House is another wonderful small Doncaster boozer that belongs on any list of the best pubs in Doncaster. You'll find all the trappings that belong in a proper good pub. There's the leather sofas, the beer pins on the walls, the wooden floorboards and most important of all a great selection of 5 very reasonably priced beers on tap. On a nice day it's well worth taking a seat outside on the market square and just watching the world go by while sipping a top quality ale.

The Leopard

The Leopard is one of the biggest pubs on this list of the best bars in Doncaster and it really is gorgeous. The outside is covered in flowers while the inside is covered in pictures of Doncaster in years gone past. At the weekends you'll find live music interspersed with sports on the TV while in the week you'll find a quiet homely feel with carpeted floors, comfy seats, a piano in the corner and a selection of 4 ales on tap to take your pick from.  

Don Valley Tap

Everyone loves a good local beer don't they? Well look no further than the Don Valley Tap. The bar is situated in the local food hall which sadly means you're getting a plastic glass, I know sad times, but you'll have a choice of 7 Don Valley brewed beers to fill that glass up with so it's worth taking the hit. I would really recommend the Teenage Dirtbag Wheat Beer. If like me you really want to support local breweries, and enjoy knowing that what you're drinking has been brewed just round the corner you wont want to miss the Don Valley Tap. Just beware the giant man eating plant above the gin store.

Hallcross

The Hallcross wins my award for comfiest seats in Doncaster. The leather sofas really are excellent, but then most things about this spacious pub are. You'll find loads of beer and brewery related photos on the wall, wooden floorboards and 6 regularly changing ales to choose from on tap. As if the bar area wasn't big enough you'll also find an impressive beer garden at the back. The bar also doubles as one of Doncaster's top live music venues so there really is loads to love about the place.  The Hallcross really is one of the best bars in Doncaster and an absolute must visit when you're in the town.

Railway

It should come as no surprise given the name that the Railway is just a few seconds walk from Doncaster train station and certainly worth a visit. This is a reasonably large bar serving 3 alternating cask ales on top of a nice wooden bar. The Railway is another nice comfy old boozer that any pub lover will appreciate. There's a jukebox for those who enjoy such things, nice carpeted floors, beer pins on the walls and a wood beam ceiling, and I love a wood beam ceiling. I don't think anyone would argue the Railway isn't one of the best pubs in Doncaster.

The White Swan

The last and by no means least on my list of the best bars in Doncaster is The White Swan. This is a deceptively large pub with a bit of an Irish bar feel to it thanks to all the Guinness merchandise dotted around. Sure enough you can get a drink of the black stuff but there's also always a couple of ales on tap to choose from. I found the sofas very comfy, the wooden bar pretty cool, and the general feel very friendly, a feeling that was only enhanced by seeing the lady behind the bar tucking into a pint with the locals.

Thanks for reading my guide to the best bars and pubs in Doncaster, I hope you found it useful. While you're here why not check out my guide to the best pubs in Sheffield or where to drink in Newark as they are both less than half an hour from Doncaster by train.