Bearing in mind Edinburgh’s world wide reputation for its pubs I can honestly say I have never been quite at home in any establishment in my home town. Berties and Oddfellows were formative dens of iniquity but the service was shite and the doormen tossers. The Murrayfield hotel for all its blandness is probably my most visited pub in Edinburgh. Sad.

Aged 18 I moved to Glasgow and Glasgow is all about one place. THE HIVE. What a place. Legendary! I could not even begin to count the nights of hilarity and fun had in the ’dirty dive’ but I think it is safe to say any friend of the hive is a friend of mine and if you don’t like the Hive, you can’t be my friend. The perfect night started with a good GURFC alcove session…..standing in the balcony bar corner with the rugby boys….going mental on the podium…..carnage on the steps outside the union…..getting your drunken ass home safely….ahh, the memories.

Canmore is full of cool bars. Working in the Grizzly Paw was an alcoholic experience and although not a great place to work it still rates as a decent water hole. The Drake and the Sherwood House can be good spots for a social or more but the outstanding entrant from Canmore has to be the Ho. Interesting music, unique clientele, awesome staff and good times. Working as a bouncer at the Hotel is certainly an exciting experience. On my most recent visit to Canmore, Zona’s also competed as a cool spot to chill out.

In Leura NSW I was forced to spend time at the Alex. Totally aussie but somehow very cool. Thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with Nath watching rugby and wondering how it was we were in such a shite hole. Still it was better than any bar in Katoomba.

Mission Beach, Queensland is home to Scotties. Mission also offers awesome whitewater rafting (see Paddling Australia), sky diving, scuba diving, tropical islands, lush rainforest, pristine deserted white beaches, warm blue seas, constant blue skies and sunshine. Scotties is a backpacker bar on the beach where everyone is always in a party mood. Me, Basil and Carl rocked that bar so hard!

Aberfeldy is bereft of any decent places to go for a beer. The sooner that changes the better.

Grand Cayman is full of cool bars but two stand out as my choice of place to go. Calico Jacks, on the beach, home of the full moon, chilled out beach joint. Staff can be very cool or total arseholes depending on how much Jack they’ve drunk. Coconut Joes, wicked staff, great place to hang or just loose it!