Pub Sign of the Week: Henry VIII, Edenbridge, Kent. Do not mess with this man. Lager drinkers to the chopping block. Superb signage from Shepherd Neame (as expected) although they don't own the pub any more and their name has subsequently been blacked out. #PubSignThursday

Pub Sign of the Week: Oak & Black Dog, Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire (1990). Atmosphere in abundance. Has the hound spotted a Cockapoo to play with or is he aware of a malevolent presence lurking in the encroaching mist? #PubSignThursday

Pub Sign of the Week: The Industry, Darnall. Thirsty work as sparks fly at a foundry in Sheffield. Rather poignant imagery really. The pub's converted to housing, the local Wards brewery has closed and the steel industry has shrunk beyond recognition. Hey-ho. #PubSignThursday

Pub Sign of the Week: Lady Chatterley, Eastwood. Excellent present signage at this Spoons close to DH Lawrence's birthplace in Nottinghamshire. It might suggest Mellors and her Ladyship are up to more than merely dead-heading geraniums in the potting shed. #PubSignThursday

Pub Sign of the Week: Rutland Angler, Oakham When pub signs were good. An ordinary looking bloke absorbed in his own thoughts. Artwork unique to the pub. Today's sign is a monochrome, stylised graphic of a fisherman casting his rod. In other words, shite. #PubSignThursday

Central, Gateshead Fantastic coffin-shaped pub with Art-Nouveau vibe in the back rooms. Dark wood fittings. Vast etched windows. Little wonder it's on CAMRA's heritage list!

Pub Sign of the Week: Hansom Cab, York. What's going on here? A potential fare giving the finger to a cabbie who retaliates with the V sign? Named after a 2-wheeled carriage invented by York-born Joseph Hansom. Now the Burns Hotel with a sign depicting the eponymous Scots bard.

Narrow Nick, Rothbury, Northumberland. A superb pint of Allendale Curlew's Return at this tight-squeeze micropub. Relatively remote but Rothbury is a lovely picturesque market town. Almost as lovely as the pump clips.

Pub Sign of the Week: Spinner & Bergamot, Comberbach, Cheshire. Charming artwork at this Robinson's local. No attempt at realism. Rustic, imperfect but all the better for it. Named after two 18C racehorses from the nearby (now demolished) Marbury Hall stables. #PubSignThursday

Pub Sign of the Week: Harvest Moon, New Waltham. Perhaps we see here no farm labourer but a grim reaper from Co-op's acquisitions department. Despite strong local opposition, this community pub near Cleethorpes was converted to a convenience store in 2019. #PubSignThursday

Crafty's, Buckton's Yard, Darlington. An intimate micropub tucked down one of Darlington's many intriguing snickets and alleyways. Excellent post-match venue to celebrate Chester's away victory.

Old Well Inn, Barnard Castle A gem of a town pub with hidden beer garden. Great beer and grub with an Indian twist. Definitely fancy the fish, masala chips and jeera matar (peas) one day!

Pub Sign of the Week: Fox & Hounds, Starbotton (2026). A bit weathered now but splendid stuff at this marvellous inn in Upper Wharfedale. One beagle might have spotted him but the hound and our furry friend both know the hunt is effectively over. Hurrah! #PubSignThursday

Pub Sign of the Week: Village Inn, Twyning, Gloucestershire (1991). A peaceful scene with young and old relaxing and enjoying the open space of the village green. Or, through today’s rather more sensitive lens, beware dirty old perverts lurking in the shadows. #PubSignThursday

Cricketers Arms, Horbury First of three fine pubs visited in this town just outside Wakefield. Enthusiastic barmaid offering tasters. Wilde Child for me. Cracking old pub sign inside.

Viz's latest Real Ale Twats made me chuckle. We've all have had our Damascene conversions. Mine was as a teenager in Cumbria. After scrambling down the scree slopes of Blencathra with a raging thirst, the pint of Jenning's Bitter at the White Horse in Scales was pure revelation.

Threave Castle, Castle Douglas. Fabulous 14th century island fortress in the river Dee. Built by Archibald the Grim; subsequent stronghold of the Black Douglases. Later besieged and slighted by an army of Covenanters.

Pub Sign of the Week: Whipping Stocks, Over Peover. Old signage from a one-time haunt of General Patton and his officers during WWII. Bring back stocks for litter louts so we can chuck half-empty energy drinks, vape cartridges and dog shit bags at them. #PubSignThursday

Selkirk Arms, Kirkcudbright A fabulous pint of Five Kingdoms Summerisle - named after the mythical island from "The Wicker Man" filmed across Dumfries & Galloway. No Britt Ekland as barmaid on this occasion though. Tribute to locally born John Paul Jones father of the U.S. Navy.

St Cuthbert Wanderers 0-2 Gretna 2008 U20s. South of Scotland League. Att: c80. Friday footy at St Mary's Park, Kirkcudbright. Saints policy is backing local youth over costly signings. It's all a struggle right now for the bairns but, long term, let's hope the gamble pays off.