"THERE'S nothing more lonesome, morbid or queer than to stand in the bar of a pub with no beer," goes the song. Sadly, there is...that's to have no pub at all!

Changing habits have brought the axe down on many local hostelries. Therefore the recent publication of 'Forest of Dean Pubs' by Amberley Publishing is perfectly timed to record – before it is too late – what we have lost and what we have left.

Researched and written by Geoff Sandles, this is a journey round waterholes well remembered by many local people.

Many of them have gone, some demolished, others converted to private houses. So a flick through the pages of this highly readable book will be a nostalgic trip back in time.

The 'then and now' comparisons are fascinating. The old pictures are printed in sepia which does not always do them credit, but illustrates then starkly against the modern digital images printed in colour.

Geoff Sandles can be forgiven the odd error as he freely confesses he has not drunk in that many Forest pubs.

He slips up by describing Lydney's Rifleman's Arms as being just a few yards away from the Railway Inn on the other side of the railway level crossing when it was, of course, in the other direction on the corner of Forest Road.

But doubtless there will be many people who will be making lists of how many of these 92 pubs they will have enjoyed a pint in.

It will be harmless fun...an opportunity to enjoy a pub crawl without a hangover!