BURNSY / THE RULES / NO MYSTERY MATHS
HOW THE BURNSY
SCORE WORKS.
Three things. One score out of ten. And one very important question: would I go back?
No secret algorithms. No paid-for positions. No pretending a pub’s brilliant because somebody gave me a free pint. The score is my opinion — and I’ll tell you exactly how I got there.
01 / THE THREE INGREDIENTS
THE PINT. THE PLACE. THE PRICE.
THE PINT.
What’s in the glass? Quality, condition, choice and a decent pour. A good alcohol-free option counts as well — it’s about the drink, not proving anything.
THE PLACE.
This is the big one. Atmosphere, character, service, welcome and soul. A great pub should feel like a pub, not an airport lounge with beer taps.
THE PRICE.
Value, not just cheapness. Was it worth what I paid? A cracking pub can justify a few quid more. A rubbish one can’t.
02 / THE ACTUAL MATHS
NO MAGIC. JUST MATHS.
I score each category out of ten, apply the weights and round the result to one decimal place. That’s the final Burnsy Score.
EXAMPLE SCORE.
THE PINT 8 × 30% = 2.4
THE PLACE 9 × 50% = 4.5
THE PRICE 7 × 20% = 1.4
2.4 + 4.5 + 1.4 = 8.3
That’s an imaginary example, not a review of a real pub.
03 / WHAT A SCORE MEANS
FROM BELTER TO NOT FOR ME.
WOULD I BLOODY
GO BACK?
04 / THE RULES OF THE GAME
THE SMALL PRINT. WITHOUT THE BOLLOCKS.
Do you actually visit every pub you score?
Yes. No armchair reviews. If I haven’t been, there’s no Burnsy Score. The map can include unverified pubs I’ve not yet visited — those aren’t reviews.
Can pubs pay to get a better score?
No. Never. Any advertising or freebies will be disclosed; they don’t buy my opinion or a position in the league.
What if a pub closes?
Its page and any genuine review stay as part of the archive, marked clearly as closed. The score records my experience at the time.
What if a pub changes or gets better?
Then it’s worth another look. I’ll make clear when a verdict is based on a new visit rather than quietly pretending nothing changed.
Are all the pubs on the map verified?
Not yet. The atlas starts with public mapping data and gets checked as I go. Some details may be incomplete or out of date, so confirm opening information with the pub before setting off.
Is this a beer-review site?
Not really. The drink matters, but the pub matters more. That’s why The Place gets half the score.