PubBlog

Lochgilphead:

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Listed in CAMRA’s historic pub interiors, this little pub keeps a timewarp feel. No real ale when we visited, sadly, but pleasant staff and locals, and the lager was bearable.

Corby:

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A ‘spoons. Pretty standard modern ‘spoons, with all that entails, amplified by the fact that it seems everyone in Corby comes here to get pissed, along with anyone who happens to be at the nearby Rockingham Motor Speedway, though this one seemed particularly poor for service: I was frankly amazed that at 6′ 4″ and over 17st, I was *still* invisible at the bar.

Walsall.

This is a re-incarnation of Bar Sport, and some of my prior comments apply, but this time we were looking to watch the Grand national, for which it was perfect. Didn’t see ale, but my pint of Peroni was fine- and to be honest, it’s nice to see actual decent lager available for a change.

Bournemouth:

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Original post here.

It’s still a nice pub. Great real ale, pretty good (rather than excellent) food. It’s a traditional backstreet pub, out of the way, but popularity has caught up with it, so it can be a struggle getting served or finding a seat, though they do take table reservations.

Bourenmouth:

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Near to the Hop Inn, and less grim. There’s a strong football theme, but at least there’s real ale- barman was friendly too. There’s cheap food (untried by us). Only real problem was my ale came in a plastic glass.

Bournemouth:

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It’s own website lists it as a boutique hotel, and some Tripadvisor reviews seem favourable (for stag parties!), but based on my experience, that’s a bit misleading. It’s a pub loosely based on the Wetherspoon model, and rooms above. I can’t speak for the rooms, but the pub is cheap food, keg beer, loud TVs and other ‘entertainment’, and a bit grubby.

Bournemouth:

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Traditional pub in Bournemouth’s Triangle area. We’d planned a visit to The Goat and Tricycle, (updated post here) but it was rammed, and this was the next traditional-style pub we came to. Warm welcome, decent beer, and a pleasant place to have a proper pint rather than restaurants or a hotel bar.

A couple of real ales, no food I could see. It’s a gay pub, if that bothers you in any way (not me, in the slightest), but as a definitely straight forty-something couple, we were made to feel welcome.

Original Post here

The Crown has been refurbished. Ouside is smartened up, with new plants and seating with sheilding from the A5 (which, even on a cold February night, we used), because….

…It’s even more of a restaurant and less of a pub. In doing that, the canteen like feel has been reduced, but this is very much not a pub, but a family feedbag type restaurant, part of the Martsons empire. If that’s what you’re after, it’s an improvement and not unpleasant. It’s fresh and clean, and very popular, but the beer is pricey and there’s no pub atmosphere. Staff were pleasant, and there’s some real ale, as well as actual decent lager, an increasingly rare thing these days, but we found ourselves missing the small, traditional pub-like area at one end which used to be there.

Original post here

Walsall:

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The Fountain, Lower Forster St, Walsall

The Fountain always was a nice pub, so it was sad when it closed in August 2011, due to the pubco owners pricing the landlady out. Just after that, the lovely building next door caught fire.

The good point of this is that those nice people at the Backyard Brewhouse have bought it, and it’s now been open a week.

It’s lovely. As nice as The Swan, which is nice. A traditional, backstreet pub just on the edge of the town centre with Backyard’s fine selection of beer (four or five ales when I visited, and their own lager, plus others), and friendly staff and a nice atmosphere, Just the thing after Christmas shopping. It’s been tidied up and refurbed, but not stripped out.

Since it’s not a huge pubco’s pub, the prices are very reasonable too- you’ll see respectable change from 3 quid for a pint, which is good going these days. There was music, but it was quiet enough for conversation.

No food at present, but I’m told it’s on it’s way.

Belfast:

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Lovely Victorian pub in a pedestrianised alley.

Corner detail on the Morning Star: Winged Lion of St Mark

This had no ale, but did have proper Stella. It’s a bit food-dominated, with heavy Guiness and oysters promotion, and a large hot buffet area, which sadly makes the whole pub smell of food (and makes it hot and humid). We were goinf to have lunch here, but that, combined with the total lack of a sandwich on the menu put us off. Staff were great though: friendly, helpful, and chatty but not annoying.