Tag: ale
The Commercial (The Comm)
by stymaster on May.20, 2013, under Uncategorized
Lochgilphead:
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.
Revisit: The Goat and Tricycle
by stymaster on Mar.31, 2013, under Bournemouth, Revisits
Bournemouth:
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.
The Shamrock Bar
by stymaster on Mar.30, 2013, under Bournemouth
Bourenmouth:
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.
The Hop Inn
by stymaster on Mar.30, 2013, under Bournemouth
Bournemouth:
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.
The Bakers Arms
by stymaster on Mar.30, 2013, under Bournemouth
Bournemouth:
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.
Revisit: The Crown
by stymaster on Feb.17, 2013, under Brownhills, Walsall
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.
Revisits: The Fountain
by stymaster on Dec.22, 2012, under Walsall
Walsall:
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.
McHughs
by stymaster on Aug.23, 2012, under Belfast
Belfast:
Reputedly the oldest surviving building in Belfast, this dates from 1711. Inside, it’s a pleasant bar with traditional decor. It’s a music venue at night, and serves food pretty much all day. We visited twice, the second time being marred only by the people with the screaming child. Staff were great, food good, and beer OK (one real ale). Surprisingly, it’s part of a small chain, Botanic Inns, but that doesn’t spoil it.
The Bridge House
by stymaster on Aug.23, 2012, under Belfast
Belfast:
A Wetherspoons.
This is good on this occaision: we wanted breakfast for less than our hotel, and that’s what we got. An excellent Ulster Fry at a bargain price, with, I hasten to add, soft drinks. We also revisted later in the week when I was sick of crappy lagerfizz and wanted actual beer.
Staff friendly, beer top-notch, food good value. On the down side, the tables were typically sticky by the evening, and it was a bit lacking in atmosphere.
The Crown Liquor Saloon
by stymaster on Aug.22, 2012, under Belfast
Belfast:
Probably the most famous pub in Belfast, this is a proper, ornate Victorian Gin Palace. It’s owned by the National Trust, and magnificent is the only way to describe it: stained glass, booths, ornate tiling- probably actually better than the sublime Bartons Arms, which is saying something. It’s also one of the few places to find real ale in Belfast.
Staff were finne, great atmosphere too. The only problem? It’s far, far too popular, so gatting a seat is near impossible.
