Pub Visits, Inspired by the Good Beer Guide
This is my personal record of pubs that I have visited since I finally got around, after many years, to joining CAMRA - the Campaign for Real Ale
This is my personal record of pubs that I have visited since I finally got around, after many years, to joining CAMRA - the Campaign for Real Ale
For the last 30 years or so I have on countless occasions been on trips and holidays with mates that have usually involved enjoying a glass or two of beer at the end of the day. Very often the thing that has heavily influenced where we did this has has been the current version of CAMRA's (Campaign for Real Ale) Good Beer Guide. The CAMRA members in the group made sure we visited some unique hostelries and we had some very enjoyable evenings in everything from the smallest pub in the UK to a pub in Devon with amazing range of small volume, locally produced, ciders.
In early 2023 I decided I’d finally better get around to joining CAMRA. The Good Beer Guide 2026 is the 53rd edition of the book and I've marked the pubs I've visited out of 5. These are personal opinions often based on simply one or two visits. A nice cool drink after a long warm day may see me give a better score than a visit to a pub on a cold, wet, dark and miserable day.If you want to get in touch, please use the link in the footer at the bottom of this page. If you're interested in finding out a bit more about CAMRA, then hit the button.
CAMRA websiteYou'll find a list of pubs I've visited this calendar year listed below, the majority are in the current version of the Good Beer Guide, marked with a GBG '26 logo up to mid-September and with a GBG '27 logo after that if they’re in the new version of the Guide.
If you want to look at my earlier visits, which I started in March 2023, then you’ll need to look at the earlier pages, see the menu at the top of this page.
Old. Historic. Grade I listed. Royal connections (Richard III). Lots of wood panelling. Stone flag floors. I’m not going to say anymore, you need to this this place yourself.
Five hand pumps, all in action, all reasonably local. XB or Old Peculier from Theakston or Langdale, Grasmoor Dark Ale or Loweswater Gold from Cumbrian Ales. Great.
5 out of 5
It’s a fine red sandstone building between the railway station and the heart of the town centre. It used to be the pub on the edge of Penrith’s livestock auction market, with a direct connection from the sales ring to the bar. Slightly changed now, the farmers market has moved out of the town and the pub seems to have been modestly redeveloped, but it has a good collection of historic town centre photos, historic references to farming and an LED screen displaying train times and desks (the station is perhaps a 5 minute walk away). Quite a lot of tables and chairs outside at the front, just a bit of a shame that they’re very much in the large, dull, featureless car park and overlooking a busy road junction.
Four hand pumps, three doing the business, so it was a choice between Jarl from Fyne Ales, Lancaster Blonde and the Stout from Great Corby Brewhouse. I opted for the Jarl which was a lighten, golden beer that went down very nicely with a fish finger sandwich and a small pot of chips. There seemed to be a few people coming and going from the railway station, some on a trio to Carlisle, others to Lancaster. All in all it was very pleasant, just a bit of a shame about the blacktop dominated car park in the foreground.
3 out of 5
10am. Strong sunshine. Twenty five degrees and rising. High humidity. I was feeling hot and parched, I’d probably walked nearly 3 miles in this by now. I spotted a Sainsburys supermarket, perhaps they had a cafe and a cool drink. No such luck, but wait a minute, the Dog Beck was just around the corner and likely to be open. Reasonably busy with everyone from young families to older couples, breakfasts flying out right, left and centre. It was an air conditioned Wetherspoons, their typical layout inside, although this one was split level and offered a roof garden (too hot, I didn’t bother).
As usual, there was the good range of beers and pub grub, including breakfasts, that you come to expect from Wetherspoons, all at very reasonable prices. 10am was probably a good time to visit because they can get busy in the late afternoon and evening. I had a pint of the Broadside from Adnams for the princely sum of £1.99 and greatly enjoyed it whilst sitting in air conditioned splendour. That air con pushes the score up half a mark.
4 out of 5
Final pub of the Chelmsford visit and we’re back to the railway station, or more accurately, the railway viaduct arches on the south west approach to the station. This place occupied two adjacent arches which had been knocked through to improve overall access. This obviously made for quite unusually shaped rooms and when a train passed overhead you could certainly detect some rumblings and perhaps even vibrations, but it all added to the experience. Decorated in a reasonably smart contemporary style, there was the addition of picnic tables outside for those that wished to drink al fresco. It was fairly busy on the early Friday evening I visited, understandably so because they did have a good beer offering.
Eight or so hand pumps offering their House Bitter; five beers from the Leigh on Sea Brewery (Mayflower, Old Leigh Ale, Legra Pale, Promenade and Kursaal Gold); Citra from Oakham Ales; and Stand and Deliver a Dark Mild from Howling Hops Brewery. So plenty of choice and a very unusual and pleasant environment. Overall great, provided you aren’t too concerned about the ambience created by passing trains, but after a couple of pints that probably all fades into the background.
5 out of 5
Seems like I timed my arrival here perfectly, chat in The Hop Shop, see below, was that this place might or might not have reopened following a plumbing problem in the rear premises earlier in the week. Well, it was well and truly open when I turned up. Quite a large pub, bar straight ahead as you walked in, large area with table and chairs to the left, garden at the rear. Run their own beer festival, have summer barbecues, shows sport on TV, so it makes great efforts to pull in and keep hold of the punters. It was a reasonably busy when I was there in the middle of a Friday afternoon, perhaps regulars had heard it had reopened and were getting reacquainted.
Six hand pumps - 4 beers on - perhaps they were re-establishing themselves after the impromptu shutdown. So the choice was between Sweeney Todd, Colchester Brewery; Cool Bay IPA, Chelmsford Brew Company; Silver Adder, brewed for The Orange Tree by Mauldons Brewery; and Ruby Mild from Rudgate. Good choice, I thought, as I plumped for the Silver Adder which was a flavoursome and light Pale Ale. Slid down very easily on a reasonably warm early summer Friday afternoon. Pity I couldn’t stay longer, but there were jobs to do.
4 out of 5
This place looked like a one man labour of love. Small premises in a converted shop, casks kept in a back corner and drinks gravity fed into a glass. Seemed to have quite a good selection of bottled beer and a couple and an individual came in whilst I was there to browse, chat with the owner and select a couple of bottles for enjoyment that evening. It’s fairly small inside, twenty people would be enough to make the place packed and lively. There’s a lot of glass to the place, so it is very bright and airy and there seemed to be regular comings and goings of people who nipped in for a quick early afternoon drink. It’s obviously doing a good job of filling a gap in the market.
Three cask beers available - Brock Mild and River Breeze from the local Mighty Oak Brewery, plus Vulcan Gold from Black Box Brewery. Now if cider or perry is your thing, then you need to visit here, seven different types available on the day I visited, from six different producers, everything from dry to sweet, so there should be something for everyone. As for beer, I tried the Vulcan Gold which was very enjoyable, a nice pale golden colour. This place is obviously run by a beer (and cider?) lover for like minded individuals, well worth a visit.
3 out of 5
This place looked interesting, strong, clean branding outside, a neat interior that strongly suggested this was a strong cask ale pub. Dark walls, wooden floors, bar stools at the window and dotted around the room perimeter, beer garden, second independent bar in a garden room at the back. Looked well set up and organised. I took my pint outside and sat in the beer garden, seemed to be some sort of corporate hospitality event on, lot of people with name badges chatting and mingling (not with me) and even what seemed like a local sporting celebrity from Essex Cricket Club. I was no longer mixing with the hot polloi.
Four hand pumps, three in operation, so it was a choice between Attermire Pale from Sette Brewery, Viking Golden Bitter from Rudgate and the more local Blue Shack Best Bitter from the Chelmsford Brew Company. I tried the Attermire Pale which was fresh and fruity and made for a very pleasant half an hour sitting in the dappled sunshine, watching movers and shakers do their stuff. The place clearly has a name for putting on a good do, but the beer choice was perhaps a little disappointing, but a nice establishment.
3 out of 5
This was a Friday lunchtime stop for a pint and a bite to eat. It’s on the south west side of the Rivers Can and Chelmer, just across the road from the still very eye catching Marconi wireless works, now a residential building. The pub seemed to be undergoing some sort of rear premises renovation work, at one point the manager appeared in a hazmat suit! I didn’t let that put me off. Plenty of tables and chairs inside, beer garden out the back, not terribly busy, think I only saw two other customers in the 40 minutes or so I was there, perhaps they don’t do too much lunchtime trade.
Pretty good beer choice, I spotted seven hand pumps, though two were out of action, but that meant that Greene King favourites Abbot Ale, Old Speckled Hen, Hardy and Hansons Kimberley Bitter, the Woolpack’s own Pale Ale (again brewed by Greene King) and Amber River from Elusive Brewing were available. I tried their Pale Ale which was a zesty, light, refreshing drink on a warm day and slid down very well alongside a hot sandwich and a portion of chips. OK, I’ll be slightly generous, its a …
4 out of 5
Interesting, very interesting. Subterranean pub in the heart of Chelmsford that was originally built as a police lock up for defendants appearing at the nearby court, there was at one time an underground passage that led directly from this place to the court, now long decommissioned and filled in. So no windows, lots of black paint or dark wood finishings, but well lit so it didn’t feel dark and gloomy, nor did it feel overbright. Some serious old metal bar cell doors still in place, all in all a very well adapted former building now serving a completely different function. Wasn’t terribly busy when I visited fairly late on a Thursday evening.
Good range of cask beer too, three pale ales - Lighbulb (Verdant Brewing), Nirvana (Nirvana Brewery, low alcohol) and Cool Bay (Chelmsford Brew Company), an Oatmeal Stout (Quadrant from East London Brewing Company) and a wheat beer (Brewers Series - Chris from Lacons). On top of that there were three cask conditioned lagers (Pillars Pilsner, Posh and Pillars Helles) plus a cider. So really, something for everyone. Great spot, atmospheric, unique, what more can I say, search it out.
5 out of 5
The Ivory Peg, Chelmsford, CM2 0SW
Wetherspoons pub in the town centre, a former department store, the place gets its name from a tuning peg that was found during excavations and is believed to have been part of a medieval musical instrument. Big windows at the front, which can be opened on warm evenings. If you’ve been to a Wetherspoons before you know what to expect and you won’t be disappointed.
As always, there was the usual good range of beers and pub grub that you come to expect from Wetherspoons, all at very reasonable prices. Like all Wetherspoons it can get busy in late afternoon and in the evening but that’s because it does what it does pretty well.
3 out of 5
Another pub very handily placed for Chelmsford railway station (see below), hence the name. An unusually shape building, very narrow frontage, but reasonably deep and the building widens progressively the further in. You go. There’s a beer garden at the rear, though I never explored that option. Attractively furnished inside, with bench sheets finished in a fabric that almost looks like it belonged to a 1950s railway carriage. Lots of railway ephemera dotted around inside, which makes sense. The place seemed pretty busy at 6pm, looked liked the majority weren’t about to leap on a train, but a good few seemed to have nipped in here for a drink after work before returning home.
Eight hand pumps, so quite a choice - Fuller’s ESB, Boddingtons, Adnam’s Old Ale, Railway Tavern IPA (made for them by the nearby Mauldons Brewery in Sudbury), Nero from Milton Brewery, Lacons Legacy blonde ale and Oscar Wilde dark mild from The Mighty Oak Brewery. The latter raised an eyebrow with my group because of it’s heritage / status, but we only noticed it after we’d ordered, so we decided to come back the following night to try it (too many other pubs too visit). I had the Railway Tavern IPA which was a refreshing, golden beer that was greatly enjoyed in an early summer evening.
5 out of 5
An interesting and slightly unusual looking building (Grade II listed) with a varied history. It started off as a Quaker Meeting House in 1824, it was sold to the local council in the 1950s and put to use as a youth centre, next it was a library for Anglia Ruskin University until 2008, then vacant until the mid 2010s when it was repurposed as a pub. Right now it’s a very attractive, light and airy space with in-house brewing equipment proudly on display. Plenty of tables and chairs, including a mezzanine floor at the front of the building so all in all, a very attractive spot.
Three hand pumps, two serving cask ale - Brewhouse and Kitchen Best Bitter or their Capital Session IPA - and a dozen or so taps serving all and every kind of beer. I tried the IPA which was a refreshing, golden beer that slid down very nicely. Great spot, very handy for the station, plus you can join them for an experience day and have a hands on day brewing beer. It could be the start of something …
4 out of 5
Very attractive and striking looking building close to Southend Central railway station, I spotted it as I pulled into the station on the train. Looks like a Victorian era hotel, presumably established to support the station and it looks very elegant with a dark exterior with key external features picked out in gold leaf. Also looks equally smart at night. Not in the Good Beer Guide but close to where I was staying so it had to be worth a look. The interior looks traditional, lovely parquet and mosaic tiles flooring, but updated to the present day. Long bar against a wall, plenty of tables and chairs scattered around it, large TV showing sport over the front door, beer terrace outside at the back (didn’t visit it, too cool and dark at 9pm on an early May evening).
Two hand pumps, so it was a choice between Timothy Taylor’s Landlord or Adams Ghost Ship. I plumped for the Landlord and settled at a table to see what was happening in the Champions League semi final second leg match that was being shown. There was a small stage in the main bar and it looks like they enthusiastically get behind live music (quite a significant background in this if you do a bit of research). It was a good pint and a pleasure to be in such an attractive and atmospheric bar. A 4 might perhaps be generous as a reflection of their beer offering, but fully deserved in light of their keeping this beautiful, traditional pub up to date and thriving.
4 out of 5
Wetherspoons pub close to the city centre and Southend Central railway station. The address is given as Weston Road, perhaps because that was the customer entrance in its former life (a head Post Office), but it now runs all the way through from south to north from Weston Road to Clifftown Road. Quite long and narrow but otherwise fairly typical Wetherspoons in terms of layout and interior, although this one is also an hotel and it’s where I was staying for the night. Southend on Sea is quite a sprawling seaside location but this seems to be pretty central. Hotel room was pretty reasonably priced and very good.
As always, there was the usual good range of beers and pub grub that you come to expect from Wetherspoons, all at very reasonable prices. Like all Wetherspoons it can get busy in late afternoon and in the evening but that’s because it does what it does pretty well. Top marks for the accommodation, good breakfast in the morning, great choice.
(Sorry, no interior picture taken for some reason, but if you know Wetherspoons, you know what to expect)
4 out of 5
Quite a grand and imposing building at the end of Royal Terrace, close to the upper station on the cliff lift and not far from the pier. Originally established as a support and social centre for the services at the end of the First World War (the future King George V was the first member to sign in!), but now open to all. Unfortunately for me there was an event on and the main bar an function room in the heart of the premises were off limits. So I had to sit in in the small bar at the front and get my drink brought through to me. The small bar was fine, little more than a counter, but I suspect not quite as nice, interfering and grand as the main one.
So, no sign of the hand pumps, but I was offered a range of beers they had on, seemed to be three or four, and plumped for the Cathedral Gold all the way from the Milestone Brewery in Nottinghamshire. It was a light golden coloured a very pleasant and refreshing ale. Encounters with other guests indicated they still did a lot to support the services, well done them. Perhaps not a 4 based on the small front bar experience, but given their support for others and the ‘hidden’ attraction of the main bar, I’m comfortable giving it that score.
4 out of 5
I called I here at 2:30pm on a Wednesday afternoon, having completed a walk, it was pretty conveniently located close to Stanford-le-Hope railway station. It’s also in a nice town centre location on Church Hill, next to St Margaret’s church. You walk in off the street, there’s a small snug to the right and a larger bar to the left. Everything looked very neat and tidy, I turned left, plenty of tables and chairs in a nicely furnished and set out room with posters on the wall advertising their live music events and beer festival. There were two other gents enjoying an early afternoon drink.
Five hand pumps, four dispensing beer, so it was a choice between Best from the Brentwood Brewing Company, Bring Me Sunshine from Tring Brewery, Castle Rock’s Black Gold all the way from Nottinghamshire or Golden Ale from Stour Valley, so a pretty good beer choice. I tried the Bring Me Sunshine (it would have been Eric Morecambe’s 100th birthday in the next couple of weeks) and it was a fresh, fruity and exhilarating light coloured pint. Just the thing after a walk. Great little pub, good beer choice, what more could you ask for.
4 out of 5
Back into the town centre now and to a place that looks like it has been fairly recently adapted - a bit like the street outside. Long frontage and clearly aimed at the sport enthusiast, there were TVs everywhere, including the beer garden and small booths in the beer garden, must have been 20 plus TV sets. Like The Foresters, see below, this place was also hosting a local pool league competition with another pub. So with that and the Champions League semi final second leg on TV (featuring Arsenal, a team not a million miles away) the atmosphere was pretty lively. Quite dark and atmospheric inside, not really the spot for a quiet pint on a Tuesday night.
Two hand pumps, so it was either Harvey’s Sussex Best or Boltmaker fro Timothy Taylor’s. I chose the Sussex Best and found somewhere t keep one eye on the football and one eye on the pool, both were entertaining. The beer was fine, the atmosphere was lively, but if you want a quiet and more relaxing spot with perhaps a slightly greater beer choice you might be better to look elsewhere. It probably needs this set up to attract sports fans and customers and if that’s what keeps it going then good for it. It would leave a large and sorry gap in the High Street if it wasn’t there.
2 out of 5
Now we’re pushing even further east, but only a 5 or 10 minute walk away, but further up the hill. This place looked pretty traditional from outside and it was just the same inside. Walk in the front door and you arrive fair and square at the centre of the bar, space to either side and a room beyond that. The one on the right had a pool table and it was obviously the night for local competition as what seemed to be regulars and opponents turned up with their cues. Football on one screen so with that and the pool it was a really bustling and lively unspoilt pub. Bit of a gem really.
Three hand pumps, so a choice between Iron Pier (from Iron Pier Beer in nearby Gravesend), Harvey’s Sussex Best and Ghost Ship from Adnams. I tried the Iron Pier and it was a medium chestnut coloured beer that did the job very nicely. So, a reasonable beer selection and nothing particularly fancy, no frills, but certainly a good old fashioned pub.
Great.
4 out of 5
Another night in Dartford, so a chance to explore a couple of pubs in the Beer Guide on the fringe of the town centre. The first of these was the Malt Shovel, just beyond the east end of the High Street. The High Street runs into the fairly busy East Hill, but Darenth Road soon comes off this main road to the south and very quickly you’re at the Malt Shovel. It’s an attractive building in the local style and there’s ben a pub her for 350+ years. Long bar from the front through to the conservatory at the rear. It was the first pub of the night, but already fairly popular with locals and more joining for what looked like a bit of a cribbage session.
Two hand pumps serving St Austell Tribute and Young’s London Original. I went for the Tribute, to take me back to my years walking the South West Coast Path. It was a nice pint in what was very comfortable surroundings. Beer garden at the back and from the look of signs inside there seems to be plenty of regular events on for the local community, so well done to them. We left as more cars and cribbage players arrived, looked like it might be a busy evening.
3 out of 5
Nipped in here for a ‘last drink of the night’. Pretty quiet, but it was 10pm on a Monday evening, so perhaps not their busiest time. It’s a characterful old building from the outside, similar on the inside, but perhaps just starting to show some signs off needing a bit of tender loving care or investment. Long narrow bar along one side of the main room, there looked to be another room at the end of it, but plenty of space at the High street end of the pub, so that’s where I sat. Chatty landlady told us a bit about the place.
Four hand pumps, only 2 dispensing beer, so it was a choice between a Hobgoblin from Wychwood or Razorback from Ringwood. I went for the Razorback which seemed like a nicely kept beer and brought the evening to a very pleasant close. Bit difficult to judge the place really as it was so quiet but I’m prepared to be a little bit kind, so its perhaps a slightly generous …
3 out of 5
On the north west edge of the town centre, really members only, but in the Good Beer Guide so CAMRA members are admitted. Very nice premises, in fact immaculate, from the outside it looks rather like a residential property. They seem to have plenty of events on, live music, bingo, hosts a regular folk music club (was BBC Radio 2 Folk Club of the Year in 2008), it’s all going on here.
Great beer choice, nine hand pumps, though two out of action, still there’s seven cask ales to choose from. So it was either NYM Red IPA from the Moot Brew Company; Adnams’ Southwold Bitter; New Age Chestnut all the way from Nene Valley Brewery; Brentwood Brewing Company’s Galaxy; a Milk Stout from Brew York; Leatherbritches Brewery Bespoke; or Scrumdown Pale Ale from Greene King. Overall, an impressive choice, they must get through some beer. I tried the New Age Chestnut which was a mid-chestnut colour and a very good pint. All in all, excellent.5 out of 5
Wetherspoons pub with a very striking exterior, plenty of detailed brickwork including round brickwork columns with a recessed brick every 6 courses, very striking. Almost floor to ceiling windows either side of the front door, high ceiling, lovely plasterwork, but it did start off life as a car showroom, perhaps not surprising. The name comes from the repurposing of the building during the First and Second World Wars - it produced floats for flying boats.
There was the usual good range of beers and pub grub that you come to expect from Wetherspoons, all at very reasonable prices. So that aspect is similar to the vast majority of Wetherspoons in the country, but the exterior and interior does mark it out as being slightly different to the norm for Wetherspoons. Bravo.
3 out of 5
I stayed here for a couple of nights whilst in the Dartford area, it’s one of few places in the town centre that seemed to offer bed and breakfast accommodation. Quite traditional and historic, but with a few surprises. You step into an entrance area off the back of the footway and then through doors into what is a large 2 storey courtyard with a flagged floor, a glazed roof and rooms off it on either side partitioned off by early 19th century style shopfronts, so for example you could go into one to play pool. All a bit unusual today but probably a result of being heavily adapted over the years. Tables and chairs at the far end of the bar for the casual drinker.
Four hand pumps at either end of the bar, in both cases two dispensing beer - Doom Bar and the Rev James - and 2 out of commission. I tried the Doom Bar which seemed to be well kept and it slipped down very nicely. Somehow the premises and bar itself were all just a little unusual. Limited cask ale so it’s going to have to be a score of 2, but don’t forget that’s a pass at GCSE.
2 out of 5
Tried to get in here last year, but we were turned away because they had a ticket only function on and it wasn’t even possible to nip in for a quick drink! Didn’t look like it was much better this year, they had Will Wilde (blues rock harmonica player, supporting Eric Clapton at Sandringham in the summer) performing but it turned out it was afternoon show, so everything had finished by the time we arrived at 6:30pm. It’s a modern, square building, bar on the left hand side as you walk in and a reasonably large square area for sitting down and enjoying a drink or watching a performance.
Very good beer choice - a lot of it their own - Egyptian Goose, Heron Ale, Black Night, Crusader and Trilogy. But there were also 4 or so beers from elsewhere, so you were almost spoiled for choice and prices looked pretty reasonable. There were also 3 hand pumps out of action, but it was the end of a Bank Holiday weekend and perhaps the Will Wilde fans were a thirsty bunch. I tried one of the bought in beers, Wrecker (picture of a red octopus grasping and anchor on the pump clip), described as a ship shape amber ale, from the Evan Evans Brewery. Medium chestnut colour and 4.5% so not too strong, a very pleasant drink from the land of our fathers.
5 out of 5
Busy pub in the heart of a residential area just south east of the town centre. Long and narrow building on a long and narrow plot, seemed to be quite a bit of land at the back where people were enjoying their drinks outside. I sat inside in what seemed to be a pretty lively and very friendly atmosphere. Lots of people of all ages enjoying a drink and a chinwag with chums.
Four beers on hand pumps - Cosmic Dawn and Solaris from the Big Smoke Brew Company (they also own the pub); Ordinary Bitter from Anspach and Hobday; and Saw Pit West Coast from the Park Brewery. I tried the Ordinary Bitter which was badged as the Champion Beer of London in 2023, not too strong and very pleasant indeed. Overall, in a competitive field, this was for me the pub of the night.
5 out of 5
Lovely little backstreet pub on the eastern edge of the town centre. Seemed fairly quiet inside, but there is a fairly large beer garden to the rear, so perhaps that was where a lot of punters were gathered. Inside the layout seems to be a series of interconnected spaces, perhaps from the adaptation of the original building(s) over the years. Serves food, has a regular quiz night and hosts live music events, so it looks like a place that does a good job of serving the local community.
Six hand pumps here, though two were serving Fuller’s London Pride and another two had Fuller’s ESB, leaving one pump with Adnams Ghost Ship and the final pump had Seafarers from George Gale on. I tried the Seafarers, don’t recall seeing that before. It turns out it was a beer created to celebrate the Seafarers’ Charity who support those who work, or have worked, at sea, and their families. A worthy cause and and a not too strong golden ale that was most enjoyable.
4 out of 5
Former South Eastern Electricity Board showroom, converted to a pub in 1996, and the upper front of the building has the look of former mid 20th century commercial premises. It almost looks like a Wetherspoons style repurposing of an established property, although these premises are probably not large enough for Wetherspoons taste. Small terrace at the front and very different inside now, slightly sombre, some bright accent lighting, there’s now a pool table, TV screens and another beer terrace at the rear. It was fairly busy, looked like there were some birthday celebrations going on.
Only two hand pumps, so it was a choice between London Pride and Hobgoblin’s Gold Beer. I opted for the latter, a not too strong golden ale. Whilst that was enjoyable, I couldn’t find much else to enjoy.
Presumably the name of the pub has been chosen to reflect the earlier use of the premises and the contribution of Michael to the knowledge and understanding of electricity (don’t think he has any particular connection to Epsom).
2 out of 5
This is a Wetherspoons pub, but one which doesn’t heavily feature their trademark dark wood panelling and slightly gloomy interior, this place was quite bright and breezy inside, exposed brickwork on display. The site has had a number of businesses on it over the years as Epsom developed, most recently it was a draper’s shop and a building society.
There was the usual good range of beers and pub grub that you come to expect from Wetherspoons, all at very reasonable prices. So that aspect is similar to the vast majority of Wetherspoons in the country, but the interior does mark it out as being slightly different to the norm for Wetherspoons.
2 out of 5
In the heart of Epsom, the building is somewhat set back from the footway leaving space for a fairly large layout of table, chairs and parasols at the front along with an outdoor bar, although not operating when I called in. It was busy outside with a lot of smartly dressed people outside - not just myself - but not quite so busy in the pub itself. Couldn’t really figure out what the event might have been (no horse racing that day), but a few people in the town centre were certainly looking the worse for wear. Food was being whisked to tables and that certainly smelt and looked good.
However, limited beer choice - Sharp’s Doom Bar and Surrey Nirvana from Hogs Back on hand pump. I had a pint of the Doom Bar on the terrace outside and watched the good people of Epsom come and go. They did have some cask ale, but it’s perhaps not the best place for an enthusiastic beer drinker, that’s probably not their target market.
2 out of 5
West of Epsom town centre, almost on the edge of the Common and in a cluster of houses. Lots of parked cars and people around the outside when I arrived late on a Saturday afternoon, we had to park a couple of hundred yards away. Fairly quiet inside - not too surprising given the throng outside. The name apparently comes from the barrel making business that the pub’s founder had, before his brewing and beer serving days. Not sure why, but when we came to leave after half an hour or so, a lot of the parked cars and external customers had left. Must have been something I said!
Pretty good beer choice and a cider - Everytime, a Gluten Free IPA from the Bristol Beer Company; Citra from Oakham Ales; Surrey Hills Brewery had Ranmore on offer; Fuller’s Wild River (Pacific Pale Ale); and finally Lilley’s Apples and Pears Cider all the way from Somerset. I tried the Wild River, a pale and refreshing golden ale which went down very nicely, especially when sitting outside in a warm and sheltered spot. Great pub, tucked slightly away, but worth searching out.
4 out of 5
By the side of the potentially rather busy A420 dual carriageway, just north of Epsom. The road was reasonably quiet when I visited at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon, the pub itself was ticking over, a dozen or so people inside and around a dozen in the beer garden. There’s been a pub at this site for almost 200 years but it now features a fairly plush and comfortable interior, looks like it might have had a recent makeover. Supports live music and also covers sport, so it seems to be doing all it can to serve the local population. There were plenty of available tables inside, so that’s where I sat.
Four hand pumps, serving beer from a variety of brewers - Black Sheep Best, Boddingtons, Timothy Taylor’s Golden Best and London Pride - so a reasonable choice from a range of brewers, three beers traveling some distance to get here. I opted for the Black Sheep and this slid down very smoothly after a lengthy car journey. Pretty good beer choice, comfortable interior, certainly deserves a 3, but squeezes in at 4 because it was a gloriously sunny day when I was there and I spent a most enjoyable half an hour there.
4 out of 5
Called in here for a bowl of soup and a pint on a Sunday lunchtime, another Robinsons pub in the heart of Keswick and not too far from the Pack Horse Inn, see below. The building has a slightly quirky footprint, narrow at the main entrance door but as you walk into it it the room widens and in fact it ends up as an L shape. There’s a beer garden outside if the Lake District weather is being cooperative. The place was fairly busy with families enjoying a drink and a spot of Sunday lunch. All in all, very convivial.
Four hand pumps, all serving beer from Robinsons - Dizzy Blonde, Cumbria Way, Unicorn and Derwent Winter Dip - the first two were also available at the Pack Horse Inn, but the latter two weren’t. This time I tried the Unicorn, a light chestnut colour that went very nicely with a bowl of hearty tomato and basil soup and a hunk of bread. Good choice of beer, nice to see a little variety from their premises 5 minutes away. Overall a nice little pub.
4 out of 5
Visited here for a meal and a pint on a Saturday evening in April - my first “new” pub of the year. It’s a Robinsons pub and, unsurprisingly, was fairly busy, but the place is reasonably large and has some limited space on a couple of extra floors towards the back of the pub. It’s just tucked just off the main street in Keswick, pretty much slap bang in the centre of the town. There were a pretty good choice of pub meals on the menu and prices didn’t seem too steep for what is a bit of a tourist trap.
Four hand pumps, all serving beer from Robinsons - Dizzy Blonde, Cascade IPA, Cumbria Way and Trooper - so a pretty good choice. I opted for the Dizzy Blonde, a pale ale, not too strong and a very pleasant and refreshing drink along with a hearty meal. Just the ticket. This place managed to score just over 3 based on beer choice, but when you add in the location, good food and the reasonable pricing then it’s a 4.
4 out of 5