On paper, this pub should be a solid option. It's in a nice enough area, it is apparently capable of stocking good beer (or so I've been told), and the premises themselves are decently-sized and laid out well.
Unfortunately, the last time I visited (which may well be the last time I do visit), the place was severely let down by a blatant disinterest in actually running a pub.
On a Thursday evening, at about 7pm, I wandered in to find the place pretty much deserted. The solitary barman eyed me suspiciously as I approached the bar and tried to see what real ales were on offer. The three hand-pumps on the bar were all devoid of pump-clips, so I asked "Do you have any real ale on?"
"No." came the answer. No elaboration. Just "No."
I hung around just long enough to drink an adequate pint of lager, before leaving in search of a pub that could be bothered to be a pub. The premises were completely empty, apart from the bored barman, when I left.
Maybe I was unlucky, and the place normally has a much better atmosphere, friendly barstaff and beer of the non-cooking-lager variety. But I'm not sure I'll bother to find out, as there are many better options around this area. read more