I have spent many a night at The Albion. I discovered snake-bite here (that was a summer that I don't remember), I have done pub quizes here, pulled on the very odd occasion, made friends, had a few arguments, been a bit sick in the loos. In short, it has served me very well as the local village boozer. But these days... I'm not sure how I feel about it. I'm sorry to say that it has lost its way a little, and I am not the only person to think this. There have been quite a few staff turnovers, and when the manager goes, they tend to take all the staff with them. This means that you often don't know who is serving you. That is a big deal in a place where everyone knows each other. Last time I was here it was the first day for all the bar staff. I asked the guy behind the bar what red wine he would recommend and he replied that he wouldn't know, because he didn't drink. I'm not sure that this is the right job for him! The interior also needs a bit of a makeover, it is looking a bit frayed around the edges.
It seems like The Albion is trying hard to get people back in. As well as the long running pub quiz night on a tuesday (look out for The Quizzie Rascals, that's me), there is a grill night, again on a tuesday and curry night on thursday. There is also a Sunday roast menu and real ale. Still, people don't go here for the food, but the atmosphere. If it could get back to the heady days where every night gave the locals something new to talk about the next day we would all be happy. Until then it has some work to do. read more