please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Recommended to me by a guy who'd remembered it from 20/30 years ago! And what a great recommendation. Central bar serving 6 real ales - three of them from Scotland including Red Skye and Spey Valley Sunshine on Keith. Good food too - I had a delicious Mac&Cheese. Friendly service. This is definitely the place to go - just a block or two away from the train station - if you're a real ale fan, and surprisingly quiet at lunch times.
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My first visit to this bar and I was surprised to be the only customer around 1pm on Wednesday lunchtime. There was no obvious reason for the lack of trade as all was clean and tidy and with a choice of six ales. I chose a pint of An Teallach Ale from Wester Ross which was in fine condition and went down well. Unfortunately being a Sassenach from down south I don't often get to have any An Teallach beers but I have never had a bad one.
it's difficult to know how to rate this bar. Being the only customer there was obviously no atmosphere and I can only assume it comes to life in the evening. I will endeavour to check it out on my next trip to Inverness but that might not be any time soon.
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Having watched this fine old boozer dying a slow and painful death over several years and having posted its obituary in December 2013 I was encouraged by canarly's post in April.
I returned on 15 August (and the next day). Thanks to George Sinclair the Phoenix has done what the Phoenix is supposed to do. It is risen!
It hasn't taken much more than a lick of paint, the installation of ten tall founts and the employment of friendly, knowledgeable and professional staff (as used to be found under the same ownership at the Clachnaharry and still is at the Castle Tavern). I sampled four ales, all in excellent condition.
I didn't eat, apart from the Friday early evening complimentary nibbles, but I did hear tell of a talented young chef.
I am disproportionately happy at this transformation!
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Great news! The Phoenix ale house reopened early April. I was in last Sarurday , great refurbishment while retaining the ale house feel. 9 real ales on, 4 bar staff, busy for an early evening. Well recommended, owned by the Guvnr of the Castle Tavern would help to explain the turnaround.
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The Phoenix is, to coin a phrase, 'knackered with a capital F'.
A month ago, Sunday mid-afternoon, there were three customers in. Four or more tall founts: no real ale. And no service because the barman was for some minutes in the cellar where changing the cider was too much for him. Voted with feet.
The place was shabby and down-at-heel. There was a large board outside offering it for sale at o/o £185,000 which is peanuts for a city centre place and no doubt reflects its trading success, or lack of it.
A great shame.
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A traditional old boozer that has successfully resisted any pretentious makeovers and has probably changed little in decades. It�s a single room bar with a large oval bar counter in the middle. Around the foot of the bar runs what appears to be a drainage channel which is an unusual feature, but may just be decoration I suppose.
There was wood cladding on the lower half of the walls, and rough plasterwork above. To the right were some windows just below the ceiling adjacent to a corridor running alongside. This also led in to the restaurant next door which is presumably related to the pub, although appeared to be a separate entity. There was a TV up in the corner showing a sports channel, and a fruit machine opposite the bar. There did not appear to be any food offering in the pub itself, other than chip butties for a pound!
Excellent choice of ales on tap, which seems to be something of a rarity in these parts. These were also available in third pint sizes, and two pint takeaway versions. There were six pumps on the bar although one appeared to have run out � the remainder were Summer Glow, Ginger Jock, Deeside�s Macbeth and Talorcan and Orkney�s Red MacGregor. Ciders were Strongbow and Symonds Founders Reserve.
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No idea on the food, but it looked good and well-priced. In terms of beer, 4 or 5 ever changing real ales, and every one I tried was in good condition. Having a cardboard star with "Lamb Chop" on it did not really tempt on that beer, but I was curious enough to try it and it was fine. Staff were very friendly and provided good service. Check out the 'gentlemans product dispensing machine' in the gents toilet, let's just say that it offers a far greater range of products than normal!!!!
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Only one ale on - Black Isle Bitter,but it was excellent. Food was good, and the chef was friendly. Doesn't mattetr that it's a bit shabby - it's a very good town centre pub and I'd be very happy to eat and drink there again.
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A slightly tired and grubby feel to this pub, although it still retains many period features, and is worth a visit for this reason alone. Beer was fine when I visited, from two Scottish micros.
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Great atmosphere, lovely old style traditional pub. Wood pannelling in the gents toilets as well - is this unique ?
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Good beers. Well-maintained. Sport on TV.
Circular bar!! Very rare I think.
Great atmosphere.
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The Phoenix is a real traditional bar with none of the more modern unnecessary features you encounter in more modern bars.The bar itself caters for real drinkers not long vodka drinking , vain , poser types. I would advise anyone who enjoys a good laugh selection of ales, beers and ofcourse whiskey to give it a go.
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The bar is a real step back in time, to the days of spit and saw dust. If you like real ale and a place of genuine character it is worth a visit. Usually three handpumps on, but quality of beer does vary from day to day. As for morgans the food is very average as is the decor.
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Very basic public bar which hasn't had a lick of paint for years - the lounge bar on the other side is Morgans Bar and Restuarant, wouldn't want to eat or drink in there. Dire.
quizman - 28 Sep 2004 17:39 |
