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Case is Altered, Five Ways

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user reviews of the Case is Altered, Five Ways

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

I first visited this pub with my Dad about fifty years ago and have off and on, more so in recent years, popped in for a pint or two occasionally.

I cannot understand the criticisms of this pub. If you want a quiet, really traditional small rural pub with decent local people, an interior which, fortunately, remains as it was probably a century ago (toilets excepted, they are uptodate!), no music, machines or other distractions, no cooked meals, just good honest beer served by two great people straight from the barrels , then this is the place.

I have brought numerous overseas visitors visitors to this pub, all were enthralled by it.

I have never had a bad pint here, but don't forget, real ale is never consistent, the volume sold, the temperature, the weather, the palate, your mood, all contrive to affect the taste of ales, just because it does not taste perfect on one particular day to your palate, does not make it a bad pint.

I hope that they keep it like this for the next 100 years, it is a rare gem. We have enough big family eating out chain pubs and gastro pubs, not enough real pubs run by real people like at the Case.

When my grandson is old enough (or before - soft drinks), I will introduce him to the Case before he is seduced by the chrome and glass and over priced fizz beer joints in town!
Sallyforth56 - 23 Sep 2016 10:00
Well this place is definitely marmite! Don't expect a warm welcome just plenty of warm bottled beers if your not a real ale fan! We sat in the corner and were forced to listen to the locals gossip, signs everywhere saying your not allowed to use your mobile phone other wise you get fined, we thought was a bit steep! I'm not a fan of obscene language but this also incurred a fine! On our second visit we sat outside which was an improvement, it was a unfortunate that this pub was the only one in walking distance from our campsite. Oh and the opening hours. Mmmmm I don't know how it stays open and to be quite frank I would be warning people not to go!

Unhappy (sober) camper!
Kbonkers - 6 May 2014 18:16
Been there a couple of times. At first it reminded me a little of the bar scene in American Werewolf In London where two strangers come in and the whole room goes quiet and looks at them...a little unnerving but maybe I was just being hypersensitive. It's a pub that's slightly off the beaten track after all.
Really excellent ale in very tranquil surroundings. Need one ask for more?
I'd love to see some American tourists wander into there...or better still golfers!
robinbrum - 19 Mar 2014 11:29
A response (on the 2nd May 2012) from the good folk that inhabit this pub to the posting from 5th October 2009!!

"Hi, 'Did you really write that review for 'The Case is Altered'???

The very fact that you open with; 'Despite prior notification and arrangement that 16 Professional men, on a Golf Society meeting', indicates that you must be a grade 'A' dickhead who has his head stuck up his own arse so far he cant see whats really going on. Stick to gastro pubs, secret societies and pretending you are totally self assured.

If however it was not your good self that left that review, then I of course apologise for getting you confused with a total and utter twat.

Kind Regards

Peter"
whiteryano - 4 May 2012 12:05
I wish I had read whiteryano's review from Oct 2009 before we visited at 5.40pm a couple of Saturdays ago. Then I would have realised that there is no all-day opening here!
paul_d102 - 25 Apr 2012 22:02
A flying visit long lost in the mists of time was superceded by a return trip here last Saturday evening. Very pleased to see so little has changed in terms of decor and fittings. A hubbub of conversation was babbling from the already full main bar area and the small side room was nearly all taken up as well. A cheerful and welcoming landlady leapt up from her seat in front of the bar to pour our drinks. A very decent range of four local beers was offered, although, to be honest, both our choices were faintly disappointing in being nothing less than OK, but nothing more than OK.
I bought a pack of three of their own branded beers, brewed for them by the local Slaughterhouse Brewery and they are very good indeed. The bar billiards table is still in situ as well and there is a shelf of second-hand books and a box of pump clips with donations to the RNLI. All in all, well worth the trip back and I'm probably just being over-picky in expecting the ale to be outststanding. I'm sure another trip will beckon sooner than the intervening 12 years or so since the previous one.
Gristy - 14 Feb 2011 14:05
I have also found this pub nice on the outside but less so on the inside. Yes it stocks some good real ales, BUT there is no welcome in the pub itself, which i believe is important. Whilst I hate the game of golf I find mr biro's 'review' and comments very biased and chip on shoulder - were you once under par or refused membership. Golfers come from every class despite it being *hite game.

Anyhow go have a nice pint but dont expect conversation or welcome.
neilos66 - 9 Jan 2011 00:02
A good walk from the nearest public transport, but it makes the beer go down all the better. I found the pub to be a truly relaxing country hostelry, with no music. Turn off your mobile phone before you go in, or it's a �1 fine if it rings. Contrary to a previous review, I found it welcoming, and the beer was beautiful. An ideal place for a quiet session.
BruceMasters - 17 Jul 2010 15:29
I used to drink here before I moved away from the area. Good little pub, with good beer too. With respect to the comment below, if one may soundbite...

"16 Professional men"
"Golf Society meeting"
"2 and a half hours responsible drinking"

Erm, to take point...

Is the money professional men, or women, any better than that of others. As a member of a proffesional institute, the RICS, I think not. If I were a publican, I would gladly serve all, be they a ground worker, a shelf stacker or the Lord Chief Justice, Igor Judge.

Golf Society Meeting; says it all really. The rock and roll life style didn't pass you chaps by, did it?

[Giles]
"Oh my lord! look at that paint drying over there!"
[Nigel]
Mwah, Giles! Is it Farrow and Ball or Zopheny, Giles?"
[Giles]
Can't quite tell chap. The myopia is dulling the sound. Hey, look at my new super duper tartan plus fours. Go with the Pings, eh?"
[All]
"FORE"

[Backslaps and trebles all round]

Two and a half hours 'responsible' drinking, while passing four to five hundred pounds over the bar between sixteen? This equates to �28.13ish a head, in a pub that didn't do food? That would be around ten pints each then. I assume you all managed to waddle in to a taxi afterward for a safe homeward journey?

While the above may be tongue-in -cheek, and your service has not have been up to scratch; your rather I'm a professional, and a golfer too attitude does you no favours and your review even less. Take a pub for a pub; if you need smarming points while jangling the keys to your Audi, do us all a favour and stick to the 19th, eh?
Biro - 26 Jan 2010 02:04
Despite prior notification and arrangement that 16 Professional men, on a Golf Society meeting, would be turning up for 2 and a half hours responsible drinking, the rudeness and ignorance of the landlady had to be experienced to be believed! This woman is clearly only interested in her "regulars." Early arrivers at the pub were met with a shout through the window "we open at 6." One of our party who was driving was the first to arrive in the car park - the landlady required him to move as he was in a spot where her "regulars" parked. She tried to shoehorn the party into a small room off the main area which was clearly inadequate and then insisted that the party squeeze up in the main bar area so the "regulars" could move freely. A extremely poor pint of lager (the rest of us being on proper ale) was met with the response that she wasn't used to pulling lager as her "regulars" all drank real ale. I could go on. Her attitude was such that we all left after 1/2pints instead of spending what we hoped would be a pleasant evening, and putting something like �400-500 across her bar. Avoid this place like the plague unless you wish to be insulted, treated like dirt and are prepared to respond to her every bark. So much for a service industry!!
whiteryano - 5 Oct 2009 17:37
When you find a pub like this, all is right with the world. No gimmicks just great ale and chat.
barryq - 10 Aug 2009 10:51
Look, if you want beer in the evening, then this is where to go. No loud music, no meals, no kids, no lager (OK maybe 1 lager). Just beer. In an old fashioned pub. Enjoy.
tski - 12 Jul 2009 21:06
Superb. Great beer, reasonable selection well served and lovely roaring real fire! didn't want to leave....!
sparts73 - 5 Apr 2009 23:15
A long walk from leamington but well worth it. Plenty of places on way but a worthy destination!
rogerT2 - 28 Jul 2008 08:35
Doom Bar emmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
davethebeerdrinker2 - 17 Jun 2008 19:46
Nice pub and fine beer spoiled by a total inadequate behind the bar, who has a problem recognising different denominations of bank note and can't work a till properly.
Xenophon - 7 Jun 2008 00:22
no food but great pub lovely location
ecudc - 4 Jun 2008 13:14
Just noticed this place in latest comments. I had a lovely evening here a couple of months ago. The Beer I had was Sharps 'Doom Bar' whick was super. 8/10
themanfromtruro - 12 May 2008 09:28
Had a lovely afternoon walk across the fields from Kenilworth. This is a really nice place with top class beers. It would be unfar to pick one as all off them are worth 9/10.
trains2064 - 12 May 2008 08:57
The beers are absolutely superb. To reiterate other reviews, this is a step back in time - no mobile phones allowed, there's no jukebox. I cycled in the other Thursday and the place was packed full of extremely happy punters.
londinieres - 3 May 2007 17:49
A proper 'adults' pub and unspoilt by loud music, mobile phones and the passage of time!. The beers are excellent. This is a proper pub out in the country and off the beaten track. Well worth seeking out but don't take the kids - there's nothing there for them and probably never will be.
ICTGringo - 3 Jan 2007 14:53
Mercifully no telephones allowed, no food, no muzak, no 'jukebox', few pretentious dicks available, mainly good, well kept, thoughtfully served, ale. A gem of a pub in which to enjoy one's ale in peace. Would that one lived nearby, though various occasions have taken us there often over the past thirty years. Interesting fan secured to the beamed ceiling!
dirigent - 30 Oct 2006 10:08
Fantastic unspoilt pub.
platty - 12 Jul 2006 08:50
Totally unpretentious!
old_peculier - 13 Nov 2005 17:54
One of the best pubs I've ever visited - peaceful, friendly atmosphere, wonderfully kept beers, no teenage idiots or noise - great for a cosy evening in Warwickshire.
LittleNicky - 8 Nov 2005 10:41
Visited this pub with a friend (a cider drinker). Absolutely loved it. Great staff/atmosphere - real 'traditional' English pub. Beers were so good I didn't want to leave!

Best thing about Warwickshire that I found - looked even more steeped in history than the castle...
LittleNicky - 14 Aug 2005 22:35
It's difficult to rate this pub. One the one hand, it'd make the perfect local (it's not my local), superb ale, very friendly atmosphere, relaxing. But on the other hand (as I found out) not somewhere that's particularly suited to taking a date (unless she likes real ale - in which case BONUS!). Wine is not one of their specialities, served from individual 175ml bottles. I loved this pub, even if she didn't.
lobright - 16 Mar 2005 10:37
Charm exemplified for anyone who likes to visit a pub that hasn't been mauled by the frontally labotomised brewery developers.
Good ales for the beer lovers amongst us!
Tucked down a little lane, is another of Warwickshires treasures.
ramgut65 - 10 Feb 2005 16:57
Cosy old pub with open fires, decent beers and not much else - just as a pub ought to be. Beers from Hook Norton as well as a regularly changing selection of guest ales. Frequented by a mix of locals, students (let out from Warwick Uni?) and CAMRA types. Oh and yes they do still have the Bar Billiards.
MadMike - 2 Feb 2005 10:45
Think of the slaughtered lamb in "American werewolf in london" good for a laugh.
anonymous - 26 Jan 2005 12:39
Good beer, v quiet, mobiles bannes, no food. Sometimes this is JUST what you need.
Dr - 20 Oct 2004 13:44
There are actually 3 rooms --one is a quaint lounge only open on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sun linchtime. It is a delight and my regular Friday night haunt. There are 2 extra attractions --2 amazing little dogs who are worth the visit alone.
Phil - 9 Aug 2004 19:23
A proper pub. Good beers, old world atmosphere, open fires and stone floors. Food is limited to Pork scratchings and crisps - which is nice.
Mike - 31 Jul 2004 10:20
Not been in since refurb. before, it was one of the most atmospheric pub in the country. Have they still got the 6d Bar Billiards?
Jimbo Smith - 8 May 2004 13:41
Well liked by Camra pub, this pub was carefully refurbished a couple of years ago but is still delightfully atmospheric and intimate with two small rooms each with a real fire. The bar carries Old Hooky through strange hand pumps attached to barrels behind the bar and a couple of guest beers (through normal pumps). There is no music. Although there is no garden there are tables oustide and it is a pleasant enough spot. (There is no food.)
tim - 28 Mar 2004 17:49

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