BITE user comments - Mothbag
Comments by Mothbag
Great heritage pub in a cracking location. Inside is like a shrine and the serving hatch was open to the beer garden were all beer casks were on view. Tapped from the cask and in tip top condition. I tried Downton Elderquad 4% very nice indeed. Staff helful and friendly. It was like a beer festival, but I was driving so only had one half. Recommended you visit when in the area.
12 Sep 2011 10:47
Cracking pub in a cracking location. Plenty of beers on (St Austell and one guest from Branscombe Vale Brewery Summa That 5%). Enjoyed St Austell's Liquid Sunshine at 4%. All beers well kept. Great outside beer garden and warm and cosy fire inside. Very hussle and bussle. All tables booked for food when we were there. Would recommend.
12 Sep 2011 10:43
A gem of a pub in a fantastic location. Beer garden is a public right of way so plenty of passing trade! Very cosy inside with own brewed beers, which were tip top. Shame they cannot come up with a golden ale/light brew in between the Branoc (3.8) and Summa That (5%). That's just me being picky. Food was excellent too, I had beer battered fish and chips and a BBQ all good. You can eat in the pub (but cannot book) or in the restaurant which can be booked. It was busy during our stay 3rd - 10th Sept. I'd recommend.
12 Sep 2011 10:40
Called in for a couple of pints of their Binham Cheer on Friday 19th August. In tip top form as always. Took a two pint carry out back to my tent, which went down very well. Friendly service as usual. I always head to The Chequers when in the area and would recommend you pay a visit.
22 Aug 2011 14:23
Called in during a recent holiday in the area. Great pub been a few times and it's always on my 'to do' list when in the area. Wherry from the cask went down well. Cracking views from the tables down the side of the pub of the valley across the road. It's near to my other favourites - The Chequers, Binham and The Three Horseshoes, Warham - so handy.
12 Aug 2011 15:13
Called in yesterday for a quick pint. 3.8% gravity beer set me back �3.40, which is pretty prices. I remember their Union Gold (now Castle Rock Harvest Pale) being �1.50 a pint! It's still a cracking pub though not as busy as it once was, but then again I don't get in there much beyond 6pm. One of the best ale pubs in Lincoln with a great beer garden.
12 Aug 2011 15:10
Called in again in July. Cracking pub, long a favourite of mine and have been calling in for the past 20 years. As per my previous comment I'm not a fan of their Robinsons beers, but they are well kept you cannot argue with that. I tried the Robinsons Crusoe. Not too bad.
12 Aug 2011 15:06
Stayed here for our annual 'boys' walking weekend back in July. Fantastic beer selection as always - Windermere Pale 3.5% and Loweswater Gold 4.3% both top notch. We love staying here for the beer, probably the best selection of local ales in Ambleside. Why the other pubs in the area don't keep more local ales on tap escapes me. With so many local and decent micro breweries to choose from it's a no brainer.
12 Aug 2011 15:03
Been visiting The Chequers since our first trip to North Norfolk (Binham) back in 2009. Called in during a recent stay at nearby Wells next the Sea. Had a pint of what has be be one of my favourite real ales, Binham Cheer. Staff are friendly and for a really cracking pint of real ale that's brewed on site you cannot go wrong. They also do 2 pint carry outs, which is good for taking back to your cottage, tent or wherever! Camping in North Norfolk next Friday so will be calling in for a beer.
12 Aug 2011 14:59
Good pub in town, but slightly off the beaten track. Good beer. Tried the Woodforde's Wherry and Sharp's Doombar, both well kept. This is always on our list when doing a real ale town crawl and long shall it remain. Worth a look for sure. Friendly staff and locals.
14 Mar 2011 15:37
Called in recently for a pint. Moved out of town a year ago, this used to be my local, but I still manage to visit quite frequently courtesy of the local village bus service! Cracking pub, always consistent. Great beer 7-8 beers all well kept. Quality beer garden under the castle walls. A regular in the Good Pub Guide and Good Beer Guide. Cannot argue with that!
14 Mar 2011 15:34
Butcher and Beast, Heighington
Recently refurbished, this pub is really staring to take off. Good food, good selection of well kept ales (6, mostly local), nice traditional interior and an excellent pretty beer garden running down to a stream. This is a quality village local and worth a visit.
14 Mar 2011 15:30
I've lived in Lincoln for 11 years, but never got around to visiting this pub until recently. It's always been on the list. Glad I did. Good town pub with atmposphere and character. Real ale is good quality and it's in the Good Beer Guide. A proper pub. Ale is locally sourced in some cases and I have to say it is very well kept. Worth a visit.
14 Mar 2011 15:28
Returning to the MA a week on Saturday for our annual real ale tour of Manchester. 4th visit and I love the place. Can't wait to get stuck into their beers.
16 Nov 2010 14:53
Popped in to have a look whilst staying in nearby Binham on a long weekend. Excellent as ever especially on cold winter evenings. Well worth a trip to this pub.
10 Nov 2010 13:17
Called in again whilst staying in Binham Friday 5th Nov - Tuesday 9th Nov. Excellent as ever. Quieter than the busy summer months, which was nice. Good log fire. Binham Cheer on form and I managed to come away with a mini cask to bring back with me. Made use of their 2 pint takeaways too! Service excellent and they made our just turned 3 year old feel very welcome. Also had Buffy's Bitter on plus their own brewed China Gold alongside their Binham Cheer. Well worth a visit. Nice walks from the pub and it's worth looking at the nearby priory. Hope to return in the not too distant future whilst walking the North Norfolk coast path.
10 Nov 2010 12:48
The Hoste Arms, Burnham Market
Popped in again on a recent stay in North Norfolk. Had their Sunday roast and have to say it was excellent. The puds are to die for! Agree with meland though about the plummy accents. We booked the restaurant and it was very very posh. Don't let this put you off though it is an excellent pub for beer and food.
10 Nov 2010 12:39
Called in today on my way back from a meeting. Picked out of the good pub guide. Cracking place. I've driven that way on loads of times in the past having worked in Nottingham for 3 years and didn't even know it was there. Tried their own brewed One Swallow 3.6%, which was excellent. Well kept and as described by the good pub guide, very tasty. For a 3.6% it's up there with the best I've tried. The landlady (Sharon) was very friendly. The pub itself is very oldy worldy just my kind of place. The food looked excellent and smelt even better, but I didn't try. I have quarterly mtgs in nearby Nottingham and this will be a stop off on my way back home to Lincoln. Excellent.
6 Oct 2010 14:49
Called in whilst walking in the area. Classic pub as per my comments below. Had a Yarmouth beer (half), which was ok. I love the Wherry from the cask. I sat in the beer garden, which is just lovely � idyllic. Alongside The Chequers at nearby Binham, this is one of my favourite pubs.
24 Sep 2010 12:21
Called in again whilst walking in the area. Awesome walk from Warham to Binham on what was probably the last day of warm weather (22nd Sept). 24 degrees and sunny. Had a pint of Binham Cheer 3.9% fantastic as ever. Also a guest beer and a Binham special, Swallow Song 4.9% (named after a swallow who returns to nest at the pub every year), although I didn�t try it. They sold the bottles in the local shop. I just love this pub. Fell in love with it during my holiday to Binham and will return every year whether it be for a days walk taking in the pub or a long weekend break in a cottage. Just booked for the weekend of 5th November so bring it on!!
24 Sep 2010 12:21
Further to my comments below, I would avoid this place as a pub - it's not the best putting it mildly. If however you want a late bar open 'til 2am it's the only place that's open this late. We called into the late bar back in July as we were already bladdered and fancied some more booze and it was ok, but have to agree with the Star Wars comments below! The hotel bars do stay open later, but for a tourist destination the whole of Ambleside is pretty strict.
3 Sep 2010 12:21
I go to Ambleside regularly and this place isn't on my agenda, other than for the late bar / club downstairs if I've got the energy for it. I've no particular comments to make, but I don't like it, so that's that.
21 Jul 2010 12:07
Called in during a recent visit. Bustling as ever. Never been a fav, but it�s good to stand outside. Didn�t try the beers � was a bit worse for wear by the time we arrived so had a short. Worth popping in.
21 Jul 2010 12:05
Called in briefly during a recent visit. Same beers as the Golden Rule, slightly less atmosphere, but it�s an established pub and worth a visit.
21 Jul 2010 12:04
Called in during a recent visit. I do like this place for a hotel bar. Good beers on Scafel Blonde 4.3% good, but alas no exciting or different session beers on -4% that we could took into other than Yates or Bluebird. Like to try new beers. But yeah, a good bar in the middle of Ambleside.
21 Jul 2010 12:04
Called in several times recently and been here plenty of times before. Great as always. Never been a fan of the Hartleys / Robinsons beers, but the Dizzy Blonde was ok - the beer wasn�t bad either ;-) We even got to watch some of the golf in the back room, which led to several ales being consumed pre 6pm.
21 Jul 2010 12:03
The Drunken Duck Inn, Barngates
Called in recently. Arrived 2.30ish on a Saturday afternoon. Umpteenth visit. I really do love this place. Great location and good ale. There were 9 of us in total and we sat outside at first. Then it rained so a few of us sat on the bar stools and a few near on the table near the door. A few snooties sat in there having afternoon tea and I think we spoiled the atmos for them, but luckily everyone in our party managed to hold in their flatulence, which cannot be said for some of the other less established hostelries we frequented � we do have some self awareness! I think this is the problem. They do excellent beers, but on the other hand it�s a bit of a posh place so they�ll always get a mixture of both walkers and snooties during the day. Tried their Cat Nap 3.6% (excellent) and Westmorland Gold 4.2% (good, but too bitter for me). All in all another good visit and I�ll certainly be back.
21 Jul 2010 12:02
The Hoste Arms, Burnham Market
Good hotel / pub with a good pubby bar. Very posh hotel (checked it out when I used the loo!). Bustling as ever and nice to sit out front people watching.
4 Jul 2010 15:32
The Lord Nelson, Burnham Thorpe
Tried a visit whilst driving back from the Real Ale Shop. Not open, however, the back door was so I managed to have a wonder around inside and it was a very cosy little pub with beer served from the cask. They had Heacham Gold on but couldn't see what else. I didn't try the pub as such as it wasn't open, but it is in a nice village and for character is looks like it is worth a visit) - demoted from a Good Pub Guide main entry in 2010 to a lucky dip for some reason?
4 Jul 2010 15:30
Popped back again for a visit whilst on holiday in the area. Excellent as ever. An exceptional pub for historic reasons and it is like going back in time. Wherry from the cask excellent as was the Sundew. Took my Mum and Dad with me this time and they both loved it - put it on a par with some of their fav's in the Lake District, which for them is saying something! They also loved The Chequers in nearby Binham. Well worth travelling to for a visit.
4 Jul 2010 15:27
Popped back a couple of times whilst on holiday in Brancaster Staithe. Excellent pub as always. Great friendly service by the landlady, exceptional own brewed beers (Binham Cheer awesome as ever) and a great little village, that doesn't get overcrowded with tourists (Binham Priory just round the corner. I love this pub and will return as often as I can. They reserved a mini cask of Cheer for me about 2 weeks before my holiday and it was ready for me as arranged. I like the pub best when the sun is shining and the weather is warm so that you can sit out on the picnic sets in front of the pub or on the grassed area behind and above it. I would recommend you visit if in the area.
4 Jul 2010 15:25
The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe
Visited a few times whilst on holiday in BS. Excellent pub. Good pubby bar, well kept ale (at least four beers on - Brancaster, Woodforde's etc), good food and excellent view from the outside terrace. Would recommend a visit.
4 Jul 2010 15:21
The Jolly Sailors, Brancaster Staithe
Popped in a few times whilst on hoilday in Brancaster Staithe. Pub excellent as was the food - fish and chips brilliant, homemade onion rings excellent, children's food good (homemade chicken gougons), scampi good and the homemade pizza's were great too. Good value for money. In terms of service a bit hit and miss. We visited four times and we were served by a dark haired barmade on a couple of occasions who was slightly rude and couldn't cope with more than one person at the bar at a time or else she got stressed. On the one hand she was very happy to mix with the locals (and the chap who runs it when he was in there with his mates) but then her attitute changes towards us tourists - they've got to hope she isn't working when the Good Pub Guide people pay them an anonymus visit. On the other hand we were served by a barman who couldn't do enough for us. He poured pints and served food excellently, whereas the barmade was pretty poor really given the high standards set in all other areas - he took it in his stride. Also, I chose to stop in Brancaster Staithe mainly because this pub has a good reputation for beer and brews its own. Five beers on during our stay - Heacham Gold, Brancaster Best and Oyster Catcher, Woodforde's Wherry and Adnam's Broadside. I don't know whether it was the hot weather, but the beer was disappointing - warm, hazy (borderline cloudy) and lacked condition - I have to say not that well kept for a brewpub. Compared to other brewpubs in the area (Heacham and Binham for example), I would rush back for a pint I'm sorry to say. My expectations were high beers wise, but it didn't deliver. They had three beers on for a couple of days and didn't bother to put a forth back on - you would have thought that they would have popped a couple of their own beers on. However, all things considered this is a very good pub, with a great garden and it is good for both adults and children - I would recommend for sure.
4 Jul 2010 15:17
The No 2 Refreshment Rooms (Under the Clock), Cleethorpes
One of the best pubs for choice of ale, but mirror other comments re not that inspiring or well kept. Should be better than it is. Still, it's an unusual place and worth a visit if you're in the area. Locals are a bit 'rough' but not that rough that they make you feel unwelcome.
16 Jun 2010 10:50
Willy's Pub and Brewery, Cleethorpes
Popped in for lunch yesterday. Ales on were Willy�s Original (�2.15), Oldershaws Mowbray�s Mash (�2.35) and Maypole�s Major Oak (�2.45). I was driving and had my little un with me to didn�t manage to sample the beer, although my Dad (a regular) says it�s ok, but not that well kept (make your own mind up). However, it�s one of the only decent ale pubs in Cleethorpes, other than the Number 2 Refereshment Room (under the clock on the station). Food was excellent, all homemade, and all for �3.95. I had chicken balti and it was excellent. For a Tuesday lunchtime it was busy, good atmosphere and felt like a weekend. Nice sea views on a very pleasant day. Worth a visit for cheap ale, good homemade food and a good atmosphere. Good mix of both locals and visitors.
16 Jun 2010 10:45
Agree with Sauron below about the barman - I know excatly who you mean! The pub itself is fantastic and one of my regular haunts. The staff here used to be fantastic in the old Tynemill days, but since moving to Batemans they've been a bit hit and miss, although still very good I have to say. The slightly dozy barman you mention always says the same thing to everyone who walks in. I don't think he's an ale fan he simply works there for the money. I have a chat with him, but try to avoid lengthy chats as he can be a bit downbeat. However, he pours one of the best pints so not all bad. He's ok, just needs to drop the I can't be bothered attitude!
28 May 2010 14:29
Just booked to stay here again on our forthing 'boys' weekend in July. The main draw here is the range of reasonably kept local real ale. We've eaten here before (breakfast only) and it's not the best. The rooms are also in need of a serious refurb. But for 9 blokes it's a good place to stay. We can arrive down in the bar early doors and get to work on the local ales. As a hotel bar it's ok too. It's not a 'proper' pub like the Golden Rule, but what the place lacks in pubiness it makes up for in beer. The Rule has beer from one brewer so whilst it's a good pub the beer is disappointing. All depends on what you're after. Like I said, it's good for us and we enjoy our annual pilgramage here! You can't beat walking followed by real ale (I just wish it was minus the hangover!).
21 May 2010 15:01
Butcher and Beast, Heighington
Excellent Batemans pub in the middle of this very pretty village. Three smallish rooms - one to either side of the front door and one through the back, plus a dining room. Small bar. Reminds me a bit of the Victoria in Lincoln and the Golden Rule in Ambleside. Six real ales, some batemans plus regularly changing interesting guest ales from breweries such as Castle Rock, Brewsters, Hook Norton, Oakham and more! Large and very good beer garden out the back running down to a stream. Good bar food. All in all a very good pub it seems unknown to many and I think deserves an entry in the Good Pub Guide. Locals make you feel welcome and the staff are very friendly. If you like good pubs, decent well kept ale and good bar food you cannot go far wrong with this place. Luckily I live nearby!!
21 May 2010 14:51
The Drunken Duck Inn, Barngates
Called in during a trip to Ambleside for New Year. We go when in the area to have a pint of their own brewed beers. Tried their Mothbag and Tag Lag this time around very nice indeed. If you get in at the right time and you focus on the beer it's a good place. There were some rich looking folk sat on the bar stools at the bar supping expensive champas but if you can look beyond this it's a cosy pub in a great location.
6 Jan 2010 13:14
Called in during a visit for New Year. Not their usual selection of beers, with only three on during one visit, but well kept all the same. No Ennerdale Blonde, which was disappointing. However, good hotel bar with a laid back atmosphere. If you want a real pub go to the Golden Rule.
6 Jan 2010 09:42
Called in a couple of times whilst celebrating New Year in The Lakes. Excellent as ever. Great atmosphere 'early doors' and very cosy sitting near the front door and log fire. Good beer selection, but from one brewer - Robinsons (Hartley's). Nice pint of Hartleys XB.
6 Jan 2010 09:40
Went in here following a crawl round the M4 pubs (Smithfield, Bar Fringe, Crown and Kettle, Marble Arch, The Angel). Decent pub with the trains rumbling overhead as it�s built into Deansgate Bridge. The several ales that we�d had in the M4 area prior to arriving at this place had taken effect, so whilst the beer seemed good, we were past it at this point! Good mix of customers, lots of ale to choose from and all in all one to try. We�ll probably start here next time in order to get a better feel for the place.
11 Nov 2009 13:21
Called in following a trip to the Marble Arch. Seems to have changed hands since our last visit in October 2008. They�ve taken the blinds out of the front window so it feels more open and airy as there is some light coming in. 3 or 4 real ales on, ours was lively, but good (the barman filled an extra half glass up for us so we could top our pints up � very kind and thoughtful!). Plenty of people eating, but we just stuck to beer. Quiet enough to get a bar stool and worth a look in if you�re passing. Definitely one to add to the M4 crawl.
11 Nov 2009 13:20
Third visit to The Marble. Excellent as ever. Arrived here around 4pm and it was just right. Not too busy. Tried their �Pint,� Manchester Bitter and JP Best � all spot on, although preferred the lighter beers (Pint and Manc Bitter). They do seem to lack a bit of body, having a slightly watery texture, but still good beer and always consistent. 3 or 4 other guests on, but given that we�d been in the Smithfield, Bar Fringe and Crown and Kettle beforehand, we could only manage the three pints � we were starting to slur at this point! A cracking pub with excellent d�cor well worth a visit. Great pub to be in at �dusk.�
11 Nov 2009 13:19
One we chose through reviews on this site. Decent pub, but again different to both the Smithfield and Bar Fringe. Nice main bar area with two smaller rooms off either side of the bar. TV showing the rugby, but unobtrusive and didn�t take away the pubbiness. A few real ales on (4 or 5 I think) the one we tried was decent and well kept. Staff helpful. Worth adding to your list if in the area.
11 Nov 2009 13:18
The Smithfield Hotel, Manchester
Called in here on Saturday whilst doing a bar crawl in the area. One we�d chosen with help from reviews on this site and one we�ve wanted to try for a while now, so expectations were high, but I didn�t disappointed. Not a place you�d necessarily go in looking at it from the outside, but a great unpretentious pub inside. Initially full of Man City and Burnley fans, it soon emptied out around 2.30pm (happily) and we had the place to ourselves. 7 or 8 well kept real ales on (some local) and the bar staff were very helpful and obliging when it came to tasting the different beers before deciding which one to go for. Beartown Ginger Beer was pretty good. The kitchen area looks like a greasy spoon caf� or something out of the anarchic sit com �Bottom� and whilst a bit strange it does add to the quirkiness of the place. TV on showing the football, but unobtrusive. Good music. Well worth a visit if just for their great range of real ales.
11 Nov 2009 13:18
Called in here on Saturday whilst doing a crawl in the area. First ever visit and it didn�t disappoint. Different in nature to the Smithfield Hotel in that it�s a caf� bar style pub serving continental beers, although there was a beer festival on so they had five decent and well kept real ales on, although we only had the one. Good atmosphere and good mix of customers � young families, people reading the newspaper, mates�..you name it! Certainly one to try again when in the area. Staff friendly and helpful didn�t have a problem with them at all.
11 Nov 2009 13:17
Popped in here during a stay in the nearby village of Binham and got it from the Good Pub Guide. Very nice pub with interesting rooms. Great views of the valley across the (busy) main road and the rooms looked modern. Good pint of Wherry, but no guest beers on my visit. Food looked good, but I didn't try. All in all a good pub to go and visit. Also try The Three Horseshoes and Warham for its 1920s history and The Chequers in Binham for its own brewed beers.
14 Sep 2009 10:57
Went in here whilst staying in the nearby village of Binham. Great pub dating back to the 1920s and it was like going back in time. Loved the place. Wherry was served straight from the cask and was tip top as was a guest beer from Humpty Dumpty and Tipples breweries. I found the staff to be welcoming and friendly. They gave me a sample of the beer before I decided to get a pint so all in all helpful. All in all a great pub and I'm pleased I made the effort to try it.
14 Sep 2009 10:53
Stayed in Binham w/c 5th Sept for one week so this was our local during our holiday. Excellent pub with friendly staff who made us feel very welcome. Locals also friendly. Their own brewed beers are fantastic (Binham Cheer 3.9% would be my top pick) and reasonably good value at �2.75 ish a pint (it's a shame their bottled beers are the same price as a pint would have thought they could do them a bit cheaper - village shop also sells them). It terms of food we were disappointed given their reputation for this. The kitchen staff were pretty miserable in comparison to the bar staff and for almost �5 for a starter and �8.50 upwards for a main I would have expected better. I was in there by myself quite a bit early doors (from 6pm usually) as we have a little un and the place was getting rammed by 6.30pm for people wanting to eat so it isn't the easiest place to have a quiet couple unless you stand at the bar, on bar stools or sit outside weather permitting. It was also difficult to take our almost 2 year old in their at night, although they did make her feel welcome. So for beer and pubbyness it's an excellent pub and it's great for a real ale session. For food I wouldn't eat there again given the experience we had, but it was packed each night with people travelling from all over for their food so obvioulsy doing something right. Great pub so do check it out!
14 Sep 2009 10:49
Good place on the way into the main lakes. So many beers on it's hard to do them all justice when driving and it's just too far out to come back to unless you stay here. However, tried a half of the Loweswater Gold and it was fantastic. Their own brew (Collie Wobbles) was also very nice. All in all a good pub. Good friendly staff, good food and good atmosphere. Their bottled beers are nice (I bought a couple), but very expensive at 2.70 odd per bottle. Shocking considering the beer is brewed on site. Avoid this and go to Booths just down the road - you can get Barngates Tag Lag for �1.60, which is much better. Also great selection of other cumbrian beers.
27 Jul 2009 15:13
The Drunken Duck Inn, Barngates
Visited again in July 09. Mothbag beer not too bad but found it to be more bitter than the last time I tried it. Westmoorland Gold disappointing. I find the staff here a bit hit and miss. I think the bar manager served us the first time around and poored a great pint. Next we were served by a new starter who pulled a very poor pint, which made the beer flat and it had a 2 inch head on it (I didn't feel confident asking her to top it up). It's a shame because the past couple of times I've been the beer has been fantastic. Perhaps just an off day, but it must be easy to train the staff to pour a decent pint given that the brewery is just behind the pub.
27 Jul 2009 15:08
Always a regular Robinsons beers well kept. Small place mainly for food from teatime onwards, but a good local all the same.
27 Jul 2009 15:04
Went in here again during a recent trip in July 09 always a regular when I'm in the area. Great cosy pub (always good on New Year's Eve at around 3pm - great atmosphere as it's getting dark outside). Getting tired of Hartleys / Robinsons beers though especially as there are so many great micro brewery beers to be had in the area, but alas no guests. Cannot seem to get on with their beers, but the Dizy Blonde isn't too bad and I found it to be better than the Hartleys XB or Cumbria Way. A great pub especially when all the walkers and locals get in around 4pm.
27 Jul 2009 14:58
Went in here during a trip in July 09. Recently done up (basically) and always popular and busy particularly outside. Good service. Keswick beers on but not that well kept or perhaps I just didn't like the Keswick beers. It has a good atmosphere to the place and it's nice to stand outside on the main road, but there are better pubs such as The Queens Hotel, Unicorn or Golden Rule for real ale. Better than it used to be.
27 Jul 2009 14:52
Stayed here again in July 09 and found there to be some good real ale on. The Ennerdale Blonde at 3.9% was delicious and as it's brewed in the heart of Ennerdale Valley using natural spring water it was a treat to try. The Yates was top notch as per usual. I have to say that the beer is kept really well. The rooms are pretty dated now and the food isn't great (although we only had breakfast here), but for a hotel bar it's pretty decent, it gets a good mix of people and it's on of the only places in Ambleside that serves local micro brewery guest beers (others such as The Golden Rule and Unicorn serving just Robinsons beers, which are ok if that's what you want). The late bar downstairs opens after closing in the main bar and has Yates on handpump.
27 Jul 2009 14:48
Always go in this place on my visits to Ambleside (alongside the Golden Rule and The Unicorn). In fact I stay here once a year on our 'boys' walking trip. Really good selection of real ale which is why I love it so much. Good atmospheric bar area given that it's a hotel and all in all a good place to go.
3 Jun 2009 15:51
The Foresters Arms, Grassington
Not a bad pub. Never been a favourite of mine, but it's good to sit outside. Very localised but friendly. Real ale is ok but the barman nearly chocked when I asked him to top up my Black Sheep! All in good faith though. It's a shame they don't have more beer on and there's a distinct lack of local decent ale in the area. Grassington House Hotel has a nice bar and outside area with views over the square and nice beer from Thwaits (Wainwrights) and Landlord.
3 Jun 2009 15:47
The Devonshire Hotel, Grassington
Went in here over spring bank holiday weekend and it was a decent place inside. Busy (although that's not saying much as there aren't that many places in the village. The bar staff seemd run off their feet, which spolit our real ale - the barman pulled it at 100 miles an hour and had no intention of 'topping it up.' A good pint though (beer named after the pub and brewed by Moorhouses), but spoilt by the bar staff. We went back for a second pint, but there was a long wait at the bar so we passed. Ok if you just want to eat, but if you're into you're ale the staff don't seem to know how to poor a good pint. Sorry!
3 Jun 2009 15:39
Willy's Pub and Brewery, Cleethorpes
Willy's was my local for years before I moved away from the area. It hasn't changed much and is still one of the best places to go in Cleethorpes. It's full of friendly locals and has decent sea views. Real ale is good although I've never been a massive fan of their own brewed Willy's original, but it's still a good pint. All in all a good pub to visit if you're in the area. Gets very busy at night and around teatime.
3 Jun 2009 15:31
PS - I'm from Lincoln but my best mate lives in Warrington so this pub is a regular when I come up to vist. Our real ale bar crawl include The Angel, Marble Arch, Smithfield Hotel, Bar Fringe and the Crown and Kettle. Hope this is of use!
29 May 2009 15:45
I went in this pub last September after the World Squash Championships at Sports City just down the road and after a visit to the Marble Arch beforehand. It didn't look much from the outside or when we walked in, but once inside it was a great local with decent real ale. We went in for one just to try the place, but ended up staying for ages. Worth a try if you're in the area and there are also some great real ale pubs nearby.
29 May 2009 15:44
I forgot to say that the guy who served us was very helpful and made us feel welcome being as though we weren't regulars.
19 May 2009 15:18
Went in this pub for the first time a month or so ago mainly because I'd heard about the microbrewery and decent real ale. Real ale didn't let me down plenty to choose from mainly from Cathedral on site range and Milestone brewery in Notts. Good beer, kind of cosy pub, but just lacked a bit of atmosphere in the basement bar. Nice area to sit outside near nearby Prezzo's restaurant and river views (although not spectacular!). Well worth a vist to try the real ale.
19 May 2009 15:16
The Drunken Duck Inn, Barngates
I visit Ambleside about twice a year and have recently been visiting the Drunken Duck again after a break since it turned into a restaurant. I discovered their Mothbag own brew in the Stickle Barn back in Sept 08 and so decided to try it in the place that it was brewed. I have to say their Mothbag is excellent as are all their beers that they have on in the cosy but small bar (get in there before or around 4pm or else it gets busy). I went in there on the 30th December 08 and the beer and the atmosphere were fantastic - I shall be going back in July on my next trip to the lakes. Their Tag Lag is available from Booths and is pretty good for bottled beer. This place would get a 10 for real ale but I give it a 9 'cos it isn't really a pub after say 5pm when it fills up with hotel residents and people coming to dine for the evening. No bad thing, but if you enjoy your ale in peace go early! Enjoy.
21 Apr 2009 14:02
This is my local in Lincoln. It is and always has been a fantastic pub, which justifies its regular main entry in the Good Pub Guide. Good real ale pubs in Lincoln are few and far between, but you could spend the whole night in here trying their range of regular and well kept guest beers (around 7 or 8 in total). Recent move from Tynemill to Batemans hasn't changed anything really, although they do have more Batemans beers on now, but this doesn't impact on the local guest beers. Good beer garden with views of the Castle walls. It's worth going out of your way to visit this pub!
17 Apr 2009 14:02
The Queen In The West, Lincoln
This is a little gem off the beaten track in the centre of Lincoln. I went in on Christmas eve this year for the first time having lived in Lincoln since 2000 and was amazed at how good it was. Three ish regular mainstream ales, plus two guests all very well kept. Friendly staff, two rooms - a nice quiet lounge and a bar area. All in all a cracking pub to visit that it off the beaten track. Not far to walk to other pubs in the area uphill (Victoria, Strugglers) or down hill (Tap and Spile, Green Dragon which has own microbrewery). Try it!
17 Apr 2009 13:40
Visited this pub a few times and it's excellent. I went to see the National Squash Championships in Manchester last year and me and a mate ended up in here. Real ale is fantastic, the food is homemade and good value and the atmoshpere is also great. It's also handy for the other M4 real ale pubs, although it's difficult to tear yourself away from the real ale! All in all a great pub, which has been a Main Entry in the Good Pub Guide for many years now. Enjoy.
17 Apr 2009 12:14
The Holt, Honiton
Popped in during a recent visit to nearby Branscombe to try the range of Otter beers. Tried the Otter Bright 4.3% and it was tip top. Not gin clear, but I was the first in after opening at 5.30pm so the beer had been sat a while. It was however exceptional really enjoyed it. Would recommend. It's a wine bar type pub, but has a cosy warm feel to it.
12 Sep 2011 10:49