The Layer Fox, Layer de la Haye

Good visit here last night and pleased to see three real ales on. There would have been four had the other hand pump not broken. Mighty Oak Barber Shop, Red Fox Bitter and Hydes Over a Barrel available. Red Fox beers are a regular fixture which seems to fit in with the pub name. Good to see the support for two local breweries. All pints are priced at �3.00 and all beer tasted good. It is a large beamed pub on two levels and suited to providing food. The food served whilst we were there smelled good as it passed. Perhaps I will try next time I visit. A large screen televison is on the wall next to the entrance/exit and was showing the Liverpool v Lille game. The TV was turned off after the football finished which was good to see. A quiz/games machine is also available. The service at the bar was friendly and polite and a fresh glass was offered after every drink.

12 Mar 2010 14:24

The Blue Boar Hotel, Maldon

A great visit on Thursday to this 14th century coaching inn. There are two bars to the pub part. The front tap room has a hunting theme with a boar hogs head and a young roe deer head on one wall. An adult deer with full antlers is on the opposite wall next to the roaring fire place. A stuffed fox was also in that area and a cabinet with further stuffed animals including a rabbit. As you cannot see the casks from this side there is a pole with the pump clips of all the available beer. The other bar which I think is known just as 'the bar'. More comfortable seating here with many nautical pictures of ships. You can view all the casks here and there is also enough room for the next casks to come on. On Thursday night; Farmers Puck's Folly, A drop of Nelsons Blood & Oyster Stout with Crouch Vale Amarillo and Adnams Bitter. I think everything apart from the Oyster Stout was �2.80 on the night and �3.00 for the stout.

Nigel Farmer gave us a full tour of the brewery in the stable block to the rear of the pub/hotel. He seems to be happy with the arrangements with the owners who he supplies with his beer. He said that sometimes the Blue Boar get through a cask of Puck's Folly every day. Puck's Folly was created through his love of Amarillo but is very differently hopped with an abundance of goldings.

The toilets are situated in the opposite hotel building which also seems to have a lot of character. From the outside courtyard we could hear the jazz band performing in the room upstairs above the bars. You can see a little up there where there is a rather grand old fireplace. I understand that many local societies use this room for meetings. Great to see that this has just had its 25th rating and has become BITE's number one pub (Current user rating: 8.5/10 (rated by 25 users).

3 Oct 2009 19:00

The Alexandra Tavern, Norwich

Friendly traditional local that I visited last month. Friendly bar staff and customers and I certainly could have spent more time here. On handpump; Thwaites Well Well Well & Lancaster Bomber and rare outlet for Chalk Hill Beers with CHB, Tap & Gold. Apparently the landlord has connections with the owners of Chalk Hill Brewery. Sky Sports news is available on the large TV. The pool table was pretty popular whilst we were there.

9 Sep 2009 00:40