Dolphin Inn, Shrewsburyback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Dolphin was the first stop in Shrewsbury yesterday. It's a Joules pub on the edge of town that has a nice feel to it, with a couple of rooms and bare floorboards. Joules beers - No. 37, Slumbering Monk & Pale Ale are supplemented Bespoke Over A Barrel & Pennine Hair Of The Dog. Cider was Old Rosie. Nice pub.
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Visited yesterday after not doing so for a number of weeks a long as I was aware that it was the Christmas Carols afternoon and I knew from one or two people that it has been a cracking event in the past couple of years and yesterday was no exception. What a great atmosphere, turnout and a fantastic laugh. The whole pub joined in the singing and the 2 renditions of the 12 Days of Christmas were a joy to behold and take part in. The singing was underpinned by a 4 piece brass band which was superb and really enhanced the festive feel. Many customers were sporting their Christmas jumpers, one lad in particular I was told takes it very seriously having won in the past 2 years. There was mulled wine as well as the usual fine beers etc. I expected to see the landlord for this special event but as usual he did not appear and over-hearing a couple of customer conversations it is evident that he has not set foot in the place for 12 months - absolutely disgraceful. A person whose name appears above the door should make every effort to be there on, at least, a regular basis if he can't be there all the time. He doesn't deserve the staff he has working there as he obviously has no time for them and I doubt appreciates the sterling job they do running the place in his absence, especially the blonde barlady who was a brilliant Master of Ceremonies yesterday. I hope to be able to get there more regularly in 2016.
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I have visited on several occasions over past months, I still await my first viewing of the landlord who, I was told, is virtually never there regarding which I have added some comments below. Pub has been very well refurbished and bears the Joule's Brewery name. 2 separate rooms inside, very well appointed and comfortable, the bar area having an open fire and the other room a log burner. Terrace area outside with covered smoking section and several 'picnic bench' type seats. Locals are very happy to engage with you if you are not a regular. 3 Joule's beers on hand pulls along with 2 guests, Old Rosie cider and the usual array of keg offerings. On my most recent visit I sampled the 2 guests, Thornbridge's Kipling and Oakham's Scarlet Macaw. Both palatable but neither left me wanting another. Not sure what it was but just not quite right. There is a menu board but it jut said 'New winter menu coming, old menu food still available' (or wording to that effect). If you don't know what the 'old menu' food was you have to ask. Why can't they just sort out and publish the winter menu, surely only a matter of deciding what they are to put on, ensure they can source the ingredients and prepare the food and swap over from the summer menu to the winter one 'overnight'? However, On seeing the food that was ordered being brought to the table it did look really appetising and seemed to offer very good value for money. Referring again to the landlords infrequent visits. I think on the occasions I have been there I have been served by all of the staff members who for the most part are friendly and welcoming with the exception of the Scottish barman who I have witnessed being brusque and on 1 occasion downright unfriendly, bordering on insulting with a customer. He certainly needs to understand that he is in a service industry where his attitude to he customer is paramount. Perhaps the fact that he was drinking behind the bar affects his behaviour in this context? Perhaps if the landlord spent more time there the negatives I refer to above would be addressed. So all in all a good pub that I would recommend to anyone who has not been before despite the issues that need to be resolved which, once done, would I'm sure' push up it's average mark on this website.
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The Dolphin Pub has been renovated and reopened by the Joules Brewery. Visually, it’s very attractive, with plenty of wood and brass on show, leather seats, and a decked outdoor area for smokers (overlooking the railway). The bar is central as you enter, with a U-shaped seating area spreading either side of it. There’s a dart board to the left extreme.
But there is a problem: Beer. We worked our way through all the Joules hand pumps without finding anything we remotely liked. ‘Bland and insipid’ sprung to mind, being hard to differentiate them much. Turning to the two guest pumps, ‘Bass’ and Muirhouse ‘Tick Tock’, both failed to score any better. Wall displayed pump clips from many great breweries including Thornbridge and Oakhams left a tantalising glimpse of what had been before. We noticed another visitor leave half of his only pint unfinished as he went.
We liked the physical appearance of The Dolphin, much good work has been done here, though I’d drop the dartboard as no-one dared sit in the nearby seats despite being quite busy. We really wanted to stay longer, and had been given high expectations from locals’ reports, but they were dashed. It reminded us of our impression of the Bricklayers Arms a few years ago, Joules having likewise delivered a lovely interior but mediocre beer.
If the Dolphin could keep at least one reliable guest beer on, it would be worth the trip to visit. But with the in-house brews so dull, it’ll be a while before we risk it again.
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Since my review in August 2013 I regret to say that some minor negative aspects have surfaced but to keep things in context I still feel it is a great pub. Crusty rolls are offered for sale but in fact they are usually soft white baps, why not simply describe them as such? Frequently have run out of bar snacks crisps etc. sometimes one of the hand pumps is not utilised as the next beer is not ready. Steve, the landlord, is seldom there though the staff who are do a sterling job. So all in all some simple matters that, by and large, should be simple to correct to bring standards back to where they where when it re-opened. Still definitely worth a visit.
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Must endorse the last review. Nipped in early Saturday evening. Not a large pub. A mite cosy and minimalist and the beer terrace has a fairly close-up view of the railway line, but this looks a fair effort by the new licensees.
As stated by k100rsblack, Joule's Pale Ale, Joules Blonde and Slumbering Monk are on tap and at £2.70 a pint it's hard to complain. Other beverages available included Wren's Nest and the lethal Old Rosie cider - strengths clearly marked in large letters on a chalk board.
The look to be recruiting for darts and dominoes teams. Door to the beer terrace is in the line of fire for the dartboard though.
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Reopened on 01/08/2013. Fully refurbished in the style of a traditional ale house. Steve the new landlord very enthusiastic, very keen to ensure all customers have the best experience. Limited but high quality bar snack menu at reasonable prices. Selling all 3 Joules beers plus rotating guest beers plus usual cider, lager etc choice. Prices are probably the lowest in the town. All in all a place well worth a visit even though it is slightly out of the town centre. Great to see a pub reopening given so many have closed for good.
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CLOSED!! It's up for sale and locals say it shut 2 months ago. There are rumours of the Three Tuns brewery being interested, but our journey was wasted.
Roy22 - 22 Nov 2011 18:51 |
Good pub, not a bad selection of beers, seemed a decent setting, dogs in one room, big leather settees in the other, had a bit of a snooty locals type of feel about it, only ever so slightly, mind. More than welcome.
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Top pub!!!! No pretention. Great beer and pleasant company.
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Late review from November. Went to sample their own beers but none were on. Both the Cairngorm and Salopian beers we had were in perfect condition though, and it was a true locals pub with a good atmosphere.
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Proper locals pub with several handpumps. 4 were in action when I visited, sadly none of them from the onsite brewery. Had a pint of Wye Valley Brew 69, this was well kept but on reflection was a little strong for a first pint. Pub also has a quiz machine.
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Excellent range of beers, including a selection of beers from their own brewery. Decent wine and whisky selection too. Good value, quality food using produce from local suppliers. Nice, sunny terrace if you're a smoker.
anonymous - 2 Aug 2007 08:00 |
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