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Hop Pole, Bath

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user reviews of the Hop Pole, Bath

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

This is one of the best pubs we found in Bath for food. Really nice little pub. 5 beers from Bath Ales. Great location and enclosed beer garden.
booziechick - 6 Apr 2015 05:54
We went to The Hop Pole whilst visiting Bath over a girls weekend. Nice place with plenty of character. I had an excellent Belgian beer called SteenBrugge Blond, there are some fantastic ales on tap too, my favourite was Barnsey. The food was delicious, we all sampled each others food, all cooked perfectly and tasted incredible. I can guarantee if I'm ever in Bath again I'll be straight back to The Hop Pole.
hoplover - 14 Oct 2013 18:30
A traditional Bath Ales pub in every respect. Wooden floors, wooden chairs, but still a comfortable atmosphere. Nice beer garden out the back (as long as the TA aren't being too noisy next door) with a variety of shaded areas for hot days.

usual range of Bath Ales, well kept, and the usual range of good quality food.

Can get very busy, particularly on hot days as its opposite the park.
pubscouter - 31 Jul 2013 21:04
A Bath Ales pub serving food. The main attraction though is the large garden. Usual range of Bath Ales beers with prices from about �3.20. Quality was fine and service quick and polite - not that the place was busy in the early afternoon!

Judging by the number of staff there I assume that it gets busy at times - shame that they can't find one to serve behind the bar who is trained in changing barrels!
cheshirecat - 2 Jun 2012 09:27
Visited here with a friend on Easter Monday after watching Bath City get thrashed by Forest Green Rovers. We were going to walk past and head into town but the torrential rain forced us indoors.

I ordered two pints of Bath Ales Dark Side and a packet of crisps which came to �8.10. The crisps were 80p meaning it was �3.65 a pint. On a previous visit I think I paid �3.20 for a pint of Gem. I remember when the Hop Pole was one of the more affordable pubs in Bath. Not long until it's �4.00 a pint !
mattbeer - 14 Apr 2012 12:05
This used to be my local .. great good but (as stated below) not much beer variety being a Bath Ales pub, although they always tasted good.
sfb - 8 Jul 2011 15:57
A bit quiet for a Friday night - that is until families with kids arrived including a crying baby - it became a playground - cue exit. Shame as the beer, particularly Skinners was very tasty.
THATOLDMAN - 12 Mar 2011 21:16
It's a Bath Ales pub so what do you get? Gem, Spa, Barnstormer, Golden Hare...........blah blah etc. Nice pub, boring ale choice but served in good condition.
Dandillus - 2 Mar 2009 20:43
I always like coming here. Gem and Spa always well kept (and for some reason 10p cheaper for a pint than in The Salamander in town!) Great beer garden - gets very busy in the summer though and the interior is small. New managers are friendly and always make you feel welcome.
mattbeer - 10 Aug 2008 23:55
Excellent pub. Very welcoming, nice decor, excellent beer, good food, tho a little pricey. Great garden.
Interesting mix of clientele. Can't think of any reason to fault it.
MrBlue - 24 Jun 2008 16:44
Excellent beer and friendly welcome. 4 Bath Ales were on offer plus Butcombe Gold all in great condition. The food is OK too if slightly more expensive than elsewhere.
Overall, recommended.
Steve45 - 25 May 2008 18:02
I take most of it back. Went in on a Friday night and really enjoyed the place. One minor gripe may be that the selection of beers was a bit poor, only SPA and Butcombe Gold which are too similar. In retrospect I may have been a bit quick to judge, mea culpa.
HaggisBasher - 21 Aug 2007 11:08
Very much with haggisbasher, decent beer, nice garden, but lacks atmosphere. Good half-way stop between the Royal oak and the Centre.
Dylanwing - 21 Jul 2007 12:53
Happened to pop in on Saturday and was rewarded with a fine pint of Butcombe Gold (guest) followed by an equally superb Wild Hare. Lunch was prompt and very tasty and the terrace out the back was pretty crowded, at least until the rubgy on the TV started.

I'd recommend this pub without hesitation! It even has rare Budvar on draft.
jonno_ - 29 May 2007 15:30
To call this just another Bath Ales pub is to entirely miss the point as this was the very FIRST Bath Ales pub. And what's wrong with that? Very carefullt renovated and well decorated, probably the best al fresco drinking/eating area in Bath and never less than exemplarily kept ales. And often a guest too. I suspect that 'Basher went there at an obscure time or day for when the Hop Pole is full - and it often is - it's a most convivial pub with a genuinely mixed clientele. One of the best pubs in a city with a very fine selection of pubs.
CJG - 19 May 2007 17:07
Just another Bath Ales pub. The menu is slightly overpriced considering the portions you get. the beer is the usual Bath Ales selection ( whoopee ). Nice beer garden but the place lacks atmosphere. and whats thw point of having a telly when its too small to watch the sport on!!
HaggisBasher - 6 Apr 2007 09:12
I find myself in agreement with the last review; this is a comfortable, spacious, friendly Bath Ales pub serving top-notch beer, and good (if a little pricey) food.
It is populated by a more heterogeneous bunch than ealier commentators suggest. I am a real ale fan, but without a beard, and middle-class but defiantly non-pink. Yet I found myself amongst a pleasingly diverse crowd when last here and specific labelling just can't be applied. For every Henry and Henrietta there was a solid gold Bath accent to be heard. Most imprtantly, it is the kind of place that is ignored by yobs (I believe there are a few even in Bath!), which can only be of benefit to the discerning pubgoer.
A very pleasant place in the Summer months when the garden can be used for some mellow afternoon quaffing.
Another string to Bath Ales' ever-expanding bow.
TWG - 16 Oct 2006 13:38
This is a cross between a restaurant and a pub- the pub only does food at lunchtimes, with a good selection of sandwiches and light bites. The restaurant is to the rear, as well as the pub's beer garden. Bath Ales are one of my favourites so I can't fault the drinks, and they have alot of other bottled and tapped beers such as cherry, white and organic lager! Really nice atmosphere and well decorated, had lunch here once and ended up staying until the evening! One of the best in bath- probably tied with the Bell and Raven.
lg06111985 - 1 Aug 2006 11:01
Ok, if you don't mind being seated amongst sandal wearing, beard toting real ale drinkers, or so-called middle-class pinkos, who would feel more at home in a poncey wine bar, but come here thinking that it's a "real" local. In our opinion, it's near been anywhere near as good since Barry and Elaine left. (He did cook for the Queen, you know!!)

A pleasant spot for a summer afternoon's drinking, but perhaps doesn't live up to its reputation, and for value for money, there are far better choices in the vicinity, with more charming gardens and staff.
MCC - 11 Nov 2005 22:07
Great Bath Ales pub, nice atmosphere and garden, food a tad pricey but well worth it!
JockStrap - 2 Sep 2005 14:26

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