please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Was passing the Old Well Inn by, when I happened to gaze through the window and notice a selection of hand pumps at the bar with pump clips I didn't recognise. So I did an about-turn and I was in!
The layout is a bit sprawling, on entering the front bar there was an old guy who looked like he had been there all day but no sign of any bar staff, so I made my way to the rear/side bar which is fairly narrow and more of a wide corridor really with seating wedged in.
5 pumps greeted me and all were available. Tim Taylor Landlord, Cameron Strongarm, Mithril Boaty McBoatface, White Hot (possibly by Consett Ale Works) and one called Ali (presumably named after Muhammad, but no idea of the brewery).
A half of Boaty McBoatface set me back £1.50. This is a 3.7% ale and was OK, but fell a little short of some of the other Mithril ales I have had in the past. Perhaps my taste buds were still recovering from the sausage roll drink in the Golden Lion.
The pub was quiet at the time of my visit. Perhaps uncomfortably quiet. I stayed in the "corridor" bar which I figured was preferable to sitting with God in the front bar. It is a fairly traditional looking pub at the front half but then beyond the corridor bar is a very stylish restaurant setup with a large conservatory area attached. A group of diners were just leaving in fact.
A bit of a strange experience - perhaps would be better when busier.
|
Is an excellent place for real ale in Barnard Castle with a cracking set of bar staff apart from that miserable red faced old t*at called J**n who is often behind the bar. Why on earth Peter the owner keeps this sullen old sack of pus in a job is beyond me because i dont know anyone else who has such a lack of customer service skills who manages to hold a job behind the bar.
|
Over rated IMHO
Called in on a Sunday afternoon. Miserable bar man, short measure and a too cold pint. Soulless bar/
Maybe I was unlucky.
|
Lovely old pub with a good Cameron's, lots of clutter/decor, friendly staff and locals, and live music.
|
Having tried another pub in Barnard Castle with some disappointment at the beer, we picked up an issue of the CAMRA newsletter and saw an ad for The Old Well, and went there. Good choice. We found it perfectly comfortable, with superbly-kept real ales (some of them very local and special) and a simple but delicious menu. First rate, and we'd recommend it to anyone.
mosey - 15 May 2012 21:28 |
Not a great pub by any standards. It's got way too sprawling a layout and a strange atmosphere that is not a particularly relaxing one. The red-faced barman just looks at you with barely a smile in "welcome" and tries his level-best to make no other small talk even when you talk to him. The beers were in very fine form though; which was welcome, but you just don't feel at ease enough to enjoy them. Does not deserve the higher rating that it has.
|
got to agrre with the last post, we walked into 2 other pubs on sunday afternoon and they had no real at all. then we went to the old well , and i was pleased we did , 5 real ales courage timmy taylors and 3 guests which were from the county durham / nyorks area. the pub itself is a bit deceptive from the street because it looks like a 2 room place but it is very large it consists of 2 bar areas a dining room a consevatory and a fuction room. and a lovely beer garden,which is a suntrap as we found out . if you are reading this review this week they are holding a beer festival at the/wend
|
A couple of us visited this pub en route to a footy game at Hartlepool. Well this pub is excellent,best one for ale in Barnard Castle. 5 real ales were on including Directors,Timothy Taylor Landlord,Camerons Strong Arm and 2 others which were all tasted by us. �2.70 a pint,all clearly kept and served at the perfect temperature. It was very friendly and the Landlord was an excellent host,clearly looking after his customers throughout.Happily cracking away. The pub is also a hotel/B and B and the eating areas were all set out nicely. and it had a nice view of the Castle Walls and beyond from out the back,which would be a nice sun trap in the summer months.We didnt try and food as we had to make haste to the footy later on.
It is head and shoulders above the other pubs we have been to in town on a previous occasion. I would recommend this to any visitor to the town if they want good service and a cracking pint of real ale.
|
Average priced ale (�2.60) but well kept from a range of four (two from York brewery were on I recall). Comfy drinking area.
|
Two years doen the line since it was taken over ( not kingslodge i hasen to add) it has to be the most comfortable pub in the town centre no one else seems to bother about investing in our comfort still has 4 real alea lots of single malts and top notch food.
What do people want? To drink and eat in a shit hole, no charm at all has been lost only comfort & warmth added.
|
Will the manager please get rid of the flat screen in the front lounge, as Sky tv is not in keeping with this fine establishment. Also, can he get rid of the gay sofa`s - its a barnard castle pub not a brothel !
anonymous - 3 Jan 2007 12:03 |
I didn�t know the history of this pub but compared to the other pubs in the town it is a gem. Decent Taylors Landlord, Black Sheep bitter and Directors (oh well, two out of three isn�t bad) and very good food. It is clearly now a foodie pub but before 7pm and after 9pm would also be the best place to drink in town. Given the competition I can forgive the pub its foolish tub chairs!
|
Oh Dear. I Never knew that Kings Lodge had got it! That changes things. I must pop in to see but i suspect more of the kings lodge feel.
shame
real shame....
hope they can create the same atmosphere
|
fab.
nice.
great.
I am 32 family man. this is a great pub/lodge/restaurant/pub/inn/pub.
anonymous - 27 May 2005 00:31 |
Beautiful location on ancient bank section of famous market town. A comfortable snug area on the front with log fire during the (many) winter months, dining area and another lounge area towards the back - food ok. Several guest rooms upstairs, watch out for the constant bells from the church at the top of the bank - has been known to drive some guests mad. Beer garden a delight in the summer, within the castle walls. Beers include Black Sheep, Magnet and Theakstons. Friendly staff and clientele, a decent pub that doesnt have noisey teenage drinkers thank god.
|
