please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Bit of a trek up to get to but well worth the effort. Plenty of well kept ales on and a good atmosphere. The Milk Street brews were all in good nic.
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Visited 18/8/12 . Lucly old Frome having this great pub to drink in with their lovely ales. Well worth a visit.
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A really good solid pub selling their own (Milk Street) beer and admirably, no commercial larger at all. Really nice mix of custom from all over Frome and beyond. Again, I don�t get up here as often as I would like, but always love it when I do.
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I have recently started visiting this pub and now regard it as my Local. The managers and all staff here have been exemplary on every occasion I have visited. I have always had a friendly welcome from the staff who have been very attentive and obviously really care about making your Griffin experience the best it can be. The clientele has always struck me as friendly. I have always had no problem striking up an interesting conversation with people there. Oh and the beer. The beer. The beer. Wonderful I haven't had a pint that wasn't a pleasure.
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The Griffin does exactly what it says on the tin - fantastic beer, great welcome. But look beyond that and it is so much more. A stunning music scene, its own brewery, and community support for events all over Frome and the surrounding villages. With some pubs you wonder why on earth they ever went into hospitality - with the Griffin, you know why the minute you walk in and order a pint. If you know it, keep supporting. If you don't, get in there. You don't know what you're missing.
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Firstly, just to say this is my local and I programme most of the live music here. Whilst I respect everyones right to have a say, I think the post below is misrepresentative - I have never found ANY of the managers rude or desperate to get rid of us or anyone else. The pub generally stays open later at the weekends anyway and does tend to get busy around the 23.30 mark. Anyway like I said, each to his own view. The thing I continue to marvel about Frome in general is how as a small country town, it continues to hit well above its weight - The Griffin reflects this in the consistent quality of the ale brewed and served, as well as the general friendly, relaxed atmosphere. I regularly come down here with the family on a Sunday to meet friends. The Frome Folk Festival has adopted the Griffin as its Official Fringe Pub and also Milk St brewing the Official Festival Ale, the Community CHoir of Frome performed to an absolutely rammed Griffin at Christmas, where free mice pies were on offer, as well as mulled wine and some of the darker, heavier brews put on over the winter period ( watch out for the Bobbled!!). Finally the music scene in Frome is thriving and The Griffin features bands from all over the country and even Europe. In an uncertain climate, where communities are struggling, The Griffin provides a centre for people to meet, at reasonable prices ( beers under �3 a pint) and could teach some of the larger, less personal establishments a thing or two about what people, be they local or visiting, require from a hostelry.
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nice,pub, decent beer, terrible landlord - abrupt manner etc. I've been in this pub a few times and they had a couple of nice young ladies front of house but the latest bar manager couldn't wait to kick us out and shut up shop about 11.30 on a sat night won't be going back till he's gone
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GBG listed so the beer was obviously in good condition, I had the Funky Monkey which was a tasty drop. Dogs are aloud in. I went there on a Monday and it opened at 5 so no lunch time scooping to be had here.
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A proper pub, perhaps a little pretentious at times, but good beer most of the time. The clientele mixed, a bit cliquey, definately Guardian reading tendencies but don't let this put you off.
Good and lively local music scene, well worth a visit.
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First visit in 8 years last night, still a great pub, excellent ale and cider, good size beer garden and a good crowd. If you are anywhere near Frome, go to this pub!
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The third essential pub in Frome after the ' Lamb ' & 'Lamb & Fountain'. Very friendly, a good atmosphere and excellent Milk Street beers. Shame it doesn't open until 4pm but never mind.
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The Griffin is a great little pub. Always a warm welcome and great beer, what more could you ask for? The fire is great on these cold nights, but looking forward to lovely warm summer evenings sat in the garden with friends. I would highly recommend you come and give it a try.
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Fantastic pub, just good beer and conversation with plenty of live music of all varieties thrown in. Half a dozen great beers brewed on the premises, recently undergoing a bit of a spruce up - The Griffin is exactly what a real ale pub should be like!
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The obvious place to go for music lovers and real ale lovers alike. Great bands playing regularly and a friendly atmosphere always.
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aaah at last, a pub to feel at home in. The Griffin positively oozes "come in , sit down,forget your troubles, have a pint, relax and then keep realxing until you fall over...great stuff.
I happened to visit on a friday night when a band was hammering out some great rockin music..all part of a regular and vibrant local music scene by all accounts. and judging by the amount of appreciative punters obviously having a great time..The Griffins blend of self brewed real ales,relaxed hospitality and willingness to put on regular live music is just what the doctor ordered down these parts...
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Well ! can,t think of any other pubs like this in frome,a gem of a drinking house . A whole host of entertainment on a regular basis with some of the best bands in and around frome regularly playing of an evening , this high standard of music and home brewed beer are a real treat with nothing to pay on the door and what can only be described as freindly rustic pub with a medevil all comers welcome atmosphere. Most certainly a pub for all , and as wolfy smith would have said " power to the people .
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The Griffin is an absolute gem! A very friendly and popular place with an eclectic patronage and void of that eurolager stuff.It's similar in some ways to The Bell in Walcot Street, Bath. Having spent a couple nights in the pub over the holiday I tried most of the range of beers for academic and research purposes of course! The 'Beer' at 5% is probably the flagship and very popular. Their seasonal offerings included Bobble which comes with a warning 'beware' at 6.something % it has generated a few casualties, this writer included.
I note another review had very negative comments which are somewhat misplaced due to the fact that the bar and main room has been going through a major refit and clearly some disruption was inevitable I guess. The priority was evidently to keep the pub operational, which is a great relief. Have a look at their website to get a flavour of the place.Oh and note great local bands play there usually Sat/Sunday's again on the website.
Happy drinking everyone!
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The Griffin is fast becoming my favourite pub in Frome. The beer is delicious- it's all brewed on premises, and the friendly staff always offer a taster when a new ale comes on. It's in the middle of having a big re-furb and although its not quite finished, its looking good- with a new bar and a beautiful large stained glass window. Theres been loads of live music on recently- every weekend. I'm a particular fan of the weekly BBQ, aptly named Sausage Sunday.
Overall, I think it's a great little boozer- great atmosphere, lovely beer. The Griffin definately appears to be bucking the trend, and continuing to provide drinkers with a great traditional pub.
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As a regular of the Griffin (8 years), I think I have to take issue with bigmagicdog over the comments he's made. I defy any pub, no matter where it's located, to have an atmosphere with only 6 people. Have you considered the smoking area at the back? It has been known for the bar to be empty and everyone in the courtyard. Were the bar stools in your way as you approached the bar? I cannot defend the ignorance of the person who left their bag in your way but surley you could have asked them to move it, or walk around it (there were only 6 people in, after all)? The bar is in the middle of re-decoration at the moment, which is fairly self evident. As for the "northern heads" the staff will always top up a pint if the customer is not satisfied with the serving. You seem to think that the bar-maid thanking you for your custom is a bad thing. In short, you would appear to be nit-picking - in the time that I have used the Griffin I have never had cause for complaint with the welcome or service; in fact it was these two things (and the beer) that made me come back again. Yes, pubs have quiet nights and the Griffin is no exception. There are regular events at the Griffin and the pub is heavily involved in the Frome Festival. Come down on a different night and you will find a different pub to the one you visited. People are friendly and from all walks of life - a good, eclectic mix. At the end of the day the Griffin is a proper pub; no frills, no gastro, no lager, no trouble and really, really great beer. I mean no offence to bigmagicdog; I have a different opinion which everyone is entitled to, that is all.
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Following a news article in Western Daily Press we went to the Griffin to taste their real ale. We only had one pint, The Usual, which we thought bland for a 4.1 abv. There was no bite or aftertaste but overall it was a nice beer. The reason we only had one pint was that we found the place lacking in atmosphere. There were six people in the bar on our arrival, and six when we left. It seemed that as two came in two would leave! Walking from the bar to a window seat I had to negotiate randomly placed stools (could the staff not replace them when quiet?) and baggage belonging to one customer who had blocked the walkway and made no attemt to move his stuff. Pushing it out of the way with my foot, as I was carrying two pints, whilst making the comment 'do not worry I shall move it for you!' brought no response except that he did move it about 5 minutes later as he wanted to get to the toilets. Talk about ignorant.
The bar servery had no lighting just a bland background but I have heard since that there is supposed to be a stained glass mirror being installed.
However whilst being served I tried to make conversation with the barmaid, as I usually do when visiting for the first time, but I was cut dead. I was presented with two pints of The Usual with 'northern heads!' The barmaid returned to the corner of the bar and continued her loud conversation with two regulars, who seemed stuck to the bar stools, discussing road accidents whilst stuffing her face and drinking.
On leaving we returned our glasses to the bar and as we opened the door to leave she came back to planet Earth and shouted 'thank you, goodbye'.
Not a very good welcome for two obvious first time visitors.
This pub in Frome is definately off our visiting list.
Marks for atmosphere = 0
Marks for bar service = 0
Marks for being made welcome = 0
Marks for the real ale = 8
This is the worst comment I have ever made about a Frome pub.
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Proper pub has Jazz on there sometimes as well. Brews its own (not a fan). Great little locals place.
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A fantastic brew pub, its welcoming and friendly with a fine mix of locals. Top pub
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All beer on tap brewed on site! Outstanding proper little local. Hope to stay longer next time.
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I was a little disappointed with the beer in The Griffin after enjoying Milk Street brewery beer in other pubs.
Still a quality �proper pub�.
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Biased of Frome again, awards received for entry level brews so far; Amarillo 4.3% winner of Salisbury beer fest, Funky Monkey 4.0% runner up Poole beer fest & Beer 5% Supreme Champion Poole beer festival.
Come & try for yourselves
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The best pub in town, even if a bit cliquey. Get Beer or Zig Zag stout if its on, some of the entry-level brews can be a bit insipid. Girls like elderfizz!
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This is a great little pub, and very popular. The ale is from the Milk Street Brewery (brewed on the premises) and is always of excellent quality. There are also some unique choices for the drinker (including raspberry and elderflower flavoured beers). A diverse, and well behaved clientele, and various forms of entertainment on offer. Highly Recommended.
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I am very biased as I am one of the owners but even if I wasn't I would still recommend this pub. Interesting people in the bar to talk to, well run & with a great choice of beers brewed on-site. One of Frome's gems.
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Brilliant. Just brilliant. If you go to Frome, you have to go to this pub. And if you don't appreciate the superb beer, brewed in Nick's microbrewery, the fantastic artwork that adores the walls, the selection of live artists and the great locals, then shame on you.
anonymous - 26 Jul 2005 11:56 |
