Robin Hood's Retreat, Bishopstonback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This is a pub that was very firmly in the gastro-pub genre until recently with renowned local chef Nathan Muir at the helm and there are still plenty of Michelin and other food guide stickers in the window. I understand that he may have recently moved elsewhere though and the blackboard menu now appears to offer a selection of tapas and lunch dishes. Whilst the rear of the pub looks to be more geared up for dining, the front area is very much for drinking.
It’s an L-shape pub with a curved, wood panelled bar counter in front of you as you go in and decor wise, it’s gastro-pub routes are clearly visible with the usual shades of green and cream paintwork, especially at the rear. Elsewhere though it’s a little more traditional, and there are even some old stained glass windows to one side. The flooring is a mixture of black and white chequered tiles to one side, parquet wood at the front and wood strip towards the rear. An old cast iron fire-place is off to one side and there are a couple of old leather sofa’s in front of the large windows which is a pleasant enough spot to sit and watch the world go by.
There was a good choice of beers on tap with Wickwar’s BOB, London Glory, London Gold, Bath Ales Special (which is a new one on me), Jail Ale, Caledonian Passion Fruit Beer and Brewer’s Boy. Ciders were Addlestones and Stowford Press.
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The beer selection today was very poor - 3 out of 8 on, with the choice being Bombardier, Bob, and one from Thwaites's. The one served was just about OK. Pity, as this used to be a pub that took its ale seriously. Worse, were the smokers outside in the 'non-smoking' area. I pointed this out to the bar person who said, no, it was OK to smoke there. What about the signs said I? (there are two very visible signs stating no smoking on the windows) Er, they must be put on the wrong way around. Not a clever answer. Oh dear - at this rate I will be limiting my pub life to about three pubs.....just ongoing crap service, and serving crap produce (see my review of the 'Pump House') Goodbye Robin Hood's sodding Retreat
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Very well kept beer. Plenty to choose from and good (but not cheap) food of gastro quality. The beers change but when i visited recently there was Wye valley HPA, which was outstanding. Will return.
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8 handpumps featured 5ales incl adnams lighthouse,wye valley hpa,George wright,skinners betty stoggs,we opted for two pints of lighthouse(�6.50)of which were well kept,nice large beer patio at rear,7/10
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Forgot to put this in previous post; pint of 3.9% beer was �3.25. If you go up the Annexe, there's no ale over �2.80. At the moment anyway.
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Eight beers on when I last visited but seven were from the same brewery, ie Cottage. Nothing wrong with Cottage beers, far from it, but a little more variety would be welcome. This used to be a sad old man's pub but then went down the gastro route. Have eaten here a couple of times; yes it's pricey for a pub but good quality. The front of the pub is still set out for just having a drink so it's not just an eating establishment.
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I used to love this pub, but its beer range has seemed to have gone backwards. When living in Bristol, always had a good range of beer on its 8 handpumps, with a good and interesting range of styles and flavors trom micro breweies to entice you with. Went in on Monday, only four ales on, one which turned to be the end of the barrell, and two was the cringeworth Green King IPa (crap beer) and Doombar (common a s muck and not exciting).
This pub can do so much better, but this visit only a 2 score from me.
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Slight return to form with ales from Jennings and (I think) Exe Valley alongside usual suspects such as Doom Bar. Service much better and ale in top notch condition.
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Sorry i mean't me ,and bev or something like that
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went in there briefly today , had about 3 pints , i think it's a pub u need to visit more or less independentley , slight critiscism , probably has 2 big a choice , that's just a personal thing , yeh i know what u mean previous comment , very big emphasis on food , which seems to be the way camra's going , yeh not decided yet , but that said is more than good enough to bev in the gbg
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Fairly dull beer selection last night. Plumped for a well kept pint of Summer Lightening. A shame that the garden has to shut at ten, as it's one of this pub's key selling points. Not many ale pubs with decent gardens in the area. The interior is heavily engineered for vertical drinking, which I am not really find of.
Food good, but very pricey. Beer prices reasonable.
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What happened to all the interesting ales? Last Sat night saw Ruddles County, Butcombe Best and Hobgoblin and some Wickwar rubbish. The barmaid could barely drag herself to serve us. A huge contrast to previous visit, and not worth getting off the bus for.
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A mediocre performance by this pub last night. There was a Camra neds meet up for dark beer that had been ordered in specially but only 2 staff were provided meaning a 15 minute wait for drink. (As an aside the little barmaid was good but the cool dude barman was poor.) The Hanlons stout was incredibly foamy at first,and well short measures abounded but then went suddenly turned to be as flat as hell like coca cola! The Arbor stout was off most of the night but actually shouldn't have been after investigation in the cellar(the brewer was in attendance and was less than amused). And to cap it the BOB was hazy. And then they ran out of glasses-and the barman showed disapproval when well intended helpers took back the empties. Oh yeah and it was 3 quid a pint. The 75 bus thankfully stopped nearby.
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Excellent selection of ales - including from the newish Great Western Brewery, RCH, Skinners and the more common Otter. The ones we tried were in excellent condition. Barman friendly. Definitely one to return to.
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Very expensive food, lack of atmosphere, irritating piped music, and often uninspired choice of beer. I can't really comment on the beer quality, as i don't often stay for a pint, just meet a mate and go across the road to the Flyer.
LukeD - 14 Dec 2008 15:26 |
Good visit yesterday. Pleasant barman and woman. Betty Stoggs from Skinners was the pick-the range was good,Adnams Broadside and Black Sheep Bitter were the best of the rest. Trade was good for Sunday lunch. Yes,an improvement on my previous visit.
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They had eight cask ales on sale when I visited. Didn't try them all, but the ones I did try were all just fine.
Nicely done out with dining area to one side, drinking area to the other. There seemed to be some sort of work on decking for the garden out the back, which would be nice.
Good selection of reading material Independent and guardian for the customers, sun and star for the bar maid.
Food was very good indeed and not at all expensive (�10 for 2 course lunch).
Music was a bit naff but otherwise well worth a visit
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Good range of beer and VERY expensive food. So drink, don't eat.
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Been here a few times,ale was always good,however the "BREWERY OF THE WEEK" concept would put me off a bit-what if you're not a fan of that weeks particular brewery? Was there a few months ago and it was Bath Ales-nothing wrong with Bath Ales at all,but when you have 4 Bath Ales pubs in town and Bath Gem is becoming a more common beer than the ubiquitous Courage Best,well what was the point.
Ate here once and grub was good,though a bit expensive and over glorified. Also in the winter the breeze gusts in the door so at counter boozing can leave u with a chilly ass!!!!!
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Fairly recently refurbished old local's pub. Now has an extensive choice of 6 or 7 real ales which, so far have always been served in excellent condition. (at time of writing, they seem to have a guest brewery every week of so and sell all beers from that brewer....great idea!). Drinking area at front of pub with restaurant out back (haven't tried the food but looks pricey). Hasn't got the cosy atmosphere of a pub like the Hare on the Hill, but if you likes yer real ale this is an essential stop as you stagger up (down) the Gloucester Road
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