please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Sadly, the governor here has died (the Daily Mail reports) from coronavirus - having served at the bar, during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
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Finding myself alone and temporarily free (for reasons, dear reader, which need not detain us) I decided to do a surveillance pass on the Beehive.
Well, it has much to recommend it. It is a period building among the more compact Georgian terraces behind the grander splendour of this lovely town. Its multi-roomed but basic interior retains plenty of historic character. It featured about six ales when I called, and offered display jars and tasters. The menu sported hearty traditional fare, such as Tom's this, Brian's that and Belinda's the other. The appetising smell of baking pies was apparent from fifty paces as I approached the pub too.
However, there were some spoilers. There was a detectable canine odour, and worse still, a doggy bowl by the fireplace. Well-controlled and presentable dogs are to be tolerated in some (but not all) pubs, but absolutely never to be encouraged, especially in ones which also purport to be eateries. Among the newspapers on offer (I am being generous) the only national one was the Daily Mail. (I think that that deserves a two-point mark down alone). Worse still though, was that on this cold March day the stove was unlit, and instead contained two flickering night-lights A group of middle-aged men sat, like me, wearing their coats and jackets. When a customer remarked how cold it was he was blustered with a counter that it was "Spring now" and "Tee-shirts and shorts weather".
So six-out-of-ten, for a pub which could so easily have scored very highly.
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I liked this pub, not so sure now. Bar staff appeared a bit sniffy and locals first seemed to be the order of the day. My colleague and i both ordered pies, mine was fine but the other one was cold and was returned and replaced without question.
I had to ask to get the beers topped up, served well short. got to mark it down.
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My pub of the night - taken in with four others out the GBG.
Exceptional Timothy Taylor Landlord.
Lovely pub.
Photos at my blog - http://bit.ly/2d1vJ0u
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Back here again, really nice back street corner pub good food and beer. Exmoor Fox and Moles Auld Lang Syne were good. Pity the logs for the fire were damp, it was just about alight.
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Back street corner pub. Wooden floors and furniture, small garden at rear and front garden/patio not to be used after 9:30. Bath Ales Gem £3.30. Must be nice in winter when the large fire is roaring. Bar food was ok
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Nice pub with good selection of ales (Harveys on the go at the time). Clearly popular and a good atmosphere, but in an area desperate for a champion pub the interior is a bit shabby.
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Visited here on Sunday - very decent backstreet boozer. Pleasant staff - all ladies - who seemed to be reasonably knowlegable of ale though they were struggling with a lively 'Pride of Oxford ale' & a barrell change for the Gem.
Cheltenham SPA was nicely kept.
Food choice looked promising & ambience of the place is welcoming.
Worth finding.
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Race week the place was busy and lively, nice little pub, spolied only by one barman with the manners of a stone. Not the first time his miserable looking face has served me. Still, don't let that detract from the atmopshere of a decent British pub, do they pump the smell of sheep shit in? Only the Beehive knows...
steve - 19 Mar 2012 14:34 |
Visited this establishment during "race week" I had booked a table on line as I had heard good reports and they also accept "Taste Card".
Arrived to be told their E-mail wasn�t working, I tried to explain that I had booked a table and that I had wanted confirmation about my discount card (Usual restrictions applied but not during race week).
Eventually a table was found and food ordered, Guinness was fine and food was tasty and well presented.
Problems then started when paying for the evening, my taste card was refused by the waitress and I asked to speak with the manager.
Gentlemen duly appeared and told me he didn�t want me to speak as he was talking. We were told that 100% we would be paying for the meal, but we were then offered a concession of not paying for the drink (which to be fair was an amicable settlement) Before we were given a chance to discuss the offer the "Manager" changed his mind and we were ordered off the premises with an instruction to the "bouncer" "these people are leaving now".
So to summarise, Food good, beer fine, venue back street, customer service.... I will leave that to you to decide!
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Amiable back street pub. Warm welcoming interior; with mixed crowd - young, old, scruffy, suited - all civilized. Useful courtyard garden for the summer and gazebos for rainy day smokers.
Ale selection is often a bit limited - but always well kept. Eg good Doom on 15/10.
Very competent kitchen delivering good quality, traditional fare with a modern update. Restaurant upstairs.
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Good local pub, friendly staff and great food!
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Local back street pub. Hard to get served when busy. Real Ale acceptable but glass required topping up on both visits to bar.
Seemed to cater more for locals than strangers.
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Love this place, love the Bath Ales and the scruffy inside but the food's great and the atmosphere lovely. One of the best in Cheltenham and in the lovely Suffolks area to boot.
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