please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Great unspoilt friendly basic boozer. Beer is served straight from the barrel (in most cases). Check opening times.
|
Visited on 1 February with Steve to see the mighty U’s postponed match at Peterborough and the third pub before returning to the Brewery Tap. Excellent pub, one side of which is rather like sitting in someone’s front room, the bar has only a couple of pumps the rest of the ales are in the back room behind a glass partition and served by gravity. A very helpful grid chart shows the beers on offer with a colour code guiding you to bitter, dark, light etc. I went for a Bateman’s stout which was pretty good though which unfortunately had to compete with the wonderful Sooty Stout in the Brewery Tap, I also had a pint of Bateman’s bitter from the handpump and though ok was way too warm. Steve had a half of the Amaretto stout which was pretty strong and I doubt a pint would have been feasible anyway given the strength and pronounced coffee taste. Great pub though. 7.5/10
|
Beer heaven in Peterborough for the last 18 months but the initial buzz seams to have fizzled out. Fantastic range of beers and great atmosphere but pick your nights carefully. Some beers seem v tired and have obviously hung around a bit and if you don't like ukelele's avoid Thursday. To many Batemans and Oakham beers for my taste but still well worth a visit.
|
EDIT - sorry, got my notes wrong - Oldershaw's is, of course, a brewery local to Peterborough and not from Manchester!
|
For some reason or other, this is NOT in the Good Beer Guide 2012, which is bizarre because it does exactly what CAMRA want it to do - serves beer direct from the cask via gravity only, from a cellar directly behind the bar visible through a large window. Curious decision by the local branch to omit it.
The range of beer, using several from Bateman's , together with several from the local area as well as two from Manchester (Oldershaw's & Phoenix) and one from Newcastle (Mordue), was superb. Highlight of the evening was the Bateman's Salem Porter.
There are other comments below about the fairly recent refurbishment and the gloominess of the landlord. Well, although initially unsmiling, the landlord was happy to talk about the cellar and the pub itself, so you just need to let him warm up a little. With regard to the layout, I am disappointed to hear the original bar was replaced and I do understand the comment about an unevenness in the new layout, as the two rooms immediately inside the entrance door are comfortably furnished in a traditional way, but the bar itself sits uneasily at the back and looks more like a nondescript social club bar than what you would exepct to find in a 400 year old building. As the glasses are all kept in the cellar for ease of filling, that should allow more room in the bar-area, but there is a large overhead shelf that almost hangs down in fron tof the bar staff and lends a cramped feel to the vicinity of the serving area itself.
Having rattled on for so long about this aspect, I must make it clear this does not detract at all from the experience of freshly drawn pints and the overall impression of a very fine pub.
|
Do you like your real ale? Cancel everything and come to this pub which has not changed any of its decor / f&f for 30 years and serves around 8 ales all straight from the see through cellar behind the bar. There is one lager (Amstel I recall) which is tucked right up againt the wall, its all about the ale here and its the best temple for that. Combine a visit here to the very close by (but get directions) Coalheavers Arms
|
It has great selection of bitters which chance constantly, along with staff that are easy going, pleasant and efficient. I see coming here as a treat and often take my CAMRA friends when they come over to Peterborough to stay.
Before the smoking ban this place could only be injured for an hour, as you would choke to death from the contained fag smoke. Now that the ban in place and the smokers are banished to a beer garden round the back, this refurbished pubs rates as of my favourite places in Peterborough.
They also have a dart board, selection board games and lots of single malt whisky and foreign lagers to offer.
|
A GREAT PUB WITH GREAT BEER...
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE PUB CAT?
|
A lovely, unusual little pub. A great choice of excellent beers, politely and efficiently served straight from the barrels. Recommended!
|
Trainman's review is a good one - I've been going here for 15 years or more and also preferred the old-fashioned layout with the upholstered homely lounge and the more basic but comfortable bar. The pub is still very good, but seems to have lost some warmth and character, and the landlady is someone who does not like (even positive) criticism, and can look askance if one ask questions about the beers. Nonetheless, there has been an attempt to marry tradition with modern facilities, and one should applaud the effort if not always its realisation
|
Bateman�s XXXB, Salem Porter, GHA Pale, Burton Bridge Bamboozler, Castle Rock Harvest Pale, Everards Sunchaser, Derby �Dino & Pete�s Breakfast Blonde�, Digfield IPA, Brewsters Daffy�s Elixir. What was the vault has red tiled floor and beams sport hanging jugs, the front of what was the lounge is still carpetted, BUT the central bar which used to serve both has been knocked through and replaced by a �new wood� floor and bar at the rear of the pub open to both sides of what is now an oddly unbalanced U-shape. The large window to the tap-room (for it is from here that all beers are dispensed by gravity) is a very nice touch, but I�m afraid I did not like the unneccessary change of layout and my voicing an opinion against the vandalism briefly irked the landlady, under whose auspices the change evidently happened, though she remained polite when I returned to the bar. It�s lost something, including the double-jokers we played on our first pre-structural-change visit.
|
Late review from October. What a lovely pub belonging to Batemans yet giving so many from other micros too. Interesting way to serve the beer, and the Downton and Phoenix we had were in tip top condition.
|
Traditional friendly Batemans owned pub. Its stone built and dates back to the 17th century. Totally no hand pulls or usual fizz/keg choices, fantastic. The choice is cask ale, real (rough) cider or Belgium or German beer in bottles. There was a choice of 12 different beers available all poured straight from the cask. Behind the bar is a glass fronted tap room where you can see your beer being poured before it arrives. 4 Batemans ales plus guests Castle Rock Harvest Pale & Black Gold, Mauldons Mole Trap, Hambleton Dazzle & Daze, Oldershaw Alma's Brew, Fyne Ales Avalanche and Dark Star Smoked. I took a photo of the available beer but on a busy afternoon the last guest ale is blocked by a customer. Special credit should go to the landlord/landlady and to Batemans for making such a fantastic pub. All the ale tasted was in top form and the pricing was reasonable as well. Our pre football visiting group enjoyed this pub enormously.
|
A small and welcoming little pub that was packed on my visit (a Saturday afternoon when Posh were at home). Two seperate drinking areas that are joined at the end where they both feed into a bar with a large tap room behind. There was a fantastic range of beer, including the wonderful Dark Star Smoked which was exceptional. This pub really is a gem for ale drinkers.
|
Very good drinkers pubs, Batemans beer very good (less evidence of guest beers on my visit); very popular with a good mix of custom.
|
It completely changed inside (in my opinion to the positive) since my last holidays.
Beer and bar staff has always been very good, so it was this time.
Very friendly welcome as well.
|
Great boozer for the real ale fan. And what's better no euro-fizz.
|
Absolutely wonderful pub. A genuine community pub with a warm welcome for non locals like me. A great selection of beers served straight from the cask - I had Batemans mild and Castle Rock Harvest Pale today and both were superb. Why aren't there more pubs like this?
|
Excellent Pub,check out the Pork Pies, beautiful
|
Another pub in some one's front room, but friendly staff and excellent ale. A little bit out of the way from the city centre.
|
This is one of the very best pubs I have visited in the UK. 10-12 real ales gravity fed, friendly, a proper locals place that welcomes strangers.
anonymous - 24 Mar 2006 20:33 |
Great local with friendly staff and excellent gravity-poured beer. Cosy and comfortable. MikeB understates the decrepitude of the furniture, but it's all part of the character of a very good place indeed.
|
10 out of 10. It don't get any better than this. If you like real ale this is the best in town
|
Great beer, and served from a tap room!. The place could with a bit of a spruceup though. Overall, a great real ale fans pub.
|
Must say the Batemans Beer is absolutely spot on at the moment.
The xxxb & Dark Lord are superb & the seasonals Miss Saucy & Spring Breeze @ 4.2% are good too.
Looking forward to VE day Bitter 4.3%
& Middle Wicket, (July).
anonymous - 20 Apr 2005 09:51 |
great pub, the landlords miserable
|
Excellent two room pub owned by Batemans. Normally three Bateman beers and seven regularly changing guest beers. No hand pumps. All served straight from the casks in the cellar. Three traditional ciders/perries. European bottled beers. No keg/smooth beers of any kind. No juke box/fruit machines/TV/muzak. No food except locally made pork pies and pasties. Voted local CAMRA pub of the year 2005. Not to be missed if you are visiting Peterborough.
|
Still an excellent pub after Batemans takeover.
POTY 2004 Peterborough.
anonymous - 19 Jan 2005 20:06 |
Still an excellent Pub, went during the PBoro Fest and enjoyed the atmosphere and decent beers. Anyone know where Irvine & Paula went as they seem to go to no festivals.
TC - 1 Sep 2004 19:26 |
Now you have an easy and enjoable crawl in the London Road / Oundle Road.
The Palmerston, The Peacock & The Coalheavers.
Taidg - 29 Jul 2004 18:49 |
Oakham Ales in better nick than their own brewery tap; Newby Wyke, Church End also in good form; but the Abbeydale - outstanding!!!
B - 25 Jul 2004 14:31 |
Surprised nobody else has reported on this drinker's paradise recently. One of only a handful of pubs nationwide selling only cask ales and all direct from the barrel! Two or three Bateman's beers are complemented by upto 10 guest beers, with Church End & Newby Wyke especially popular. At least two real ciders or perries; a selection of Belgian bottled beers and an intensive selection of malt whiskies. No bandits, juke-box or pool table - just friendly conversation and decent supping! Dave & Tracy make you feel most welcome and for previous visitors please note: Recent improvements include fresh air filter system so it's no longer so smokey and the "back door" policy no longer exists. Go on, give it a visit!
Bram - 27 Jun 2004 12:13 |
The landlord & landlady have now left but it is still worth looking going to .
Also see the CoalHeavers Arms
Premier Chat - 4 Dec 2003 13:04 |
Bad news partly, the landlord & landlady are moving on and Batemans are taking it over.
The good news is that Batemans are taking it over rather than anyone else and have promised to leave it alone as much as possible. Jacqui we will keep an eye on it.
TC - 16 Oct 2003 18:48 |
A small 2 bar local.
10+ Beers & 1 Cider/Perry all served from the cellar. Decoration like your aunties front room and similar behaviour appreciated. Restricted entry at busy times but if you are in you are welcomed. Excellent pork pies.
Tim - 28 Jul 2003 13:19 |
