Smiths Tavern, Ashbourneback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Thought this was a fairly decent pub. Whilst it's tied to Marstons, it does have a guest ale. Ales were Marstons Belma SIngle Hop & Pedigree, Jennings Bitter, Ringwood Forty Niner, Banks's Sunbeam & Raw Galaxy Pale. The pub is fairly small. But it does have 3 rooms - a cosy front bar, a middle room with a piano and a rear room. The owners seemed friendly. The only pub we tried in Ashbourne, before moving onto the Red Lion at Kniverton (not listed on the site).
|
Best pub in Ashbourne by a long chalk.
btw the Smiths were a Salford band and not Manchester - there is a difference.
Had an Abbeydale brew which was a decent drop.
anonymous - 15 Feb 2014 22:46 |
Popped into the Smiths Taverns after noticing the sign in the window saying CAMRA town pub of the year – it is the only pub in the guide for 2013/14, and named after my favourite Manchester band we (Mrs Monk and me) had to patronise. Lovely pub, very friendly landlord, there are three separate areas in a traditional style but not run down or tatty. Good range of Marstons ales and a guest or two. Following our visit to the USA and developing a liking for their very strong (7-9%) IPAs we tried the Marstons Old Empire IPA at 5.7%; lovely pint, clean and strong but not sweet with a pleasant lingering bitter taste, I could easily have had a couple more and would like to have stayed a lot longer. On our next visit to the area will definitely visit for an extended session! 7.5/10
|
An excellent pint of Pedigree at £3.20 was served to me on Friday. Other cask ales available were Brakspear's Oxford Gold, Marston's Old Empire and Single Hop Pacific Gem and Ringwood's Fortyniner. No surprise to learn that the pub has won numerous CAMRA awards. No food. Quiet piped jazz. Would definitely re-visit.
|
A real local’s local with what turned out to be the best selection of ales in town.
There were five available, Antifreeze, Sundance, Oxford Gold, 49er and being a Marston’s house, Pedigree.
I tried the first three and they were all in top condition.
There was also a selection of 24 single malts but none of our group are whisk(e)y drinkers, so can’t comment further.
There was a deliberate lack of fruit machines, juke box and karaoke.
The locals were all heartily greeted by name by the proprietors, Dave and Michele.
I don’t know if it was a joke on the blow-ins like ourselves but given the proximity to Nottingham, there seemed to be a disproportionate number called Robin.
Even though the clientele was mostly locals, it was still friendly and we were included in many conversations, not least about the impending Ashbourne Shrovetide football match.
One couple, on their exit, were moved to tell the whole front bar how much they had enjoyed their evening and how good it was to find a pub pub.
I think we knew what they meant.
|
Dave is now able to offer an independent ale of his choosing and has begun with the very first brew from a brand new Derby micro, Middle Earth, with their debut ale Prancing Pony at 3.9. A great move that only enhances the experience.
|
Very decent little pub with a nice historic layout and pleasing exterior. Great collection of beers from the Marston�s empire, always in good order and very nice homemade pork pies! Well worth a stop.
|
Usually described as the oldest pub in the town, it has a very narrow twin-bay "shop-front" apearance with the single entry door in between. An old side door to the left of the frontage which was probably a corridor entrance at one time is long since disused. Three room layout inside with the bar in the front lounge, a middle room up a few steps containing a large fireplace and just two or three tables, with the toliets off to one side and a further room beyond that with a disused dumb waiter in one corner. The unusual layout is continued by the fact that the kitchen area is in the cellar next to the beers.
The Marston's-owned pub has undergone a couple of changes of tenancy in recent times, but has now stabilised under the stewardship of Dave, who cares passionately about the way he keeps and dispenses the beers from across their range, including Jennings as well as Ringwoods and Brakspears "guests".
An always-friendly core of regulars has built up here in the wake of the jittery times at the Green Man just yards along the road, so there is always a convivial atmosphere here to enjoy.
|
|
