please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I've visited this pub several times and would describe it as average.
The only point of distinction is the peculiar sight of people queuing in single file to be served even though several bar staff are usually on.
Its the only pub I have ever witnessed this in and can't fathom why it occurs...are there signs I never saw, or is it a local custom?
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Looks better from the outside than it actually is inside.
Very handy and pleasant location right in the centre of Salisbury by the small river running by outside.
A few undesirables seemed to be hanging around this place here and there and the service was average.
Would drink here again but not sure whether I would risk eating in here.
6/10
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Since the refurb this pub has a lot going for it. Food is cheap and perfectly reasonable. Ale remains cheap and each of the different 4 I tried were in top condition. This pub is now a staple on any crawl we do in Salisbury. The only shock comes from the price of the succeeding rounds!
odbod - 22 Aug 2014 12:26 |
This Wetherspoons is situated slap bang in the middle of Salisbury city centre. As such, it has its fair share of rowdy youths exhibiting very strange behaviour. This is probably the reason the pub had a couple of bouncers in action on a Thursday night. A good range of ales was on - Ilkley Fireside Porter, Sixpenny Kings Head Inspireation, Tring Colley's Dog, Loddon Hullabaloo, Belhaven St Andrew's Ale, Marstons Sweet Chariot, Greene King Abbot & Ruddles Best. After much prompting of the inexperienced barman, I also finally discovered that they had a real cider - Sandford Orchards Devon Scrumpy. The definition of real cider seemed lost on the staff. Has a nice situation, right next to the fast-flowing River Avon. But it was a bit too noisy for my liking.
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Need to get in early for a seat - guest ale was Sixpenny Best which was most drinkable at £2.55. Food was good too, plenty of people of all ages here, service was good although there were occasions when there was customer overload at the bar. Wetherspoons must be providing what the majority want as the pub was packed when we left
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Certainly one of the best Wetherspoons I've been in. Beautiful pub from the outside and it's only when you get inside that you realise it's Wetherspoons. There's a nice little patio outside overlooking the river.
tanky - 28 May 2013 14:08 |
Standard Wetherspoons, same as all the others. Beer is forced through sparklers rendering it tasteless.
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This is a better than average 'Spoons. Mid-day it is fine, with good service, reasonable (and cheap) food and beers and the plus (for me) of draught New Forest cider (yum!). But it is still a 'Spoons and I suspect that it changes its identity at about 8:30pm, when the attraction of very cheap beer begins to attract "yoof". Daytime, 7/10.
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Its a Wetherspoons, it looks pretty much like all the other Wetherspons inside, serves pretty much the same beer, and exactly the same food. Still it was warm and open at 1030 in the morning so where else was I going to get a pint?!
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Went in with a friend today. Ordered 2 different pints of real ale. Mine was just drinkable, and my friends looked and tasted like sludge. Food was OK though.
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A large double decked spoons with good quality real ale at sensible prices. pleasant beer garden next to the river. So come on you moaners, what do you want, maybe they should go and pay the earth somewhere else. This is a good place with friendly staff and clean toilets most of the time. All pubs that are anything like get rowdy at times!
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Not a great fan of Wetherspoons (although this is a 'Lloyds No' ) but I have to say the service in here is always very good and the ales are always in excellent condition. 7/10 just for the beer!!!
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Attractive on the outside, tatty and rough on the inside, but does do decent beer at low prices (Generally the only reason to visit a Wetherspoons).
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As part of a party of 11 we sat in a corner on a sofa type seat which looked as though it had been slashed with a knife.A couple of locals took exception to the fact we were talking louder than a whisper and muttered various oathes before leaving and calling us arseholes. Apart from this minor distraction typical Wetherspoons, acceptable beer and reasonably priced, no complaints.
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The thing about the Good Beer Guide is that it is exactly that - it's concerned with the quality of the beer, not the pub. I was in the King's Head earlier this week, and they had 3 excellent beers on: Roosters Hedgehog, Hogs Back and Hidden Pleasure, all 3 kept at the right temperature (unusual for a JDW, I'll grant you).
The pub itself is OK most of the time, but in the evenings it gets a bit rowdy, especially at weekends, not surprising at it is a town centre pub close to similar places - the Bishop's Mill and Slug and Lettuce. But if you want a decent pint, this place is fine most of the time - the way to tell is whether the bouncers have appeared on the door. Overall, still not my favourite pub but it has improved in the last year or so.
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I was stunned to find that this place had made it into the 2010 Good Beer Guide!! Who on earth in Camra allowed that to happen? Of all the Wetherspoons pubs in Britain, this must be amongst the worst, what with unpleasant youths, drunken girls showing off their beer bellies, and frankly mediocre ale. Very poor show.
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Fairly busy on a Friday evening. Bouncers were asking customers to remove their head gear and checking ID. The food was cheap but very average in quality. Good location but no real sense of atmosphere.
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On a busy Saturday morning here did not seem to be a sufficient number of staff on duty to serve the customers at all swiftly.
A pint of Stonehenge Ales Danish Dynasty was eventually served.
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There has been a Kings Head here since the 15th century and whilst the current building looks pretty old with its Tudor style chimneys and oriel windows, it was actually built in the 1880�s as the County Hotel before Wetherspoons gave it back its old name when they took over in 2002. Situated in a prime spot next to the river, the large honey coloured exterior is quite impressive which makes the disappointing interior even more of a let down. The pub is split over 2 floors and, despite some ornate features (notably the fireplaces and paneled windows), it has been given a fairly modern makeover which is fairly tasteful but lacks any real character. The ground floor is broken up by numerous pillars and there are are several spots where you can sink ibto the background. An open staircase leads to a dcent sized balcony bar where there is additional seating bookended by sofa areas but there is no upstairs bar so you may need to negotiate the stairs with a handful of pints. Note the unusual firplace that resembles an indoor BBQ. Outside is a large terrace overlooking the river. 3 guest ales available on my visit alongside the usual �Spoons product range. A decent enough �Spoons but the rather bland interior is a bit of a let down.
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An ornate two storey stone building in an elizabethan style combining a Lloyds No1 and a Wetherspoons lodge. The drinking section is a large open area on two floors with the bar downstairs. It is situated next to the river and has a pleasant outdoor drinking /smoking area. A mixture of the usual dullard staff but with one very on the ball and alert. 5 beers on hand pump during my festival visit including the standards from Greene King etc, plus the normal keg line up. My beer (Mauldons)was in excellent condition however the man next to me at the bar complained his (Lees) was a bit tired but still drinkable. An early evening visit so the customers were a few families, pensioners and people either finishing work or starting an evening out.
anonymous - 4 May 2009 11:37 |
On the negative side, only serving 3 of the Festival Ales. On the positive side, it was 3 of the better ones. Staff were friendly, service was unusually quick for JDW. Usual JDW food, atmosphere and clientele.
If a pub is going to participate in a beer festival, it should do it properly, as the festival beers were very popular and selling well.
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Typical of JDW's bad points - it took 20 minutes to get served even though it wasn't busy (poorly trained and disinterested bar staff). Other people had waited longer. The beer was a good price ((�1.99 for Box steam Brewery's "Dark and Handsome"), but cheap isn't always a good thing - sadly this otherwise fine beer was served much too cold. Not my first choice of pub in Salisbury which has very many better places.
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Does what JDW are best at doing - good value, traditional layout, familiar feel to everything. No complaints.
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Stopped in two years ago during another Salisbury holiday visit and wasn't impressed. We went in twice last week and both times the ales were excellent and the food was as well. Ales kept changing but all were quite good (Bread of Heaven, Doom Bar, Stonehenge) quality.
Staff were attentive and friendly. This is one of the better JDW locations I have ever been to and recommend it for good pints and good prices.
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Stayed here the night last week. Receptionists were really friendly as were the bar staff,room was lovely and large and spacious, the pub was fantastic, the ales were lovely,food was great,definately a 9/10 :-)
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Had an overnight stay in 2007 (it's one of the Wetherspoon Lodges... good for 2 for 1 and 3 for 2 value breaks). Location is superb, straight on the river and a short stroll to the city centre and the cathedral.
Bar was a bit disappointing in that the choice was fairly limited compared with most Wetherspoon places I've visited. But, I must admit that the beers I tried were fine (can't remember what they were now) and the staff were as good as anywhere.
Food was excellent value for money... especially as we had some Wetherspoon vouchers which meant two steaks and a bottle of plonk for under �15 (now got similar ones for 2008)
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Some interesting guest ales on in here last Saturday. Food was served quickly and was well cooked. We were in there early evening and it felt uncomfortably cold. They don't use beermats in here which means that the tables are sticky even after they have been wiped down. Not a bad pub but there is room for improvement.
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I visited this pub on 18 July 2007 to see what the refurbishment had provided. What a complete waste of time! They had NO cask ales on. Just a notice to say "apologies for inconvenience". So, having taken the trouble to vist I left. I despair. This seems typical of Wethersponn Management now and treats the customer as rubbish. DO NOT TOUBLE THEM WITH A VISIT.
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A great pub at weekends, good atmosphere, great music/DJ, however if you want to get a drink you'll have a long wait, they seem to have a major shortage of decent staff, 1/2 of the bar (next to the dancefloor) is always closed so beware, I reccomend a trip to the off license before visiting this pub at weekends - that way you won't go thirsty
anonymous - 21 Apr 2007 03:12 |
Yes, I must agree. I used to champion Wetherspoon's, but most of them are fairly awful now. The King's Head now has a much reduced selection of real ales, and an absurdly slow queuing system to get served at the bar. If visiting Salisbury, try some of the smaller pubs for a better experience. Okay, you will pay 50p or so a pint more, but well worth it.
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Worse than the usual Wetherspoons. Chavs everywhere allowing there kids to run riot. Won't bother going back.
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have only ever been to 2 wetherspoons where you can drink the beer and this is not one of them. shame though so many good beers and nobody there knowa how to keep them. Maybe the manager there should ask the manager of the one in Paignton Devon to pop up and give him or her a few lessons
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Absolutley awful. The place is filthy. Not 1 table was free of dirty plates and I ended up clearing the table myself. Had to wait about 15 mins just to place an order and then another 40 mins until the wrong meal came. Staff were OK but just too busy. Need to sort themselves out or they won't be in Salisbury much longer.
anonymous - 7 Dec 2006 17:21 |
Typical Wetherspoons with cheap ales and very cheap food if you buy two meals at a time. The mushroom curry in particular is a massive portion for such a low price. Nice outlook onto canal, though it's irritating that the corner door appears to be open but isn't: so you get confused tourists rattling the door from outside literally every minute or two!
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I don`t like Wetherspoons full stop & this place sums it up.I found it mucky the menu`s were filthy the tables the same.Could not wait to get out of the place it made me itch.Zero is to higher score for this dump.
anonymous - 19 Oct 2006 20:59 |
Not enough staff on duty even at 11am to cope with the 'crowds' and it was taking 10-15 minutes to serve people. Pedigree wasn't particularly well kept either but at �1.65 a pint can't really moan.
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Used to visit Wetherspoons before it was renovated and have been put of since then due to the crowds of young people. However popped in the other day and was taken aback by how nice and pleasant it seemed. Food was of a good quality, staff friendly and welcoming. Will be returning to take advantage of the lovely atmosphere during the day!
anonymous - 19 Jul 2006 01:48 |
Went for a quick bite to eat and a pint and ended up staying. Good beer at really good prices. Food was fantastic (curry club) and decided to stay in the hotel above. The rooms were much better than most 3 or 4 star hotels i have stayed in. Staff really friendly. Going back soon!
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A terrible place, populated by poloshirt-wearing chavs trying to score with the local slappers.
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What a fab place to stay! The Lodge (upstairs) is very very clean, excellent decor and extremly good value for money. The Staff go out of there way to assist and are very pleasent. The Bar below is geared for the under 25's in the evening with dj music. From what i gather its a very popular pub. During the day its quite and great for lunch or a coffee. Over all a great stay. Would recommend!!
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a typical chain pub, full of people thinking they're international jetsetters, nusic tedious, the wait at the bar gives you an understanding of infinity (this might be because the place seens to be staffed by zombies). I would have to really loathe somebody to suggest they go there.
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long wait at the bar... mediocre food... no Jack Daniels... townie customers...
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doesn't look bad from the outside does it? don't be fooled....a cavernous hovel
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Top quality real ales at good prices, good food too. The only let down is the wait at the bar. Tastefully refurbished, well worth a visit. Packed in evenings though.
Nigel - 11 Oct 2004 12:26 |
Went in couple of weeks ago - has just been completely renovated on the inside and looks very nice indeed. As the night wore on though it gradually began to fill up with townies and the atmosphere became less pleasant and more aggressive. Staff very nice though.
Alexandra - 22 Jul 2004 13:36 |
Now re-opened, only challange is getting to the bar on the weekend
Calum - 3 Jul 2004 09:47 |
Excellent quality beers and "cheap as chips" grub. Re-opening shortly.
Nigel - 25 Mar 2004 16:53 |
Bloody hell! Glad to finally find out what was happening to it!!
Was a good place to get average food and cheap drink!
rebecca - 4 Jan 2004 21:43 |
It's currently shut until Feb 2004, it's being converted into a Lloyds Bar and a Weatherspoons Lodge!
Calum - 18 Nov 2003 21:50 |
