please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Been back again after a couple of years tried all the four real ales and all were in great condition even had the new beer another Wye Valley HPA excellent also. Food was also good, the pub has been done up but still has a nice feel and character has not been lost...
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The Beer is not Good
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We went as a local group of 8-12 who eat out once a month and found the menu choice so-so, the service below average and not particularly friendly, the food passable (had the steak which is supposed to be special but was actually quite tough), and the bill at the high end of what we expected! Disappointing. This used to be such a good pub with good food. We miss you Bob.
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It's funny they say that they specialised in steak - the steak sandwich I had was one of the worst i've ever had, really tough, the bread was stale and no chips!! To be fair, the beer was really good, but I'd have reservations about eating there again.
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alibobs and mich 123 ???????????click on the user names and guess what????????no rating given
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That's great news ill be their soon.
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This pub has re-opened with Carol and Steve Mutlow at the helm. You wouldn't recognise the pub and now you get a warm welcome along with great beer and a great G&T. Sells real ales such as Wye Valley. Food is good with emphasis on steak although there are other options. This pub is a very welcome addition to the 'locals' in Cirencester and I recommend it highly.
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Has not been the same since it closed down...
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Just found out this pub has shut, I'm gutted. This was always the pub of choice when in the area, great food and great beer with an idiosyncratic landlord, he certainly never suffered fools gladly, maybe this was a part of the problem.
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Still closed.
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A sad time for Cirencester. Bob, the landlord, has gone; a victim of the recession. The pub is currently empty, hopefully it will be picked up by someone who'll keep it the way it was. Good news for the food fans though, Justin has gone to the Golden Cross. Thanks for the good times Bob.
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Decent beers including one appropriately enough for me called Old Codger. A real pub with real people both sides of the bar.
anonymous - 26 Jul 2009 11:56 |
This GBG regular is a haven for real ale enthusiasts, and a lovely old free house with numerous rooms and log fires. In the "pubs like they used to be" category. Don�t be put off by the unsmiling landlord, he has a heart of gold really and looks after the beer. It�s not gourmet food but is popular and you get good portions � if you want vegetarian though, you�ll have to be brave and ask. We did and the chef came out with some suggestions and produced something rather nicer than was on the menu.
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Good range of well kept beers - The Session was particularly good. A proper real ale pub.
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This is a quirky little place to be sure, but it's a little gem. The beer is very good with some interesting options to keep things varied. The food is out of this world. I didn't have particularly high expectations because it just feels like a good old boozer that concentrates on beer, but every meal I've had at the Bells has been really special. The veg especially are terrific, fresh, full of flavour, just great every time. The landlord is a real character too, like everything else here don't be put off, he's a real charmer, a lot of fun and a nice chap. I've only stopped short of 10/10 because they don't serve food on Sundays.
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I agree with all the recent postings on this pub. The landlords dry sense of humour is very amusing, although the PC brigade could conceivably take offense. All the staff are friendly, and the gargantuan proportions of food are very good value, and help soak up the well kept ales.
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It's everything a traditional pub should be. Terrific beer, the best food in town and a landlord with proper character; Bob doesn't suffer fools gladly, as a result the pub is pleasantly fool-free. Always five cask beers to choose from. A must for anyone new to the town.
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A real pub with a character behind the bar who serves good beer and doesn't pander to the modern trends. He stocks wine for the more discerning customer (white or red). Food excellent with an interesting menu and generous portions. Will certainly visit again.
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My type of pub, a true Freehouse with plenty of interesting choice of beers. The pub has a lived in feel, a touch run down. The food is great, but this is most definitely not Restaurant like, drinkers and eaters have an equal chance of a table.
The Landlord has got a little too into grumpy old man character over the years, making him perhaps too unapproachable, but this is not a problem.
A great place to go for the real drinker.
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another visit superb food and beer on all occasions, my type of pub and landlord
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Proper, proper pub with great ale (the Severn Sins was top dollar), good food, fantastic 'yester-year' interior & friendly landlord. One of the best.
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Great pub. Not much to look at from the outside and those used to gleaming, modern, urban pubs will find the bar plain and not immediately inviting. Get over this and stay. Very well kept beers and excellent food. (With the exception of a bowl of fries, which did not taste home-made). And a very welcoming landlord.
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Yes a very good pub with the best pub food I have had, nice beer and atmosphere. We will be back again
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Very traditional town pub, unspoiled and has the appearance of being "untouched" for generations. The small rooms at the rear of the pub allow escape from the rather smokey front area. Very welcoming landlord and magnificent home cooked food as reported so often on this site. The chef and his mate should think about getting cleaner gear or maybe the washing machine operational more than once a month. Excellent beer range and condition - deservedly a local CAMRA award winning pub.
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Fantastic selection of 5 real ales from non-mainstream breweries. A rural gem for a town centre location with atmosphere to match. Food is amazing! Extremely generous portions of high quality local produce at very reasonable prices, recommend the Steak Sarnie. A must for any visitor to Cirencester.
anonymous - 20 Apr 2006 07:22 |
Great choice of beers in a real boozer.Jovial Landlord and a good atmosphere, free of knuckleheads and over powering jukebox noise.Although I didnt indulge, the food looked very tasty and of generous proportions. Highly recommended. Will be calling again on my next visit to Cirencester.
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Very good beer and nice pub. four rooms and a beer garden, the wife says that the pub needs a bit of a clean. I do not, nice as it is.
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Sarcastic Landlord let's this pub down. Refused to change a cloudy beer on 2 occasions. Not to be recommended.
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Wonderful food [gigantic portions of fabulous grub, all great, but highly recommend the fish cakes]. Legendary landlord. Very atmospheric. Brilliant for a quiet drink.
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Great beer with a lot to choose from. Didn't try the food but the menu looked great.
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Great old style town centre pub with excellent grumpy / sarcastic landlord. Always 6-8 handpumped real ales on & several lagers (if you must, but expect a scathing look from Ol'Bob). As others have said, great value & quality food. Has won Gloucestershire & Ciren's pub of the year numerous times.
Paul - 1 Nov 2004 16:17 |
Best beer and food in Cirenceter. 2 session beers (around 4%) and 3 stonger beers. Beers are rotated regularly - over a year he can have served 300 differnt beers! Food is best bar food I have ever tasted. No starters. sweets or coffee.
Tom - 17 Oct 2004 14:55 |
Loads of different ales and great food. Legendary!
kev - 12 May 2004 11:03 |
