Southgate, Devizesback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A country-type pub on the edge of Devizes. I'd hoped to be able to use the car park. But it's so small that even with only one car in it, there was no room to turn! The interior is a single room around the bar, with a couple of more secluded areas. There is an outdoor patio area next to the car park. Ales were Hopback GFB, Downton New Forest Ale & Great Western Maiden Voyage. There is no real cider available. Although Old Rosie can be purchased in bottles. Cosy place.
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I have to agree with a lot of what TWG says. This is a good boozer with Hop Back beers (which I do like) and friendly locals. We watched the second half of the football and fortunately the beer was far better than the match! Well worth the longish walk from the town. Note the opening hours!!
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Ignoring the seemingly infamous large male chicken next door, which was worryingly uncaged at the time of our visit, we pressed on in good faith as the Good Beer Guide had promised that the Southgate was now back on form after some years in the doldrums. All 14 of us co-boaters pitched up, with something of a keen thirst to slake given the considerable walk from the top of town along the charming but lengthy main street. I can only report that not only did we find all beverages in sound condition, but we also were fortunate enough to experience a genuine warm welcome, and much hearty humour was had over the next 2 hours we embedded ourselves here, not finding it possible to leave!
3 cask ales featured on our visit (2 Sundays back); 2 hailed from the Hop Back brewery (the ever-reliable GFB and the less-seen but novel lemongrass-infused Taiphoon), alongside an alluringly complex and spicy brew from Devilfish, a local Somerset brewery, entitled Devil's Best. Between us, many pints of each were supped during our stay and at no stage did I overhear any complains about condition.
A similarly positive picture can be painted of the cider too; a pin of excellent stuff called Moonshine sat temptingly on the bar, and with much help from the extremely friendly and engaging landlord, we must've caned most of it (2 free flagons were filled for us to take away on the house - a rare gesture of generosity indeed!). Not bad given its 7% strength! On enquiring as to its origins, the landlord confirmed the small print on the label as stating the content was "made somewhere in the West Country". Terrible self-promotion but I suppose a spot of secrecy adds a certain frisson to proceedings.
We all crammed ourselves in to the comfortable and traditionally-decked-out room at the west end of the pub, which allows direct access bar-side, proving very handy indeed. We universally agreed that from the outset, the atmosphere and vibe of this pub hit the proverbial metal pin right on its bonce. The conviviality of the licensee - possibly licensees as I suspect the charming lady assisting on bar duty was the landlady - really helped oil the wheels and we all did very nicely out of it. Not only did we enjoy free cider but also plenty of bar snacks, handed out on regular intervals. Meanwhile, his till didn't stop ringing, so everyone's happy.
We probably would've irritated locals after a while with our jolly japery, but there weren't many in being a Sunday evening, and hopefully we didn't offend anyone too deeply with our ever-increasing volume and dominance of the bar staff! We really did struggle to leave (wanted to get some in at the much-vaunted British Lion, which while very different to this establishment was nevertheless heartily-endorsed by the landlord) and even then only managed it in two separate, reluctant shifts.
All-told, this isn't the ultimate box-ticker's pub. It's not quite a 10. But perfection in every key element is not necessary if the attitude, ale and resultant atmosphere are all in check. The licensees were due on holiday around now, so if you drop in this week don't judge the place by the stand-in, but hopefully he will keep up the splendid work this couple have done to revive this pub's flagging fortunes, with a canny mix of ace ale, classic cider, engaging entertainment and preferential pricetags. It really was an enjoyable experience folks, and rest assured that if you continue in this vein, you surely cannot go wrong. Will I go back? Well, I don't know when I'll next be in town, but to paraphrase the old Pet Shop Boys number, "Left to my own Devizes, I probably would"!
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Comfy friendly pub with some good and changing real ales. Lots of strange foriegn things to drink if you like that sort of thing. Kind of dark and cosey feel to the place. Got a f**cking big cock outside the front door.
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Great pub,friendly, good booze, unusual decor and a particularly skittish cat.
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I liked this pub so much I moved into the same street. The beer is great and they even have dog biscuits for my Basset hounds. What more could you want?
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Nice pub - Very cozy. Friendly welcome. Three real ales from Hop Back in very good condition. Come to Devizes visit the museum then pop in here (just around the corner) for a couple!!
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Hopback owned pub.A bit pretentious at times-too many posers drinking trendy,strong,over-priced foreign lagers!!Sometimes good real ale on offer-but you have to time it right!!
anonymous - 19 Apr 2006 22:17 |
Lively and friendly pub with an ever-changing range of real ales. Its cramped on occasions only because its so popular!
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Although there is good beer here, the pub it is a little cramped, often get short measures.
anonymous - 5 Jan 2006 06:42 |
Good range of beers. Good atmosphere.
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its an amazing place very friendly and cosy atmosphere
rupert murdock - 20 Oct 2004 14:32 |
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