The Talbot Inn, Ripley

Difficult to find anything negative (or really positive) to say about The Talbot.
It should be the best pub in Ripley. The restaurant and garden attract the better end of the punter spectrum, particularly at lunchtime. "New British" style food is pricey, Sunday roast dinner is worth a punt, the restaurant is packed out most Sundays with a good atmosphere. People like it. Generally it has a younger livelier vibe about it. Unlike The Ship and the Half Moon, both of which unfortunately have more than their quota of village idiots at times particularly in the evenings
The upstairs hotel rooms are top notch. My parents won't stay anywhere else when they visit us. The other rooms in the new building are good, but lack character. The pub has a quality feel but the bar staff lack an effective manager and the onus is usually on food and weddings in the summer, which means the average punter can have a little wait to get served often by baffled looking gap year stoner-student type bar staff.
They do sell Peroni at nearly �5 a pint, and it seems to sell well! Don't ask me why. Especially as One Stop sell it for less than two quid up the road. The other beers (t.e.a, Pride, Abbot etc are all kept well and if the weather is good, sitting in the vast outside grassy garden is as good as it gets in Ripley. Children and dogs are welcome and don't seem to get underfoot as the parents/owners seem to keep them under control generally.
Despite the crap sniping from clearly fake reviewers loyal to The Ship and others, at least it tries. They promote live music and comedy nights which could be better supported by the locals and it does its bit for local fund raising, which is worth noting. In summary, this is a Saturday/Sunday afternoon pub. Its a bit more upmarket; a class apart from the other pubs in Ripley, just needs effective bar management and a bit more investment. Best in class.

31 Aug 2010 12:22

The Ship, Ripley

Slap bang in the middle of Ripley opposite the guitar shop. Mixed reviews, usually poor. Needs TLC, although charitable regulars painted outside this Summer. It is well located next to One Stop, so if you feel the need to grab ten Bensons and hover outside having a cigarette this should be your first port of call when drinking in Ripley. The real ale selection is good, particularly the Abbot. But matched by The Talbot. It has a reasonable outside atmosphere in the summer months, usually on a Friday night where the tired looking client�le do their best to look interested in one another. It definitely scores artificially highly, thanks to some loyal misguided individuals - but don't be fooled. It's dead the rest of the year and for a good reason. Should be gin and Jags, more old bags with fags. Shabby.

31 Aug 2010 11:11

The Anchor, Ripley

Not the most inspired choice for a mid week pint. But, reasonable bar staff, good size outside courtyard and good thai food make it the best of an average bunch in Ripley. Real ale available, but more of a lager pub, especially with the thai food - which needs promoting effectively. They had no menus to take last time I was there, but it gets busy weekends. Friendly enough crowd, the usual mix of Ripley types, nothing offensive. Recommended.

31 Aug 2010 09:13