The Saddle Inn, Blackpool

Well worth the walk from the B&B - excellent beer, friendly locals and a warm welcome. Even got roped into taking part in the quiz, which was eccentricly run and enormous fun. We came second but the group of regulars that won shared their first prize of a gallon of beer with us...most hospitable!

More than made up for a really quite terrible football match earlier in the day.

25 Mar 2010 15:42

The Rose and Crown, Ipswich

No karaoke? No discos? Right that's it, I'm definitely going back then. :-)

I'm a bit confused by the cigarette ash thing, as it was already a non-smoking venue on my visits - I'm a smoker so that's how I know. Still, that's all over everywhere on July 1st, as you say, Ed.

I'm also a bit confused by the 'basic tables and chairs' comments. Yes there is some furniture that fits that description and this type of furniture often features in the pubs I like (cask ale freehouses). But if you do fancy a lounge, I'm pretty sure there were some very comfy-looking sofas in there as well. Maybe they were covered in fag ash as well and therefore invisible? ;-)

I still maintain that 'a run-down dive' is a little strong, you should see the charming little place I went to in Clapham High Street this week...that was a dive.

28 Jun 2007 23:59

The Rose and Crown, Ipswich

Fanfare or no fanfare, I can confirm from a visit in person that The Rose & Crown is indeed a real ale freehouse and is neither encouraging nor restricting access based on sexual orientation!

Beers available on my visit where from Earl Soham and Crouch Vale breweries. The Brewers Gold was fabulous. For cider heads, some Westons was on dispense. There was Veltins lager on draught as well as more standard keg fare and bottled Polish beers to satisfy the growing Polish community.

The landlord is quite sensibly not rushing headlong into serving 10 ales at a time, but building the range slowly. Get in there and encourage him folks, I wish the pub had been like this when I lived just around the corner 10 or 11 years ago. West Ipswich has its alehouse at last! With support it will become a gem.

18 Jun 2007 23:37