RIDGE LANE.

As you can see from the picture this is a rather boring looking place from the outside. But don't be put off as it's rather neat inside and very modern. This used to be a social club in a rather run down state. Now it has people coming from miles around to taste the beers. The entrance to the pub is poorly signposted (?) with a hand written sandwich board on the road side. Approach it slowly as the turning into the driveway is small and you seem to be going down a narrow lane past people's gardens, until you come out into a large car park with great views. There is also a large beer garden to the side with picnic tables. You can also sit outside the front at tables and watch the cars pull up (?). You enter down a corridor that eventually leads to the brewing area (toilets are on the right, as are some chalkboards with the days choices on. Here you will also find a board of foreign bottled beer choices too). Enter the bar and the high ceiling gives you a feeling of space, despite the small room and bar. The bar all bright beech effect is straight ahead with four hand pumps with a selection of Church End beers. There is no guarantee you will see your favourite, but you will always get a good choice of beers. Of course they don't sell any other brewer's beer. The hand pumps are supplemented by usually three other ales taken direct from barrels out back. All are kept in great condition and served without sparkler. You are also very welcome to bring your own four pint jug and they fill it to the top - unlike some places. The bottled choice is not as extensive as some, but is still worth coming for as the selection merits a look. Food is served here, but usually only at lunchtime or if there is a group doing a brewery visit when it extends into the early evening. The choice is not great at the moment, but it's early days. The main choice is for a ploughman's (cheese, turkey, ham, black pudding, pork pie, scotch egg, etc) or a mackerel plate, both £4.80. Or you can have a filled baguette. These latter items are still available in the evening from behind the bar, but there is a limited supply so be quick of a weekend! There is seating in the bar and it is a mixture of padded bench seating around the wall and square tables with chairs. There are also some stools at the bar. All of these are in beech effect wood, which gives the bar a yellow glow all day. On the walls you will see various promotional posters/flyers for the brewery which you can see through the viewing windows next to the bar. Note the non-functional sculpted fans on the ceiling. Though difficult to find, well worth a visit - take a jug, or buy one there, you wont regret it. Access for the disabled is 'possible'. No accommodation here.

Also try:
The Griffin, Shustoke