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This is the brewery tap for the brewer Gibbs Mew. In fact it is/was next door and so you cant miss it. You can have a tour round the brewery, but only by appointment. The pub serves all Gibbs Mew ales at very reasonable prices, read that as sensible prices. The beers on at the time was Salisbury Best Bitter; Deacon; Overlord. The food is simple and pleasant with good prices. The decor is rustic with low beams and wooden chairs and deep carpet. The pub is long and at one end is the public bar with pool table and dart board and lino floors. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. No accommodation. Alas it has now been closed and we are all worse off for it. View it for one last time
A two room pub on a busy road with a small bar near the entrance. Situated not far from the railway station it is on the outskirts of Salisbury, outside the ring of the river. It has a real fire and small round metal tables, wood benches compliment, can get smokey. The bar is small with an overhang for glasses. When it's busy it can be hard to get to the bar for service. Beers on at the time were Wadworths 6X, Ash Vine Slam Dunk and Hop Back Summer Lightening. The larger second room is on a different level up and down a corridor past the toilets (no good for the disabled) and there is a bar here for busy periods. It's very blue and there is table football at one end, a canoe on the ceiling and odd pictures and pub mirrors on the walls. Bric a brac on a high shelf complements. It also has 2 TV's showing different channels of sport. Long benches down the sides with traditional wooden tables and chairs for 40 people. The central chimney has gone and there is an arch now. Two pews and a kitchen table are now squashed into the right hand side next to an old pinball machine. Look out for the record sleeves on the walls also - do you remember the artists? Accommodation here, though not seen on this visit. No food I'm afraid. Wheelchair access is OK for the small bar, though space is very limited.
Much like all the other Hogsheads, but that's not a bad thing really. Usually has up to 10 ales on at any one time, though all served with a sparkler. Interior is the usual Hogshead wood and decor with some booth type seating. Food is served all day, though portions are not as large as they could be. They even take bookings, it gets that busy. Accommodation here, very comfortable, but not cheap.
Billed as Salisbury's only 'no smoking pub' it is surprisingly clean aired. The outside is all black beams and whitewash, the inside all low beamed ceilings and 'dark' lighting. The bar is to the right of the entrance and serves a couple of guest beers; Badger Best Bitter and Wells Eagle on this occasion. Food is served lunch and evenings and is restaurant like, though there is a blackboard of specials above the fireplace. Vegetarians have limited choice and must like garlic! Prices are steep too for what you get, so watch out. There is also a smaller bar area round to the right of the bar where alcoves allow cosy assignations to be carried out. The beer garden faces the cathedral and gives good views of the spire. Access to the main lounge area is OK for the disabled but the toilets are out of bounds. Accommodation at £40 a single and £50 a double (there is no cooked breakfast). Also try: Victoria Lodge Hotel, 61 Castle Road, Salisbury, SP1 3RH. (01722) 320586. from Single: £35; double: £45 per room per night.
The Old Ale House can trace its history back to 1411. Inside the decor is oak floors and exposed beams with dark large tables and padded benches. At busy times (and this is close to the cathedral so it does get busy at food times) the tables are not cleaned as regularly as I would like. Beers tend to be from Ringwood or Walworth's plus a guest and are well kept. A range of wholesome no-frills food is served until 3pm and later on Sunday when they do Sunday lunches. Food is OK and filling, though can be a little basic. The service can have its faults with the staff forgetting to take the table number and our food going to someone else who decided to eat it even though they hadn't paid for it. Outside is a beer garden for the summer. Live music is performed on Thursday nights, and major sporting events are shown on TV in the bar.
Part of the Wethespoons chain. The building is from 1832 constructed alongside the Avon river and even has its own jetty for visitors of old arriving by boat. The river however is too shallow for boat travel today and so most people find it by road or rail (rail station is close by). Situated just out of the centre by Market Square you can enjoy the delights of what must the South's version of 'Ale City'. Salisbury has pubs on almost every street and all are welcoming and friendly, plus the vast majority serve real ale! The Town House has a ghost - the Grey Lady, who haunts all at night. The ground floor has been lovingly restored and is reminiscent of lost opulence. There's a hanging light fitting that dominates the ground floor and is part of the view from the first floor balcony drinking area. Seating tends to be tall stools and tables in the rear but by the huge windows are proper tables and chairs with wooden partitions to give a sense of intimacy. Can get busy at weekends as it is close to other city centre drinking parlours. Décor is from the modern light and airy Wetherspoon catalogue. Beers were kept with the usual Wetherspoons glee, though Spoons staff do need to be trained how to pull a decent pint of ale and to know what a sparkler is. There is however a Hogshead across the road which does do up to 8 ales, plus food. Food at The Town House is wholesome with a choice for vegetarians. Prices are OK for a tourist trap like Salisbury and range from £3.50 for a main course to £5.50. there is outside drinking on the river bank in the summer and car parking at the rear, though these both tend to merge space wise. There is accommodation here Book online which is comfortable and all 31 rooms are en-suite, priced from £59 per room (not person). Breakfast is an extra £2.99. Wheelchair access is possible through the front door but other entrances are limited. Opening hours include hours to serve just breakfast - no alcohol: Monday to Wednesday 7am - 11pm (alcohol from 10am), Thursday to Saturday 7am - midnight (alcohol from 10am) and Sunday 8am - 10.30pm (alcohol from 12 noon).
Situated on the A36 near St Paul's Roundabout, this pub is on the outskirts of the centre and necessitates a little walk. A street corner pub popular with all, there are a selection of railway memorabilia on the walls and a few good books you can read as well. Beers are usually from Abbey and Taylor's with a couple of guest ales on. The decor is basic and if you are unfamiliar with the pub you may be put off by the transport cafe view you get as you walk up to it. However, venture in and enjoy some well kept ales in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. There is no food here, though they do hot bacon rolls and other choices. On Sunday there is a quiz to drown out the TV and jukebox (not always on). One or two pillars in the place make for some quiet spots to sit and chat or be with a loved one and some curtain screens above the headrests create closed spaces. There is also a cellar bar for special occasions, but we didn't see it on this occasion. Not far from the station, hence the rail theme. No accommodation here. Access for mobile disabled is possible, but wheelchair users will find it hard to gain access. Gents toilets are very basic, but the ladies are better.
A multi-room pub divided by screen walls with an olde worlde feel of a 17th century drinking house. Wood stripped tables and pews adorn most walls/spaces. A mixture of chairs, some carvers, all padded. The bar is on the left as you enter and is along one wall. It has an overhang and is at good leaning height, though the beamed ceiling reduces room height quite considerably. On the walls hang caricatures of turn of the century life. Two fireplaces are striking but not for use. Beers on the hand pump were McMullens AK, Wadworths JCB, Wadworth IPA and 6X plus one other which was coming on at the time. The cellar can be seen through a small viewing window towards the back of the pub on the left. Food is served lunchtimes only, till 2pm, during the winter months so be warned. Menu looks good with plenty of vegetarian choice and is reasonably priced. There is a beer garden from which you can get good views of the cathedral. Pub is quiet with no piped music. No smoking section at the front of the pub. No accommodation here but try The Tollgate (Hall and Woodhouse).
The Winchester Gate has only been under new management for just under one week at the time of writing this. There is a proposed refurbishment to take the pub back to a more traditional style, with a wood burning stove and exposed natural floorboards. The right hand bar is apparently the old bar from the county hotel and as such has a lot of red in it that will be toned down. friendly and helpful staff. Formerly a 17th century coaching Inn. No food as yet but Sunday lunches up until 5pm are proposed and light bar snacks the rest of the week with one traditional special each day. Beers on at the time were Skinners Betty Stoggs, Milk Street Nicks and Milk Street Natural (organic) Ale. For even better quality the beer lines are cleaned after every barrel. There is accommodation here, it is basic but clean and good value. One twin room and one triple room, bathroom facilities are shared. Beds are soft but comfy and there is a view of the cathedral. Rating 3. Accommodation again is proposed to be upgraded soon. Best: Beer of very good quality served by a friendly knowledgeable staff.
This is
another must for visitors to the city. A bit of a walk from the cathedral, but worth it.
This is the original home of the Hop Back Brewery, it has one long bar an a number of
smaller rooms. There is also a family room. They don't serve food, but allow you to get
some from the local chip and pizza takeaway and sit with a pint of their beer. At time of
visit they had most of the Hop Back repertoire on including, Summer Lightening, Entire
Stout, Special, GFB, Thunderstorm, and Powerhouse. The toilets are upstairs and so are not
suitable for the disabled. They are unheated and in the winter can get a little chilly,
though with enough beer in you, who cares? The place is a friendly local atmosphere which
sits well
Also Try:
Haunch of Venision, 1 Minster Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire. (01722) 322024. Beer: Wadworth's 6X, Courage Best & Directors. Open: Mon-Sat 11-11pm, Sun 12-10.30pm. Food: both lunch and evening till 8.30pm.
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