Pub News: June 2007
- White Horse, Shophouse Lane, Twerton, Bath
-
First visit by the branch to friendly locals pub in several years. Four well-kept guest beers and a cask cider are available. Well worth a visit. The White Horse will jointly host the Royal Oak Folk & Beer Festival between 28 June and 1 July.
- Castle Inn, Mount Pleasant, Bradford-on-Avon
-
This pub, owned by Bristol based firm Flatcappers Limited, and closed since October for a major refurbishment, has re-opened. Pierre Woodford, formerly manager of Terrance Conran’s Bibendum restaurant in London, has taken over the running of the Castle. The interior, according to a nearly full-page article in a recent Wiltshire Times, has been given a completely new look and decorated with an elegant mix of reclaimed furniture and fittings. An old office and the former toilets have been converted to make up part of the large ground floor bar area whilst there is a patio and garden at the back where views across the town can be enjoyed. There are vintage urinals in the Gents. The article lists four cask beers available on the opening night: Barbury Castle, Tanked Up, Flatcapper Ale and Hidden Spring. (The first three of these are unknown to me.) Meanwhile a wide range of food is available at reasonable prices.
- George Hotel, High Street, Codford
-
An almost-full-page piece on this pub in a recent Wiltshire Times. Owners Joanne Fryer and Boyd McIntosh have fully refurbished their beer garden and turned into a “little piece of paradise”. The George, which was voted Wiltshire Restaurant of the Year in 2006 by consumer magazine Which?, offers diners the choice of haute cuisine or traditional pub food. Quite what the pub is like from a beer point of view was not revealed.
- Lamb Inn, Frome
-
The major renovation continues. We have recently learned from new owners Blindman’s, who intend to make the Lamb their first estate pub, that planning permission is still needed for the installation of indoor toilets—the former toilets were outside—and that the pub should hopefully re-open in September. The branch is likely to receive an official invitation to attend the re-opening.
- Angel Coaching Inn, Heytesbury
-
The Angel is to play a starring role at the Taste of Bath food festival later this month. It will showcase its food at the four-day event, which runs from Thursday 28 June to Sunday 1 July in the city's Royal Victoria Park. The Angel prides itself on serving food using only the freshest, seasonal ingredients, many of which are locally sourced. And head chef James Griffith has created a special Taste of Bath menu based on these principles. It will feature oak smoked salmon fishcakes with grilled lemon and sorrel mayonnaise plus the Italian favourite Tiramisu. Taste of Bath will also feature guest appearances from a range of celebrity chefs, including Antony Worrall-Thompson, Aldo Zilli, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Richard Bertinet, who will share their trade secrets. There will also be a Speciality Beer Master Class, which will teach visitors how to select, understand and enjoy different types of speciality beers.
- Ship Inn, Frome Road, Trowbridge
-
This pub has recently been refurbished and last year came under new management. Beers are Bass and Old Speckled Hen. Quality is quite good. Food is basic pub fare and excellent.
