• 
• Back to Index 

Bath Pubs

THE ASSEMBLY INN
16-17 Alfred St, BA1 2QU. Tel: 01225 333639, web: web: www.abbeyales.co.uk • At last, the Assembly Inn has been given the TLC it so richly deserved, courtesy of those lovely folk from esteemed local brewery Bath Ales. Expect a similar vibe to established BA, erm, establishments (see Coeur de Lion and the Star Inn), high-quality real ales (including Bellringer, their flagship brew) and good, home-cooked grub, all in pleasantly scrubbed-up surroundings. Hoorah! Bath MP Don Foster was so impressed with Bellringer he arranged for it to be sold as a guest beer at the House of Commons.

THE BARLEY
32 Bathwick St, BA2 6NZ. Tel: 01225 464845, web: www.thebarley.co.uk • Welcoming neighbourhood hostelry featuring comfortable sofas around a real fire in the front, a separate dining area in the back and that all-important alfresco patio through the door in between. The bar always features three real ales and the kitchen churns out reasonably priced, freshly cooked pub grub faves on a daily basis. Regular quiz nights/live sporting events.

THE BATH TAP
19 St James’s Parade, BA1 1UL. Tel: 01225 404344 • The leasehold for Bath’s longest-running gay pub is up for grabs at the time of writing but until the current owners flee the nest, you can still make full use of the lively bar and home-cooked food (served until around 8pm) served up in a very friendly atmosphere. Late licence at weekends.

NEW
THE BEAR
6-10 Wellsway, BA2 3AQ. Tel: 01225 425795, web: www.bearbath.co.uk • What was once a playground for local Dennis the Menace types has been turned into a laid-back watering hole fit for the Caramel Bunny. Chunky farmhouse tables mingle happily with soft, sumptuous leather loungers and there’s neither a fruit machine nor an imminent punch-up in evidence. The only element that hasn’t been erased in the name of gentrification is value for money: a spiffing bar selection is strongly supported by home-cooked versions of upper-crust pub grub (including boisterous breakfasts, homemade cakes at tea time and a rollickingly good Sunday roast) and free WiFi access, while a covered smoking area, regularly changing work courtesy of local artists on the walls and monthly quiz (first Sunday of each month) all further bolster the friendly vibe at this laid-back but lively neighbourhood pub. Can’t find it? Look for ‘Snowy’, the life-size plaster polar bear who presides over the entrance.

THE BELL
103 Walcot St, BA1 5BW. Tel: 01225 460426, web: www.walcotstreet.com • This long-running Bath institution offers a warm welcome to one and all. Eleven ales (always including three regularly rotating guest appearances), organic beers and what’s possibly the best house white wine in Bath add to the general bonhomie, while live music from jazz to folk (Mon/Wed eves, Sun lunchtimes), bar billiards, table football, a ‘vinyl only’ DJ on Saturday nights and access to ‘the smallest launderette in the world’ (honestly!) all make it more or less impossible to leave when time is called at the bar, although rumours that one particular regular has been sitting on the same bar stool since 1979 are yet to be confirmed. Heated, covered backyard.

THE BLADUDS HEAD
Catsley Place, Larkhall, BA1 6TA. Tel: 01225 423177, web: www.bladudshead.co.uk • Rumoured to be named after an ancient swineherd who regularly notched up a hangover at the bar here, this characterful pub is well worth the 20-min walk from town. Open from 5pm during the week (12noon at weekends), there’s a good selection of real ales (regular guests include Sharp’s Doom Bar, Charles Wells Bombardier, Ringwood Fortyniner and Cheddar Ales Potholer), two bars at which to make your selection, occasional live music and complimentary bowls of roast potatoes sitting on the bar during Sunday lunchtimes. Lovely beer garden, close to a nearby tinkling stream.

BLATHWAYTE ARMS
Lansdown, BA1 9BT. Tel: 01225 421995, web: www.theblathwayt-bath.co.uk • Big, stylish boozer (and hotel) right next to Bath Racecourse featuring a conservatory, a covered alfresco terrace (puffers take note) and a slightly more formal dining room with a big log fire. Menus run the full pub grub gamut, from lunchtime sandwiches, salads and jacket spuds to fish/steak & chips and posh versions of Medi-themed classics. Sunday lunches here are reliably good.

THE BOATER
9 Argyle St, BA2 4BQ. Tel: 01225 464211 • Revamped18th-century pub right by the weir featuring a large alfresco area which makes the most of ‘that’ view (and turns it into a smoker’s paradise). Having said that, most of the regulars here are only really interested in what’s happening on the rugby ground on match days (situated just around the corner), while college teams and students are attracted by regular drinks promos and big-screen sporting action. Find Courage Best, 6X and Bombardier on tap. The alfresco backyard bar opens subject to demand during summer months.

THE CHARMBURY ARMS
69-70 Brook Rd, Twerton, BA2 3RR. Tel: 01225 405559 • No food, no frills, just a lovely, downhome atmosphere perfectly suited to a hostelry that’s been quietly plying its trade on the edge of Twerton for around 125 years. Find both 6X and Henry’s IPA (plus the occasional special) on tap, a quiz every Sunday, occasional live music nights and a warm welcome at all times. Possibly one of the only pubs in the country with a skittle alley in the bar itself.

THE CHEQUERS INN
River St, BA1 2QA. Tel: 01225 360017, web: www.thechequersbar.com • Relaxed, atmospheric gastropub offering plenty of locally brewed ales among a well-stocked bar selection and serving food of the upper-crust, locally sourced variety, revolving largely around modern British/Gallic influences. Sunday roasts are excellent; pig out in the cosy, candlelit bar area or go upstairs ’n’ elegant for the full-on dining room experience. Alfresco area on the lively little street out front.

THE COEUR DE LION
Northumberland Passage, BA1 5AR. Tel: 01225 463568, web: www.coeur-de-lion.co.uk • This tiny, characterful pub boasts a big history and proves that very good things can indeed come in small packages. Part of the Abbey Ales mini-empire (which explains why the extremely well-stocked bar features Bellringer and Abbey Star classics), even the lunchtime-only menus push all the right buttons, when sturdy pub grub classics quietly boast the kind of sourcing details that most other pubs make a stomach-churning screech about. Meanwhile, pavement tables outside make for one of the best people-watching (and smoking!) locations in the city. Officially Bath’s smallest pub.

THE CORK
11-12 Westgate Buildings, BA1 1EB. Tel: 01225 330470 • Crowd-pleasing city centre pub, recently revamped and under new management. The new look is elegant and fresh, there’s a sports lounge upstairs, two pool tables and Sky sports on big screens on event days. Menus offer a hearty mix of contemporary and traditional fare, using fresh, locally sourced seasonal produce to create exceedingly wallet-friendly grub including the ‘Credit Crunch Lunch’ (no dishes over £5 and most coming in around £3.95) and excellent Sunday roasts. Visit website for details of regular events and student-friendly drinks promotions.

THE CROSS KEYS
Midford Rd, BA2 5RZ. Tel: 01225 849180, web: www.crosskeysbath.co.uk • Traditional, historic, family-friendly country pub featuring wood panelling, gas light fittings and open fires. Hearty, reasonably priced food is cooked to order using fresh produce from local suppliers wherever possible and there are always at least four real ales to choose from at the bar. The no jukebox/fruit machine rule makes it peaceful even when crowded with ramblers, offering a real taste of the countryside just a short hop from the city centre. Lovely beer garden; details of loads of family-friendly events on the website.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE
Abbey Green, BA1 1NW. Tel: 01225 482666 • Big, bustling city centre pub/restaurant on a pretty cobbled courtyard, with a covered, heated garden out back offering a warm welcome to smokers whatever the weather. Food ranges from sturdy sandwiches and filled jacket spuds to paella, fish & chips, big salads and hearty specials. Spooky one-hour walking tours (‘An Appointment with Fear’, no less) leave from the front of the pub every night at 8pm.

THE CURFEW
11 Cleveland Place West. Tel: 01225 424210, web: www.thecurfew.co.uk • Good beer, homemade food and a warm welcome - this lovely neighbourhood boozer has integrity marinated in the very woodwork of the oak-panelled interiors. There’s 6X and IPA on tap alongside a regular seasonal ale courtesy of Wadworths, a massive pool table upstairs and a charming (heated, partially covered) private beer garden out back. Big-screen sporting events shown in the upstairs room mean that non-sports fans can enjoy a quiet pint here even on match days.

THE DEVONSHIRE ARMS
139 Wellsway, BA2 4RY. Tel: 01225 429593, web: www.devonshirearmsbath.co.uk • The origins of this traditional neighbourhood boozer date back to 1841, but the ‘Devvie’ has undergone a bit of a transformation of late, becoming far more refined than its original incarnation. Food is of the sturdy, cheerful variety with a bar selection to match, and small alfresco areas both front and back accommodate smokers. A little-known steep set of steps off Greenway Lane (to the side of the pub) lead down to the gorgeous Lyncombe Vale - part of Bath’s ‘hidden urban countryside’.
.

THE DOLPHIN
Locksbrook Rd, Lower Weston, BA1 3EN. Tel: 01225 445048, web: www.dolphininn.org.uk • Situated in an easily accessible but picturesque setting just beyond the towpath that runs alongside the river Avon, the Dolphin’s beer garden (featuring a well-equipped safe play area for the kids and a welcome haven for smokers) makes the most of its ‘Tales from the Riverbank’ location. Real ales include Marston’s Pedigree, Wadworth 6X and Flowers/Butcombe Original, while big portions of hearty pub grub, a Sunday carvery, quiz nights and live music at the weekends keep attention levels up. Conveniently placed right on the Bristol-Bath cycle path.

THE FAIRFIELD ARMS
1 Fairfield Park Rd, BA1 6JN. Tel: 01225 310594 • Traditional family-friendly boozer with a genuine neighbourhood feel aided by a beer garden, a massive plasma screen TV for major sporting events, open fires and food to match the ambience: substantial quantities of traditional pub grub (home-cooked chilli, curry, lasagne, steak and ale pies etc) alongside proper sarnies. If the food doesn’t keep you staying put, regular quiz, karaoke and live music evenings most definitely will.

FLAN O’BRIENS
21 Westgate St, BA1 1EP. Tel: 01225 312914 • This perennially popular, Irish-themed boozer offers an extremely warm welcome, serves up an excellent pint of Guinness and gets absolutely packed when there’s rugby or football on the TV. The late licence allows revellers to party on into the small hours Wed-Sat, while the new wave/punk soundtrack inspires those of a certain age to take many a trip down memory lane. First licensed in 1793 as the Falstaff Tavern.

GARRICK’S HEAD
Sawclose, St John’s Place (next to Theatre Royal), BA1 1ET. Tel: 01225 318368, web: www.garricksheadpub.com • The second Charlie and Amanda Digney venture (a little prince for the acclaimed King William), refurbished to their impeccable, classy but classless standards. Inside, rustic sensibilities meet urbane, urban chic, food is of the locally sourced, daily changing, top-notch gastropub genre and a massive wine list, four real ales and what seems to be the city’s only supply of Orchard Pig cider are just some of the treats on offer at the bar. The Sunday roasts-to-share are legendary, and even the butties on the bar menu are truly scrumptious. Smokers can indulge in a bit of star-spotting at the pavement tables out front; this is where the slebs hang out when the curtain comes down at the Theatre Royal.

THE GEORGE INN
Mill Lane, Bathampton, BA2 6TR. Tel: 01225 425079 • Cask Marque-awarded period character pub, situated almost directly on the canal towpath. The big menu features all kinds of crowd-pleasing delights, from traditional, well-sourced British classics (including a spiffing Sunday roast) and regular fresh fish specials to easy-going contemporary favourites with a Mediterranean flavour, while Courage Best/Directors, Greene King, Old Speckled Hen and regularly changing guest ales keep barflies busy. Canalside gardens are properly picturesque, but get very crowded when the sun comes out - arrive early if you want to bagsie yourself a table.

THE GRAPES
14 Westgate St, BA1 1EQ. Tel: 01225 310235 • Old-fashioned, dimly lit little boozer specialises in bar/food promos and live sporting action on the TV. Conveniently located for a pre-cinema pint: Bath’s Little Theatre is just down the alleyway to the side of the pub.

GREEN PARK TAVERN
Lower Bristol Rd, Twerton, BA2 3BD. Tel: 01225 400050 • Multi-ambient bar/pub/restaurant that operates as an unofficial student hall of residence during term time. Food is of the reasonably priced, robust variety (including a splendid Sunday roast incorporating both free range meat and excellent vegetarian options), while regular entertainment/events include DJs, live acoustic showcases, salsa classes and quiz/poetry/open mic nights. Covered, heated beer garden.

HARE AND HOUNDS
Lansdown Rd, BA1 5TJ. Tel: 01225 482682 • Cosy but spacious Lansdown inn with a swoonsome view over the valley and a lovely split-level patio/garden that fully exploits it (with the covered fairy-lit area particularly pretty on summer evenings). Traditional pub food, fresh fish and imaginative specials keep the crowds coming, not to mention the excellent Sunday carvery. Worth checking out for the amazing views alone.

THE HOBGOBLIN
47 Saint James’s Parade, BA1 1UQ. Tel: 01225 460785 • Self-styled as ‘Bath’s home of alternative music’, the Hobgoblin boasts an agreeable spit ’n’ sawdust vibe, pound-stretching bar promotions, pool tables and regular music-themed events. Real ales available at the bar include Wychwood Hobgoblin (of course), Bath Ales’ Gem and three rotating guests. Open until 1am Fri-Sat. Quite possibly the most fascinating jukebox in Bath.

THE HOP POLE
7 Albion Buildings, Upper Bristol Rd. Tel: 01225 446327, web: www.bathales.com • As you’d expect from a Bath Ales brewery, the Hop Pole pulls an excellent pint. But the story behind this seemingly prosaic exterior doesn’t end there. As well as boasting a properly atmospheric interior, the food here puts most restaurants to shame, offering monthly changing, mouth-watering menus based around locally sourced ingredients. Meanwhile, a vast range of Bath Ales, Belgian beers and superb wines turns the bar into one of the best watering holes in town. Monday night quizzes are exceedingly popular - arrive early if you don’t want to be an instant loser. Gorgeous covered beer garden out back.

THE HUNTSMAN
1 Terrace Walk, BA1 1LY. Tel: 01225 482900 • By day, it’s an airy city centre pub with a modern feel, perennially popular with tourists. However, there’s a complete transformation after the sun goes down, when club nights/DJs make full use of the late licence (club nights usually free before 11pm; small door charge thereafter). Find Marston’s real ales on tap, a substantial food menu to accompany your choice, and plenty of pavement seating to keep the smokers happy. The ‘Bizarre Bath’ Comedy Walk starts here every evening between March and November (8pm).

THE KING OF WESSEX
James St West, BA1 2BX. Tel: 01225 303380 • One of the many cogs in the wheel of the huge Wetherspoon chain situated in the heart of Bath’s multi-use Kingsmead leisure complex, offering Cask Marque-accredited ales (including Abbot, Pedigree, Spitfire and Burton, plus regularly changing guests), a vast range of ciders and perries, and an even vaster range of everything else that keeps the many punters who frequent this busy, bustling boozer very merry indeed. Loud, proud food/beer promotions proliferate. Opens from 9am for boisterous, bargain-priced breakfasts

THE KING WILLIAM
36 Thomas St, BA1 5NN. Tel: 01225 428096, web: www.kingwilliampub.com • Nationally recognised as one of the finest traditional freehouses in the country, offering award-winning British food, an excellent wine list, real ales from local microbreweries and proper Somerset cider, in cheerfully eclectic, very comfortable surroundings. Food is seriously gastro - and seriously, seriously good. The regular Book Club meetings revolve around a two-course supper in a private dining room (visit website for details).

THE KING’S ARMS
Monmouth Place, BA1 2AT. Tel: 01225 425418, web: www.thekingsarmsbath.co.uk • Unpretentious, busy boozer offering two real ales, Courage Best and Bass, one guest beer and three ciders. Well-priced pub grub and bargain Sunday roast dinners on the menu, regular live music and quizzes at weekends. Can’t bear to drag yourself away? The King’s Arms doubles up as a charming B&B, too. Originally a 17th-century coach house featuring a stunning cobbled courtyard.

THE LAMB AND LION
15 Lower Borough Walls, BA1 1QU. Tel: 01225 474931 • Popular city centre pub, usually packed to overflowing when sporting events are shown on the massive screens (and when the Saturday night stags and hens hit the town). There are plenty of keg beers and lagers to choose from at the bar, while bargain meal deals at rock-bottom prices are available all day. Beer garden.

THE LITTEN TREE
23 Milsom St, BA1 1DE. Tel: 01225 310772 • Spacious, bustling city inn with an open-plan bar, sofa/lounging areas and a view of sporting events on huge plasma screens from wherever you sit. Food is of the doorstep sandwich or steak/pie/fish with chips variety, and all portions go large. All-day two-for-one main meal offers, regular promotions (curry night, steak night etc), macho Sunday roasts and a well-stocked bar that always includes three regularly rotating guest ales. Licensed to screen both Sky Sports and Setanta fixtures.

THE MARLBOROUGH TAVERN
35 Marlborough Buildings, BA2 2LY. Tel: 01225 423731, web: www.marlborough-tavern.com • Lively, laid-back watering hole serving up excellent modern British food alongside local ales and ciders and a fabulously thoughtful wine list, all at very down-to-earth prices in stylish, welcoming surroundings. Lovely. Private, partially covered beer garden to the rear.

THE OLD GREEN TREE
12 Green St, BA1 2JZ. Tel: 01225 448259 • One of Bath’s most charming historic pubs, but refreshingly free of the tourist trap commotion that most pubs who can claim to have been on the same site for almost 300 years would easily succumb to. Beams, oak panelling, original fireplaces and ancient wooden floors attest to the building’s history, while six real ales (all sourced from microbreweries within a 70-mile radius) and tempting menus offering everything from doorstep sarnies to smoked trout keep contemporary regulars very happy indeed. It may be small but it’s perfectly formed, and well worth squeezing yourself into even on busy days. Maximum capacity: 100 (including resident ghost).

THE PACK HORSE INN
South Stoke, BA2 7DD. Tel: 01225 832060, web: www.packhorseinn.com • Set in an atmospheric 15th-century manor house at the heart of a similarly historic village and offering monthly changing menus, The Pack Horse is at once traditional and eclectic. Slate floors, sturdy oak tables, jolly regulars at the bar and really cheerful service keep everybody happy, resulting in ineffably cosy, 500-year-old minimalist chic. Beautiful beer garden with views across the valley; very dog friendly both inside and out.

THE PICCADILLY ALE HOUSE
London Rd, BA1 6PL. Tel: 01225 428915 • Friendly pub with a mixed clientele, a cosy interior and a welcoming vibe, with roaring log fires in the winter and a fine selection of drinks all year round, from wines and standard lagers to real ales. Jukebox and pool table, skittle alley and regular quiz nights. Opened around 1790 as the Hanover Hotel.

THE PIG AND FIDDLE
2 Saracen St, BA1 5BR. Tel: 01225 460868 • Known locally as an extension of Bath University’s Student Union bar, this busy, friendly boozer appeals largely to a young crowd (and smokers who dominate the heated outdoor tables at the junction of a busy traffic island). On the scoff front, regular wallet-friendly specials concentrate mainly on traditional pub grub - scampi & chips, speciality burgers etc - and beer-accompanying nibbles such as nachos and onion rings. The old-school table arcade features classics such as Pacman and Donkey Kong.

THE PORTER
2 Miles Buildings, George St, BA1 2QS. Tel: 01225 424104, web: www.theporter.co.uk • Popular with pleasure seekers of all ages alongside tourists, students and Bath fringers attracted by a whole host of musicians, comedians and DJs who provide entertainment downstairs most evenings of the week, this friendly watering hole specialises in good old-fashioned, pub grub favourites… all of a totally vegetarian persuasion. The reliably satisfying, exceedingly well-priced fare perfectly suits the Porter’s laid-back atmosphere, from all-day breakfasts to full-on veggie curries, lasagne, casseroles etc and excellent bar snacks. Make the most of the summer by chilling out on the terrace; the sun hits around midday and stays all afternoon.

THE PORTER BUTT
York Place, BA1 6AE. Tel: 01225 425084 • There’s a strong emphasis on local live music - from skater-friendly thrash and punk through to traditional Irish folk sessions - at this eclectic, popular hostelry that boasts a smoker-friendly garden, a good selection of ales and stupidly cheap food. Think Bath’s got talent? The PB folk are always on the lookout for new bands to promote.

THE PULTENEY ARMS
37 Daniel St, BA2 6ND. Tel: 01225 463923 • Recently taken over by new management, this traditional old boozer features a very well-stocked bar and serves generous portions of good, honest homemade food from a new-look, chef-driven menu. Pavement tables out front.

THE RAM
20 Claverton Buildings, Widcombe, BA2 4LD. Tel: 01225 421938, web: www.therambath.com • Friendly neighbourhood boozer with a strong community vibe and the kind of stripped wooden floors, oak beams and chunky furniture that lull you into thinking you could be in a village inn rather than a stone’s throw from the city centre. Food - including excellent Sunday roasts for just £5.95 and a ’10 piece breakfast’ for £4.95 - is of the homemade, robust variety (‘Curry Tuesdays’ are worth checking out: £5 for a plate of spicy stuff plus your pint of choice), and there are real ales alongside all manner of quaffable options available at the bar. Boasts its own Golf Society, cricket and touch rugby teams; hosts regular quiz/karaoke nights.

THE RAVEN
6-7 Queen St, BA1 1HE. Tel: 01225 425045, web: www.theravenofbath.co.uk • One of the city’s most cheerful hostelries, this lovely city centre oasis (guaranteed always TV/loud music-free) keeps a gaggle of established followers very happy, but always offers a warm welcome to newcomers. There’s an excellent wine list alongside a classic bar selection both at the long, street-level bar and upstairs in the cosy supper room (with taster-size measures of real ales to help you decide what your personal Sup of the Day might be), and pies courtesy of those lovely Pieminister folk on the small but perfectly formed menu. Call in or visit the website for details of regular meetings and events including storytelling circles, a publishing group/science café, beer festivals, campaign groups, occasional live music etc.

THE RICHMOND ARMS
7 Richmond Place, Lansdown, BA1 5PZ. Tel: 01225 316725, web: www.richmondarmsbath.co.uk • Well-heeled, artfully refurbished Georgian pub offering an extremely well-considered selection of wine, ales and lagers at the bar, and quickly garnering an illustrious reputation for top-notch but down-to-earth home-cooked food. Suntrap front garden is crammed to bursting when the weather allows.

THE RING O’BELLS
Widcombe Parade, BA2 4JT. Tel: 01225 448870, web: www.ringobellswidcombe.co.uk • Ah, the perennially popular Ringo: a Widcombe stalwart where stylishly unfussy decor and a friendly atmosphere provide the perfect setting in which to enjoy stylishly unfussy, friendly food, mainly based around a modern British theme. If you fancy a nibble, an excellent range of tapas-style platters makes the perfect accompaniment to your choice from a well-stocked bar which features an excellent range of wines, conti-beers etc; ding-dong indeed. Opens for breakfast from 10am on Sundays.

THE RISING SUN
3-4 Grove St, BA2 6PJ. Tel: 01225 425584 • With a self-styled reputation for being “the friendliest pub in Bath” backed up by many testimonies from locals and visitors alike, this charming pub offers a winning formula of cheery bonhomie and excellent home cooking. There’s ensuite B&B accommodation for those who want to make a holiday of it, while table tennis, pool and skittles mean you’ve no excuse for getting bored. Beer garden.

THE ROYAL OAK
8-10 Summerlays Place, Pulteney Rd, Widcombe, BA2 4HN. Tel: 01225 335220 • Traditional hostelry offering a selection of five real ales (plus a ‘Beer of the Season’), a skittle alley, a dart board, Sky Sports on big screens, free wi-fi access and that all-important alfresco area. Regular quiz night/live music.

THE ROYAL OAK
Lower Bristol Rd. Tel: 01225 481409, web: www.theroyaloak-bath.co.uk • A unique (to Bath, anyway) real ale haven featuring ten hand pumps that serve up an ever-changing array of microbrewery specials from artisan producers (with taster glasses beside each pump offering you the opportunity to sample before you buy). The pub also hosts several beer festivals and lively events each year, supports and promotes local artists and is home to a thriving book club/reading group. All this and an excellent kitchen, too. Discounts for CAMRA members.

SAINT JAMES’ WINE VAULTS
10 Saint James’s St, BA1 2TW. Tel: 01225 310335, web: www.stjameswinevaults.co.uk • Atmosphere and a genuinely friendly vibe both go large here. There’s no kitchen, but if the hunger pangs strike, just grab yourself a takeaway menu from the selection kept behind the bar and order in, spending the delivery waiting time choosing a tipple from the range of goodies behind the bar to accompany your scoff (find London Pride and Butcome on tap, plus loads of premium lagers including San Miguel and Lowenbrau). There’s art courtesy of local artists on the walls, DJs and live music (including a monthly open stage night) in the basement bar, and a 1am licence at weekends. Charity quiz night every Thursday, with cash, cinema tickets and cases of wine up for grabs.

THE SALAMANDER
3 John St, BA1 2JL. Tel: 01225 428889, web: www.bathales.com • No TV, no fruit machines, no fuss - just nice folk, a good atmosphere and a cosy feel. Originally a ‘steak and ale chop house’, now a refreshingly straightforward pub bar at street level with a cosy supper room on the first floor. A Bath Ales pub.

SAM WELLER’S
Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1RH. Tel: 01225 474910, web: www.samwellersph.co.uk • Four real ales - Bath Ales’ Gem plus three guests - good value, all-day food menu and a midnight licence at weekends make Sam’s a popular hotspot for city centre shoppers by day and youthful revellers after sunset. Named after the servant Samuel Weller, who appears in ‘The Pickwick Papers’.

THE SARACEN’S HEAD
Broad St, BA1 5LP. Tel: 01225 426518 • Ancient boozer with a fascinating history (Charles Dickens apparently once fell asleep at the bar here) slightly marred by concessions to tourists, sports fans and stag dos. Today, this busy city centre pub gets packed to the rafters with throngs of big-screen TV sports fans and the occasional stag party. Meanwhile, in the quieter, back end of the pub, 10-strong groups of American tourists tuck into steak & ale pies, Sunday roasts etc. Claims to be the oldest pub in Bath.

THE STAR INN
The Paragon, BA1 5NA. Tel: 01225 425072, web: www.star-inn-bath.co.uk • A grade II-listed, CAMRA-endorsed, fruit machine- and music-free corker of a pub with a history that dates back to the 16th century, 19th-century wooden interiors and a well-stocked bar courtesy of local brewery/proprietors Abbey Ales. Find as many CAMRA-approved tipples as you can imagine at the bar (including Abbey Ales, London Pride, IPA, various unusual imports and Bass straight from the jug - very rare), all of which inspire fierce loyalty from fans both locally and across the globe. If the crowd around the bar are looking peckish, the landlord gets the cheeseboard out.
.

THE TRINITY
James St West, BA1 2DA. Tel: 01225 400042 • This is what city centre pubs used to be like before the big chains took over: no frills, no fuss, but always a warm welcome at the bar, which serves up a very good pint of Guinness alongside the usual range of keg beers and lagers and solid, straightforward pub grub. It may not have the best views in town, but at least there are tables outside when the sun comes out.

THE VOLUNTEER RIFLEMAN’S ARMS
New Bond St Place, BA1 1BH. Tel: 01225 425210 • Small, welcoming, usually crowded pub offering home-cooked grub and a great selection of traditional local ales (usually featuring Abbey Ales’ Bellringer, Otter and Weymouth) alongside standard bar goodies. Heated alfresco smoking area on the neat little traffic-free street outside.

THE WHITE HART
Widcombe Parade, BA2 6AA. Tel: 01225 338053, web: www.whitehartbath.co.uk • A glorious gastropub sanctuary with a lively, buzzing bar area and menus packed with the kind of unpretentious but inspired delights that earned the Hart an honourable mention in this year’s Michelin guide. An absolutely gorgeous heated courtyard out back completes this sublimely relaxing experience.

YE OLD FARMHOUSE
1 Lansdown Rd, BA1 5EE. Tel: 07969713219. Web: www.myspace.com/yeoldfarmhousebath • Formerly a rather run-down but much-loved jazz/blues/real ale house, now fully refurbished but still big on the kind of blues you don’t want to chase away (regular gigs etc). Heated smoking area.

Drinking Out West Guide - Bristol and Bath's best pub guide. Only 2.95.To order a copy ring 0117 942 8491. Eating Out West Guide - Bristol and Bath's best restaurant guide. Only £4.95. To order a copy ring 0117 942 8491 .