Pubs

Bath

ASSEMBLY INN
16–17 Alfred St, BA1 2QU
Web: www.abbeyales.co.uk
Undergoing a full refurbishment at the time of going to press, after recently becoming another acquisition for esteemed local brewery Abbey Ales. “We propose to run the Assembly Inn on similar lines to our other pubs,” says Abbey’s MD Alan Morgan (see Coeur de Lion and Star Inn). “Expect high-quality real ales (including our own flagship brew, Bellringer) and good, homecooked grub.” Keep an eye on Venue’s Food & Drink pages for updates.

BARLEY
32 Bathwick St, BA2 6NZ
Tel: 01225 464845
Featuring comfortable sofas around a real fire in the front, a lovely little separate dining area in the back, and that all-important alfresco patio through the door in between, offering a bar that always features three real ales (including Butcombe and Adnams), and reasonably priced, freshly cooked pub grub favourites. Open Regular pub hours Food served Daily 12noon-12.30pm & 6-9pm

BATH TAP
19 St James Parade, BA1 1UL
Tel: 01225 404344
Changes are afoot at Bath’s longest-running gay pub, as it’s up for grabs again at the time of writing. Still, until the current owners flee the nest, expect sturdy homecooked food (served till around 8pm) in a very friendly atmosphere. Open Mon-Wed 12noon-11pm, Thur-Sat 12noon-2am, Sun 12noon-10.30pm

NEW
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 laidback 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: enjoy chef-led, homecooked versions of upper-crust pub grub (including boisterous breakfasts, homemade cakes and a rollickingly good Sunday roast), free Wi-Fi and a spiffing bar selection. Open Daily, regular pub hours Food served Daily: breakfast 8-11.30am (eat in or take away), lunch 12noon-3pm, dinner 6-9.30pm

BELL
103 Walcot St, BA1 5BW
Tel: 01225 460426, web: www.walcotstreet.com
One of Bath’s longest-running good-times institutions, offering live music at least three times a week, a courtyard for warm days, games room, real ale, friendly staff, lovely regulars, well-stocked bar, and ‘the smallest launderette in the world’. Munch on sturdy, freshly filled rolls (often with vegan fillings), organic Green & Blacks chocolate and Tyrells crisps while you’re spinning your smalls. It may not be gastropub fare, but it makes a perfect partner for your pint of thoroughly decent ale. Free Wi-Fi. Open Regular pub hours, occasional late licence. Launderette 12noon-10pm

BLATHWAYT
Lansdown, BA1 9BT
Tel: 01225 421995, web: www.theblathwayt-bath.co.uk
Big, stylish boozer (and hotel) right next to Bath Racecourse. Food is served either in the conservatory, on the covered alfresco terrace or in the slightly more formal dining room (featuring big log fire). Menus run the full upmarket pub grub gamut, from lunchtime sandwiches, salads and jacket spuds to fish/steak & chips and classics such as beef bourguignon, moules marinieres, braised lamb shank and roast duck. Puds go large here and Sunday lunches are reliably good. Kids get their own menu. Food served Breakfast daily 8-9.30am, lunch Mon-Sun 12noon-2.30pm, dinner 6-9.30pm. All day Fri-Sat

BOATER
Argyle St, BA2 4BQ
Tel: 01225 464211
Revamped 18th century pub just opposite the weir, featuring a large alfresco area which makes the most of ‘that’ view and offering a sturdy menu: hearty, filling, homemade favourites and classics, alongside some unexpected contemporary specials and a superb Sunday roast. The atmosphere is always lively, and it gets absolutely rammed on rugby days. Open Regular pub hours Food served Daily 12noon-3pm, occasional eves (call in adv)

CHEQUERS
50 Rivers St, BA1 2QA
Tel: 01225 360017, web: www.thechequersbar.com
Smart, stylish and relaxed, with locally brewed ales nicely placed among a well-stocked bar selection and serving food of the upper-crust, locally sourced variety, revolving largely around modern British/Gallic influences. A la carte menus change daily, Sunday roasts are excellent, and you can choose to either pig out in the cosy, candlelit bar area or go upstairs for the full-on elegant dining room experience. Open Mon-Thur 5-11.30pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-11.30pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm Food served Mon-Thur 6-10pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-3pm & 5-10pm, Sun 12noon-5pm. Bar snacks available when kitchen is closed

COEUR DE LION
17 Northumberland Place (off High St), BA1 5AR
Tel: 01225 463568, web: www.coeur-de-lion.co.uk
Part of the Abbey Ales mini-empire and officially Bath’s smallest pub, the Coeur de Lion doesn’t have to leap the gastropub bandwagon in order to secure local legend status. Nestling calmly behind lunchtime-only menus that push all the right pub grub buttons (sturdy sarnies, full-on roast dinners, homemade pies, sausage and mash), there are the kind of sourcing details that most other pubs make a stomach-churning screech about: Bath Bakery bread, Bath Soft Cheese Company cheese, Bartletts meat, Sausage Shop bangers… local pub, local grub - but hey, no fuss! The ploughman’s/fish and chips come highly recommended. Open Regular pub hours Food served 12noon-4pm

CORK & BOTTLE
11-12 Westgate Buildings, BA1 1EB
Tel: 01225 330470, web: www.thecork.co.uk
Crowd-pleasing city centre pub, recently revamped and under new management. The new vibe is elegant and fresh, with a sports lounge upstairs, two pool tables and Sky Sports on big screens on event days. Head chef Steve Shepherd’s 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, most coming in around £3.95) and excellent Sunday roasts. Open Regular pub hours, late licence most weekends (call for details, events, promotions)

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 - the homemade pies are particularly good) and fresh fish is delivered daily from Cornwall. Always at least four real ales to choose from, and the no jukebox/fruit machine rule makes it peaceful even when crowded with ramblers. Once happily ensconced here, you won’t want to leave. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 5-11pm (Fri-Sat 12midnight) Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-9.45pm, Sun 12noon-3pm

CRYSTAL PALACE
Abbey Green, BA1 1NW
Tel: 01225 482666
Big, city centre pub/restaurant on a pretty cobbled courtyard, with a covered, heated garden out back. Popular with office workers and tourists alike. Food ranges from sturdy sandwiches and filled jacket spuds to paella, fish & chips, big salads and hearty specials. Open Regular pub hours Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-9pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-8pm

DEVONSHIRE ARMS
139 Wellsway, BA2 4RY
Tel: 01225 429593
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 gastropub variety, and Sunday lunches positively thrum with good cheer. Open Regular pub hours Food served Tue-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-5pm

DOLPHIN
Locksbrook Rd, Lower Weston, BA1 3EN
Tel: 01225 445048
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 kids and a welcome haven for smokers) makes the most of its ‘Tales from the Riverbank’ location. Real ales and big portions of hearty pub grub (lasagne, steak & ale pie, fish & chips, etc), a Sunday carvery (12noon-4pm: 1 £7.95, 2 £9.95) and live music at the weekends keep attention levels up. Open daily 11.30am-11pm (Fri-Sat 12 midnight) Food served Mon-Thur 12noon-2.30pm & 6-9pm, Fri-Sun 12noon-9pm

FAIRFIELD ARMS
1 Fairfield Park Rd, BA1 6JN
Tel: 01225 310594
Spruced-up, traditional boozer with a beer garden, open fires and food to match the ambience: substantial quantities of traditional pub grub (homecooked chilli, curry, lasagne, steak & ale pies, etc) alongside lighter bites, all of which the owners are happy for you to take away if you want to. But why would you? If the food doesn’t keep you staying put, regular quiz, karaoke and live music evenings most definitely will. Open Mon-Thur 12noon-3pm & 5pm-12midnight, Fri-Sat 12noon-1am, Sun 12noon-11.30pm Food served Lunchtimes & occasional eves, according to demand

GARRICK’S HEAD
St Johns Place, BA1 1ET
Tel: 01225 318368, web: www.garricksheadpub.com
The second Charlie and Amanda Digney venture (see also the King William), refurbished to their impeccable, classy but classless standards. Inside, rustic sensibilities (chunky wooden furniture, hotchpotch kitchen knick-knackery) meets urbane, urban chic. There are sofas for lounging in the bar, those all-important tables on the pavement outside for smokers to moan at, and food is of the locally sourced, daily changing, top-notch gastropub genre. The bar menu features really sturdy sandwiches, excellent fish & chips and homemade burgers, while Sunday lunches (2 £10, 3 £15) are spectacular. Open Sun-Wed 12noon-11pm, Thur-Sat 12noon-12midnight Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-3pm & 5.30-11pm, Sun 12noon-3pm

GASCOYNE PLACE
1 Sawclose, BA1 1EY
Tel: 01225 445854, web: www.gascoyneplace.co.uk
Tasteful, easygoing cafe-bar/restaurant hybrid catering for a tasteful, easygoing crowd. Stylish, novel design twists proliferate throughout this split-level oasis, offering a choice between buzzing basement bar, elegant supper rooms or brasserie-style balcony dining. The wine list is massive, there’s an extensive bar selection (including cocktails), and bar food ranges from a bowl of homemade chips with mustard mayo to cheese/charcuterie sharing platters. Live jazz every Sun, and New Live Music Night (with Joan Davis and her band) on the first Thur of every month. See also Restaurants, English. Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-late, Sun 11.30am-11pm Food served 12noon-10pm (last orders)

GEORGE INN
Mill Lane, Bathampton, BA2 6TR
Tel: 01225 425079
Cask Marque-awarded period character pub with lashings of friendly charm which attracts a loyal army of locals and walkers alike. The big menu features all kinds of crowd-pleasing delights, from traditional, well-sourced British classics (including a spiffing Sunday roast for £8.50) and regular fresh fish specials to easygoing contemporary favourites with a Mediterranean flavour. In summer, the grassy canalside gardens really come into their own. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-11pm (Sun 10.30pm) Food served Summer: Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 12noon-9.30pm. Winter: daily 12noon-10pm (Sun 9.30pm)

GREEN PARK TAVERN
Lower Bristol Rd, Twerton, BA2 3BD
Tel: 01225 400050
This spacious, multi-ambient bar/pub/restaurant operates as an unofficial student hall of residence during term-time, but friendly locals (often with kids in tow), a heated beer garden and the reasonably priced, robust food keep business booming throughout the year. And we haven’t even mentioned the entertainment options on offer yet: DJs, live acoustic showcases, salsa classes, quiz/poetry/open mic nights and a splendid Sunday roast, which incorporates both free-range meat and excellent vegetarian options. Open Sun-Thur, 11am-12midnight, Fri-Sat 11am–2am Food served 12noon-9pm

HARE & HOUNDS
Lansdown Rd, BA1 5TJ
Tel: 01225 482682
This handsome, spacious inn enjoys a swoonsome view over the valley and a great 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. Open Regular pub hours Food served Mon-Sat 11am-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12noon-8pm

HOP POLE
7 Albion Buildings, Upper Bristol Rd, BA1 3AR
Tel: 01225 446327, web: www.bathales.com
As you’d expect from a Bath Ales brewery, the Hop Pole pulls an excellent pint. But whatever you do, don’t overlook the restaurant: locally sourced, imaginative fare-with-flair and some very ‘cheffy’ inspiration at the heart of the matter, all of which have combined to earn the kitchens a glowing reputation for well-priced gastropub goodness. There’s a lovely garden out back, too. Open Sun-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-12midnight Food served Mon-Thur 12noon-2pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-9.30pm, Sun 12noon-4pm

KING OF WESSEX
James St West, BA1 2BX
Tel: 01225 303380, web: www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk
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 extremely wallet-friendly, crowd-pleasing grub that keeps the many punters who frequent this busy, bustling boozer very merry indeed. Loud, proud food/beer promotions proliferate but sourcing, however, has not been overlooked in the scrum. Open Daily 9am–11.30pm (Sun 11pm) Food served Daily 9am-9pm

KING WILLIAM
36 Thomas St (off London Rd), BA1 5NN
Tel: 01225 428096, web: www.kingwilliampub.com
Top-notch grub in charmingly eclectic surroundings. According to the Good Food Guide 2009, the King William shows a ‘proper appreciation of our culinary heritage and an uncompromising devotion to local ingredients, delivering food that is absolutely right for the time and the place’. We couldn’t put it better ourselves – so we won’t try. Open Mon 5-11pm, Tue-Thur 12noon-3pm & 5-11pm, Fri 12noon-3pm & 5pm-12midnight, Sat 12noon-12midnight, Sun 12noon-11pm Food served Tue-Sun 12noon-2.30pm, dining room open Wed-Sat 6-10pm, bar menu available Mon-Sat 6.30-10pm. Private dining facilities for parties up to 25

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 (currently two for £7.95), regular promotions (curry night, steak night, etc) and macho Sunday roasts. Open Daily 12noon-11pm Food served Mon-Thur 12noon-9pm, Fri-Sun 12noon-8pm

MARLBOROUGH TAVERN
35 Marlborough Buildings, BA1 2LY
Tel: 01225 423731, web: www.marlborough-tavern.com
Part proper pub, part upmarket bistro, the Marlborough Tavern offers an appealing blend of friendly familiarity and a fresh, smart outlook in both decor and menus, earning them the following mention in this year’s Michelin Guide: ‘unfussy, seasonal cooking, big on flavour and big on portion, with friendly, attentive service’. Food is of the faultless modern British variety: plenty of twists on classic themes, all made from ingredients that boast a perfect pedigree, alongside local ales and ciders and a fabulously thoughtful wine list, all at very down-to-earth prices, and in welcoming surroundings. Sunday roasts are excellent. See website for offers and news of dining/wine-tasting events. Open Mon-Thur & Sun 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-1am Food served Mon-Sat 12.30-2.30pm & 6-9.30pm, Sun 12.30-4pm

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 to which most pubs who can claim to have been on the same site for almost 300 years would easily succumb. 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. Open Regular pub hours Food served Daily 12noon-4pm

PACKHORSE INN
South Stoke, BA2 7DU
Tel: 01225 832060, web: www.packhorseinn.com
Set in an atmospheric, tumbledown 15th century manor house at the heart of a similarly historic village, and offering reassuringly short but well-paced monthly changing menus. This place is at once traditional (hearty pies, beer-battered fish & chips, steaks, Sunday roast, carb-laden puds) and eclectic (gourmet burgers, interesting seafood and salads). Slate floors, sturdy oak tables, a lovely garden, jolly regulars at the bar and really cheerful service keep everybody happy, resulting in ineffably cosy, 500-year-old minimalist chic. Open Regular pub hours Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm & 6-9pm, Sun 12noon-4pm (6pm in summer)

PIG & FIDDLE
2 Saracen St, BA1 5BR
Tel: 01225 460868, web: www.thepigandfiddle.co.uk
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 like nachos and onion rings. Open Mon-Sat 11am-11.30pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm Food served Mon-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12noon-6pm

PORTER
George St, BA1 2EN
Tel: 01225 424104, web: www.moles.co.uk
Popular with pleasure seekers of all ages, students and Bath fringers attracted by a whole host of musicians, comedians and DJs who provide free entertainment downstairs most evenings of the week, this pleasant, lively, old school pub specialises in good old-fashioned, pub grub favourites… all of a totally vegetarian persuasion. The reliably satisfying fare perfectly suits the Porter’s laidback atmosphere: all-day breakfasts and full-on veggie roasts sort late risers and lazy weekenders out in style, while lasagne, curries, shepherd’s pie and various bar snacks (excellent nachos) keep weekday workers going, all at very reasonable prices. Free live music Mon-Thur, plus comedy to accompany your mastication on Sun evenings and live DJs Fri-Sat (call ahead for details). Open Mon-Thur 11am-12midnight, Fri-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 11am-11.30pm Food served Daily 11am-9pm (breakfast till 6pm weekdays/2pm weekends, Sunday roast 12noon-4pm)

PULTENEY ARMS
37 Daniel St, BA2 6ND
Tel: 01225 463923, web: www.pulteneyarms.co.uk
Friendly, traditional boozer boasting wooden floors, comfortable banquettes, roaring open fires, a very well stocked bar and generous portions of good, honest homemade food, including perfect pies. Tables on the pavement make for lovely pub lunch picnics when the weather complies. Open Regular pub hours Food served Daily 12noon-2.30pm & 6-9pm (not Mon-Tue lunch)

RAM
20 Claverton Buildings, Widcombe
Tel: 01225 460426, web: www.therambath.co.uk
Traditional boozer with a welcoming feel. Food is now served till 9pm every day, and menus include the famous 10-piece Ram breakfast (served from 10am, £4.95), homemade lasagne/pies/burgers, ham & eggs and barbecued chicken. Tue night is curry night: curry and a pint for a fiver. Real ales, real pub, really good fun. Open Regular pub hours

RAVEN
7 Queen’s St, BA1 1HE
Tel: 01225 425045, web: www.theravenofbath.co.uk
This small but perfectly formed city centre oasis (guaranteed free of TV/loud music) keeps a gaggle of established followers very happy, and 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. On the menu, find pies courtesy of those lovely Pieminister folk (served with mash or chips and your choice of gravy) alongside local sausages, an excellent ploughman’s and some rather elegant pates and terrines. Splendid. Open Mon-Thur 11.30am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-12midnight, Sun 12noon-10.30pm Food served Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm, Sat 12noon-8.30pm, Sun 12.30-4pm

RICHMOND ARMS
7 Richmond Place, Lansdown, BA1 5PZ
Tel: 01225 316725, web: www.richmondarmsbath.co.uk
Well-heeled Georgian pub with a light, modern airy feel and a charming beer garden, serving top-notch but down-to-earth chef-driven delights such as oven-roasted Gressingham duck breast and butternut squash served with red cabbage and red wine jus, or loin of Devon cod with Welsh rarebit crust served with bubble & squeak and pea veloute. Excellent Sunday roast (2 £13.50, 3 £15.95). Open Mon 6-10pm (bar only), Tue-Sat 12noon-3pm (kitchen till 2pm), Tue-Thur 6-11pm (kitchen till 9pm), Fri-Sat 6pm-12midnight (kitchen till 9.30pm), Sun 12noon-3pm (inc kitchen) & 7-10pm (bar only)

RING O’BELLS
Widcombe Parade, BA2 4JT
Tel: 01225 448870, web: www.ringobellswidcombe.co.uk
The perennially popular Ringo can probably take the credit for being the first gastropub in Bath. Lots of polished wood, sturdy kitchen furniture and a friendly atmosphere provide the perfect setting in which to enjoy polished, sturdy, friendly food, mainly based around a modern British theme but with plenty of Medi-themed twists and turns to keep things contemporary. Fantastic puddings, too, and always an excellent range of nibbles, bar snacks (inc tapas), platters and specials to keep everything lively. Enjoy lazy Sunday roasts (1 £13.50, 2 £16.50, 3 £19.50). The well-stocked bar features a great range of wines, conti-beers, etc). Private hire available. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm & 5-11pm, Sun 10am-11pm Food served Breakfast 10am-12noon, lunch 12noon-2.30pm, dinner 6-10pm

ROYAL OAK
8-10 Summerlays Place, BA2 4HN
Tel: 01225 335220, web: www.theroyaloakbath.co.uk
Fabulous, family-friendly real ale haven, all comfy seats and stripped wood floors, with a great outdoor area for summer months. Cracking selection of real ales, regular charity quiz/live music nights, sporting events on big plasma screens and free Wi-Fi. Don’t let all that distract you from the food, though: reasonably priced homemade pub favourites, from soup and jacket spuds to rib-eye steaks, sharing platters and a superb Sunday roast. Open Mon-Thur 12noon-11pm, Fri-Sat 12noon-12midnight, Sun 12noon-10.30pm Food served Lunch Tue-Sat 12noon-2pm, Sun 12noon-3.30pm. Dinner daily 5.30-9pm

RUMMER
6 New Market Row, BA2 4AN
Tel: 01225 339345, web: www.therummerbath.co.uk
Open fires, homecooked food, robust Sunday roasts and real ales, all just a stone’s throw from Bath’s weir and the picturesque Pulteney Bridge. Gets very busy when there’s live sporting action on the big screen or at the rugby ground, just across the river. Hot, homemade pies make excellent bar snacks. Open Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm Food served Daily 12noon-4pm (call for eve hours, currently under review)

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… exactly what we’ve come to expect from a Bath Ales pub. Originally a ‘steak and ale chop house’, now a refreshingly straightforward pub bar at street level and a cosy supper room (with gallery kitchen) on the first floor. The locally sourced menu selection runs from BLTs, burgers and ciabattas to ham & egg or fish & chips, Barnstormer beef sausages & mash, on to the giddy heights of pan-seared sea bass, mixed pepper wellington and breast of guinea fowl. Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-11pm (Fri-Sat 12midnight), Sun 12noon-10.30pm Food served Daily 12noon-2.30pm (Fri-Sun 3pm) & 6.30-9pm (Fri-Sat 9.30pm)

SAM WELLER’S
Upper Borough Walls, BA1 1RH
Tel: 01225 474910, web: www.samwellersph.co.uk
Popular, buzzing, bustling city centre hotspot specialising in hearty food (steaks, fish & chips, pie & mash, Sunday roasts, etc), a good pint (or three!) and a welcoming atmosphere. Open Daily, regular pub hours Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-9.30pm approx (according to demand), Sun till 5.30pm

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 do’s, serving traditional and reasonably priced fare like beef & ale pie and Sunday roasts with some veggie options. Open Regular pub hours Food served 12noon-9pm

STAR INN
Vineyards (opposite The Paragon), BA1 5NA
Tel: 01225 425072, web: www.star-inn-bath.co.uk
A grade ll listed, CAMRA-endorsed, fruit machine- and music-free real ales corker with a history that dates back to the 16th century, with 19th century wooden interiors and a well-stocked bar courtesy of local brewery/proprietors Abbey Ales. While there’s no menu as such, the pub’s well-stuffed rolls and generous bar snacks (from quail’s eggs and sausage rolls to big cheeseboard selections) make this truly original gem worthy of a mention here. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-2.30pm & 5.30-11pm, Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm

VOLUNTEER RIFLEMAN’S ARMS
New Bond St Place, BA1 1BA
Tel: 01225 425210, web: www.thevolley.co.uk
Small, welcoming pub offering excellent, homecooked traditional pub grub and a great selection of traditional local ales alongside standard bar goodies. Open Mon-Thur 11am-1am, Fri-Sat 11am-2am, Sun 12noon-11pm (may close early on week nights, according to demand) Food served Daily 12noon-3pm

WHITE HART
Widcombe Parade, BA2 6AA
Tel: 01225 338053, web: www.whitehartbath.co.uk
A distinctive, popular cornerstone of the burgeoning Widcombe scene: a glorious scrubbed-pine-and-blackboard-menu sanctuary with downhome dining rooms, a lively, buzzing bar area and a gorgeous urban oasis in the lovely courtyard outback, all of which earned it an honourable mention in this year’s Michelin Guide. Food is unpretentious but inspired - a real ‘go with the flow’ affair, from the ‘signature’ rough pesto/mint and lemon hummus bar platter/starters to gert big homemade puds. Lush. Open Mon-Sat 11.30am-11.30pm, Sun 12noon-10.30pm Food served Daily 12noon-9pm

YE OLDE FARMHOUSE
1 Lansdown Rd, BA1 5EE
Tel: 01225 316162
Formerly a rather rundown 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). Food – sturdy portions of homecooked pub grub favourites - is fab, too, including Sunday roasts for £6.95. Open Regular pub hours Food served Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 6-9pm Sun 12noon-3pm

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