These wonderful brewers run a small group of pubs so perfect they would make most M25 ring-dwellers splutter into their Carlings. They are quiet, solid, cosy, clean, friendly houses of rest, supplying splendid beer and a comforting atmosphere.
‘Branding’ – now there’s a foul word. But there is a Bath Ales imprimatur applied to each of their pubs: an uplifting colour scheme of mustard yellow and royal blue; lovely padded seats; and most importantly, an abhorrence of the rectangle, meaning each pub has all manner of sunken corners and hidden nooks in which you can secrete your happy little party.
The Hop Pole (Bath) and the Hare on the Hill (Kingsdown, Bristol) do fantastic food as well; the former has a smarter menu, along with separate dining room, whereas the latter supplies plates of perfectly-judged upmarket bar food. However, although you might expect to pay over the odds for such joy, they keep prices at a reasonable level.
The Merchants Arms is more straightforward, offering traditional bar snacks (hand-reared pork pies, cheese rolls etc), board games and newspapers. There is also a large pot of pickled onions behind the bar. Mmmm.
What more can you want? Pub bliss.
Some Bath Ales pubs
- Hare on the Hill, Kingsdown, Bristol. Tel: 0117 908 1982
- The Hop Pole, Upper Bristol Road, Bath. Tel: 01225 446327
- The Merchants Arms, Hotwells, Bristol. Tel: 0117 904 0037
- The Salamander, Bath. Tel: 01225 428889
- The Wellington, Horfield, Bristol. Tel: 0117 951 3022