The Cork, Bath

Hapless gay-friendly pub with one staff member serving a huge queue. Four sticks with 2x Bristol Beer Factory, my Notorious was more Ordinary World (NBSS 2). Knocked it back, grabbed a quick snap of the quiz-hosting 6’4” drag queens who looked like they could land a knock-out blow to most of the assembled punters and beat a retreat back to more relaxed climes. Whether my Thursday night visit was atypical I can’t say, but the adventurous might enjoy it if it is.

Still very much a student dive, though the downstairs outside terrace is a reasonable place to sit and enjoy a beer. It’s certainly a better bet than the bar where the sound system was belting out offensive MOBO at an uncomfortable volume, grunted along to by two pasty basement-dwellers dressed like Kevin and Perry who, it transpired, were the bar staff. Two ales on from Bristol Beer Company, Notorious and Fortitude, both in good condition. There was also Erdinger Pils from a hydrant on the bar plus Neck Oil and Tiny Rebel’s Club Tropica on keg. I’d be happy to come back if they’d turn off that awful wiggah racket.

A friendly student pub on two levels, the lower bar opening out into a courtyard garden. The interior is stripped back with assorted mismatched furniture, but cheered up with occasional splashes of pop art. Apparently owned by the Brew House people down the road and two of their beers were on handpump - Apollo and Fortitude. Probably best avoided at peak student time but pleasant enough during vacations

With time to kill before my train I drifted into the lower bar and was pleasantly surprised.It certainly helped that the shapely barmaid was wearing a pair of hotpant ,and was dealing with a stag party ordering slowly with distain.There is a flatscreen in the open plan interior,while there is a room to the right and a sunken snug down some steps to the rear.The large outside terrace was proving very popular in the sun. Four handpumps were offering Bristol Beer Factory Nova,Castlecombe Pendulum,Bath Brew House Lupulus and Mad Squirrel London Porter in good nick. Upstairs there is another bar with the same ale selection but much calmer with modern hip furniture and a quieter place to eat and drink. This pub was so much better than the nearby GBG listed Duke of Wessex and Garricks Head,and is worth popping into,although beware that the yoof market dominates the lower bar.