The Drink Valley, Swindon

New brewpubby place at the base of a modern block. Inside is a fairly spartan affair; a long narrow facing frontage, scree floor, white painted breeze blocks and retro (if newly purchased) furnishings. Weird atmosphere on a quiet Tuesday night, with a skipping CD which then stopped, leading to silence with a muted Sky Sports looming overhead, augmented by the sounds of a crying baby from the bowels of the building. Four cask with two on from them (Drink Valley) and two others. The Drink Valley Pale was ok given the lack of customers (NBSS 2.5). Noting the cheap prices on some premium keg products, I tried one and could see why, not bad but needed drinking and over-gassed. There is also a fridge of foreign produce, which in retrospect was the better bet. Enigmatic; I wasn't tempted to stay for more as it was a bit weird but might try it again on a busier day, the location is reliant on footfall and lower Swindon town centre is one of those places which dies on its arse after sundown between Sunday and Thursday. 6.5

Official site of The Drink Valley - thedrinkvalley.com