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Marlborough Tavern, Bath
Bath
BA1 2LY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about Marlborough Tavern
On the border of what counts as ‘city centre’ is this 97% gastropub – I had to ask at the bar where I could sit and sup and to be fair the young female staff were helpful rather than dismissive even if the barmaid had to remember how to count coins on payment. Interior has an open-plan dog-leg interior, done-out in an anaemic mushy pea green. Two cask, Butcombe and Electric Bear Glitch which was in surprisingly good form if a terrible brew (NBSS 3.5). You wouldn't want to schlep out this far unless you want a tick but it was fair for what it is. 5.5
On 16th May 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Marlborough Tavern
Internally it hasn’t really changed from Blackthorn’s 2011 review, below, other than that is was really quite quiet on a mid-week lunchtime. It;s currently owned by The Bath Pub Company, a small chain of local prestige pubs. Only one table had been reserved, and there was only one other customer in drinking. I suspect though that this is a seasonal phenomenon, and that come the Summer it will be get busy with visitors to the Crescent and Victoria Park. The staff were friendly and helpful. Food was good but expensive, and the beer was around 20% over-priced for the area, indicating their focus on tourists and the wealthier customer. Ales on were Bristol Beer Factory’s Optimist and Butcombe Original, plus Medford Cider on draft. I’d be very happy to pop in now and again for a pint, but the prices would make me more inclined to drink elsewhere.
On 4th March 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3285 recommendations about 3250 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Marlborough Tavern
Quite when an establishment crosses the line between gastro-pub and restaurant I’m not sure, but this place must be perilously close to the latter. On a recent Saturday evening visit, every single table was reserved for diners, so if you just wanted a beer your only option was to sit at the bar or go outside in to the attractive courtyard. That said, it may well of course be different at other times. It’s a little walk from the city centre, but in a pleasant spot just around the corner from the Royal Crescent and opposite the golf course.
Now that I’ve set the scene, I shall just add that it was decked out in fairly typical gastro-pub fashion, with reclaimed wooden boards on the floor, green painted wooden panels on the lower half of the walls with white plasterwork above, candles on all the tables and various artwork on the walls, much of it for sale. You get the picture I’m sure. Staff all seemed friendly and helpful.
We were looking to eat, but hadn’t reserved a table (it is a pub after all). However, as we were quite early, they managed to fit us in with the proviso that we were finished by 8:30 which was fair enough. Food was very good and we enjoyed what we had, but it’s clearly not your usual “pub grub”. With most of the starters being around £7.50 and main courses £15 or so, the bill soon adds up. But if that’s what you’re after, I’d recommend it.
Beers on tap were Butcombe and Brakespears. There was also a pump for Timothy Taylor Landlord, although this appeared to have run out. The solitary cider was Addlestones.
On 13th June 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]