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Detail Pages
The Downgate, Hungerford
Hungerford
RG17 0ED
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Downgate
Sadly the previous licensees of many years standing have moved on, taking the interior paraphernalia with them. So now the inside has been stripped down and is painted in neutral colours - very bland compared to previous, hopefully there’ll be a bit of extra effort to make it feel more homely in the future. Three Arkells ales available; 3B (fair), Hoperation and Moonlight.
March 2017
Down here to see the football, I got a bit more look at the interior which is delightfully small, multi-roomed and cosy with an aged pub carpet and a plethora of model planes, jugs and blow torches hanging from the ceiling. Two ales on, Arkells 3B and a cracking (for Arkells!) Wiltshire Gold. Hungerford’s best pub; it really should be in GBG. Rated 8
June 2013
A little set apart from the other pubs in Hungerford by dint of it being the ‘wrong way’ from town as you hit the road up from the station. This Arkells pub sits right on the edge of the urban area next to a kissing gate leading onto the open common and commands lovely views across the valley. Watching the trains pootle up and down the line in the glorious sunshine was a very agreeable way to spend half an hour on Saturday. Four Arkells ales, my Wiltshire Gold was in good nick though the 2B was a little more pedestrian. A comedy couple for licensees inside, very welcoming. I didn’t spend long inside but there seemed to be three little rooms/areas to drink in with plenty of memorabilia scattered around. If there was a parrot, he was being a bit less noisy than usual as I didn’t spot him; mind you I spent 95% of my time outside admiring the view. Though looking back at the pic I took there were a number of what look like birdcages on the pub’s roof! A classic, simple little boozer with a lot of plus points and it should be the default choice if you only have time for one in Hungerford. Rated 8
On 16th June 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Michael Wright left this review about The Downgate
Revisit, on a wet August Thursday lunchtime.
A bit more about the interior, on entry into a vestibule, then direct into bar area, which is sub divided into 3, one of which, on right, is more related to dining. There is a lower bar / eating area, with a raucous parrot. Toilets are also in a lower area, and may not be handy if you are on sticks / wheelchair, I should also mention the car park is not tarmaced, hard packed gravel / clay mix and seems to having a revamp, so could be different later on, the uneven, stoney, surface could be a problem if walking is difficult
The walls are decorated with memorabilia, much of it RAF linked, pictures of Vulcan, Red Arrows etc, plus coins in cases, mugs hanging from rafters, so plenty to look at while you wait for lunch
Beer was as before, Arkells offerings, food as before, the daily specials are good value, and they have lunchtime offer of some meals at £5.50, I had bacon & onion roly poly, nice warming comfort food on a wet & windy summer's day
On 12th August 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 526 recommendations about 382 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Michael Wright left this review about The Downgate
The previous review was by the owner BTW.
Went in lunchtime, pleasant atmosphere, 3 Arkell's bitters available, I had Moonlight, which was ok, but the next one was a 3B, which to my taste was nicer
Food, we had scampi and battered cod, both with chips, salad etc. The scampi was pronounced excellent, my cod was ok, had worse, and had better.
There are daily specials as well as set meals
The coffee was also classed as "excellent"
Word of warning, cosy as it is, avoid sitting near the fire in the lower bar, because the raucous parrot makes talking hard work
Given it's location I would expect it to be a busy pub in the summer, especially as they have outside seating and serve cream teas as well
On 31st October 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 526 recommendations about 382 pubs]