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Detail Pages
The Masons Arms, Doncaster
Doncaster
DN1 1ND
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Masons Arms
A multi room pub, on entry there’s a door marked taproom leading into a main public bar, down a corridor to the left are more rooms of various sizes. Ahead is the Secret Garden and off to the right a drinking space with access to the servery, not a lot of advertising of beers on sale alas. Two rooms lead off here, one looking like dining only and there’s an upstairs. Six pulls plus kegs, a cider,Landlord and Rudgate Ruby Mild but only in below average condition, two others I forgot to note. Mixed decor I can’t be arsed to describe so I’ll just say eclectic. The Rum Rooms seems to be connected in some way.
On 6th March 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3276 recommendations about 2982 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Masons Arms
Located on the market. 5 real ale taps(4 on during my visit).Interior as described below. Early opening.
On 28th March 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Masons Arms
There's something about pubs in market squares. There are half a dozen in Doncaster's, though this is the only one we tried on our recent visit. We went in the public bar, which occupies the front part of the building. Service was a little off-hand, though the landlord noticed our interest in ales and handed me a copy of the local Camra newsletter, Donny Drinker.
We had Timothy Taylor Landlord, which was a little lively and came with quite a large head despite being topped up. Others available were Old Speckled Hen and Tetleys Bitter, with one hand pump unused. There were a few other drinkers and one very large dog. Elvis was on the sound system. I didn't try the other pubs nearby on this occasion, so a further visit may be required to compare this with them, though as I said: there is something about market square pubs, so I may not bother.
On 9th May 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3751 recommendations about 3486 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Masons Arms
Opposite the Corn Exchange in Doncaster’s Market Square is The Masons Arms, a small traditional locals pub. It’s still badged as a Tetleys pub and displays a plaque denoting it as a Tetley Heritage Inn. Etched glass windows, bearing the pub name give the outside an attractive look, which is only slightly marred by the chrome seats on the pavement outside at the front.
Notably for a pub that proudly announces that it dates back to c 1700, it badges itself as a “Bar and Café”. Unusually, notices in the upstairs windows tell us that the pub is “For Sale – Ask Inside”, but surprisingly, no estate agents boards are evident anywhere on the exterior. The two buildings next to the pub are also advertised as being available to let and this clearly appears to be the quieter side of the Market Square.
Inside the front door is a framed copy of the first deeds of the premises dated 1 May 1715. The front bar – The Tap Room – consists of a long bar counter, a boarded ceiling and fixed seating against the wall. This bar features a horse racing theme and there’s betting slips on the bar counter at the end. This is the unspoilt part of the pub and a poster is displayed telling us that the pub features in CAMRA’s new book of Yorkshire’s Real Heritage Pubs.
The back room has a number of photos of old Doncaster, but the layout has obviously been altered – note the disused “Smoke Room “ door – and there’s a light pine coloured wooden floor which, I’m afraid looks badly out of place in an old pub like this. Another print in this part of the pub tells us that the pub accommodated troops during the 1799 Napoleonic War. Service to this room is via a hatch behind the counter in the Tap Room. In the stand up lobby are old handpumps mounted on the wall
There’s 6 pumps and 4 beers were on during my early morning visit – Tetleys Bitter, TT Landlord, Speckled Hen and Thorne Brewery Comfort Stout.
I do hope that this pub can keep going without being subject to any further unnecessary “improvements”.
On 6th April 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Masons Arms
This historic Market Tavern dates back to 1715 and enjoys a prominent position in the town centre. The small front bar has traditional old patterned windows, built in cushioned bench seats and a white tongue and groove paneled ceiling that gives the place a fresh feel. Barflies will be happy with the stools at the bar and the plasma screen seems to be geared to sport, in particular horse racing during the day.
A small corridor leads to a larger rear bar and contains an interesting collection of deeds, maps and documents as well as a detailed history of the pub. As you enter the rear bar, there are 3 sets of the old hand pumps mounted on the wall, the oldest being the originals from 1715. The rear has been extended at some point and you can work out where the exterior walls once were however the “trick” windows are a clever touch. Artifacts include several old hand tools and there are plenty of old photos adorning the walls. At the end is a wood burning stove with a stockpile of logs ready for the forthcoming colder days. Beyond the toilets is an open air partly covered patio with a fake Banksy and a local potter who shares the courtyard. I was reliably informed that part of the wall was the original Roman City wall.
On the beer front there were 4 available, Landlord, Black Sheep, Old Speckled Hen and Tetleys + a further 2 hand pumps not in use (I was told that Mordue IPA was about to be put on but whether this was in addition to or as a replacement for one of the other beers I am not sure). A list of current and upcoming beers is listed to one side. Service was friendly, the staff chatty and overall, a very enjoyable town centre pub that is certainly worthy of a visit.
On 29th December 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]