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Yet another list with Tris39
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Detail Pages
Charters, Peterborough
Peterborough
PE1 1FP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Charters Bar
This interesting bar is situated on the lower level of a Dutch barge (believed to be the largest continental barge in the UK) moored on the banks of the River Nene. The room is, as you might expect, long and narrow with a predominantly wooden interior broken only by the odd steel support beam. Seating comes in the form of old pews, arranged into big U-shapes opposite the long bar counter, creating large, four-table booths of sorts. At either end of the room there are some standard tables and chairs and a sofa or two at the end nearest the entrance. During my visit, the place was pretty much empty because most customers were taking their drinks outside, which was a bit of a shame as it could have done with a bit of chatter to liven it up. Music was playing in the background, but otherwise it felt a bit too quiet. There isn't quite the nautical theme inside that I was expecting, with a large propeller mounted over the toilet door being the most notable exception.
Thankfully there was a fine range of beer to keep me occupied. Oakham JHB (£2.65), Inferno (£2.75), Citra (£2.85) and Bishop's Farewell (£2.45) were to be expected from a pub that is linked to the Oakham Brewery, but there was an excellent guest selection of Wentworth Chilli Stout (£2.90) and Early Fruits, Nethergate Priory Mild, Woodlands Old Faithful and Best Bitter, Everards Tiger and Bartram’s Coal Porter (£2.90), all priced at £2.80 a pint unless otherwise noted. There was a fine selection of foreign beer as well including Leffe, Veltins and Hoegaarden, as well as three ciders which included Scrumpy Jack and Stowford Press. Four pint take out containers were being advertised on blackboards above the bar. The food options were similar to those in the Brewery Tap, although the menu for the top floor restaurant looked a little more expensive here and it wasn't clear if food could be eaten in the bar.
Having a pub on a barge could be seen as a bit of a novelty idea, but this place is well worth seeking out for much more than its unusual setting.
On 14th April 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3126 recommendations about 3126 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ross stanyon left this review about Charters Bar
top venue....live just along the river path so can stumble home (not fallen in...yet!) great beers good music. get here soon as beer festival is on 24/08-28/08)
On 26th August 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 2 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Charters Bar
First impressions of this large old barge, were that it was going to be a bit disappointing. It's got a rather decrepit air about it, and just didn't look very inviting. However, looks can be deceiving, and I was very glad I paid a visit.
It consists of one large, open downstairs bar with a suitably nautical feel to it – rough wood panelling, wooden flooring and wooden tables. Not much in the way of décor, but some interesting prints on the walls detailing some of the beers on offer. There's one very long bar running almost the whole length of the ship, and a small corner stage at one end that looks as though it may be used for bands or a disco. Upstairs there's an oriental restaurant. This is an interesting mezzanine type floor, with the windows of the restaurant over looking the edge of the lounge.
Beer choice is among the largest I have ever seen in any pub. On this visit I noted (deep breath)… Oakham's White Dwarf, Bishops Farewell and Midnight Mild; Green Jack's Orange Wheat Beer; RCH Steam Shower; Anglo Dutch Special (from Dewsbury, Yorkshire, apparently); Black Friars Spring Tide; Atomic Fission; Tower Brewery Cooper's Special; Leydon Brewery's Rammy Rocket plus another two that were apparently off as the pump clips were turned round. Amazing. After all that beer, ciders were a slightly disappointing Scrumpy Jack and Stowford Press.
The outside area, although large, is a little disappointing. All the tables and chairs are on a rather unattractive gravelled area with a curious raised section in the middle. There are some lawns further back, but no seating. On top of this, there's no view of the river, which seems to be one of the main reasons for having a riverside pub! The large barge completely obscures the view, with the bridge and the end blocking anything you may see upstream. There is however an outside bar as well, which is useful if you don't want to make the trek back to the boat. Obviously a much more limited selection though, with no real ales at all.
On 23rd May 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1953 recommendations about 1866 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Charters Bar
Fantastic beer festival with lots of beers on stillage in the outside marquee and still more in the bar on the barge itself. All beers we tried in great condition. Had 6 from the outside bar and another 4 in the barge where it was warmer. Big match day tomorrow, so looks like a successful festival. This is one not to miss when in the area though. There was a great atmosphere in the bar downstairs and it was packed.
On 2nd April 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about Charters Bar
Large 1907 Dutch barge, long bar with plenty of handpulls; Cathedral Ale Eight Bells, Cottage Mod n Hound & Merchant Navy, Leadmill Interstate 95 (just don't!), Oakham JHB, Bishops Farewell, Inferno, White Dwarf, Westons scrumpy. Small raised area for live music, also home to the dartboard. Seating area to right of bar has some signed muso photos but I didn't recognise any, sorry. I thought the green area next to the mooring was all grass last time I was here, but unfortunately they seem to have slapped a large patch of concrete in the middle now.
On 7th June 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
TERRY DALES left this review about Charters Bar
Large Dutch barge moored near Town Bridge.Owned by the same group as Oakham Ales.
Good atmosphere,friendly staff,excellent selection of real Ales.
Restaurant on the top deck,didn't eat there, but heard good reports about the food.
Regular beer festivals held in the large beer garden, the largest in Peterborough.
Well worth a visit.
On 11th May 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 23 recommendations about 23 pubs]