Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 28th April 2024) with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Tunnel House Inn, Cirencester
Coates
Postal town: Cirencester
GL7 6PW
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Tunnel House Inn
A fantastic old pub in a very out-of-the-way location down a pot-holed track and adjacent to the entrance of the canal tunnel from which the pub takes it’s name. In fact the pub was originally built to house the construction workers building the tunnel. Destroyed by a fire in 1952 it was then rebuilt in to the great hostelry that we find today. By the way, if you’re looking for the tunnel entrance, you drive over it as you enter the car park. Double back on yourself down a small path and you’ll soon find it. You can walk along the canal towpath in the other direction, although the canal is no longer navigable.
It consists of a number of interconnected rooms, all with similar décor except for the light and airy dining area the back which looks to be a more recent extension. The largest room which includes the bar counter has a parquet wood floor and plenty of black beams on the ceiling. Hanging from the beams are all manner of knick-knacks such as old oil cans, flashing roadwork lanterns and an upside down card table, complete with playing cards, empty cans, an ashtray and even some fag ends! A large fire-place was off to one side surrounded by a couple of Chesterfield sofa’s, and oddly a few embers were still glowing in the hearth which seemed odd and a hot and sunny June afternoon.
The two snugs off to either side were cosy rooms with carpeted floors, and an etched glass window looked out from one of them in to the main bar. This also had another fire-place with some wood panelling above it. At the rear the dining area had windows all up one wall overlooking a patio area, light coloured tiling on the floor, bookshelves covering the rear wall as well as a wood burning stove and a pile of logs. More paraphernalia was hanging from the ceiling in here, including some rowing oars.
Outside is a large beer garden with plenty of picnic benches, and good views of the adjacent fields and rolling countryside. A wooden climbing frame is discreetly placed at the far end of the garden and there is also an old gypsy caravan that he been pressed in to service as a private dining room. A couple of chickens were wandering around hovering up any discarded scraps of food.
Beers on tap were Uley Bitter, Otter Ale, Gem and Prescott Hill Climb. Ciders were well represented with Strongbow, Stowford Press, Ashridge Devon Blush and Devon Traditional. All in all, a great pub and well worth making the effort to seek out.
On 9th June 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1949 recommendations about 1862 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Tunnel House Inn and Barn
A pretty unique pub, so worth a visit just for the footpath, bridge and lovely countryside.
The multi-roomed interior is littered with bit and bobs of old brewery tat and stuff from David Dickenson's shed. 'Quirky' I think the word would be. It's quite dark inside - which I guess works well on a winters evening, but would probably be a bit depressing on a Sunday afternoon I'd wager. A good range of ale awaits inside, served well - no complaints there. The clientèle were an oddly mixed bunch, middle aged diners, twentysomething males and a few old blokes. In some places that would mean a smooth mix, but in here it seemed a bit odd. Certainly one or two of the diners looked a little perturbed by 35 of us turning up to have a beer.
All in all, a good pub worth a visit.
On 22nd August 2008
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]