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Cambridge PuG Crawl, Friday 5th April 2024 with Gann
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by peter ashworth
Submitted on Saturday, 3rd February 2024
With picture contributions to 26843 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Grapevine , Exmouth
Exmouth
EX8 1DL
Served areas
Reviews of The Grapevine (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Grapevine
This smart brewpub has a great central location, just off The Strand and within easy striking distance of the train station, making it an ideal start or end point for any crawl around town. The pub has a slightly food-led feel, thanks in part to the retention of certain Covid-era practices, such as table service and a rope across entrance for punters to wait at, in order to be seated. Once admitted, you find yourself in a tiled floor room with bare boarded raised seating seating areas to either side. High tables and stools run through the centre, in the space opposite the bar, whilst both of the side seating areas have regular tables and chairs in abundance. The walls are painted in dark shades and decorated with Crossed Anchors signs, Six Nations promotional crap and a few simple mirrors. The servery is to the left and has a timber clad counter bearing the pub’s name, and a deep bar back with keg taps mounted on an ugly steel fronted unit beneath a basic image depicting the brewing process. Unusually, the bar canopy holds a collection of, what I assume are, rarer Crossed Anchors beers in large bottles. The windows have some nice stained glass upper panes, but there’s not too much else that puts you in mind of a traditional pub here. Beyond the bar is a rear area with bare boards and a mix of high tables and stools and picnic benches, with an open kitchen to the left. More bottles are displayed on the shelves back here, seemingly available for off-sales, and beyond this, there may possibly be a final room to the rear, but I didn't fully explore. Quiet tunes played in the background but a good Sunday evening turnout created enough hubbub to render it unnecessary. The staff here all seemed very friendly and they gave a lady who bought some take out bottles a free branded bottle opener.
Unsurprisingly, Crossed Anchors beer dominates the bar, with American Pale Ale, Big Red Ale, Devon Premium Gold and Sweet Session O'Mine available on cask, alongside eight of their keg beers plus a few guests from Stannary, New Lion and Powderkeg. I tried the American Pale Ale (£3.80 a pint) but found it almost entirely devoid of flavour, which was a real disappointing end to my crawl around town.
I wanted to like this place, which on the surface is a smart, well run brewpub with a good selection of beers and a comfortable environment in which to enjoy them. However, this was tempered by the food-led feel of the enterprise, poor quality homebrew and the relentless Six Nations branding throughout the pub. Ultimately, I left feeling a little unfulfilled and would think twice about giving this a second chance.
On 5th June 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Grapevine
Decent brewhouse - a converted victorian street corner pub - it is single roomed but has the benefit of a covered and heated courtyard.
An extensive range of Cross Anchors beers - where a clip board with a printed menu is available on every table. Also an extensive (and slightly expensive) range of European beers - including a first ever spotted Ayinger Winter Bock.
Friendly staff - who are currently taking orders at the bar and then delivering the drinks to you table.
I liked this place.
On 21st November 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1329 recommendations about 1315 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Grapevine
A much renovated old pub which is home to the Crossed Anchors Brewery. The single room is broken up with balustraded areas and still features the dark blue-grey walls, quite up-market if perhaps rather overwhelmed by the large graphic text adverts. There is a courtyard outdoor area at the back. Draught ales are from their own range, in this case including two bitters, an IPA and a very nice porter. On keg are various others of their own and sundry guests of the craft persuasion. Food is from an American Diner-style kitchen, mainly burgers, but nice enough. A bonus point for the beer selection.
On 9th October 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]
View more reviews of The Grapevine (6)
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- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Grapevine - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 10 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Live Music : Yes last updated 05 June 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 05 June 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Micropub : No last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : Yes - Mon - last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 05 June 2022 by Pub SignMan
- WiFi : Yes last updated 17 August 2019 by Quinno _