Larkhall Inn, Larkhall, Bath

As described by Blackthorn, below, this traditional town local has a strong regular following yet is welcoming to strangers. The young barman was putting up with a lot of stick from the locals, which was probably deserved, but it was all in humour. There was live motor sport on the large TV screen. The secluded garden was empty and looked a bit dismal, but it was fine inside. On handpumps were Pride, Butcombe Original and Thatcher’s Old Original cider. The beer was in decent condition. I’m not sure I’d travel here especially but it’s worth dropping in if in the area and I’d be happy to stop here for a few convivial pints.

A good sized, street corner pub in the heart of Larkhall, this looks fairly uninviting from the out side being draped with Sky Sports banners, but once onside you find a surprisingly "olde worlde" pub with much of it's original features intact and a large beer garden as well. The main bar area has an old parquet wooden floor, salmon paintwork and several old beer barrels that have been pressed in to service as tables for vertical drinking. A number of old pictures of the local area adorned the walls. There were two or three TV's around as to be expected from the advertising outside, but these had the volume turned down low so as not to be too obtrusive and the punters who were watching seemed to be just sat there quietly. To the left was a snug area that had a very old stone fireplace and some wood panelling on the walls as well as the usual brass adornments and a table with some local magazines on. To the right was a small room dominated by a pool table. There is a big garden at the rear, mostly laid to grass with plenty of picnic benches and even an aviary with a owl in as well as some old garages or stables that have been pressed in to use as smoking shelters. This is a pleasant spot to soak up the afternoon sun, although on this occasion it was somewhat spoiled by a group of middle aged men who had no volume control and at least one of whom couldn't string a sentence together without the f-word. Now I'm not a prude, but when I'm out for a quite beer with the wife, I don't really want to listen to someone on the other side of the garden going f-ing this and f-ing that. Whether they were regulars or not I don't know, but they appeared to know the barmaid so I guess they may well have been. Beers on tap were just London Pride and Courage Best. Ciders were Thatcher's Traditional & Blackthorn. I've mixed feelings about this - on one hand it's a surprisingly quaint old pub with a great garden and a friendly barmaid. On the other, some of the clientele let it down and the beer choice was a little uninspiring to say the least. Perhaps worth a visit if you're passing by, but not worth making a special effort.