The Market House, Weymouth

Probably had a bit of character a few years ago but now just a grey and white omnipub. Four cask, Dorset and Otter were the two non-normal options, the latter's Bitter was old and perfunctory (NBSS 2). Ditched and moved fairly quickly.

Much improved in recent years as described by Strongers, below, it now feels much more ike a decent back street local. The pool tables have gone, the dartboards remain, there was cricket and horse racing on the TV screens. Otter Bitter, Tribute, Palmer's Dorset Gold and Old Speckled Hen were the cask options, while the keg range was quite extensive - John Smith's, Thatcher's Gold and Haze, 1664, Carling, Carlsberg, Red Stripe, Guinness, Fosters and Bach's Cider. The staff were friendly enough, and it was certainly an oasis of normality in the cultural desert that is Weymouth.

The Market House is a single roomed pub that opens at 14:00 in the week and at midday at the weekend throughout the summer. I am unsure of the opening times out of tourist season. There is a dartboard either end of the pub, but the right hand one had a pool table on the oche. This board was in very good condition so I imagine it is used on league nights only. Live music is advertised at weekends and there is a jukebox that was playing some low background music during my recent midweek evening visit. Sky Sports is advertised and muted Olympic coverage was being shown. A standard draught range is available and the two hand pumps were drawing Greene King IPA Gold and Fullers’ London Glory. I also counted seven or eight different ciders and perries. I found the service to be friendly and would have no problem returning here.

The Market House is in a quiet area of Weymouth but it is close to the bussier areas. Once inside i could only see the one room which had high ceilings and seemed a bit basic. There were no real ales on here with the only bitters being Courage best and Websters bitter. I felt a bit out of place in here and was fairly glad to leave. Having read Soup Dragons review things must have improved in the last 10 years. Pub visited 25 August 2000.

A 1930s looking corner pub, which is mainly in undressed brick, part white render and with some blue paint work. The interior is a U-shape around the bar that is in front of you on entry. The decor is white and a toffee coloured wood panel, with stone flag floor - a little tired, but not shabby. There are no real pictures or ephemera, leaving the place a little bare, but it has a dart board one end and a pool table at the other, with screens showing the footy on ESPN. There was no music. The service was friendly and the clientele seemed a mixed bunch of locals and friendly enough. Beer; tap stuff with GK St Edmunds and a decent enough Spekky Hen on handpull. A basic place, but i didn't mind popping in - and yes, i was on my own!

Oh dear..... OK the ale's good, but it's a singles bar full of lonely people pretending they aren't lonely. Suffice it to say I wouldn't go back.