The Original Plough, Chelmsford

The Plough is another pub that is handy for Chelmsford station. Although unlike others around, it does not currently open until midday. The Covid entrance is to the rear, where there is also an outdoor drinking area. We chose to drink indoors, where it was quite busy on our Friday lunchtime visit. The main bar has a bright and airy feel. We spotted at least one smaller side room. Toilets are upstairs. The disappointment here for me was the real ale choice. London Pride, Doom Bar & Tribute are the regular ales. The guest beer was Bombardier. None of them particularly inspired me.

A nice looking building with a tile hung mansard roof, inside however is not quite as characterful as it could be, having been madeover to some degree. There are three separate areas, linked together inside, and a nice sunny rear garden. The main larger area with the bar has a flagged floor of some age, other areas are boarded. Décor has a few framed bits and bobs, there are a few fireplaces, one with a wood burner, not needed on a warm day. Lots of chalkboards offer this and that deals, the beers were arranged on two banks of eight handpumps which got us a bit giddy initially until we found that they were not only doubled up but offered a dull selection of mostly regional nationals. Old Speckled Hen, Bombardier, Doom Bar, GK IPA, Adnam's Bitter, Draught Bass, Cameron's 150. One reversed, couldn't see it but likely to be Pride I'd wager. I went naturally for the Cameron's 150, it wasn't good, sweet and cloying. As a building not too bad but they have sold out a bit and it really could be so much better. Hugely better pubs very close by.

This was an Ind Coope house years ago but is now part of the Mitchell & Butler "Oak Tree" chain whatever that is. Inside it has wooden floorboards and is one single room with a central bar. The wooden tables all had menus on with food prices that looked good value. The bar had two banks of eight hand pumps which seemed great until it became apparent that the beers were all doubled up. Things got worse when it was apparent that all of the beers were from mainstream regional brewers. They were Black Sheep Bitter, Wadworth's 6X, Pedigree, Thwaite's Nutty Black, Doom Bore, Greene King IPA, Adnam's Bitter and London Pride. I thought I would rub salt in the wound by going for my personal Bete Noire Sharp's Doom Bore. It was everything I expected it to be, sweet, brown and boring although it was in good condition and was relatively cheap (£2.60). Although it was cheap the local Spoons are cheaper and I had a local brew in one that was vastly superior to any of the beers here. There are plenty of pubs in Chelmsford with a more interesting beer selection. I certainly wouldn't bother to return. I was short changed by 10p which loses it another rating point.