The Odd One Out, Colchester

A traditional, brick built pub in a slightly uninspiring location on the periphery of the town centre, it was recently highlighted in a Camra publication as having a historically significant interior and so despite the outward appearance, I was keen to check it out. Internally it’s essentially all one open-plan L-shaped room which is perhaps unusual for an old, unaltered pub, although it is divided in to different areas with two larger bars running along the front of the pub and a smaller one to the rear. What might be described as the lounge area was to the right and this had carpet on the floor, dark wood panelling on the lower part of the walls and wallpaper above this which had been painted a pale yellow colour. The ceiling was a deep red colour and there were similar colour curtains at window, whilst the timberwork was a contrasting pale green colour. An old brick fireplace was to one side with a pile of logs. A glass display cabinet on the wall housed a collection of old beer bottles, jugs and so on. Overall I felt that this all felt rather tired and dated, and whilst it might be historically genuine, I have come across far more interesting and attractive pub interiors than this rather plain one. The bar to the left had old wooden boards on the floor with green vinyl bench seating around much of the perimeter, and another brick fireplace although this one contained a gas fire and beyond this was a snug with a few bookshelves on the wall. The atmosphere was very quiet, and I thought it could have done with either some background music or just more of a buzz of conversation. Beers on tap were Bishop Nick’s Ridleys Rite, Singing Windmill Steampunk Ale, Leighton Buzzard Black Buzzard, Saffron Brewery IPA, Adnams Fat Sprat, Colchester Metropolis and Magic Rock’s Bearded Lady. As for the ciders, Aspall’s Suffolk was on tap with several more being dispensed from boxes stacked up on the end of the bar, and these included Black Rat, Broadoak and Skull’s Dark Cider among others. Overall, I was a bit disappointed with this. There was certainly a good range of beers and the barmaid was friendly, but it didn’t really inspire me to return.

Homely traditional feel, warming & hospitable, friendly chatty atmosphere of a proper pub. Nice careworn bar, decorated with breweriana trays, comfortable rooms to either side, gas fire & real fire with glowing coals, Elgoods Cambridge, Archers Best, Nethergate Old Growler, Brandon Wee Drop o' Mischief, Brains SA Gold, plus 4 cider kegs on bar. Looks like DuchyBoy was most unlucky on his visit, you sure you got the right pub DB?

A step back in time , fantastic feeling, . plenty of ales to have bash at.Seek this one out if in the town

Beautiful town boozer, every time I've been there, 5 real ales, always a dark beer (which is my style), 3 ciders and 1 perry. I can see from the majority of the reviews that nearly every visit has been a positive one. Highly recommended.