The Old English Gentleman, Saffron Walden

Official site of The Old English Gentleman - oldenglishgentleman.com

Official site of The Old English Gentleman - oldenglishgentleman.com

A traditional and friendly back street boozer just a short stroll from the Market Square, it consists of a U-shaped room wrapped around a wood panelled bar counter. The flooring was wood strip and there were some chunky black wooden beams on the ceiling. Further wooden planks had been affixed to the wall in places with dark blue paintwork above. A brick fireplace with a wood burning stove was off to the left whilst a free standing dual aspect brick chimney breast was to the right. There were some cosy alcoves off to the left whilst elsewhere were stools with a shelf running along the wall to rest your pint on. A few old portrait phots were dotted around the walls. A couple of TV’s were showing the tennis, but the volume was off so this was not too intrusive. Beers on tap were Otter Wotter Shot, Exmoor Gold, Woodforde Wherry and Exmoor Gold. The solitary cider was just Aspall’s Suffolk unfortunately. All in all, a solid enough pub and worth popping in if in the area.

First of 2 GBG pubs to check out in Saffron Walden. This was perfectly functional - four real ales on - I can remember seeing Woodforde Wherry but went for a Theakstons XB. Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2lCLRJ1

This is a small old pub ticked away in the back streets of Saffron Walden. Inside there is a small single room with the bar in front and another room on the right that I assume is for people eating. The bar area has some scrubbed wooden tables with chairs. I did notice that a few of these were reserved but managed to find one that wasn't. It was quiet on my Friday early afternoon visit. The bar has four hand pumps which had Adnam's Bitter & Ghost Ship, Woodforde's Wherry and West Berks Good Old Boy, I went for the Good Old Boy which was in excellent condition and one of the better boring brown beers. The reserved tables are a bit of a pain but not the end of the world as I have seen it happen in other pubs. At least they didn't have lighted candles on the tables. I thought this pub was good enough and it is GBG 2015 listed.

Was sitting at the table drinking my beer when a very abrupt female member of staff came up to me and asked if i was aware that I was sitting at a reserved table. Told her no. I did not realise there were reserved seats in pubs. I have been drinking in them for 52 years and have never heard of this. So I moved not only from the table but from the so called pub. Beer ok but crap staff and crap pub. CAMRA take note.