Suffolk Arms, Cheltenham

There is a weekly Sunday morning market held on Montpellier Retreat which is well worth an amble along. This being Cheltenham, and one of the poshest parts of Cheltenham, you won’t find stalls selling Imported Chinese tat here, more artisan art and clothing stalls with a variety of homemade products. And this includes the food stalls clustered together on the junction with Daffodil Street. And your options for a post stroll ale are either The Beehive at the northern end closer to Montpellier Gardens, or this one at the southern end. The Suffolk Arms is a nice looking pub from the outside and the pub name emblazoned on its front white walls make it look full of promise. But inside my feeling was much the same as the previous two reviewers, comfortable enough but a bit formulaic and overall a bit bland. And perhaps I did not help myself by visiting on a Sunday lunchtime, when the focus was clearly on dining and not drinking and most of the pub, and especially the longer section back towards the open kitchen, was functioning more as a restaurant. But there is a very pleasant outside courtyard area and blessed with a sunny day I was able to take my pint out here and enjoy it in the sun. And with reference to ales,three hand pumps are on the bar, but only two in use for my visit, with St Austell Tribute and Goffs Cheltenham Gold and the latter was fine but a bit average, which is what I thought of the pub overall. Personally my choice over the two would be the Beehive, but with the Jolly Brewmaster and the Exmouth Arms a bit further of a walk south into the Montpellier district you do have a lot of good choice in this part of town.

Nothing to argue with in Blackthorn’s review it was pretty much as it was in March. A double fronted building that obviously once had rooms off each side of a central corridor traces of which remain. It’s now a sort of a U or L shape as the right hand extends back into a dining room with its own food servery. Plain walls enlivened with old ad’s, auction bills and posters. Three pulls but only Tribute to be had, it was in good nick though.

A pleasant pub in this attractive street of upmarket shops and restaurants, it’s relatively compact with a bar area at the front and a restaurant to the rear. Staff seemed friendly and helpful, and promptly wiped down tables as soon as they were vacated. Décor wise it has a bit of a bijou feel to it, with sanded wooden boards on the floor, blue/grey wood panelling on the lower part of the walls along with cream paintwork elsewhere and some unusual wallpaper with ducks on, as well as church candles on all the tables and the mantlepiece. The taupe paint on the ceiling was probably bought from Farrow & Ball across the road. Overall, whilst not unpleasant, it did feel a bit plain perhaps and lacking much in the way of any character. Large windows at the front were a bit of a feature, and there was also a small fireplace. A selection of pipes in a glass case made a change from the more usual knot display. Several fitted benches around the permitter had padded cushions fitted to the rear as well as a scattering of loose ones. Beers on tap were Tribute and Cheltenham Gold, whilst the ciders were Aspall’s and Thatcher’s Gold. Overall, a decent enough pit stop, but equally nothing to get too excited about.

Central bar serves 3 real ales. Interior as below.