The Brewers Arms, Cirencester

Despite the impressive exterior, this is just a basic Arkells pub. Large and gloomy open bar with office carpet and mismatched furniture. Dart board and pink fluorescent barmaid who bore a passing resemblance to a Stabillo highlighter pen. Place smelt of Dettol which whilst it proves someone cleans the place, shouldn’t really be the whiff you want to encounter late afternoon. One cask, Arkells 3B in a Carling glass (!) but decent nick (NBSS 3) which saved the place a bit. Either way, I’d have zero inclination to revisit.

After a wearying cycle ride to Ciren I was in need of a beer, but the loud music emanating from this pub was pounding in my ears while still 50 metres from the door, so I turned on my heel and went in search of quieter pubs. Later, returning this way to the hostel at the Barrel Store, I happened to glance through the window here and saw only one out of three hand pumps had a clip on it - and that was reversed. Date of walk-by: 10th May 2018