The Marlborough Arms, Cirencester

This pub now appears to be the best in the town, with a good selection of ales and ciders. We arrived to find the barmaid had disappeared to the cellar to sort something out. Another guy was filling in and didn't know much about the drinks range. In fact, the barmaid did a few disappearing acts, leaving quite a few customers waiting when they entered. The interior of the single room has plenty of old brewery signs to admire. Of note for me was a mirror in the gents featuring the London Apprentice pub not a million miles from me in Isleworth (west London). In addition, the ceiling is covered in old pump clips. 5 cask ales were on for our visit - Severn Double Hopped Pale Ale, Potbelly Hop Trotter, Slater's Premium & Blitzen & Goff's Twelfth Knight. The Twelfth Knight was a blackcurrant porter similar in style to two others I'd had earlier in the day. It was very enjoyable indeed. Ciders are dispensed from boxes on shelves at the right-hand side of the bar. The range was Rich's Legbender, Chant Badger's Spit, Cotswold Cider Company Freak Show, Gwatking Game Cock & Snail's Bank Very Perry. It's easy to see why this pub gets plenty of accolades from the local CAMRA group, with its good ale and cider selection, its convivial locals and its nice surroundings. In fact, it was only let down by poor service.

This is in alehouse style, which has unfortunately necessitated stripping out all internal walls and replacing them with screens delineating sketchy ideas of separate areas. Perhaps I'm being too critical - certainly it's in better taste than the Crown in the town centre. The beer and cider range is better too, with eight beers on hand pumps and several boxed bags of real cider. The beer range was interesting and tempting (see photos), which is more than I can say for the 21st century pop music that was being provided for our delectation. I called back for another beer towards the end of the evening when the background music was more attuned to my generation's ears and I was able to relax a little. Being more demanding, critical and cynical than the previous reviewer, I have given it an 8 rather than his 10, but this doesn't mean I wouldn't return here the next time I'm in Ciren. Date of visit: 10th May 2018

I thought this pub was perfect. Hence the 10 rating. All the architecture in Cirencester is lovely, but the inside of this place was a gem. Full of vintage pub memorabilia that could keep you entertained for a while. Like being in a beer "art" museum. Six or seven real ales on - ordered from left to right in terms of colour. I went for the middle ground with a North Cotswold Brewery Windrush Ale. Superb condition. Friendly staff, who obviously love what they do. Worth seeking out. Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2xA5PfP