The Fountain Inn, Gloucester

A pub reached via an alleyway off Westgate St or from Berkley Street It’s quite sizeable once you enter the courtyard, there are two ranges of buildings, the bar being on the left as you enter down the alley. Inside it’s a comfortable lounge bar with tables and chairs in a L shaped room, probably once three or more rooms. The counter runs along the back and carries 7 handpumps of regionals plus Purity Gold. To the right is an area with a panelled ceiling and a magnificent carved fireplace, other parts of the bar are in different styles and there’s a big brick fireplace at the left hand end. Décor is modern arty pictures. It was quiet when I dropped in with just a couple of old buffers in one corner, a dining couple and one regular at the bar, all fairly middle class in atmosphere. The yard outside is very pleasant which is a word that describes the pub well.

The 4 main streets of Gloucester seem awash with tiny passageways hiding tucked away pubs of which the Fountain is one, accessed via a narrow gateway in Westgate Street. The original pub that stood here from 1455 was known as the Savages Inn (after its owner, not the customers) but the current building dates from the 17th Century. Its recent history has been a little fragile having been closed and seemingly lost in 2008 only to be rescued and subsequently reopened. From the passageway, a quaint courtyard opens up containing with several benches and umbrellad tables plus old gas style street lamps with hanging baskets. The pub has a cosy, carpeted L-shaped interior with low, partly panelled ceilings but feels like it should be a bit more Ye Olde worlde than it actually is. The décor is quite plain with a few old pictures and ornaments but nothing too fussy. The left hand end when facing the bar is divided by a large pillar containing a double fronted fireplace and the right hand end is dominated by an impressive open stone fireplace. 6 ales available on my visit; St Austell Tribute, Butcombe Bitter, Hook Norton Old Hooky, Greene King Abbot, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Purity Pure Gold, perhaps not the most versatile selection given the number available but certainly enough to keep all but the fussiest drinker going for a while. Whilst I do like the place, I couldn’t help but feeling slightly underwhelmed from my initial expectations but, that said, it is certainly remains a short list entry for any future beer trips around the city’s hostelries.