Hare & Hounds, Churchdown, Gloucester

A large GK 1930s-style red brick town pub and diner, very lively and loud. The single large open-plan bar is mostly laid out for diners, the gaming machines simply obstruct the circulation space, and the counter is awkward to get to. There is a small garden at the front, only really suitable for smokers, and plenty of parking. The food is the standard BK Brake Brothers slop, enormous portions of chemically enhanced lard designed to fatten up rather than satiate. I did try a burger, which arrived sticking to the paper napkin which barely separated it from the battered piece of driftwood on which it was served, accompanied by charred potato scrapings which substituted for the chips I was expecting. There was a chilli sauce with it which was hot enough to be a man-test but lacked any real flavour. Four ales on, GK IPA, Speckled Hen, Golden Hen and RadioX, all OK but as usual over-gassed and too chilled. Fine if all you want to do is get drunk and stuff your face with empty calories, and it's comfortable enough if you can put up with the noise, but it's not my destination of choice and offers little to the ale drinker.