The Carpenters Arms, Ascot

Busy, modern pub in upmarket Sunninghill. Divided in two down the middle, with dining to the left and a popular public bar to the right. Lots of mirrors to create the illusion of space in the public bar, in actuality it’s quite small. To the rear is a well-appointed paved beer garden with plenty of fauna. Busy on our Saturday evening visit with plenty of friendly locals. Down-to-earth enough to have the football on the telly and be dog-friendly. Real ale seems like an apology, situated in a corner at the far end of the bar; just Doom Bar but in decent nick nonetheless. I quite liked it here but I think with a bit more imagination at the bar it could be even better – what price a nice pint of Windsor & Eton or West Berks ale?