The Drop Inn, Ross-On-Wye

Just off the main road, this place has barely moved since 1974 bar the upgraded telly and new keg fonts. A long and narrow room with battered cream and maroon trim, along with a knackered pub carpet. Bit of a whiff in the air and the furnishings were somewhat worn. Pool table at the far end, plus a large wooden board listing all the Ross Rugby Club captains and presidents (it turns out that RRFC purchased the place, hence the pub name – ha ha!). One ale, a supposed house beer which I assumed to be Caledonian which was cheap as chips at £1.40 and was actually kept very well and made my stay a far more pleasant one than I was anticipating. Deathly quiet on my early evening visit, though as I was leaving a few came in. Curate’s egg of a place, but fair play to the rugby club for having the foresight to make this theirs and serve up a good pint. 5.5

Situated in a side street just off the town centre, the Drop Inn doesn’t initially come over as the most inviting pub to anyone from beyond the town’s borders. The interior comprises of a partly carpeted front bar section with dart board in one corner and a rear section dominated by a pool table and a further dartboard. There was a TV in the main bar area and a big screen at the rear that wasn’t in use. The general décor is a bit worn around the edges, somewhat dated and doesn’t make for good first impressions but then its unpretentious approach will be quite appealing to many. There was table skittle advertised but I didn’t spot it anywhere. Rugby plays a prominent part in the pub’s activities and the pub also doubles up as the headquarters of the local Ross On Wye Rugby Club. One of the few eyecatching aspects of the pub is the collection of original shirts from the 70’s onwards that are aligned down one wall. The bar canopy contained a series of shields which I assume were also rugby based but I didn’t really get close enough to inspect. Given the scruffy approach of the pub in general, I was semi-expectant of some earthy regulars but this didn’t turn out to be the case on my visit and on the whole those present seemed a quite civilised bunch. There was just the one ale albeit an unusual choice of Felinoel Best Bitter which at £2.60 was reasonably priced. There was also a Westons cider on hand pull but I didn’t recollect which one. I didn’t note anything food wise but I can’t see this place doing much on the food front beyond a bespoke sandwich. This is very much a take us as you find us local’s pub that will only have limited appeal to outsiders but has its own intrinsic character that makes it worth popping in, even if just for a quick pint.