The Kings Arms, Ross-On-Wye

This Irish theme bar was originally the Kings Arms, not to be confused with another Kings Arms that had previously been the home of local legend John Kyrle and still exists as shops and residences a short stagger away. The façade has a tangle of flagpoles, protruding flower box brackets anda Guinness sign as well as the prominent pub sign. Inside we find a single, smallish room with an open bar on the left hand side. The décor is quite plain with little of note beyond a few brewery mirrors, racehorse pics and the usual token Irish bar pre-requisites. There is a darts area at the rear with a TV and an outside patio betyond. I’m not a big fan of Irish bars as tbey are all rather predictable so this was very much a completists visit where I expected little more than a peaceful pint accompanied by a token couple of old codgers propping up the bar bemoaning the fact they have lost their pension on the 3 o’clock at Doncaster. To all intents and purposes Connollys didn’t disappoint although the old codgers were sadly replaced by a swarm of local f-worders intent on outshouting each other above the music levels and falling over each other. It wasn’t the most pleasurable drinking experience in town but I would imagine it’s a bit more peaceful when in the domain of the shopping crowds rather than the Bank Holiday, no work tomorrow mob that I encountered. That said, the lack of anything beyond the basic keg beer range wouldn’t entice me in again.