The Waterside Inn, Ware

The Waterside enjoys a prominent location at the end of the High Street on a busy roundabout. It is also situated alongside the River Lea, with an outdoor patio that I didn't get the opportunity to explore. Inside, it is quite large with a number of different sections. I sat in the largest area adjacent to the bar. It was very noisy, with some loud locals and a few families with kids shouting. TVs were on, fruit machines were in action and music was also playing. None of this made for a relaxing pint. In hindsight, I probably should have explored the patio area in order to find some tranquility. However, having said that, I noticed that one corner area leading to the toilets was much quieter and quite cosy, so much so that one guy was working on his laptop from there. Whilst I much preferred the more relaxed Brewery Tap down the road on this latest visit to Ware, the real ale range was slightly better in the Waterside. Sharp's Doom Bar & St Austell Proper Job are the regular ales. Guests were Adnams Ghost Ship, Brain's The Rev James, Oakham Bishop's Farewell, Tring Colley's Dog & Mighty Oak The Old Man and the Sea. My Bishop's Farewell was in a good condition. I'll give the pub a 6/10 for its ale range, but it's really not a nice environment (inside at least) to spend much time.

Has obviously improved dramatically on the ale front - 8 pulls on the go on this visit, with a decent range including a few guests from the Tring brewery. I enjoyed their citra session. Shame the pub is depressingly dull, generic in every way, but the outside seating by the canal is pleasant enough. I would probably come back if just for the beer.

Love the last review - The Chavigator! Functional riverside pub with 6 real ales on - Ringwood Ridgeback in decent condition at £3.20. Offer a loyalty scheme. Designed for families who want to eat. Pleasant enough. Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2kfV3VM

As mentioned the Navigator is an imposing building occupying the prime position of dominating the A1170 Bridge over the canal as you enter Ware. And for a town without a Wetherspoons , this place largely fills that void, by being a big internal space devoid of any character, selling cheep beer and plastic food and attracts the local pond life during the open hours of darkness, when it is best avoided unless you are under 25. The only saving grace is that the seating space is comfortable and usually clean enough, there are several large screens to see the Sky Sport, there is an ale choice, albeit not a very inspiring one (two banks of 5 hand pumps were only mustering Abbotts, OSH and Doombar on my latest visit), and the patio area out back by the canal is a really nice spot to have a beer. It is a decent enough choice if you are on a budget and require low cost lunchtime pub grub with a beer and I will confess I have utilised this place for that purpose in the past. But avoid it at all other times.

Cheap (and nearly nasty) - local chav clientele really off-putting.