The Newbury, Newbury

A good looking Georgian building from the outside but a gasto makeover within.To the right of the entrance is a greeting desk and a dining area behind but a few sofas in front of the desk,possibly designed for folk waiting for a table.The open kitchen is visible from here.Go left for the drinking area and bar,still kitted out in a modern fashion with a fine banquette running under the front window,and a high seating bench along one wall,exciting when accomodating short skirted totty. The bar itself has a beaten copper frontage and wouldn't be out of place in a cocktail bar.There are four handpumps drawing on my visit Newbury House Beer (provenance unknown),Ramsbury Deer Stalker,Upham Punter and a very good TT Landlord,with a northern barman who knew that a very tight sparkler is the only way to serve this superior ale.This alone made the trip here worthwhile,the other ale options seemed dull and boring.Worth including on a crawl if you like upmarket interiors or properly kept Landlord.

A rather modern and sterile gastro pub,however there were five pumps on the bar including a couple from Windsor and Eton, my choice of Knight of the Garter wasn't bad.Not really the sort of place I would return to though.

Upmarket, smart, modern bar, though there are still the Georgian style square room, straight lines and windows to the street. Modern brown/pastel colours, some modern sculptures, wood floor and high benches/wood tables. A little pretentious & very slow service, but they still have 3 real ales &, although not the most comfortable place, it serves a purpose & something different for the area.

Large, upmarket dining pub or maybe more a restaurant with a drinking area. To one side is a less restaurant type area although the service is pure restaurant. The other, larger side of the building is just restaurant. The counter is in the more pubby part and boasts five pumps of local beers but they were fairly lacklustre in spite of the GBG listing for the place.