The Grapes, Melton Mowbray

Battered looking place from the outside. Long and narrow interior, bar at the far end. A bit better within but it's been poorly whacked-thorough in the past and the cheap n' cheerful refurb (the blue and white shades of 2015 plus cheapo laminate) doesn't really help. Cheered to see three cask from Shipstone though inevitably my Red Star tasted a bit odd and didn't clear (NBSS 1.5) so I dumped it and moved onwards. 4.5

With time for a couple of bonus pubs in Melton, the Grapes was my penultimate port of call in the town. It overlooks the Market Place, which was quiet late at night, but had certainly sprung to life when I returned on Tuesday morning (market day). I wasn't expecting much, but the locals and staff were fairly friendly and down to earth. Eagle IPA & Hancock's HB were the 2 real ales.

Called in as we had missed our bus and wanted to get in the warm. Friendly pub with sport on TV. 2 real ales on and they were at an unbelievable low price of around £1.70 a pint. They were Broughton Willacade and Grays Traditional Mild and both in really good condition. The mild one of the best I've had in a while.