The Grapes, Melton Mowbray

Long, narrow, corner pub with a splendid bay window, internally very traditional with Anaglypta, Britannia tables, tongue and groove including on the ceiling. Obviously made over at times but not outrageously so although some of the colour scheme is questionable. The counter is at the rear left with usual suspects on two T-bars plus three “Shipstones” beers on three pulls, Gold Star, Best Bitter (called Original) and a surprisingly good weak, dark, mild. At the back, by the Gents is a dart board and juke box. There are a couple of steam punk guitars as decor above and opposite the counter. Lots of fun and banter among the punters. Nice pub, it did have some copies of The Light, a conspiracy theory newspaper whose presence could be taken a couple of ways.

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.