The Half Moon, Melton Mowbray

Attractive half-timbered exterior and the inside isn't too bad either, long and narrow with a couple of steps up to the bar. Tiled floor, nice wood panelling on the lower servery, black painted beams that might actually be original in some cases. Darts and pool in a rear room. Surprised to see three cask on from an eclectic set of Robbie's, Bradfield and Castle Rock. A half of the latter's Harvest Pale was lively enough but also tasted a bit old as well (NBSS 2.5). Sweary barmaid needed to reminded of the concept of the watershed. I’d be tempted to give this one another go, Sweary Sue aside, it felt like quite a comfortable place to have a drink.

Mock Tudor half timbered multi roomed pub, on the right a lounge bar according to the door, a split level rectangular room. The lower level has tables and chairs while up three steps is the counter and a flat almost seatless drinking area. The counter here has three pulls with Castle Rock Harvest Pale (too cold), Adnams Southwold and Robinson's Trooper. It has a nice fireplace, quarry tile floor, a screen, panelled walls, dart board, fake beams and an old map of Melton as decor. Quiet on a Tuesday night however the TV sound competed with the piped music. Behind is a public bar reached by the yard/coach entrance or through the lounge up some steps. No cask in here just four solos of dreary stuff, a machine, juke box, darts and pool table. It has the toilets as well.

Nextdoor to Melton Mowbray's famous Dickinson & Morris pork pie shop, this is a rough and ready town centre local which now features in the Good Beer Guide. There are two decent size rooms, the main front bar and a slightly smaller rear bar which leads to an outdoor area. Bass & Castle Rock Harvest Pale are the regular beers. The guest beer was Robinson's Trooper Day of the Dead. The barmaid assured me that there were 3 versions of Trooper and that this wasn't the original one. I've had Trooper before. This tasted exactly the same and was also 4.7%. Further research indicates that she was incorrect. It is just a different pumpclip! The Half Moon had a few interesting characters. Some were watching the FA Cup Final in the front bar. Others were watching horse racing from Epsom in the rear. We sat in the rear bar near the doorway, where loud music was completing with commentary from both the football and the racing and the general banter. As we were leaving, one wag asked us to bring our wallets with us next time. I'm not sure there'll be a next time!