The Britannia, Boston

There’s a pool table by the entrance of the Britannia before a serving counter that runs across the front of the pub facing rearwards towards some seating. The barmaid, and maybe her mother, were sat eating McNuggets at the counter. My entrance didn’t seem to suit there timetable so it was a right faff pouring me half a generic lager. There are a couple of hand pumps, but these are long since used. Some stairs to the right lead down to a sunken seating area that extends into the rear. This area felt a bit club like with lots of standing room. This characterful building could be an amazing pub, but alas it is very poor and I’m not surprised I was the only customer during a recent midweek evening visit.

Boston's "fun pub". My arse! Bar to the right with two decent hand pumps - that weren't on. Noisy, full of lights. I had my half and got out sharpish.

We visited late on a Friday night recently and there was a band playing. The pub was busy especially in the half of the opened out pub where the band was playing but there were some tables free the other side of the central fireplace. The relatively modern interior is completely different to that of the old exterior. The Batemans XB was well kept.

A town centre Bateman's pub with a nice rear patio area overlooking the river. The pub is located in a side street and has a nice Georgian frontage in undressed brick, with some impressive sash windows. The entrance frontage is in a blue pilaster and white look. The interior has three parallel areas served by a single long bar. The decor is generally red, cream and olive green, with generally a white ceiling and a mix of floorings including wood, carpet, stone flag and tile. There is a mix of sofas and seats, as well as bistro and other art on the walls - with the whole place having more of a town centre bar feel rather than a pub. There is a pool area. The service was fine and there were no other clientele at my visit. There was a TV, which wasn't on and the background music was charty and at a decent level. Beer; usual tap stuff with just Bateman's XB on handpull - which was fine. Overall, i was happy to have nipped in for one, but that was enough.