The Garibaldi, Bourne End

A really fine community owned pub, a bit of a walk from Bourne End station but well worth the exercise even though it's not cheap. One knocked through room with central counter, four pulls, three working, with Rebellion IPA and a very good Rebellion Blonde, stump 3 had Chiltern Black a pathetically weak stout, needless to say I didn't try it. I also had the pleasure of witnessing Morris dancing in the back garden.

Now a community-owned local purchased, I read, for £400k. I’d suggest an additional fundraiser for some interior decoration as the 70’s wall planks and woodchip papers are only barely disguised by the faux sodium lights! Aside from that horror there is a wood floor, some brick pillars and some rather naff grey/green paintwork akin to the nearby Walnut Tree. However there were much better things available, including three local ales - Rebellion IPA & Zebedee and Chiltern Black - the latter two of which were in excellent shape. A village pub ambience with friendly locals and a really helpful barmaid who sorted out a taxi back to Maidenhead for us. Dart board and switched off TV also spotted. I liked it here and with a bit of sensitive upgrading it could be an absolute cracker. 7.5

Yes, the local community have managed to raise the £400K needed to purchase The Garibaldi from Punch Taverns and it is very good to see the pub now owned by the locals and to continue as a pub instead of being turned into more private housing, especially as my options for a lunchtime pint have been reducing with the closure of the nearby Firefly and the Walnut Tree going all gastro with the new owners concentrating more on twigs in the restaurant than pumps on the bar. The Garibaldi is a traditional 19th Century Inn that takes its name from the Italian General Guiseppe Garibaldi, who visited the nearby Cliveden House in 1864. It’s off the beaten track, hidden amongst period cottages in the narrow Hedsor Road cut through from Clivedon to Bourne End. Internally it is a smallish one room area around the L shaped bar and the pub retains a traditional feel with low beamed ceilings, wooden floorboards and beamed walls with exposed brick sections. There are in fact three hand pumps on the bar which, on past visits have been dispensing Sharps Doombar, GK Abbott and Rebellion IPA. Although on a recent visit after the purchase, the ubiquitous Doombar was complemented by two Ales from the local Vale Brewery and the VPA was a good pint. My previous visits have been sporadic due to the reduced opening times (traditionally not open till the evening) and the lack of any food being served. But as the previous reviewer stated, hopefully now that it is owned by the locals, they can carry through on the plans to sort the kitchen out and get a permanent landlord in place, instead of the series of temporary landlords that Punch used to keep this place ticking over, and get it open more regularly with food on offer and more interesting beers than Doombar and Abbot.