The Star Inn, Bath

Lovely multi-room traditional pub set on an attractive terraced road to the North of the city centre. From the lobby, you can head right towards the bar, via two small seating areas, or left for a pleasant lounge. Most rooms have their own fireplace and a mix of traditional seating options, as well as plenty of smart three-quarter height wood panelling and appropriate decor, including lots of paintings and a selection of interesting breweriana. The lounge is a particularly nice spot, with a parquet floor covered by a couple of rugs, a lit gas fireplace under a plain mirror, and an upright piano to one side. A well stocked trophy cabinet attests to the pub’s sporting prowess and the walls are decorated with items of local interest. For such a great looking alehouse, there’s an appropriately strong ale selection, comprising Bath Best Bitter and Bellringer, Sharps Sea Fury, Milestone Raspberry Wheat Beer and Draught Bass plus one real cider. The barmaid was very friendly and welcoming and my pint of the Bellringer was in tip-top condition. This is an outstanding pub that rewards on the heritage, beer and service fronts. The multi room layout means there’s plenty to explore, making return visits a welcome prospect, and the place has that warm, welcoming feel that lends itself to an extended session.

Well described by others, below, and certainly a ‘must visit’ pub, both for its historic interior and its excellent beer quality.  The only disappointment was the attitude of the barmaid who was dismissive and a little cold towards us and to other customers who asked for Bass, which had gone off – maybe she was having a bad hair day.  That said, it wouldn’t put me off coming back for the beer alone and spending time enjoying the ales.  The other ales on during this visit were Bath Bellringer, Rev James Original, Otter Bitter and Whitefriar.  Stan’s Cider was also on draft.  Definitely deserving of its GBG status.

Another wonderful multi- roomed Bath pub, deserving of its heritage status. Beers were Bath Bellringer and Maximus IPA, Spitfire,Titanic Plum Porter and Bass, the Cider was Stans Cheddar Valley. A must visit in Bath.

A Star in more ways than one. The Star Inn is one of those very few pubs that have the definite "wow!" factor when you walk in. You have the feeling of stepping back a hundred years or more as you enter into the wood panelled interior, and meander through the different rooms that have remained unchanged for a long, long time. It's on CAMRA's National Inventory of pubs with unspoilt interiors, so I don't need to spell out the interior features in great detail - follow the WhatPub link on here to see the description as well as Mick Slaughter's excellent photographs of the interior. But I do need to mention that this is one of the handful of pubs where ale is served into a glass jug from one of the casks on stillage at the back, and then poured into your pint glass. The two ales on stillage when I was in were Bass (as always), and Abbey Bellringer (it's an Abbey Ales pub). On handpump were Brain's Rev James Rye, Davenport's Red Baron, as well as an 8% Thatcher's cider called Stan's. Food was clingfilm wrapped cheese and ham rolls (£2 to £3 as I recall), with no sign of any buffalo mozzarella, aioli, wraps, or brioche buns. This is destination pub, and a must for anyone visiting Bath.

Slightly out from the city centre, but well worth the walk to find this splendid old pub with its remarkably unspoilt interior. Very traditional furniture and decor, with several part-screened seating areas around the bar plus a small 'L'-shaped lounge to one side. Although described as the Abbey Brewery tap, only Bellringer (£3.30) was on but the other four handpumps did feature an interesting choices of ales from other small breweries. The regular Bass was also available on gravity from a stillage behind the narrow bar counter.