Three Tuns Inn, Bishops Castle

Just a quick update from four years ago. The pub is still looking a bit forlorn on the street side, though the door works and there was a lively crowd in front of the bar there. I walked around to the back which was a bit quieter, with five beers clipped on the equal number of hand pumps, plus Three Tuns Best which is available around the corner. So, three beers from Three Tuns, plus two from Wye Valley, and Titanic Plum Porter. My XXX from the brewery across the yard - though I believe pub and brewery have had different ownership for some time - was very good (NBSS 4, £4.50/pint).

On previous visits to this iconic pub I am sure I have entered from a street door at the side of the building, but this was closed when I was here last autumn - is this for safety reasons, I wonder. I saw a small family group try the door and move on to a more obviously open pub, but I remembered there's a door towards the rear where the brewery's van is usually parked (not sure if this constitutes a car park - possibly not), so went around that way and up the stairs to the bar. This is a rambling building of many rooms, with a large bar counter sporting four hand pumps. These were offering three Three Tuns beers brewed on the premises: Best, Cleric's Cure and XXX Pale, with one more pump clip turned around (this was a Wednesday afternoon). My half of the Best bitter was very good (NBSS 3.5). I noticed quite a few other Three Tuns beers on display in bottles (£2.90 to take out but £3.80 to consume in the pub). I was only passing through on this occasion, but I've been meaning to come here for a longer visit. Maybe this year. Date of visit: 21st September 2022