The Grinning Rat, Ipswich

Rapport evident between barstaff & punters shows this to be a sound community local. Adnams Bitter & Broadside on handpump. Varied clientele and age groups. Pool room hidden away to the rear, so not impacting on the bar space. Not bad, but users of this site will be moving rapidly on to the Dove a few yards up the road.

A couple of doors nearer the town centre than the Dove, it has a much, more interesting interior but less well kept beer, I would guess turnover is a problem with the Dove being so close. A locals pub rather than an exhibition, it has three pulls on the counter with mediocre Woodfordes Wherry, Pride and Adnams plus the usual suspects keg wise. Décor in the traditional mould in the low ceilinged, single open plan room, tongue and groove with normal tables and chairs and some more garden styled furniture. There's also a mirror ball, guitar and a few barrels dangling from the ceiling and also a nice victorian fireplace at one end. Music from a juke box with screens and machines to entertain the locals. Almost empty when I called, the barmaid has an individual dress sense.