The Cross Guns, Bradford-On-Avon

This pub's got a fantastic setting with terraces and gardens sloping right down to the river and the Kennet and Avon canal overhead. It's very tricky to find by road – on the first occasion many years ago I actually gave up and had to come back another time for a second attempt. It's down a steep, narrow, windy lane that you think can't possibly lead anywhere. And when we did eventually find it we couldn't get to it, it was on the wrong side of the canal with no bridges (the secret is to walk under the canal which is itself on a bridge!). Avoncliff station is right opposite though, so that may be a better option. Unfortunately the downsides of such a great setting is that it gets absolutely rammed when the sun's out – we had to queue out the door for about ten minutes to get served at the relatively small bar; and also that they don't need to concentrate too much on customer service. The landlord's been there for donkey's years and he's always seemed a bit miserable, like he was doing you a bit of a favour by serving you. On this occasion the barmaid served me a pint that was such a short measure I assumed it must be an over-sized glass. It's not as though I'd even ordered something with a head, I was on the cider. I asked her if it was over-sized, and she just looked at me completely blankly. I repeated the question, to which she replied “It's a pint”. So I then asked if it was a pint to the rim, clearly indicating what I meant. She then rather exasperatedly said “So, do you want it filled up?” Errr, yes please, that's the general idea! The outside toilets were also rather smelly, although to be fair they must have been getting an awful lot of use with so many people there. On the plus side though, as well as the setting there were some unusual drinks on the bar. The pub is owned by Box Steam brewery, and most of the beers were from them, including Tunnel Vision and Funnel Blower. There was also Burton Bridge's Sovereign Gold. Good choice of ciders with Thatcher's Gold, Thatcher's Dry, Pheasant Plucker, Cheddar Valley, Broadoak and Lilley's Apple & Pear cider.

Official site of the Cross Guns, contains menu - www.crossguns.net

Official site of the Cross Guns, contains menu - www.crossguns.net