The Smoking Dog, Malmesbury

Now a Butcombe pub, the interior is as described by Quinno, below. It has improved since Quinno’s visit, though. The staff were friendly and competent, dogs were welcomed, and there was pleasant background music which created a restful atmosphere. The mix of pews table and comfy chairs helped with the ambience, as did turning off the TV screen mounted on one wall. Ales on were Butcombe Original, Rare Breed and Gold, all in very good condition, and not too expensive for the area. Food was standard pub fare, and the garden had been set out for diners. I’d be happy to come back and perhaps eat next time.

Cotswold stone high street pub. High hopes on entering, greeted with a charismatic main bar with painted wood, beamed ceiling, wood floor, bare stone walls and traditional chunky wood furnishings. Sadly it all fell apart at the bar where three Butcombe beers (no longer a Brains house) were on; the Rare Breed was vinegar, the Gold was closer to cider and the Original, whist drinkable, was a bit fizzy and green (NBSS 2). The barmaid, inevitably, knew nothing about beer so could only do the magicians trick of holding it up to the light and waffling about how it shouldn’t *really* be off. Shame really, this one could and should be a destination in the town. You’d have thought Butcombe would have a tighter grip on this.