The George Hotel, Salisbury

For once, I can only comment as a resident - this is a very smart, small independent chain (coaching house inns?), hotel with a bar. Steeped in history, with General Fairfax using it as his HQ in the English Civil War. It offered excellent value for money, with the overnight cost with breakfast comparable with some much less salubrious offerings on my 4 night trip. There is a very smart hotel bar/restuarant and they had two cask on - one from Stonehenge Ales. Not really the vibe I was after for a drink.

A nice looking building steeped in history (many a medieval king overnighted here). The inside is a place that might have been upmarket a few years back bit isn't now and is just dull, musty and gloomy. The main bar has black painted timbers and an unused hearth (with a cardboard box in it!). On the far left was a decent mirrored section with some cackling trainee fishwives in situ. Darts and pool room spotted. Three pumps with two on; St Austell Tribute which spluttered and died, and Doom Bar which neither looked, smelled or tasted of Doom Bar - some sort of nasty appley liquid which I dumped (NBSS 0.5) and which I squarely blamed for a bout of gut-rot a couple of hours later. Piss poor all round but could and should be the best place in town.