Winchester Gate, Salisbury

Visited this pub for the first time in July 2010. Three good ales on tap and signs up advertising a beer festival at the pub. We visited mid afternoon and although quiet, there were a fair number of customers mainly drinking the ales. definitely worth the walk across town from the railway station.

You would think that the Winchester Gate is just far away from the town centre not to make it an immediately obvious place to head for although the collection of foreign bank notes over the bar would suggest that several overseas visiters do get this far (unless the locals do a lot of exotic travelling!). The 2 bar interior doesn't have any particular merits with the main bar having an odd mix of lounge and public bar with the pool table, darts area and TV's sharing space with sofas. The second bar is a more modern brick and wood affair where they have occasional live music (proper bands that is, not computer led karaoke!). There is also a healthy collection of pump clips on display which is always a good sign although I only recall there being 3 pumps; Three Castles Corn Dolly, Goff Excalibar and Hop Back Crop Circle which is a good enough selection for me on my fleeting visit. There is also a pleasant split level beer garden for sunnier days and the very welcoming, chatty and approachable regulars were happy to recommend other pubs for us to visit. It is a pub that is easy to overlook with all the other more touristy and historic pubs in town but it does make a good pairing with the Wyndham Arms on the other side of the busy main road.

Although slightly frayed around the edges, this pub has, in the last two years, greatly improved through the phenomenal efforts of the landlord, Bill. The rough trade which previously haunted the pub has gone, and the quality of the ales is first class. The range of beers changes regularly - I've seen three pumps change on the same night before - and the beer festivals are set to become a regular feature. When I last went in the Plain Ales Innspiration was out of this world. In some ways it would be a pity to see the rather shabby interior change as this might alter the character of the pub altogether. This is another essential part of any Salisbury crawl, and is worth tying into a visit to the Wyndham which is just over the road.

Just across the Ring Road from the Wyndham Arms. Modern decor with sofas and some sad brewers tudor. Friendly, young and enthusiastic staff, offering a wide range of interesting well kept beers and Planet Rock as background music. All pretty good, a bit of a real ale mecca but a little different to the Village or the Wyndham, this being aimed at a generally younger age group. The customers on my visit were attracted by the beer, the pool table and included some yoghurt knitters.