The Phoenix Ale House, Inverness

A traditional old boozer that has successfully resisted any pretentious makeovers and has probably changed little in decades. It’s a single room bar with a large oval bar counter in the middle. Around the foot of the bar runs what appears to be a drainage channel which is an unusual feature, but may just be decoration I suppose. There was wood cladding on the lower half of the walls, and rough plasterwork above. To the right were some windows just below the ceiling adjacent to a corridor running alongside. This also led in to the restaurant next door which is presumably related to the pub, although appeared to be a separate entity. There was a TV up in the corner showing a sports channel, and a fruit machine opposite the bar. There did not appear to be any food offering in the pub itself, other than chip butties for a pound! Excellent choice of ales on tap, which seems to be something of a rarity in these parts. These were also available in third pint sizes, and two pint takeaway versions. There were six pumps on the bar although one appeared to have run out – the remainder were Summer Glow, Ginger Jock, Deeside’s Macbeth and Talorcan and Orkney’s Red MacGregor. Ciders were Strongbow and Symonds Founders Reserve.

A splendid pub of two parts, to the left a dark old pub with an island bar, to the right a more modernly decorated restaurant cum lounge with a pool table. The main bar is a traditional plain brown room with tables and chairs, some with tartan upholstery, resting on bare boards, lighting from nice oil lamp style lights. A few mirrors and posters brighten up the anaglypta papered walls above the five foot high tongue and groove. There is a set of six magnificent porcelain handled hand pumps dispensing beers from Scottish micros, especially from Orkney, and an English guest from Fullers (Seafarers) all in reasonable condition except the Dark Island which was tactfully and swiftly exchanged by the friendly and slick young landlord. Only a small selection of malts but the beers make up for that. Most customers were lively middle aged men on my mid-week visit, weekends are probably a different tale.