Ben Nevis, Fort William

A traditional pub in the High Street,there are two rooms ,a large lounge to the right and a smaller public bar feel to the left,although the rear of this room with fine views over the Loch is reserved for diners.The open terrace outside would be a good spot when the weather is warm. The drinking area has a real fireplace,traditional furniture and was hugger mugger creating a good atmosphere.Just two real ale both Hanging Tree ,Ben Nevis (NBSS 3.5) and Eighty Shillings (NBSS 3.5).Indie beer ,two from Glen Spean beside multinational keg crap.The food was proving very popular ,and because the lounge was shut due to staffing issues folk were getting turned away.The decent real ale would draw me back again to this pleasant ,friendly pub.

Almost diagonally opposite to the ‘spoons one way and Grog & Gruel the other it has a bar to the left and a restaurant to the right. The bar is a tadpole shape with a wide area at the front including the counter and a narrower part at the back with a nice view of Loch Linnhe. No silly names or indeed signs to distinguish the two rooms, my personal politics dispose me to avoid anything with Jacobite in its name, however it’s under new ownership since 2019 so the previous reviews are no longer entirely valid. Two pulls in the bar with Hanging Tree brewery beers, there are three pulls in the restaurant with a third Hanging Tree beer, my beer was in decent condition and quite drinkable. Stool and banquette seating at tables in the front with dining tables at the back of the bar, there’s a wait to be seated sign here as it’s given over to better margin food sales. Distilling themed decor. Not the best staff I’ve come across however it’s not bad for a quick drink and I’ve not seen Hanging Tree beers elsewhere.

According to What Pub this is a Mitchell and Butler pub, a company that features in the higher reaches of my AVOID list. The public bar side was closed on my Thursday afternoon visit so I had to endure the food orientated and pretentiously named Jacobite Lounge. The three hand pumps here had a pathetic choice of just two beers, Deuchars IPA nd Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted. I went for the Bitter and Twisted (£3.40) which was in reasonable nick but dull. I'll leave this one to the tourists. I can only think it's GBG 2017 listed to make up the branch numbers.

Two room pub (Jacobite lounge and Ben Bar), a quieter left lounge and a more raucous bar to the right, hosting a covers band of varying quality. Bar in both rooms, weirdly only one of them had the full selection clipped (Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted, Deuchars IPA and Red McGregor). My Red McGregor was fine, though was served by offhand staff. Low beams, red walls and a general mix of aged and modern. Apparently there’s a rear decked area affording good views of Loch Linnie. Golf on TV. A fair stop in the context of Fort William and I may have preferred it more at a quieter time.