The Raven, Bath

This multuiple award winning free house (including the 2010 CAMRA City Pub of the Year) is centrally located for all the pleasures of Bath and should be high on the list for all beer tourists. The pub is split into two single rooms on two floors, the downstairs bar being quite simple with a basic approach, bare floors, high back settles and built in bookcases. The upstairs “Supper Room” had a bit more of a relaxed feel but not in a trendy lounge kind of way. Unusually, both floors have their own full bar offering 6 ales and a cider (the same ales were available in both bars however the hand pulled cider was different). The 2 house beers (Raven and Raven’s Gold) are actually rebadged ales from the Blindman’s brewery in nearby Frome. The fact that it is a Good Beer Guide regular entry should be enough to endorse the consistant quality. Food wise, their pies come highly recommended by a trusted source although I didn’t really get a chance to try one and it should be pointed out that these are full meal pies and not just a quick snack as reflected in the prices. There are no TV’s, music or fruit machines and a quite civilized ambience with a fairly mixed customer base. On the whole, this is one of Bath’s pubs that would be very difficult to leave out of any beer related visit to the city.

Centrally located down a side street in the heart of the City is The Raven, a free house that proudly proclaims itself as CAMRA Local Pub of the Year 2010. The building comprises two 18th century buildings joined together that have been knocked through to create a single bare boarded bar that features much light pine wood panelling. It’s a pleasant, if rather unremarkable, interior with an additional bar upstairs which, so I gather, is food orientated, with pies a speciality. On my recent early evening visit, 6 beers were on, which included 3 Raven Beers, brewed exclusively for the pub by Blindmans Brewery of nearby Frome. Also on were Castle Rock Harvest Pale Ale, Cotswold Spring Honey Bear and Moles Tap. The latter, at £ 2.90p for an ABV of 3.5% was an acceptable pint. The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular. Worth including in any crawl of Bath’s city centre pubs

Was busy when we visited but managed to find a small table and seats in the narrow downstairs bar area. Had a good range of ales on. The ones we had were well kept. certainly on our list of must do pubs when next in Bath.

Two floor pub with a bar on each floor, very busy and buzzy on both of the occasions we called in. There are wood panelled walls, high backed settles and lots of stools around the place. Upstairs has mainly tables and chairs. We sat at the bar downstairs the first time we called, very friendly and chatty staff, efficient as well. 6 handpumps on the downstairs bar, Raven and Raven Gold are brewed for them by Blindmans Brewery, plus 3 guest beers and a real cider. Had four pints here over 2 days including the two house brews and all were excellent. It’s a great little place.

Visited twice in a week about 2 weeks ago. First visit found a book club meeting upstairs so downstairs where we ended up was packed,the beer from Butts was only "OK" and was served by a sour barman. Left after one. Second trip found very good Yeovil beer but again service from another gruff barman who was only interested in watching the clock (We arrived after egg chasing at 1745). HOWEVER the whole atmosphere changed on the arrival of a friendly and industrious dark haired South African barwoman,I wonder is it her who is referred to in the review below(probably). Make this woman the manager Fr Jack says and let her kick the arses of the lazy ones!!! Had several pints!!! Well done lass. 30 November 2008 Gents have been successfully hosed as previously reported. Yeovil and Stonehenge ales on Thursday night were tip top,barman was pleasant. £2.70 for ale which can be described at ample these days.A good place to go.

One of my favourite Bath pubs mainly due to it's range of interesting beers, and I wasn't aware that there was an upstairs bar with more. I like the sparse décor and no-nonsense approach, you‘re not here to have a coke or to milk the fruit machine, you're not here to sit with a coffee watching daytime TV, you're here to drink beer. CAMRA and local attraction leaflets available in a bookcase for browsing. Didn't try the food but the menu looked a bit expensive. 10 February 2008 Don't remember a great deal about this pub as we were coming towards the end of a Bath crawl in the New Year. I do however recall friendly service, a good range of beers being on offer and having an excellent pint of the 6% Stark Raven Xmas from the Blindmans Brewery (I think).

A selection of 8 real ales in good condition, well worth a visit.