The Merchants Inn, Rugby

I've no idea if these are the regular ales and it does seem unlikely, but the bar in this Warwickshire town's pub featured a surprising number of ales from Nethergate Brewery (based in Suffolk) and North Cotswold (from a considerably more rural part of the county a long way south of here). Internally, you're looking at wooden seating around multiple wooden tables, so comfort is at a bit of a premium, and punters were equally low in number for this mid-afternoon winter visit, with service at the bar being at the perfunctory end of friendly. Very much a drinkers pub, but the lack of customers definitely led to an equal lack of pub atmosphere, despite the assorted knick-knacks and breweriana and I was happy to move on after my one pint.

My visit to this excellent real ale pub has been well described by the two previous reviewers, who were among my drinking companions on the day. Suffice to say that I had a sensible half of Leatherbritches Dr Johnson, which was so good that I had another. I'll have to come back some time for a longer session.

Cannot do anything to improve on what has gone before, except to concur that this is one of Rugby's top ale houses comprising of several sections, all covered with brewing and beer memorabilia and paraphernalia. A large central serving area that supports several real ale pumps leads onto several other spaces all of some character. All nine ale pumps in operation and these included Nethergate Brewery Stour Valley Gold and Suffolk County Chestnut Ale, Oakham Bishops Farewell, Mad Goose Purity, Froth Blowers Hornswoggle, Parkway Brewery V and two Leatherbritches Brewery beers in the form of Ashbourne Ale and Doctor Johnson. All beers tried were in very good condition, so a must visit when in Rugby.