The Trooper, Tring

Official site of The Trooper - thetrooper.co.uk

Official site of The Trooper - thetrooper.co.uk

Located in a picturesque Buckinghamshire village this is a pretty, multi-roomed low-ceilinged pub that is in the 2018 GBG and is the local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year. So I was expecting great things at the bar to match the surroundings. Alas, it was not to be, despite an excellent ale (5) and cider (9 +1 perry) selection. The barmen were muddled with service, struggling to do basic orders and any simple maths (isn’t that what the till is for?). As the beers started coming out, there were winced looks on some faces as it transpired the liquid dispensed was more suitable for fish & chips – two of the five were literally undrinkable. We then entered peak faff to get them replaced which caused more confusion at the bar. Eventually we ended-up with three drinkable beers, one of which was in excellent form (Chiltern Bitter), Tring Side Pocket (fine) and the Aylesbury California (OK). The offending two ales (Ilkley Mary Jane and Farr Pale) appeared to not be taken off either (though we saw no-one attempting to order them for the hour we were there – which might explain the state of them to start with). Eventually we decamped to the pleasant rear garden to wonder what the local CAMRA branch get up to during the week. A real shame – this could easily have been an 8/9 rated place.

This is a really nice pub, with a really nice garden. That's where nice ends.......... The food is excellent. You have to wait a bit, but it is cooked to order. No problem with that. The service was good, friendly and efficient. There were six beers on the pumps on our visit. Fullers London Pride,Tring Side Pocket and Ridgeway. Can't remember the other three. I had the Ridgeway, which was kept very well and served as a full measure. Very nice indeed. A return visit is definitely on the cards. I am awarding a very rare 9/10.

Tring Trooper and, on back-bar, Brakspears, Pride, Youngs Ord, Tring Blonde (unfortunately gone – reverse clipped), Betty Stoggs. Enter to very low whitewashed ceiling, wood burning stove on the left, straight on to large rear dining area with light wood tables & chairs (empty yesterday 15:30), squeeze right to the bar, set in a somewhat narrow corridor formed by a couple of tables opposite, on again to a room with 3 decent sized tables. Another stove here beneath what may be a mounted Lee Enfield rifle(?), there is a high servery here from the central bar. Mostly wood-floored throughout, but matting to rear.