The Lower George Inn, Gloucester

A terraced Goergian styled pub, formerly The Pig Inn the City, but now reverted back to its original name. It has three storeys, the top two being in white, the bottom in cream. The sash windows have chocalte coloured surrounds, as does the door, the quoins and the dog-tooth cornice. The pub has re-opened after a period of closure and the new gaffers are finding their feet, put intorduced themselves and there were a few locals in too. The interior is an L-shape, with a side area. The decor has red patterned wallpaper, with cream and white, wood floor and a little clover tiled fireplace. There are some wood bench seats. There are no real pictures as yet, just a couple of mirrors, so it looks a little bare. The TV (in the back area) was not on. The music was mixed and at a decent level. The passage at the rear has some nice wood corbles. They are intending to do food. Beer; usual tap stuff with Waddies 6X, Bateman's XB, Hook Norton Lion and a decent enough Shire Bitter on handpull. A pub looking to re-estabish itself and going the right way, needs a little time - and worth a visit.

The GBG 2011 review promises much and this is clearly a real ale venue in Gloucester. Inside is mainly traditional, wooden floors, tables, bar with an overwhelming pig presence thrown in. It feels tacky and not especially comfortable but maybe that's because it was a Monday night and there weren't many in. Four beers were listed on the blackboard above the bar, although with no clues as to strength or style where the barmaid was happy to help out and provide samples. Battledown Four Kings, St George's Dragons Blood and Valour and Sadlers The Spig were on, the latter being cloudy and warm and the Dragons Blood being underwhelming. We weren't tempted to stay beyond the one.

Lauded by the local CAMRA branch with many awards,I was totally underwhelmed.Yes there are a lot of handpumps but on our trip some clips were reversed,while the remainder stocked a selection of mainly Locale microbrewery output.So far so good,but although none of the four of us received cloudy/vinegar pints,some were just too warm,other out of condition or totally indifferent. The pub itself is a basic town centre boozer,lacking in original features and the bar is dominated by a vast flat screen pertched on a table.Everywhere the pig theme is rammed home,with a collection of toy pigs ,pig pictures,pig adverts and the barmaid was no oil painting.I could put up with the piggery if the beer had been decent but the pub lacks atmosphere as well.Maybe we were unlucky or the pub has changed hands but I would give this pub a swerve on any future visit to Gloucester.