The Old Dog, Ashbourne

This is a fine looking stone built pub if you approach it along Spend Lane from Ashbourne, but not if you approach along Wintercroft Lane from the centre of Thorp Village as the first thing you see is a ghastly concrete extension and the car park. However, we too had been hiking (hopefully Will and his daughter had also climbed the nearby Thorpe Cloud, which affords excellent views over Dovedale and surrounds) and the raging thirst meant we were going in, even if it was the worst pub on the planet. Fortunately, it was far from it. Internally the layout is exactly the same as described by Will below and has a very modern gastro pub type of décor and a collection of large dog paintings throughout, which will not be to everyone’s taste, but the art collection does demonstrate that the hairy blighters are more than welcome here. Then externally there is a very pleasant stable yard courtyard space, set back from the two roads this pub is located on, which was an excellent space for an alfresco pint when you have a fine weather day like we were blessed with. Still four hand pumps on the bar and a very commendable selection of Thornbridge Jaipur Noir, Bradfield Brewery Farmers Euro Ale and WGV and Hartington IPA from Whim Ales. One of our party went for the Jaipur Noir at 5.9%, but the rest of us needed rehydrating so stuck to the two Whim ales, both of which were in excellent condition. A young friendly team behind the jump for us also and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit here.

My first visit for about 25 years (except to take a photograph at a time when the pub was not open). Today I had been on a strenuous walk with my daughter and we were in need of liquid refreshment; the new owners have thoughtfully provided a serve-yourself water cooler next to the bar. First impressions were that the pub had been drastically made over since the previous review, with nothing traditional remaining. To be fair, the emphasis on stone, wood and plain painted walls has been tastefully done, so it is with a heavy heart that I have to report that we were greeted with a very loud blast of "Get yer rocks off, honey" on the music system. Other dross followed, to be replaced, thankfully, after about 20 minutes with That's Entertainment by The Jam. Is there a vegetarian version of "one man's meat is another man's poison"? I suppose someone, somewhere must actually like Def Leppard. The debate about background music continues. Anyway, a description of the pub: we entered through the side door, which gives immediate access to the toilets (including wheelchair access) in a short corridor ahead; to the right a ramp leading down to a small area with a few chairs and tables, which at the time of our arrival was occupied by two dogs and their attendant humans (the latter in the chairs, obviously); further on is the bar area in the centre of the pub, with what could almost be a drinking corridor in front; further on still to the right hand side of the pub (which can also be accessed via the front door) is the largest part, having wooden tables, benches, chairs and stools. Returning to the nub of the matter: the bar. This has four hand pumps with an interesting selection of beers in what I propose to assume are carefully chosen contrasting styles: local Whim Hartington IPA and Slaters 1 Hop, plus two Celtic interlopers in Tiny Rebel Cwtch from Cymru and Skinners Betty Stogs from Kernow. I went for the Slaters, which I admit to having drunk under its previous name of [can't bring myself to type it, sorry], and which although a little on the cold side was in excellent condition. The bar staff were two young women who were friendly and welcoming. During an otherwise slack period, they were entertaining two equally young men by reading out quiz questions, to which they then gave hilariously wrong answers but which me and my daughter then gave the correct answers to. That's entertainment, I suppose.

Official site of The Old Dog - www.theolddog.co.uk

Official site of The Old Dog - www.theolddog.co.uk

Official site of The Old Dog - www.theolddog.co.uk

Official site of The Old Dog - www.theolddog.co.uk

Pub consisting of restaurant on one side and bar room on the other. Traditional style pub in the bar room with wood burning stove set in a brick fireplace, brass artefacts on the mantelpiece and jugs lined up on the dado rail. Benches formed the seating around the outside of the room with wooden chairs on the opposite side of the tables. Half a dozen stools were placed around the bar. While there was nothing outstanding about this pub I would say that my experience was better than that of previous reviewers. Service was friendly enough and food was just typical pub grub although I had a report that the ladies' toilets left a fair amount of room for improvement. Cask ales were Martson's Pedigree and Black Sheep Best Bitter. The only keg offering appeared to be Carling Black Label. While I don't usually add a score rating my accomplice and I decided on 5 and a half out of 10.

Brown pineapple.... out of date shriveled nuts and landlady with a frosty welcome and looks like sucking a lemon... Horrible wild horses would not get me back.