Old Post Office (JD Wetherspoon), Bath

Official site of the Old Post Office - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Official site of the Old Post Office - www.jdwetherspoon.com

The Old Post Office on the CAMRA website - camra.org.uk

The Old Post Office on the CAMRA website - camra.org.uk

As described below by Blackthorn, this is more a cocktail and fun bar than a traditional pub. Well, depends on our definition of ‘fun’ of course. They have made a lot of effort to encourage the LGBTQ+ etc etc people to come in, have thrown a lot of gaily rainbow-coloured accoutrements around the wall and generally removed anything that one could remotely consider cosy. The lack of comfort was enhanced by the squeak of 1970s disco music at an unnecessary volume. No real ale, but there was Camden Pale Ale on keg which wasn’t overly expensive. I doubt I’ll return voluntarily.

A large open plan pub just around the corner from Bath’s premier shopping street, it was fairly quiet on a recent Thursday evening visit, but I imagine it’s the sort of place that stays open late and would get packed with a younger crowd later on. Décor wise it consists of fairly neutral paintwork on the bulk of the walls such as a pale khaki green, although there is some gold colour paintwork on the supporting pillars and some wood cladding and exposed stonework elsewhere. Flooring is predominantly parquet wood with some small tiled areas along the front and around the bar. Two long sets of lighting rigs ran almost the entire length of the pub and there was a glitter ball as well. A couple of plasmas were dotted around which were showing the pub’s own advertising channel, although fortunately the volume was off. A large amount of green foliage in the window was draped with fairy lights. Food is apparently offered earlier on as many of the tables were laid up, although this was cleared away by around 8:30. We did not inspect the menu so cannot comment on the available choice. There is a separate bar/lounge upstairs, although this was roped off on our visit. Unfortunately there were no real ales on tap, just keg Gem, which is at least local I suppose which is more than might be expected for this type of establishment. Despite three ciders on tap, none particularly appealed to me unfortunately – Magners Golden Draught, Bounders and Aspall’s Suffolk. The focus here seems to be more on vodka shots and cocktails, and the menu listed an extensive variety of both. Vodka shots were available either individually or in six or ten portion racks and some of the 30 flavours included peanut butter and jelly, cupcake frosting, bubble-gum or doughnut. If cocktails are more your thing, a porn star Martini or Blue Movie were among the available options.