The Harvester, Rugby

Thankfully not part of the Harvester chain of restaurants, this pub was the highlight of a day touring around a few Warwickshire pubs. Not open until 6pm during the week, I believe I was the first customer. Although there may well have been somebody in the garden who had beaten me to it. I was perhaps expecting a slightly larger cask ale selection. With one handpull unclipped, the other two were pulling Mighty Oak Tiger Tiger IPA & Track Sonoma. I ordered the Tiger Tiger without initially noting a list of ciders on a sheet on the bar - Pulp Cherry & Pineapple Cider, Farmer Jim's Grape Escape, Weston's Rosie's Pig Tropical, Snail's Bank Toffee Apple Cider, Gooseberry Fool, Peach Melba, Black Forest Cider, Damson In A Dress, Very Perry, Strawberry & Lime Cider & Rhubarb & Winter Spice Cider & Dudda's Tun Apricot Cider. In addition, there were a couple of keg cider offerings - Hook Norton/Oldfield's Hooky Berry Cider & Napton Peacemaker. The ciders seemed to be quite popular with locals arriving and were being fetched from the garden area where all other customers made a beeline for. Hot drinks and wine lists were also available, with a few on the wine. The garden did look quite appealing. There was a pizza oven in action. The interior felt quite traditional and there is a jovial landlord watching over proceedings. I ended up staying for a second drink as I thought it would be rude not to try a cider whilst here. The staff were expecting a group of morris dancers to arrive at some time or other but they hadn't turned up by the time I departed. Dogs are also welcome. I thought this was a welcoming village pub with a small but interesting beer selection and an excellent selection of ciders. Although I did wonder if perhaps there was or had been some kind of cider festival on. It's certainly a place I would look up again if in the general area.

The Harvester is a traditional, family run, village pub. It's been known for reasonable, home cooked food and good beer for many years. The trouble is that it's so traditional that it feels like pubs used to 20 or 30 years ago and really could do with a freshening up of the decor and offer. The menu is unexceptional pub grub but at gastro prices and whilst the steaks have a good reputation, deservedly so if they're still as good as mine was some years ago, around £14 for a chicken kiev feels a touch punchy. There are usually 3 beers on: Hooky Bitter as a regular and two guests which were a somewhat drab Goddards Fuggle Dee Dum and Brew Company Yellow Rose on our visit. The Harvester has long been a prime mover in the Long Itchington beer festival held on May bank holiday when all the pubs offer an extended range. It's worth visiting the village for this and I'd head to The Harvester first. A solid boozer for ale, the best in the village.

Official site of The Harvester with menu and beer details - www.theharvesterinn.co.uk

Official site of The Harvester with menu and beer details - www.theharvesterinn.co.uk

been a few times looks ok from the outside, often hard to see the customers from outside as there are 3 rooms. a true free house with great beer been in the GBG for over 20 years. have eaten the food and its great cheep in the bar, more in the restraunt bit but it is value for money. and the best steak you will ever eat. well worth the effort from the canal dont be put off by it not being busy