The Globe Inn, Bath

Very well described by Blackthorne below, this Vintage Inns pub is comfortable and rather pleasant compared to other similar outlets. The staff are engaging, and the beer was in good condition – Bath Gem, Proper Job and Doombar all on offer and well received. The clientele tend to be a bit older than average, dull even, but it is what it is. The food wasn’t brilliant, but it was a lot better than many other nearby pubs and was at least edible. I’d be happy to come back for a pint and a lunch

A prominent and substantial Vintage Inns pub on the main A4 just outside of Bath, like most of their outlets it is quite food left, but there is nonetheless no reason why you couldn’t just pop in for a pint. There is an enormous car park at the rear which is just as well as there is no housing or indeed much else nearby. Barman was pleasant enough, but service was somewhat slow with just one the person trying to serve drinks, take bar food orders and show other customers to the restaurant. On a couple of occasions I noticed people waiting with no sign of anyone there at all. Inside it’s essentially all one open plan, L-shaped room, although it is broken up in to different areas by the use of wood partitioning and balustrade. It follows a similar theme to most of their pubs, but does have quite a cosy feel and is much better than many other chains with their bland, corporate look. The flooring is a mixture of flagstones, red quarry tiles, carpet, sanded wood boards and even what looked like a picnic blanket. There are plenty of “old” beams on the ceiling whilst there is wood panelling on much of the walls, either unpainted or in shades of grey and dark brown. There was some exposed stone walling at the front, and a couple of dual aspect free-standing fire-places with exposed stone chimney breasts, black chimney hoods and piles of logs stacked up next to them. The menu offered a decent enough selection of dishes divided in to sections such as steaks/burgers, pies and Vintage classics. The latter section included pub grub staples such as fish & chips, sausage & mash, shoulder of lamb, hunter’s chicken or a gammon steak. These were mostly priced in the £10 - £12 range which is a step up from your normal pub prices. I went for the pan fried rolled belly of pork, which although a generous portion, there was no crackling and the “glazed seasonal vegetables” had no discernable glazing and were a fairly average selection of carrots, beans and cabbage. For £8 or £9 I’d have been quite happy, but I thought at £12.50 it was well over-priced. Beers on tap were Tribute and Butcombe, whilst a third pint for Gem appeared to have run out. Unusually the solitary cider was Blackthorn. Overall this is a pleasant enough family type pub, but I can see no reason why the discerning drinker or foodie would make a point of going here.

Official pages of the Globe, contains menus and cask ale details - www.vintageinn.co.uk

Official pages of the Globe, contains menus and cask ale details - www.vintageinn.co.uk