The Roebuck Inn, Ashbourne

Popular family-run country gastro-pub and micro-brewery. The main entrance is now on the car park side and leads to a square bar area with a mix of furniture and restrained décor. Dining rooms can then be found behind this and off to the right. With four of the five handpumps in use, I found their Bitter, Blonde, IPA and Porter (£4.00) available, together with the Roebuck Premium Lager on one of the keg taps.

Official site of The Roebuck Inn - www.theroebuckdraycott.co.uk

Official site of The Roebuck Inn - www.theroebuckdraycott.co.uk

Despite being home to the Roebuck Brewing Company, the Roebuck is very much a food-oriented pub. The brewery can be seen in an outbuilding adjacent to the car park, where there is also an area of outdoor seating on a patio. As you enter, the bar is immediately in front of you in a small room that was packed with drinkers. To the right, was a larger dining room with hardly anybody in it, apart from a few young waitresses and behind the bar was another room used for diners with a few more customers in. As a drinker, there was a lack of space to sit. Everybody was packed into the relatively small bar area, with loads of empty tables in the dining areas all made up for eating. It soon became apparent why drinkers had spilled out onto the patio, despite the frequent rain showers. On the real ale front, all ales were from the house brewery - Bitter, Blonde, IPA & Hopzester. I had the Bitter, which was fairly pleasant. Service was also on the friendly side. Whilst I can understand the focus on food in the current economic environment, I can't help but thinking that a little more attention to drinkers' needs is warranted.