Rose & Crown, Trowbridge

Possibly better than expected from a "station pub". Comes complete with a genuine train tracker notice board. Who would have thought there is a direct train from Trowbridge to Portsmouth. Maybe I should have got on it. Two rooms - both with TVs showing the euros. The front room had more life, with lads on keg and cider. My side room had high bench seating and tables. Two real ales on - Exmoor Gold and an Otter. I though £4.80 was on the pricy side.

The approach tells you that this has been done-up recently at great expense and the gastro grey exterior didn't fill me with hope. Inside has been stripped and remodelled. The left side is a space for...I don't really know what. The right side has a high perch bench seating, backed with a wallpaper of Penguin Classic books and this is where the bar is. Blue, whites and greys otherwise with David Gray (segue…) on the stereo. Surprisingly, three cask; Exmoor Gold, Butcombe Monarch and Otter Amber which whilst ostensibly fine had the feel of a full-time aspirator on it, with a faintly musty edge (NBSS 2). Muted Sky Sports, which didn’t seem to fit with the vibe the pub was aiming for. Felt like it was trying to pitch itself to an audience that I don't think Trowbridge has – time will tell.

With other pubs on our Wiltshire itinerary closed or not willing to allow us in, this was the first of 2 pubs we decided to try in Trowbridge. It's a fairly basic locals' boozer near the station that has a modern feel to it. The solitary ale is Exmoor Gold. There is no real cider. A fairly friendly place though.