The Little Harp Inn, Clevedon

Recently re-opened after an extensive refurbishment, this is a good sized pub in a great position, conveniently located about half way along the sea front. There’s a fair bit of outside seating on the brick-laid patio to make the most of the views across the channel, with a mixture of wooden seats, stools attached to the tables and that wicker furniture that seems to be popular in trendy pubs these days. Inside it’s split in to several different areas, with the main bar area being in the centre of the pub and having a flagstone effect floor. Towards the front is a wood floored area that has an interesting bench seat apparently made out of wine boxes. The paintwork is that khaki shade of green that you get in most pub renovations these days, with rough white plasterwork elsewhere. The bulk of the pub is given over to the restaurant area though, and it is this that affords the best views with a conservatory on two sides. This is clearly not for drinkers due to a “Please wait here to be seated” sign as you enter this part of the pub. Elsewhere are two smaller rooms, one on a mezzanine level and one down a few steps below it which almost have the feel of a private dining room. There was an extensive “pub grub” menu with most of the dishes being around the £8 mark, although we didn’t sample the food on this occasion. There was also a small specials board, although to be honest the dishes didn’t look that special – Chilli Con Carne, Plaice & Chips and Chicken Balti strike me as run of the mill pub fare. Beers on tap were all from the Greene King stable, with their IPA, Abbott Ale and Old Speckled Hen. Ciders were Blackthorn and Stowford Press.