The Bowling Green, St. James' Park, Exeter

Over the way from the footy ground – a suburban pub which I guess also caters to the local student population by the feel of it. Long and narrow front-facer, with a small raised area far right. Lots of wood - wall planking, boarded floor and an attractive servery frontage, done like the side of a ship. GBG23 listed, though just the two cask over four pumps; Salcombe Siren (NBSS 4) and one of unknown provenance, as well as a set of ciders. Sadly a straightforward visit which was feeling initially positive was tainted by being short-changed. When I pointed it out the barmaid got arsey "I do check these things you know". Yeah, so do I given it’s my earnings. The curse of card payment – less competent staff forget how to count coins. That unfortunate incident aside, it’s a decent place although probably not worth the schlep out of town unless you’re a completist. 6.5

This is a large open plan pub with a bit of a student vibe, that is split across two levels in an area just outside the city centre, close to Exeter City’s football stadium. You enter to the lower bare boarded main bar area with a small lounge-like space to the left where some comfy seating options were all turned to face the TV screen in the front corner, which was showing a Six Nations fixture. Some traditional paintings are mixed between more corporate-style blackboards covering much of the wall space here, and the area was very dark on a bright afternoon, perhaps to help with the screening of the match. The bar runs down the back wall, with an attractive counter that has decorative, curved front panels and a stone top. A simple canopy has been lined with fairy lights, supported by nicely worked pillars, and there’s also a decent dark wood bar back. The space opposite the bar has a few large tables with plenty of chairs arranged under the front windows, with a community notice board to one side and a load of books on a shelf above. A few steps to the right lead up into the side room, which is also bare boarded and has low wood panelled walls with plain upper sections decorated with mirrors, a few basic bits of breweriana and more blackboards. Sofas and armchairs stand under the front window, low stools run down the right-hand wall and a nice oval table with standard chairs fills the centre of the room. There’s also enough space for pool and table football plus a large pull down screen also showing the rugby with the sound on. I’m not sure I would’ve found out about this place had it not been listed in the latest Good Beer Guide, but I’m glad I did, as they had a solid ale range comprising Exeter Fraid Not IPA, Dartmoor Dragon’s Breath and Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout with a fourth handpull out of action. The Dragon's Breath was a good pint, served by an enthusiastic student barman and I noticed quite a bit of ale being poured for those watching the rugger, so turnover doesn’t appear to be an issue here. I liked this place, despite the creeping sense of corporate blandness that threatens to overwhelm but never quite manages to do so. It had a good, lively post-lunch crowd, cheery staff and well-kept beer, which are good building blocks for any pub. Perhaps not one for the traditionalist, but a good visit nonetheless and worth taking a look if you’re out this way.

4 ales and 1 cider on hand pulls. Home cooked food available everyday. Currently the only pub in Europe to have a back bar built by Guinness. Cask Marque (5) and locale approved. The pub dog also has an ale named after her from Salcombe brewery....... Siren.