Rugby Tap, Rugby

A pretty bog standard attempt at a micro pub lacking much in the way of natural ambiance and character, however it's a functional bar with three cask on gravity dispense and a small range of craft keg, like Steve below I went for the Brunswick Railway Porter and also like Steve found it to be in not the greatest of shape. Certainly worth a look in here but not quite the shining star I was hoping for.

After visiting four very good traditional ale pubs in town the Rugby Tap was a bit of a comedown, both in terms of character and ale range. It is a former shop conversion and although they have tried with some related pictures and brewing memorabilia it still feels like a rectangular shoe box conversion with some beer barrels on stillage at the far end. Three ales and four craft keg beers on and the ales were Byatt's Easy pale ale, Red Star from Phipps NBC and the local Brunswick Railway Porter as reported below. I went for the Railway Porter and found it a bit thin and lifeless, but the keg stout enjoyed by another of our party was rather good. As Micro pubs go it is perfectly fine, but I have been in others with significantly more character. However, it is well worthy of its inclusion as one of the six Rugby centre pubs in the 2024 GBG and should be included in any crawl around town. You will need to take account of the intermittent opening and closing hours and this one does not open till 4.00PM most days and 5.00PM on a Wednesday.