Early Doors, Daventry

Official site of Early Doors - earlydoorsdaventry.com

Official site of Early Doors - earlydoorsdaventry.com

This is the place to drink real ale when in Daventry.The exterior seems small,but there is a decent amount of space inside.The bar is to the left ,behind which is a large chiller room with barrels on stillage.Around that side are drinking shelves,high tables and room for vertical drinking.The loo is on the otherside and has a black varnished door with a no. 10 ! This side of the interior has more traditional furniture.On my Wednesday evening visit everyone was very chatty and the young barman was full of good beer information.Advice on curry options from the regulars elicited some useful information. There were 5 real ale on my trip Purple Moose Elderflower,Potbelly Early Doors,North Cotswold Hung Drawn & Portered (NBSS 2.5),Vale Red Kite (NBSS 4) and Dakota Green Duck which got a major thumbs up from a drinking colleague.Good to see a mix of styles and strength ,with a constant rotation you should always fine something interesting.For keg fans there was also Beavertown Neck Oil. This should really by your first objective when in town and it will probably be your last.A very good micro.

I wonder if they named this after the BBC sitcom from ten or more years ago. It's not the easiest place to find as it's tucked down a short walkway between a town car park and a pedestrianised street. It's a proper micropub as well described below although it's more comfortable than some of the ones that double up as off licences. There's a single tall table and chairs, a few low tables and stools, a small sofa and some cushions on the window alcove. There were only a few in on my Friday midday visit. Three hand pumps dispense non-mainstream ciders and the chill cabinet had all ten places filled with six beers available. These were the Early Doors House beer & No. 3 by Hart of Wellingborough, Nethergate Umbel Ale, Phipps IPA, North Cotswold Moreton Mild and Church End Goats Milk. I went for the Phipps IPA (£3.00) and the No. 3 (£3.20) which was highly recommended by the landlady. Both were in excellent condition. I really liked this one and if there's anything better to be found in Daventry then I would be amazed. I wouldn't be surprised to see it appear in the next GBG.