Admiral MacBride, Barbican, Plymouth

GBG’23 listed and I had high hopes for this one. Probably was a half-decent interior a few years ago but has recently been glooped in grey paint. This, allied with ropey music and modern wholesale tin signs made the place seem pretty sterile, especially given the waterfront location. Things deteriorated further as the two tweenage bob-a-jobs were serving the loud-mouthed, aggressive and quite clearly incapable (who then staggered off with a full pint – though he probably lost half by the time he reached the door - to a taxi). Three cask; St Austell Tribute, Dartmoor Jail and Salcombe Shingle Bay (NBSS 3) which perhaps inevitably got poured into a Heineken glass. A GBG selection for a branch that has too many entries. No chance of me re-appearing under this (lack of) management. A horrible 15 minutes.

A single room seafront pub, dating from the 18th Century. The floor is timber, the windows at the front once overlooked the harbour but development has now got in the way. There is a brick hearth set into the original stone chimney and a large tv on the chimney breast. The staff weren’t particularly welcoming, and there wasn’t much of a local feel to it, just a few elderly and quite annoying tourists making a fuss over nothing. There is a gaming machine and a juke box. Food is ready-made burgers, pizzas and other junk. Two ales on, Dartmoor Jail Ale and Salcombe Seahorse, both in very poor condition. Not sure I’d rush back.

Official site of Admiral MacBride - www.admiralmacbride.com

Official site of Admiral MacBride - www.admiralmacbride.com

Thatchers on tap did me. Friendly, good cross-section of punters, fun selection of pre-Beatles music and a roaring fire on a November dusk. Pretty good ....

A pleasant single room pub right on the harbour, with a friendly but touristy feel to it. Promised real ales but disappointed to find three handpumps without even a reversed clip on any of them. Settled on half a Scrumpy Jack. I remember coming here with friends about 8 years ago, and having a late drink with the then landlord and landlady, who delighted in showing us round the immaculately tiled toilets which they'd just had done. The gents is still immaculately tiled, and if they had some proper beer I would be happy to use them.