The Townhouse, Barrow Town Centre, Barrow-In-Furness

Having discovered this pub by accident when wandering through the town centre between trains, like you do, I was interested to try it out next time I was here. We only had time for a 15 minute visit, given the walking time from the station. The distribution of ales and ciders across the six hand pumps was as described by the previous reviewer (see photos). I went for the Derwent Marshall Stout, which would be a local ale if Wigton were not right over the other side of the county. Disappointingly, it had an offish sour aftertaste. I took it back to the bar and asked the lass who had served us if the beer had been pulled through that morning. She didn't know what I was talking about. So I explained, and asked her to pull me another half: this one was in perfect condition. She mentioned that the other beers were used each morning for adding to the batter, but this one being a stout was not. (They use sour beer in their batter? Yeuk!) Anyway, lesson learned. Looking around I was quite impressed by the miscellany of materials and styles that have been used to transform a soulless shop or office building into a multi-function cafe/pub/bar/club. It's not by any means a traditional pub, but it serves its purpose and it's definitely better than waiting on the railway station for half an hour.

Not a bad pub, this. Quite large with bar in the middle. Also an upstairs room that I didn't visit. Six hand pumps - four real ales and two ciders. A nicely done out place that is worth a revisit.

Official site of The Townhouse - www.thetownhousebarrow.co.uk

Official site of The Townhouse - www.thetownhousebarrow.co.uk