The Turks Head Inn, Gloucester

A relatively recent opening, this is Gloucester’s first micropub and is conveniently situated between the main shopping area and the Quays. Oddly there was some background music playing on our visit, so perhaps it doesn’t quite fit the broadest micropub definition, but that was it as far as any sort of electronic entertainment went and there was also a notice banning the use of mobile phones. It’s divided in to two rooms internally, with a relatively small room at the front overlooking the street and a slightly larger room at the back which included the bar counter. The front room was quite cosy, and certainly had a bit more ambience than many micropubs with their paired back, rather basic look. The flooring looked as though it was probably some sort of pale wood laminate, although it was almost entirely covered by a large rug. Rough wood panelling was on the lower part of the walls, with further pale grey wood panelling to the left. To the right, a large strip of bright orange corrugated iron was affixed to one wall, and a further rug was hanging vertically. A life sized sheep was in the window, and a couple of shelves housed all manner of nic nacs. Much of the walls were plastered with a large selection of old beer mats as well as several old black and white pictures of the locale, and a notice advised that this wasn’t actually a pub, but an “ongoing beer and cider festival”. Seating included some red leather sofas to the right, and the tables were actually old chests. The room to the rear was broadly similar in terms of décor, with an old tiled floor and a few black wooden beams on the ceiling from which hung an extensive collection of old jugs. Beers were all served from stillage racked up behind the bar counter, and on this occasion included Boris Citrov, Yachtman’s Isle of Wight and Covfefe Stout. Flipping Best was apparently coming soon. If that sounds a rather small selection, it should be pointed out that cider is certainly this pub’s speciality and it has in fact recently been awarded Gloucestershire Camra’s Cider Pub of the Year. Thus the choice for apple connoisseurs was much more extensive and consisted of Festival, Gosling Perry, Slack Alice, Old Bristolian, Apply Dapply, Black Rat, No Brainer, Rosie’s Pig, Cheddar Valley, Bristol Port, Stan’s Traditional, Freak Show, Sheppy’s Orchard Dew, Snailsbank Orchard Dry, Flat Tyre Rhubarb, Rusted Wheel Cherry, Handbrake Damson, Taunton Original Dry and Old Rosie. The landlord was happy to discuss different styles and provide tasters. All in all, a great pub and well worth checking out.

Fairly new Micropub. Though it's not quite ‘micro’ as the small front bar then gives way via a short corridor to two atmospheric rear areas. Plenty of knick-knaks and breweriana as to be expected. The orange corrugated bar front raised my eyebrow. Four ales on stillage, my Cotswold Mild was a bit rough and fizzy. Also plenty of cider, which is good to see. A friendly lady serving behind the bar so a pleasant 10 mins even if the beer felt like it hadn’t been conditioned long enough. 6.5