The Queens Arms, Plymouth

If you put draw me a traditional pub into AI, it would probably come up with this. Narrow building that hides in plain sight (forced to double back, when looking at google maps and not noticing it). Long thin carpeted single roomer. If accepted, you can see the interior. Jail Ale, Landlord and possibly a couple more. It was a few days ago. Nothing of interest happened. Just lots of afternoon drinkers in quiet reflection.

The Queens Arms is a single room red carpeted pub with a bar on the right wall and banquette seating either side of the entrance, in the front right corner and up the left wall. The four handpumps on the bar were drawing St Austell Tribute, Sharp’s Doom Bar, TT Landlord and Dartmoor Brewery’s Jail Ale; not a very interesting selection for these parts. There is also a standard keg range. There is live music advertised for every Sunday evening, which I imagine is singers rather than bands in this small pub. There was some background music playing during my Tuesday afternoon visit and the young barman was very polite. This is a decent pub for a few quiet beers.

Previously The Plymouth Arms, the original 19th Century building was destroyed in the Second World War and rebuilt in the 1960s. Much as described by Blackthorn, below, this town centre pub is welcoming and functional in equal measure.  Four ales on were Doombar, Tribute, Salcombe Shingle Bay and Jail Ale, all in decent condition. It was quiet, and that was a good thing.  I’d be very happy to return here for a longer session.

A smallish pub in the popular Barbican area, it has a very traditional feel inside and is perhaps slightly dated in some ways. That’s not to say it’s tatty or neglected, just that the style of décor probably hasn’t changed much for decades. Internally it’s all one long, open room with the bar counter about half way up on the right. Red patterned carpet was on the floor and green velvet bench seating around the perimeter, as well as chairs and stools padded with green velvet. A few small wooden partitions were down one side to break up the space somewhat and these had some inset stained glass, although this looked relatively modern. An internal porch at the front of the pub also had some stained glass in the door. The wallpaper was a very busy design covered in leaves whilst there was some pale green paint elsewhere. Red tie back curtains covered the leaded windows. A few old Victorian style portrait photographs were on the wall as well as a Bass mirror. Beers on tap were all reasonably local with Doom Bar, Tribute, Dartmoor Jail Ale and Otter Ale. Ciders meanwhile were Stowford Press and Thatcher’s Gold.