Mash & Press, Leicester

This is the brewery tap for Anstey Brewery and also the base for Charnwood Cider. Set in a courtyard in a residential area, it's not easy to locate. Even once in the courtyard, there is a sign for the Anstey Brewery with a locked door (apparently to the brewery itself). Luckily a local appeared and directed us a staircase to the taproom! The single room has a number of board games on a table as you enter, with the bar at the far end. 4 cask ales (all from Anstey) are served. On our visit, these were Golden, Neddy's Session IPA, Lakeside & Lighthouse Mild. A good range of their bottled beers were also available. The guy behind the bar appeared to be the man behind Charnwood Cider. 4 of their ciders were on - Pure, Cider Apple Special, Dabinett/Michelin & Disco Cox. Guest ciders were Blue Barrels Smoking Barrels, Monkey Bridge A Bridge Over The Wye, Kniveton Wynnsum & Woodredding Medium Dry. Staff here are clearly very knowledgeable about beers, cider and pubs in general. Toilets are back on the ground level, ladies near the brewery entrance and gents at the bottom of the steps from the taproom in an outbuilding. I've never been to Anstey before, but I certainly hope to return one day to try a few more of the ciders and beers.

Brewery Tap for the Anstey brewery.