William's Table, Walcot, Bath

Cafe-style bar to the east of Bath town centre. The ground floor comprises two small rooms now opened up into one. There are bare boards either end with a tiled area around the bar. The bar has a white tiled back and there are ferns above the bar and elsewhere in the room to give it a cosy feel. A piano sits opposite the entrance. Cask ale has disappeared from here now, but there are a few craft beer options - Electric Bear Tondo, Into The Aether & Krush The Magic Dragon, Westbrook's Dingle Dell & Somer Valley Bolt. The cider was Bristol Cider Company Trinity. Cocktail and wine menus can be found on each table. There were just 3 other customers and the barmaid when I arrived. Two of them appeared to be students, whilst one of the students and the other older customer were eating burgers. Board games can be found on a shelf opposite the bar for those so inclined, whilst there is a weekly quiz night. Not really a traditional pub experience, but better than I had expected.

Originally The King William, the layout is as described below, though the emphasis now seems to be on café bar style refreshments rather than gastro dining. Certainly the change in furniture means fewer comfortable dining spaces, and sitting on the high chairs by the windows, while giving a good view of the passing traffic, doesn’t make it comfortable for a lengthy drinking session. The staff were cheerful enough, there was a pleasant atmosphere, soft jazz playing on the hi-fi, and the other customers seemed quite cheerful. No real ale any more – the drinks offerings were Quantock Theatrical Skies, Wahrsteiner, Jubel Peach Beer, Cornish Orchards cider and Asahi lager, all predictably over-priced and served too cold, though the Wahrsteiner was worth it. OK if passing but it’s a hassle to park nearby, so I think I’ll leave this one to the students.

Cosmopolitan 2 roomed corner pub no longer a local but given a lease of life serving upmarket food from extensive menu. Wood floor and pine tables.