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Beer of the Week (w/e 26th April 2026) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Market Tavern, Salisbury
Salisbury
SP1 1EP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about Market Tavern
‘The pub, which dates back to 1904, sits prominently on Salisbury's historic market square, with plenty of seating both inside, and out’ – so sayeth the pub’s website.
Of note is the old Gibbs Mew brewery name to the parapet, thereafter the interior is plush/modern, probably as the result of the 2011 fire mentioned by QP; much to my chagrin, I didn’t spot the coprolalia-afflicted chicken picture mentioned by BF.
The cask choice was limited and basic with Butcombe, Sharps Coaster and Lees Bitter, a pricey £3.00 a half and fine.
This place is ok, but it’s not finger lickin’ good.
On 12th April 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2324 recommendations about 2267 pubs]
Strongers . left this review about Market Tavern
The Market Inn is a door down from the Fullers Ox Row Inn, so it also bridges Butcher Row from the south to outside seating on Market Square to the north, although unlike the Fullers pub the Butcher Row side feels more like a rear entrance with a corridor that leads past the toilets to the main wooden floored market side bar. In here red banquettes run across the windowed wall and some tables and chairs run past a small fireplace that sits on the wall opposite the counter found up the right where premium keg was available alongside three hand pumps that were drawing Butcombe’s Original, JW Lees Bitter and Sharp’s Coaster. The bar upstairs was closed during an early Friday afternoon visit, but I popped up to find a space not dissimilar from the downstairs bar with a counter up the right and red banquettes with tables and stools across the front windows, but with better views across the Market Square from the elevated height. I thought it was OK in here, so if I lived locally this would be a place I’d pop into every now and again on the way to somewhere a little better.
On 9th April 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6626 recommendations about 6588 pubs]
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Market Tavern
Fully refurbished following the serious fire in 2011, this is now a pleasant modernised bar slightly at odds with the historic frontage facing the market place. Upstairs restaurant (not visited). Large patio seating area out front. Also has a separate entrance off Butcher Row. Butcombe Original, Sharp's Coaster and Lees Best Bitter (£3.00, half) available from the three handpumps on this first visit since 2013.
On 1st April 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 9119 recommendations about 9119 pubs]
Steve of N21 left this review about Market Tavern
This one didn’t start too promisingly as I entered the fairly uninspiring entrance to then turn left down a corridor and then have to turn right. It was only then that I realised that we had entered via the back way on Butchers Row and this pub has a more impressive presence facing the main Market Square.
In essence it’s a one room bar with an additional room with more seating up some stairs to the left, which was advertised as ‘lovely Seating’ on chalk boards in the main bar.
Three beers as described below, and it was very good to see the J W Lees Bitter this far south. For a pub on a market square I thought this was quite a good option.
On 31st March 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2340 recommendations about 2186 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about Market Tavern
Modest sized pub with two entrances off Butchers Row and the Market Square,with the servery midships and dark wood flooring offset by a loose patterned carpet.The furniture is traditional,lots of room for vertical drinking with a Tun to rest your pint.The picture on the wall is of the friendly guv'nor and his dog while upstairs is the Lovely Bar with unused handpumps,lattice windows,a low ceiling and a calm atmosphere with a few punter having a quiet drink.Again dark wooden floor and some wall panelling.
The three handpumps were drawing J W Lees Bitter,Butcombe Original and Sharps Coaster Pale,NBSS 3.5.A rather mainstream ale selection might mean this is not an obvious real ale crawl venue but nothing wrong with the ale conditioning.I rather liked the chicken picture with the startled bird uttering an expletive. A better ale range would have increased my rating.
On 29th March 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3154 recommendations about 3154 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Market Inn
Not quite sure what to make of this pub, which has had a boutique, chintzy makeover but still seems populated by old locals. Perhaps it was just the time of day. Anyway, a one-roomed ground floor with entrances from both sides, and some tables out in the old market square. There was also signing to more seats upstairs but not visited. Four ales on handpump, if you count the Doom Bar.
On 27th October 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3915 recommendations about 3848 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Market Inn
An attractive building beautifully located overlooking the market square and the external seating is the premium spot. Inside is a small square room done in a modern style with laminate floor, and a general feeling of being designed by Kath Kidston; however given it suffered a major fire a few years ago I guess a chunk of the original history went up in smoke. There’s also a room upstairs (unexplored). Three pumps with two on; a house beer by Wadworth, Doom Bar (good nick). Hop Back was reversed. It was fine, without being particularly memorable; one for the people who like ‘safe’ pubs. 5.5
On 1st April 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6004 recommendations about 5984 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Market Inn
Gastro pub and not really my kind of place, I did though have the best pint of Timothy Taylors Landlord I have had in many a year, but weighed in at a stonking £4.00 a Pint,dearest of the day,I will likely miss this one out next time.
On 8th August 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2306 recommendations about 2269 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Market Inn
An attractive looking pub from the outside with the pub name and former Gibbs Mew livery displayed high on a gable, inside however felt rather soulless and bland, a modern and basic interior lacking in the historical feel of most Salisbury pubs. Of course this is likely to be due in part to the fire the pub suffered some time ago meaning original features were probably lost. Wood flooring, regular seating, a cast iron fireplace remains, plain décor with a bit of faux bookcase wallpaper.
Food served and heavily advertised with deals and menus all over, three ales, Hop Back Summer Lightning, Doom Bar and Tim Taylor's Landlord. Outdoor seating to the market place, lots of uncleared tables. Not a patch on The Ox Row a couple of doors up.
On 2nd August 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1711 recommendations about 1684 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BobOs . left this review about Market Inn
When we visited (before the fire) it was a pleasant enough place but geared up for diners rather than drinkers. Only one guest ale on when I visited - menu is nothing out of the ordinary for a pub that thinks it's a restaurant. Above average.
On 16th July 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]