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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Hop Inn, Swindon
Swindon
SN1 4BJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Hop Inn
A good sized pub located in the close vicinity of a number of other craft beer type establishments, it looks quite imposing from the outside presenting a large frontage to the road and including some interesting architectural details.
Internally it’s a little more conventional and has presumably been renovated at some point, although it’s a little lacking much in the way of character. It’s a reverse L-shape pub, extending some way back on the left, and this also led to a courtyard garden. The flooring is all some sort of wood strip, with a plain whitewashed ceiling, a couple of exposed brickwork pillars and a mixture of deep blue, mustard and pale green paintwork on the walls. There were also various pieces of artwork for sale and quite a few fairly lights strung around, although that may just have been seasonal decorations rather than a regular feature.
There was a very good choice of beers on tap which on this occasion consisted of Ramsbury Hop, Milestone Vixen, Atlantic Blue, New Bristol Brewery’s Cinder Toffee Stout, Wantsum 5 Gold Grains, Castle Rock Elsie Mo, Red Willow Vatted Heritage Pale and Arbor Pico Mountain. Ciders were equally well represented including a couple from Snail’s Bank as well as options from Ashover, Cranbourne Chase, Hallet’s and Woolly Pig all served from boxes racked up on the end of the bar, as well as a couple more keg options. Overall, whilst I didn’t take to the style of the pub that much, the excellent drink selection and jovial landlord who was happy to chat to you about the range and offer samples, rather made up for it.
On 23rd December 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2060 recommendations about 1962 pubs]
Quinno _ left this review about The Hop Inn
Another visit, another sub-GBG beer in Moonraker Crafty One - not really shifting and served in a knackered glass. Not a GBG pub in my opinion but the pump count means the branch will inevitably include it. I doubt I'd bother again.
April 2023
Struggled to recall this one from 2015 – it’s now got a new name! Inside is an L shaped interior with blue and mustard yellow walls along with scrubbed wood tables. Promised much with eight cask lines however this proved to be too many by at least a couple – tried the Dancing Duck (NBSS 2), Listers Mild (2) First Chop POD (the only one par, NBBS 3). Quantity over quality lottery at play – and this being a Saturday afternoon as well. Safer bets may be the craftykeg options. Effusive praise elsewhere and inevitably GBG’23 listed. Rated 6
July 2015 (as The Pig on the Hill)
A modern pub over two floors. Light and airy inside with white sofas, modern furnishing and sports TV. Aimed at the aspirant crowd. Three ales; Rev James Gold, Sharps Atlantic and a decent drop of Ramsbury Bitter. Slack Alice cider also on. Thought it was a fair stop. Rated 7
On 25th September 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Komakino . left this review about The Hop Inn
Based on the below reviews I made a mental note to seek this out if near the area and when the time finally came it didn't disappoint. The large, open plan L-shaped room sees the bar against the left-hand wall and offered eight cask options with a smattering of keg, boxed real ciders and all manner of crafty bottles and cans in fridges beyond the bar. Spoilt for choice, I played it safe - kind of - opting for a Titanic Cherry Dark (a beer of theirs I'd not tried before), and for £4 I got what turned out to be a beer in fantastic shape served in a squat pint glass. Throw in an eclectic mix of punters (STFC fans, locals and hipsters in equal measure) and a great soundtrack (The The and Grace Jones) makes this a non-Arkell's and Waddies must-visit.
On 2nd February 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1077 recommendations about 1077 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Hop Inn
The dreary grey exterior belies the vibrant modern bar like feel within, a good range of seven cask ales available from the eight handpumps, I stayed for a couple of beers while waiting for the icy cold rain outside to subside, I wasn't disappointed with the Magpie Jay IPA followed by a Titanic Plum Porter Grand Reserve.
Definitely on the return list.
On 8th January 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Hop Inn
With the nearby Little Hop still closed due to continuing Covid restrictions, I paid a repeat visit to the Hop, almost 2 years since my initial visit. My repeat visit confirms my view that this is still the best pub in the town.
Track and trace formalities are completed at a table near the entrance, which appears to be more like a reception. For some strange reason we couldn't quite figure out, you are given a pumpclip with a number on it to take to your table. Ours was for an Arbor beer!
The beer selection was once again good, with Ramsbury Hop Inn Pale the regular beer, alongside 6 guests. These were Arbor Shambala, Frome RA, North Cotswold Summer Solstice, Gloucester Cascade, Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout & Kettlesmith Outline. In addition, there is a good selection of craft beers and a couple of boxed real ciders - Weston's Old Rosie & Sandford Orchards Cider Ginger.
On 14th June 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Helen Iwanczuk left this review about The Hop Inn
The Hop Inn seems to be settling into it's new home – two doors up from the original location, which has become The Little Hop. The interior of the pub is laid out with eclectic furniture, ranging from leather easy chairs, to rustic looking tables. The sense of space continues outside to the back courtyard where people were happily chatting away. The pub offers the same wide selection of ales, as it's predecessor, there were cheese and ham rolls available, and a black board advertising ribs and burgers. The staff and customers were friendly, which added to the chilled atmosphere - anybody could feel comfortable here. All in all, a smart move indeed.
On 22nd September 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 269 recommendations about 208 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Pig On The Hill
Now reopened as Pig On The Hill
[admin note: updated name from Pipers to Pig On The Hill 04/08/2010]
On 4th August 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3517 recommendations about 3481 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Pipers
CLOSED & BOARDED(01/10/09)
[edit: actioned 6/10/09]
On 6th October 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Anthony Little left this review about Hobgoblins Ltd
now called The Pipers
On 16th April 2007
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 18 recommendations about 18 pubs]