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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Imperial Tavern, Worcester
Worcester
WR1 1UW
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Imperial Tavern
Not much change here since my last review. The question of ‘how do BCA pubs manage to keep so many cask on?’ was perhaps answered by good-enough-but-not-stellar portions of Salopian Golden Thread and BCA Pig on the Wall which both trotted in as an NBSS 3. Good crawl fodder - I like the feel of the place, but the old ‘pinnacle of the brewers art’ isn’t perhaps to be found at its summit here, despite the GBG'24 listing.
April 2019
A BCA place, fairly new on the Worcester beer scene having previously experienced a number of lives as low-grade dives. Staple shaped interior with a quite cosy, tidy and traditional feel inside (wallpaper and carpeting); what you’d expect from BCA though we noticed there was not a massive amount of seating despite the pub’s size. The usual large ale line-up you anticipate in BCA outlets, though the quality of my two choices - Halton Turner Hornblower and Enfield London Porter – were solid rather than spectacular (2x NBSS 3). Cobs available, which always gets a mark from me. It’s a solid addition to the city centre. Rated 7
On 21st November 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Imperial Tavern
A cosy looking Black Country Ales house done out in their traditional decor. You enter into the tap room ,L shaped following the bar with upholstered bench seating and a glowing real fire at one end.Along the long side of the bar are more benches in sections while the rear area is larger .Flatscreens were showing World Cup football but with muted sound.
There was a very friendly welcome from the Irish landlady and the ale choice was Black Country Fireside,BFG,Pig on the Wall (NBSS 4),Plum Pig (NBSS 4),Citra Sublime with guests Brew XI,Salopian Oracle and Hop Back Entire. That a decent line up and mix of styles so this pub should not be missed on any ale tour of the city.I would happily return to this proper,comfortable ale house.
On 10th December 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Imperial Tavern
A friendly barmaid welcomed us to this traditional boozer, our penultimate Worcester stop on the final stretch to Shrub Hill station.
It's a Black Country Ales pub, with various boards around listing the excellent choice of ales and ciders. Although, I'm not convinced that the boards were completely up to date. The selection I could see was Black Country BFG, Fireside & Pig On The Wall, Sharp's Atlantic, Oakham Inferno, Titanic Plum Porter, Coach House Blueberry, Gloucester Gold & Bosun's King Neptune. Ciders were Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon, Happy Daze & Farmers Pride, Lilley's Mango Cider & Tropical Cider, Abrahall's Ruby Tuesday & Thistly Cross Whisky Cask.
A decent place that I wouldn't have minded staying longer in. But we had one more pub to do and a train to catch. Maybe next time, we'll start here....
On 6th September 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Imperial Tavern
Really fine old city-centre pub, given a new lease of life by Black Country Ales. Four different seating areas wrapping around the central servery: the main bar at the front, a smaller side section with an alcove opposite, a live music performance area - in entertaining open-mic use when I visited - on the far corner and a lounge at the back. Excellent selection of ten real ales - including a rare Worthington's White Shield in cask form (£3.60) amongst the six guests, plus four of the brewery's own beers - on the various handpumps plus nine boxed ciders.
On 23rd February 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about The Imperial Tavern
Traditional pub not far from the train station. It seemed a bit quiet on my Friday afternoon visit with only 3 other customers in. The usual 3 house beers plus another 7 guests. I went for Saved By The Bell from Bespoke brewing which was fine. A lot of old photos of Worcester pubs on the walls. A decent pub.
On 30th November 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1821 recommendations about 1692 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Imperial Tavern
This Black Country Ales pub consists of a long carpeted room in the shape of an unused staple. It's in a central location near Foregate Street station but was quiet on my Thursday afternoon visit but the whole city centre seemed fairly dead.
The ten hand pumps had the three regular BCA beers plus their seasonal English Summer. Sadly the other guests were all golden ales at around the 4% abv mark. There were numerous boxes of cider stacked behind the bar but being served in that way they would have been far too warm.
I went for the Wye Valley Butty Bach (£3.60) which was only OK.
Overall I found this one disappointing especially as it's in a city centre.
On 21st June 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Imperial Tavern
Called in as this was one of the 12 bars hosting a pub beer festival in Worcester. Friendly Black Country Ales pub with a good selection of cask ales, 3 from their own brewery and a selection of guests which included Halton Turner Hornblower, Enfeld London Porter, Wye Valley Butty Bach and HPA, Milestone Azacca Gold. The Halton Turner and Enfeld beers were fine. Customers are allowed to smoke their e-cigs in here and the cloud of smoke from the one we saw was a little off putting though.
On 2nd April 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Imperial Tavern
Typical Black Country Pub establishment - a proper looking boozer - gentle music in the background - their own stock of beers and a massively eclectic range of guest ales - 90% that I am unlikely to have heard of, or ever see again should I like them.
Exmoor Dark taken on this visit - a brewery I know well. Good condition.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2hq9lPM
On 13th December 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Imperial Tavern
Black Country Ales have done an excellent job on refurbishing this pub as you'd expect from them. The interior is traditional with wallpapered walls, carpeted throughout and polished timber work finished in a dark mahogany colour. The bar counter was low and unimposing, which hosted a range of ten ales on handpump. Three from BCA'S and seven guests. We went for the Country Life Brewery Shore Break, which was a great session ale. We also tried Downton German Pale Ale and Celt Experience Brewery Silures.
The pub had a good atmosphere, with like minded alers.
On 14th October 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Metro Bar
now owned by Black Country Ales
On 25th June 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2933 recommendations about 2866 pubs]