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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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The Deer's Head, Belfast
Belfast
BT1 1FP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Deer's Head
Corner brewpub that I'd not previously visited. To enter and exit, there appears to be a Covid era one-way system still in place. You enter into quite a large room used for dining with the brewing equipment to the rear.
The bar area is long and thin with a small booth at the far end, supposedly reserved for ladies (the Blouse Snug).
There was a bit of a queue at the bar when I initially arrived, but after around 5 minutes it came to my turn and the barman asked who was next, with another guy who had just arrived at the bar claiming he should be served first. I was not too impressed.
Despite having its own on-site brewery (Bell's), all of the options are keg - Katy Daly's Pale Ale, Morrison's Vanilla Porter, Drury Lane Sour, Capstan, Elephant, Black Bull Stout, Monkey Shaving The Goat, Sign of the Peacock & Red Cow. The only non-Bell's beers were Guinness & Our Brewery Do You Wanna' Funk.
My Vanilla Porter was quite pleasant and this place certainly offers a nice, traditional drinking environment, but the poor bar service left a slightly bitter taste in the mouth. I'll hopefully return one day and suspect that service will be a bit better.
On 14th July 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Deer's Head
Through the Deer’s Head entrance is some open plan seating and to the left is the in-house microbrewery that is viewable through floor to ceiling windows. Raised booths run midway down the right hand windows and then three large staple shaped booths continue up to the rear wall. The bar faces these three booths and at the end of the bar is the ‘Blouse Snug’ which is for woman, or men if they are invited. Apparently this is an old Victorian feature that many bars had back in the day. There are televisions that were showing muted greyhound racing whilst some background music played.
The bar supports standard and premium keg, including the pub’s own products brewed in-house. Food is available until 18:00 so the kitchen was closed before my visit. I found the service to be polite and I thought this was a decent pub worthy of a revisit.
On 18th September 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Deer's Head
Popped in here as it was next on the list after a pretty underwhelming 30 mins in the John Hewitt. What a contrast here – clean, bright and rammed full of the local ukulele group having a practice night. The interior is P shaped with booths running along the leg of the P; we took a booth seat opposite a large troupe of strumming musos who were belting out an array of pop tunes and the odd traditional standards. Then the icing on the cake, a menu of beers brewed-in house (Bell’s) across arrange of styles (though all keg, but this is Belfast...). The homebrew beers were plentiful, flighted and amongst them were some genuinely quality brews – Horse Fair, Widow Partridges and Black Bull were particularly good, though not cheap. We decided to sack off the rest of the evening and stay here, such a good session we were having. Occasionally you hit a place just at the right time and this was it but even so there was definitely enough to make it a destination pub in the city with or without the music.
On 19th February 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Deers Head
Although not planning a visit, you really shouldn't walk past a place proclaiming itself to be an "imbibing emporium"... so I didn't. Once inside, one finds an attractive line of booths beside the windows along the main façade. There is also a large raised area towards the back with signage indicating some decent pub food is on offer. The solidly-imposing counter and bar-back are amongst a number of Victorian-era features remaining. No real ale, unfortunately, but I'm glad I found the time to pop in for a quick pint of Smithwicks.
On 27th July 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Deers Head
Large pub with booths running down one side under the windows, a raised seating area set up for dining at one end and a couple of small snugs at the other end. They have all kinds of music played in here in the evenings over the week, but we called in early afternoon when it was nice and peaceful. Standard range of Irish kegs on the bar so I had a Guinness, which was fine. It's a pleasant enough pub is this one, a little off the beaten tourist track and all the better for it.
On 9th May 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about Deers Head
Bills itself on the signage as an ‘Imbibing Emporium’ which I think is wonderful. Nice looking traditional pub with a long bar and a number of booths running alongside the windows. Friendly staff and easy to get chatting to the other customers. Had my first pint of Guinness in Belfast here on a visit back in 2008.
On 24th July 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 780 recommendations about 697 pubs]