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Detail Pages
The Jolly Brewers, Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford
CM23 3BQ
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Jolly Brewers
The Jolly Brewers has one main bar situated around a central bar. There may have been other smaller rooms. But I retreated through a covered smoking area into a terraced garden on different levels at the rear, which leads to the tight car park nearer the top of the hill.
Greene King IPA, Sharp's Doom Bar & Timothy Taylor Landlord were the 3 real ales. Note that whilst most pubs have switched to card transactions, the Jolly Brewers only accept cash for transactions up to £10. So, I had to dust off the £10 note I'd fortuitously brought out with me.
On 9th August 2020
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3272 recommendations about 3270 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about The Jolly Brewers
A friendly community local a little out of the town centre. It doesn't dress to impress, but does what it sets out to do perfectly well and has a good local following, especially it seems when the footie is on. GK IPA and TT landlord seem to be the staples, and in good condition too: it's in the 2014 GBG. The accommodation block looks rather basic but I guess if you're waiting for an early Ryanair flight your expectations won't be all that high.
By no means a destination pub but if you're in Stortford with time to kill, or want a break from the M11, it's a reasonable choice.
On 29th September 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 582 recommendations about 574 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Jolly Brewers
Traditional two bar layout although the rooms are linked either side of the central bar. The pub has a beamed ceiling, leaded windows, the best room is carpeted, has standard type tables set in 4s, plus a few bar stools. The old exposed brick fireplace is now redundant and houses a metal vase of twigs. A shelf contains a few books, either to dip into or to buy, 25p for paperbacks, £1 for hardbacks. I wasn't tempted. Daily papers were on the bar.
The public bar side has the expected wooden boarded floor, there is a pool table and dartboard in here, plus a TV, pre 6 Nations stuff showing early on Saturday. This room contains a cabinet of mainly darts related trophies plus a signed mini Essex CCC cricket bat. On the wall are photos of the pubs football and cricket teams. French doors lead up a few steps to a scruffy bit of garden with a couple of plastic tables.
Beers were Timothy Taylors Landlord, GK IPA, Youngs Ordinary Bitter, Bays Up and Under, with Hook Norton Hooky Dark reversed. I had the Bays option which was indifferent (£3.30). No sign of printed menus, but a board listed a specials option of Sausage Casserole (£5.95), Steak and Ale Pie (£7.95) and Chilli chicken,(£6.95).
Accommodation is advertised but while I was in a woman enquiring was fobbed off as they don't allow under 18s to stay for "insurance reasons".
On 26th February 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Jolly Brewers
This traditional style twin bar pub is a short walk from the town centre.
The bare floor Public Bar area is a little cramped but contains a pool table, TV and Big Screen showing live sports (both ESPN & Sky). The carpeted Saloon Bar appears a little shabby with nicotine paintwork and some worn in furnishings. A recess next to an unused fireplace possibly once housed a dart board.
To one side of the pub is a basic, turfed, beer garden with a few benches and a small car park to the rear. An extension houses accomodation which is presumably aimed at travelers for nearby Stanstead Airport rather than tourists flocking into town.
There was a reasonable if a little mainstream selection of ales available – 2 Greene King’s (IPA and London Glory) plus Timothy Taylor Landlord and Courage Directors. A fifth pump had a reversed London Pride clip and a further 3 or 4 handpumps were not in use so there is certainly plenty of scope for a feast of ales if necessary. Quality was okay but quite pricey at £3.30 for my pint of Landlord.
There were just a handful of people for my Saturday lunchtime visit (mainly watching football) but I didn’t get the impression of it having an unwelcoming customer base. Overall, a fairly safe choice and whilst not exactly an essential visit, I wouldn’t have too many qualms about including the place in a future crawl around town.
On 1st February 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Jolly Brewers
£1.80 for half of bitter.They're having a laugh.
On 5th November 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Jolly Brewers
A good, traditional pub with a selection of three real ales on when I visited. Well worth the walk from the train station.
On 19th July 2008
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8928 recommendations about 8928 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Andy Evans left this review about The Jolly Brewers
Always serves a good pint of ale & good food. Very friendly local pub.
On 8th May 2008
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]