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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Bhurtpore Inn, Nantwich
Aston
Postal town: Nantwich
CW5 8DQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Bhurtpore Inn
The Bhurtpore is a pub that I've wanted to visit for a long time. However, the inside of the pub is still undergoing renovations, leaving just a temporary bar and drinking space at the rear of the building and a fairly impressive tipi in the garden where food is served. In addition to the small drinking space, the garden also has picnic tables where you can drink. Although, it can get quite chilly in the shade.
Just 3 cask ales were on - Three Tuns Midsummer, Rat Posh Rat & Holt's Bitter. Thornbridge Union was also clipped, but not quite ready. I get the impression that beers turn over quite quickly here. So, there's probably no issue with the quality. However, I'd read about the availability of the local Wrenbury cider. The barman suggested that he may just be able to squeeze one more pint out of their Special Cider, but for me, a half of a 7.5% cider was sufficient.
Dogs are welcome inside and the large car park with an overflow area in a field suggests just how popular this pub has become. The previous review suggests that the number of cask ales normally reaches double figures and I can well believe that when the pub is open properly, it can get through quite a lot of beer.
Renovations in the pub began over 6 months ago. They are due to be completed fairly shortly, but they put a bit of a downer on my visit. A pub I'd been looking forward to visiting for years was actually quite disappointing and the drinking experience felt like a bit of a throwback to Covid times.
I'll have to come back one day when the pub is open again proper, but on the basis of this visit, I can only score it a 6/10, boosted a point by the presence of a decent local cider.
On 24th July 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Pub SignMan left this review about The Bhurtpore Inn
I timed my visit to this long-term target of mine, at pretty much the best possible time, arriving at this destination pub during its final week under its long-serving and very successful landlord, who has won plenty of CAMRA awards over the years, many of which are on display as you enter. The pub is in a quiet village, but easily reached on foot from Wrenbury station (albeit not so easy on my visit due to a flooded road which forced me to pick my way along a very muddy verge). The pub has a lovely, multiple room interior, with lots of comfy, cosy spots to relax in. You enter into a carpeted front room, split notionally into two areas either side of the front door. The left-hand side offers tables and chairs plus a hard bench under the front window bay, with an arched brick fireplace, mercifully lit on this bitterly cold Winter's afternoon, on the end wall, which presents quite a striking sight due to a full height, wooden Indian soilder stood to one side. The room has been decorated with lots of jugs hung from the ceiling beams, salvers, clocks, a few old photos and some potted plants, whilst a blackboard to rear lists the day's specials. The servery is in the right-hand side of the room, where pews and chairs run around the perimeter, broken by a nice tiled fireplace with an elephant ornament on the mantlepiece, an old painting above and various black and white photos of the pub on the surrounding walls alongside a map of the local area. The bar has a nice wood panelled counter, with a pleasant traditional bar back and a helpful beer board to the rear lists the full ale range. There is another bar through to the rear, which was slowly starting to fill as a steady stream of customers continued to arrive, but I didn't get to properly explore this area.
The ale range is perhaps the pub's greatest pull, with a pretty epic range greeting me, comprising Salopian Midnight Express, Golden Thread and Firkin Freezing, Thornbridge Jaipur, Katsura and Lord Marples, Brew York Calmer Chameleon, Abbeydale Latte Stout and Wilderness and Kelham Island Pale Rider. I got a friendly welcome from the landlord, who was bidding a final farewell to one of his local brewery reps when I arrived. I stopped here for a couple of pints, both of which were in great condition, and had a bite for lunch too, which was reasonably priced and pretty tasty. The pub seemed very popular and the front area filled in no time, despite being a midweek afternoon on a freezing cold day with a flooded road potentially blocking access.
It was very much worth the effort getting out to this place, which delivered on just about every aspect you could ask for. There is of course a question mark over how the pub will be under its new owners (who I'm told run a successful cafe in a nearby village), and at the time of writing the pub is operating out of a tent in the garden whilst a refurbishment takes place inside. I'm glad I caught it when I did and hope it'll remain a destination pub going forward.
Date of visit - 18th January 2024
On 7th June 2024
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Bhurtpore Inn
An extremely well known and well regarded pub, a shortish walk from the nearest station as described. Perhaps I was expecting too much but I was a bit disappointed here, not with the beer, that was all excellent but the service was sloppy from the constantly disappearing bar staff and serving beer in ten year old glasses that are scratched to hell doesn't do anything for the presentation. I found pretty much a restaurant, perhaps the atmosphere is more pub like in the evenings, there is after all a pool table in one of the rear extensions. I think I'd go back but only if someone gave me a lift.
On 15th September 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Bhurtpore Inn
Legendary pub in the small village of Aston, about a 15 minute walk from Wrenbury (request stop) station. Simple but attractive façade, but extended at the back to provide further seating / dining areas. The central bar has multiple counters on three sides, with plenty of space for the total of 13 handpumps and various keg founts offering much-better-than-usual selection of craft beers. On the real ale front, there are usually 11 available in a wide variety of styles, making decisions rather difficult... but I opted for the Torpid Expression from Idle Valley Brewery (£3.40). One of those 'must visit' places, and it certainly doesn't disappoint.
On 25th June 2017
- rating: 10
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Bhurtpore Inn
Another well deserved ten from me. We travelled here by train, Crewe to Whitchurch. An important note to make is that Wrenbury is a request stop, if the driver sees no waiting passengers on the platform, the train won't stop. It took us 15 mins to walk from the station to Aston. Opening times Mon to Thurs are 12-2.30 and 6.30-11.30, except Fri Sat Sun open all day from 12. We had lunch on our visit, which was excellent and their ales were also top notch. We went for Prospect Pioneer, Peerless Viking Gold and Howard Town Wren's Nest.
On 4th May 2014
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Bhurtpore Inn
The reviews below cover much of the detail which I won't repeat.
The Bhurtpore is a lovely, comfortable old building which is clearly being well looked after and the fixtures and fittings all fit the building.
The governor is a friendly real ale enthusiast and the staff chatty and welcoming. There's the feeling of a well run but friendly team who know what they're doing and seem to enjoy it and working with each other.
The menu is an interesting one with much locally sourced and there were several things I'd happily have gone for. There's also a specials board with a couple of starters and a couple of mains on so that you're not overwhelmed with choice (and neither is the kitchen). As it was, my guinea fowl was very good and none of it comes at a silly price with main courses tending between £9 and £12.
The real draw though has to be the beer with the best selection I've seen this year and one of the best ever. On our visit the choice was from: Old School OSB Hopscotch, Reedley Hallows, Salopian Boomerang, Town Mill Black Ven, Derby Halfway to Heaven, Pedigree, Wychwood Thrasher, Cheshire Brewhouse DBA, Allgates Golden Aeld, Black Jack Royal Flush and Rat King Rat. A real range of strength and styles and there's a well written and informative blackboard detailing the beers, strengths and characteristics to aid choice. We tried quite a few and all were very good and in tip top condition.
A great pub and one visit doesn't feel like nearly enough to fully appreciate their offerings.
On 19th September 2013
- rating: 10
[User has posted 683 recommendations about 682 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Bhurtpore Inn
Wandering through the sleepy village of Aston in was hard to believe this is the location for one of the best pubs in the country.The pub is much larger than the outside suggests and you enter into the tap room with an L shaped bar and traditional furniture dotted about.Carrying on towards the back ,you pass through a snug area into a pool room where the regulars gather around a small serving counter.Beyond this is a larger function room,capable of taking any overflow when busy.To the left of the entrance is a square lounge with fireplace and this is where the food specials boards are kept while through an arch is a more formal restaurant area.However you can pitch down any where to eat,and on a quiet Monday it felt right to eat where we were drinking in the tap room,where an interesting collection of whisky water jugs hung from the ceiling.
There are 10 handpumps including a real cider.The ale selection was very well thought out,a mix of styles and the friendly guv'nor wasn't scared to put on some high ABV brews.My Black Jack Royal Flush,King Rat,Reedy Hallows New Laund Dark and Town Mill Black Ven were all in fine condition,prices ranging from £3.05 -£3.60 depending on ABV.There is a very helpful website which the pub keeps up to date with their beer on at the bar.
The food was also excellent,proper cooking at work and I had to complement the team on my venison curry.Locally sourced meats ,a good fish selection, it fine dining but you never loose the sense that this is a pub first and foremost.
Just under a mile from the Llangollen Canal at Wrenbury Heath ,via a farm lane and track,it is a walk I will gladly make again.It's also not far from Wrenbury station.An unmissable treat,a GBG regular and full marks from me.
On 15th September 2013
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about The Bhurtpore Inn
First class country pub with a huge selection of real ale all in excellent condition. If you are not driving, the only real option for getting here is the train to Wrenbury from either Crewe or Shrewsbury. It is a request stop so you have to tell the guard that you want to get off and when you leave, you have to flag the train down. Trains are about every 2 hours and the walking time is 15 minutes over the fields and down country roads.
The pub it well looked after and obviously does a roaring trade in food as a good percentage of the tables are set up restaurant style. the young barman was very knowledgable about his product and delighted in telling us that we had arrived 2 weeks early and had missed the 130 brew beer festival happening in July. The pub has a large beer garden at the back with picnic style benches and umbrellas. The toilets are in great shape, very clean and smell free.
If you are on a session in Shrewsbury, this place is well worth the effort to visit, despite the transport issues. If you miss the train back, it's not really an issue is it?
On 24th June 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Bhurtpore Inn
Visited in September 2009
Splendidly traditional village pub in the village of Aston, a few miles away from Nantwich in the Cheshire countryside.
It's a much larger pub than it looks from the outside. There's a dedicated restaurant area at the side on the left and there are clearly extensions at the back creating additional distinct areas.
Bhurtpore ( or Bharatpur ) is a city in Northern India. I won't bore you with the history as to how the pub came by this name - you can find this out for yourself from the pub's own excellent website or a leaflet available in the pub itself. Suffice it to say that the pub is not short of related memorabilia such as photos of the Iron Fort and the Palace at Bhurtpore together with framed pictures of the key players involved.
As you approach the pub, you notice that the tall pub sign appears to be outside the house next door to the pub, which is presumably because the pub is just by a bend in the road and you could easily drive past.
The pub is traditionally furnished and comfortable. One of the rooms towards the back has a large snooker table, a fruit machine and a TV which, according to a notice at the side, is "for sports and current affairs, definitely not soaps".
There's a large car park and outside grassy garden at the back.
The pub is a real ale drinker's paradise. On the day of my visit 11 real ales were available, nearly exclusively from Northern micros - Derby Brewery, Allgates, Manchester's Marble Brewery, Summer Wine Brewery ( Holmfirth ), Blackwater, Ossett, Salopian, Weetwood, Titanic and Acorn. Prices ranged from £ 2.55p to £ 3.00p according to strength. Marble Brewery's Dobber at 5.9% was the most expensive at £ 3. I thought the Allgates Mild at Heart was a rather bland tasting mild, but all the other beers sampled were enjoyable and in perfect nick.
The pub has been in the GBG for a number of years now and has been South Cheshire CAMRA's pub of the year for 4 consecutive years. It's also won awards for its food.
The pub is holding its Second Novemberfest Beer Festival between 10-15 November 2009 and its advertising flyer tells us that around 65 real ales will be available.
Finally, how do you get to the pub?. Yes, it's a challenge - but one worth taking on. There's no bus service to the village of Aston. The nearest station is Wrenbury ( a request stop on the Shrewsbury/Crewe line ) - from there it's about 15 mins walk along country lanes. The train service is infrequent.
I think this pub is well worth making the effort to get to - but do check train times and pub opening hours carefully.
On 6th July 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Oggwyn Great left this review about The Bhurtpore Inn
Great real ale pub , larger than it looks from the front several extensions over the years have increased the size of what was once a cosy two room village local , the main front room is basically L shaped with the newer part to the left of the entrance , there is a lot of wooden fittings and despite being open plan there are plenty of nooks , cranies and little alcoves to keep it looking cosy , there is a smaller room to the back and a large beer garden to the rear . The food has a very good reputation but for me the main attraction is the beer there is Erdinger and Budvar for lager drinkers , a Belgium fruit bear and 12 handpulls , one with a real cider , the ales varied from golden to dark and included two Milds all served by the friendly and knowledgable staff , there is a good selection of bottled Belgium beers and a wide selection of Malts for Whisky lovers .
This is a gem of a pub well worth a journey out to
On 13th June 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]