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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Tris39
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Detail Pages
The George Inn, Bath
Norton St. Philip
Postal town: Bath
BA2 7LH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The George Inn
The George was my final pub of a day in Somerset and it is a very difficult pub to review. It is one of those that is reputed to be the oldest pub in Britain and the buildings are certainly impressive. In fact, they are Grade I listed.
A cobbled courtyard leads from the street past the toilets and a number of rooms including The Dungeon and the Board Room. The bar used to be on the left as you walk down, but this room is now in use as a dining room. It has a large stone fireplace and some paintings. The bar has now been moved to the very rear. It is an impressive space similar to a dining hall in a manor house with high beamed ceilings and walls lined with paintings, tapestries and a stuffed deer's head.
To the rear is an outdoor patio with fabulous views over the countryside. Most customers had chosen to sit outside. I grabbed a table in the bar area, where I assume most tables are normally taken by diners. There were a small army of staff who (as the previous reviewer states) seem eager to jump out at people and were being over-helpful. I overheard a few of them saying that it was quieter than normal. Customers are from the upper echelons of society, some appearing a bit snooty. The really annoying art of forming an orderly queue at the bar was very much in practice here and it didn't seem to go down well when I moved alongside the one ponce getting served. He expected me to continue queuing behind me.
On the bar, Butcombe Original was accompanied by Butcombe Gold & Tropical. The Tropical appears to be a new seasonal beer from Butcombe and I really enjoyed it. Butcombe Tall Trees Pale Ale was on keg. Ciders were Thatcher's Gold & Ambr.
As pub architecture and history go, this pub definitely merits a visit. Its recent refurbishment and re-opening comes to the detriment of the other village pub across the road (the Fleur de Lys). Of the two, it is the Fleur de Lys that attracts the locals, with tourists and rich people making a beeline for the George. I think that as long as you know that you will be surrounded by rich people and serving staff who could easily be servants to the local manor house, you can go and enjoy the fine architecture. For me, it was my favourite pub of the day. It's also not very often I can say that I have enjoyed a Butcombe beer.
On 16th May 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3111 recommendations about 3109 pubs]
Ian Mapp left this review about The George Inn
Been following a guy on Twitter who has written a book about mythbusting architecture. There's been a whole chapter on pubs and he set out to prove which is the oldest in Britain. As in the oldest pub, continually serving beer, rather than having been repurposed.
This was his winner. Too wet for walking around Bradford on Avon, I noticed the village was close by, so we headed there as tourists.
We were going to eat there - until Mrs M decided it wasnt for the likes of us. Rather too posh. We went in for a drink. Its a warren of little rooms and everytime you move, the maitre D asks if she can help you.
We sat at the two chairs at the bar - the only place where you could possibly think you were in a pub. The rest full of rich people dining.
I did have a mooch around, and found interesting rooms deserted.
One cask - Butcombe Original - and in very good condition. It is a tied Butcombe house.
So, Britain's oldest pub. Ian Mapp's least pubby experience.
On 6th September 2024
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1612 recommendations about 1589 pubs]
Rob Pudsey left this review about The George Inn
Has changed since my last visit (2022). Now appears to be concentrating on being a Hotel, run by Butcombe Brewery. The two rooms at the front now seem to be open only for people dining in the restaurant, and the bar that was in one of them has been removed. THis leaves the small bar at the back as the only 'pub' part of the pub left, although the large beer garden with impressive views towards Falkland remains. They had three hand pulls, but only two cask ales on when I visited, both of which were Butcombe Beers (Rare Breed and Original). Quite pricy, although can't remember the exact price. It's a shame the beautiful old building is now main;y used as a hotel, but at least it hasn't closed entirely. The old Fleur-de-lys pub across the road from the pub is now effectively closed and used by Butcombe to provide extra rooms for the George Hotel.
On 25th June 2024
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 12 recommendations about 12 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The George Inn
A prominent pub on the main road through this small village, it’s nationally known and according to some signs in the entranceway has served beer for longer than any other pub in England, since 1397. In that time it has served as the HQ for the Duke of Monmouth, and Judge Jeffries held court here with twelve people hanged outside.
Internally it’s somewhat smaller than might be expected, with just two bars towards the rear, although there does appear to be a separate restaurant and perhaps function rooms which we did not investigate. There is also a pleasant patio and terraced beer garden at the rear, with lovely views over the countryside. The main bar has whitewashed stone walls and exposed timbers in the impressive vaulted ceiling, although the blue/grey paintwork in between the beams seemed an odd colour choice which presumably wouldn’t have been original. Sanded wooden boards were on the floor and several old pictures were on the walls, many showing paintings from the inn’s past and medieval jousting tournaments. A second room behind this was broadly similar in terms of décor, although the timberwork inlaid in to the walls and the large stone fireplace made it slightly more impressive.
Beers on tap were both from Butcombe with their Rare Breed and Original, whilst a third option was apparently coming soon. The solitary cider meanwhile was Thatcher’s Ambr. Overall, well worth popping in for the history, although admittedly the drinks range is nothing to get too excited about.
On 10th June 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2070 recommendations about 1970 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The George Inn
As described comprehensively by John, below, this pub may or may not be the oldest, but it certainly has an historic feel. It’s worth mentioning that there is a reasonable car park at the side and a very nice garden with great views. It is currently owned by Butcombe Brewery. It’s warm and comfortable, the staff are pleasant and it has avoided being theme-parked for the tourists’ benefit. Ales on were all from Butcombe, a shame that there was no guest ale but what was there was good. Rare Breed and Original were on and in excellent condition. Also available were Goram IPA, Underberg Lager, Peroni, San Miguel, Thatcher’s and Guinness. Food was restaurant style rather than pub grub and was predictably expensive. Worth popping in for a drink, maybe combining with beer and food in the Fleur de Lys, opposite.
On 9th May 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3547 recommendations about 3511 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The George Inn
A few miles away from Frome, in the village of Norton St Philip, is The George Inn, one of a number of inns which, with varying degrees of justification, lay claim to being the oldest inn in Britain.
It’s a large prominent building in the centre of the village and consists of a stone built single storey building on top of which sit 2 timber framed Tudor style upper floors.
It’s a Grade 1 listed building originally built in the 14th century, although much of what we see now is apparently 17th century. It claims to have been an inn for over 600 years now. An extensive careful restoration was carried out by Wadworths in 1998 and it now doubles up as a hotel. The building has been used for TV adaptations of Jane Austen’s Persuasion and Daniel Defoe’s Moll Flanders.
As we enter from the street through the large stone archway into the cobbled courtyard, the main, larger part of the building is to the left and features several medieval style rooms on the left of a central passageway. The bar counter is in a room called The Charter Room which features wood panelling, a timber framed partition which extends into the rafters and old medieval style tables and chairs. Further down is The Norton Room, also in medieval style, which features several untitled paintings, mullioned leaded windows and a huge stone fireplace. Above the fireplace, a brass plate tells us that the inn served as The Duke of Normandy’s HQ in June 1685 during two of the last armed battles on English soil. We also learn that the clash that took place a muskets shot way is believed to be the last occasion that a rebel force routed Government troops. Judge Jefferies used the inn as a court house subsequent to the rebellion.
Past The Norton Room is the exit to the pub car park and an outside seating area at the back which affords fine views of the village’s 14th century church and the cricket pitch down the hill.
On the other side of the courtyard is The Dungeon Bar, a low ceilinged room where occasional poetry readings and functions are held.
Near the entrance to The Dungeon Bar a staircase in the courtyard leads up to several rooms – named Abbots, Carthusians and Coombes, which are part of the guest accommodation. This particular part of the building is galleried, overlooking the courtyard and is very reminiscent of the New Inn in Gloucester.
Bar service is from The Charter Bar and 4 pumps were serving Wadworths 6X, Bishops Tipple, Henry’s IPA and Horizon. Both the 6X and the Horizon – at predictably pricey £ 3.45p and £ 3.35p respectively, were in good form.
The pub appears to be very much an attraction for tourists and visitors to the area and there’s no real pub atmosphere at all. Having said that, it’s a fine medieval building with much character and atmosphere in the various different rooms.
You should make a point of calling in if you get the opportunity
On 17th October 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]