The Hoptician, Dursley

Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Hoptician

A second excellent pub in Dursley left me wondering why I don't just move to the town! The Hoptician is a micropub in a former opticians. It has bare boards and exposed brick walls. The bar is to the rear right up some steps, with the cold room behind the bar. There is a mixture of tables and seating. We sat at an old video game machine underneath the blackboards displaying the pub's wares. Pumpclips can be seen on the ceiling. In addition, there is pavement seating immediately outside and also on the opposite side of the pedestrianised street.

Uley Bitter is the regular cask ale. Guests were Bristol Beer Factory Explorer New World Brown, Arbor Blue Sky, Good Chemistry Good Odds, Trefforest Horny Goat & Cheddar Seismic Shift.

The cider range was just as good, if not better. It is not difficult to see why the pub has won the local cider pub of the year awards. The range was Just Pressed Boomfa, Blindside & Mango Wave, Heck's Vintage Dry & Sweet & Slack-Ma-Girdle, Pagett's Sidewinder, Farmer Jim's Traditional, Copper Top & Sweet Farmer, Barbourne Major Jane & 7 Bore, Alkington Gold & Sweet T.....Alk, Dudda's Tun Sweet Apple & Broadoak Perry & Ginger and Lime Cider.

Craft beer were Good Chemistry Ghost Run, Moor Revival, New Bristol Duvet Vous & Fire Strata, Lost & Grounded Saison d'Avon & Apophenia, Bristol Beer Factory Black Gates, Tom's Tap/Ladies of Darkness Unexpected Friends & Goodh Tonka Wonkaaaaa.

Whilst the Old Spot has gained most of the plaudits in Dursley, this new micropub runs it very close and it arguable has a better beer and cider range. I marginally preferred the Old Spot as the more traditional pub of the two but there's very little to separate them. If you do visit Dursley, make sure you visit both. They are just 4 minutes walk apart.

On 6^th July 2026 - rating: 9
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