Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Ian Mapp
Submitted on Friday, 6th September 2024
With picture contributions to 1331 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (16 more images)
Detail Pages
The George Inn, Bath
Norton St. Philip
Postal town: Bath
BA2 7LH
Served areas
The George Inn NSP
Happy New Year from Jenny and the team at The George Inn and Plaine Guesthouse.
10:01 PM Jan 1st 2019 from Twitter Web Client
Reviews of The George Inn (Average Rating: 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 1607 recommendations about 1584 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]
View more reviews of The George Inn (6)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Official site of The George Inn - www.georgeinnnsp.co.uk
- Facebook - The George Inn - Norton St Philip
- Twitter - The George Inn NSP
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The George Inn - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : Yes last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 16 May 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 15 March 2023 by E TA
- Car Park : Yes last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Darts : No last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Function Room : Yes - According to Facebook page - last updated 21 July 2015 by Dave McNally
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Jukebox : No last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Karaoke : No last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Live Music : No last updated 15 March 2023 by E TA
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Micropub : No last updated 15 March 2023 by E TA
- Pinball : No last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Pool Table : No last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Quiz Night : No last updated 17 May 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Real Cider : No last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- WiFi : Yes last updated 09 April 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
Recently Viewed:
