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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with aleandhearty
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Monday, 4th November 2024
With picture contributions to 12325 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (16 more images)
Detail Pages
The Hop Pole, Lower Weston, Bath
Bath
BA1 3AR
Served areas
Reviews of The Hop Pole (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Hop Pole
The Hop Pole can be found a little way west of the city centre opposite Victoria Park. It was quite quiet when I arrived, apart from the barman trying to deal with a delivery of snacks which delayed service a little while. I was the only customer inside until another guy arrived and sat at the bar halfway through my visit. A couple of other guys were sat in the rear yard, but left before me.
Inside feels quite traditional and is split into 3 distinct sections. It is all very red. The bar itself is red and so is the seating. There are bare boards, whilst dried hops on the bar back and flowers on each table helped with the traditional feel. Sketches of Bath landmarks can be found on the walls.
There are 5 handpulls on the bar. Abbey Bellringer is the regular beer. In addition, they also had Abbey Bath Pale Ale & St Austell Proper Job. There were a couple of turned clips turned. They were possibly cider, as one had "rhubarb" written on the reverse of it. Thatcher's Gold & Juicy Apple were the keg offerings, whilst Jagerbombs were being promoted.
There is a dartboard in the right-hand section, next to the bar, with board games to the left-hand side. A TV in one corner is presumably used to show Bath rugby games and other sporting events. They also have quiz and open mic nights. During my visit, some fairly funky music was playing, probably to satisfy the barman. It didn't really suit the drinking environment.
Outdoor seating comprises the rear yard and one solitary table to the front within some railings. Certainly an interesting pub, but much quieter than other Bath hostelries and I wasn't too impressed with my Pale Ale. Under the same ownership as the Star, I know which one I prefer.
On 16th May 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3111 recommendations about 3109 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Hop Pole
My third of three in a quick tour of Bath after getting off the train and before it became totally dark. Beer quality was good, as all three are in the Good Beer Guide, but my half of Abbey Bell Ringer was a clear winner (NBSS 4). I wasn't quite so enamoured of the background music, with Pink Floyd followed by Chuck Berry and Bill Haley. Nevertheless, this one is well worth the short walk out from the city centre, and buses seem to be frequent.
On 4th November 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4348 recommendations about 3996 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Hop Pole
The layout is as described by others, below. They’ve recently had some electrical issues in the kitchen so were closed for a few weeks, now opening times are unreliable. The young barman didn’t seem to know what he was doing, and there was no real ale available. Two pumps on the bar clipped Gem and Tribute, but both were off. Cubit was offered as an alternative. There were no other customers, no atmosphere and nothing approaching intelligent conversation from the staff so we fuggled off, unlikely to return.
On 26th May 2022
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3547 recommendations about 3511 pubs]
View more reviews of The Hop Pole (8)
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- Official site of The Hop Pole - bathales.com
- Facebook - The Hop Pole
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Hop Pole - 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 : No last updated 16 November 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 16 November 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 28 March 2022 by E TA
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 04 March 2011 by hondo .
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 16 November 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Car Park : No last updated 26 October 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 16 November 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Darts : Yes last updated 16 May 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 16 November 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Function Room : Yes - According to Twitter - last updated 21 July 2015 by Dave McNally
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 04 March 2011 by hondo .
- Jukebox : No last updated 16 November 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Karaoke : No last updated 16 November 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Live Music : No last updated 16 November 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 16 May 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Micropub : No last updated 16 May 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Pinball : No last updated 16 November 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Pool Table : No last updated 16 November 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
- Quiz Night : Yes last updated 16 May 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 28 March 2022 by E TA
- Real Cider : No last updated 28 March 2022 by E TA
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 28 March 2022 by E TA
- WiFi : Yes - BT Wifi - last updated 16 November 2014 by Jonathan Wilde
