The Bath Brew House, Bath

They had six or so ales on in here, with none from the ranks of the usual suspects. They have an open-to-view microbrewery here, and had three of the house ales on – I noted something called NZ Wai Iti Surgery (5.8%) on, but my companions and I all went for the house session ale called Gladiator (£3.40 a pint and around 3.9%). The pump for this ale had a small sign on it warning prospective imbibers that it is intended to be served a bit hazy. I hadn’t seen this before, but reckon every pub that sells such a beer should have a “hazy beer alert” on the appropriate handpumps, as this would help head off misunderstandings. I also spotted Portobello VPA among the guest ales, plus there was also a cider on handpump. “Food from the Spit” was advertised with, for example, a quarter chicken at £5 with “sides” (such as something called “skinny fries”) at an additional £3. The kitchen is open plan at the back on the left. This pub has been given a complet makeover, to turn it into something a bit quirky. Everywhere you look there is old planking being used as décor – the bar counter frontage is old planking, as is some of the wall. There’s an old and large suitcase being used as a table; sweet jars on the bar back; and an old piece of cast iron machinery as part of a large solid wooden table. There’s also a table football near the front of the micro-brewery. There are a few too many tall tables/tall stools here for my liking; as well as some sofas, and the table at which we sat had only small stools for seating, one of which was a re-cycled beer cask. In fact, I couldn’t find anything which I would describe as traditional pub furnishings. But other attractive features were the distinctive parquet flooring at the front of the room, as well as the stone fireplace on the right. There is a garden at the back, but unfortunately not really usable during a weekday lunchtime at the moment due to the building site next door. I guess it must be dog friendly as there was a water bowl fairly near the entrance, and at the back was a pile of blankets for use by those who might otherwise be too cold in the garden. My only reservation about this pub is the lack of comfortable and traditional seating. The service was friendly and efficient (tasters were offered), although our pints came in dimple jugs with no choice offered. The beer choice was excellent, with the beer well looked after and at reasonable prices. All in all there are many more pluses here than minuses.

Imposing stone building also housing the James Street Brewery, with several brewing vessels visible behind glass as you enter. The main rectangular bar is located slightly to the right and stretches towards the rear with a long bar counter along the inner edge. The is a an additional seating area to the left of the entrance (with table football) and a dining area at the back (with beer garden beyond). Further seating and small bar in the Tank Room upstairs. Furniture and decor varies as you move around the building. Six handpumps on the counter, including three of their own beers plus other interesting guests. Couldn't decide what to have, so opted for three 1/3rd pint tasting glasses (presented on a small wooden platter) for £4.00. Well worth seeking out.

Official site of Bath Brewhouse - thebathbrewhouse.com

A recent addition to the Bath pub scene having taken over the pub that was previously The Metropolitan, this is yet another pub that also houses a micro-brewery on site known as the James Street Brewery and the fermenting vessels were clearly visible behind a glass viewing window as you walk in through the front of the pub. To further emphasise the pub’s brewery credentials, a small jar of hops was on each table. It’s quite a long, single room bar, and quite narrow where it runs alongside the bar counter although it opens out at both the front and rear. The flooring is a dark parquet wood and there was also some wood panelling on the walls which contrasted with a somewhat industrial feel elsewhere such as cable trays on the ceiling and pillars with white tiling. To the right was a counter with some high chairs and there were a couple of Chesterfield arm chairs in the window at the front. To one side was an old stone fire-place and it looks like a real fire is in use on occasions. Above this was a plasma screen showing the football, although the volume was off. Opposite this was a table football game, but unfortunately on a recent visit it was surrounded by an extremely loud bunch of guys drinking from Steins whom everyone was gradually inching away from. Next to this was some wooden shelving that contained a selection of old books and various bric-a-brac such as old scales and miniature beer barrels. At the rear it opened out in to more of a restaurant area and there was also an open kitchen adjacent to this and a small beer garden. Upstairs was something described as a Tank Room which had a large projection screen covering one wall and was showing a rugby match. There is also a small bar counter here with a reduced range of drinks. We didn’t eat on this occasion, but the menu appeared to consist primarily of sharing platters, tapas and a selection of sandwiches with most of the main courses being in the £10 - £12 price range. There were also jars of picked eggs, nuts and suchlike behind the bar. Service was rather slow, but that may just have been unfortunate timing since every punter seemed to be paying by card when I was there. Beers on tap were RWB, Yeovil Stout, Blindman’s Icarus, Blood Beer, Kernel Table Beer, Arbor’s Saison Bouffant, Wild Beer’s Madness IPA, Kernel’s Table Beer plus their own Maximus and Emperor. Ciders were also well represented with Stowford Press and Symonds Founders Reserve plus Honey’s Midford served from a barrel behind the bar and a hot mulled option.

Official site of Bath Brewhouse - thebathbrewhouse.com