Dick Whittington's, Gloucester

This is a detached pub/eatery, with patio area to the side. The building is older than the 17/18th century style that its frontage suggests. It is in brick, with a projecting centre, and has stone quoins, window surrounds, decorative cornice, finials and balustrade. The interior is a long room, that narrows in the centre due to the serving bar that has coloured glass above it. The decor has a cream and crimson at the front, with wood floor, lots of clocks, brown sofas and a modern feel. The narrow area was hosting a musician at our daytime visit, which was a little loud, so we ate (and it was excellent value) in the modern area. The rear area is more traditional. It is in white and beam walls and ceiling, with some cream and crimson. Settles, chairs, barrels, prints, hanging jugs are dotted about in a very 80s way - which is when the pub was opened. The TV wasn't on and the music was mixed and at a decent level. The service was friendly and the clientele a mix of tourists and locals - a good atmosphere. Beer; usual tap stuff, with Bombardier, Hobgoblin, Butcombe Bitter and North Cotswold Brewery's Cotswold Best, Shagweaver and Windrush (clip turned). The two Cotswold and the Butcome were very nice. A really nice place, like a fair few in Gloucester - but one to pop into most definitely.

An ancient building much abused over the years but still with a bit of character and it is Grade I listed. Built in the 15th century as St Nicholas House by Richard Whittington but not the pantomime Mayor of London. Internally it retains a bit of the old building,more perhaps than can be seen, the outside is a Georgian facade, it became a pub in 1982. The big clear front windows light a bistro style section with a more pub like bar further back, beyond is a big fireplace with more table and chair seating for diners behind that. Stairs lead upstairs to what I believe is the Black Cat restaurant. Eight pulls on the main counter with one cider and seven ales from local and national brewers. There are lots of exposed beams, some black, some au naturel, it’s quite a mix of architectural styles. Décor is from old photos, with stone jugs and brassware hanging from the ceiling. A mixed bunch of customers in a mixed bag of a pub. There is Karaoke on Thursday and Sunday evenings and occasional live music. For smokers there is a smoking yard beside St Nicholas church next door and the toilets are doorstairs at the rear.