The Lichfield Vaults, Hereford

The beers on offer were much the same as, if not identical to, OB's review of over a year ago. They were listed on a blackboard behind the bar: every one (from 3.8% to 5.1%) priced at £3.10 a pint. So I prepared to pay £1.55 for my half, only to be told that "the till says it's £1.60". I know it's only 5p difference, but that's a shilling to old folk like me, so I was left feeling ripped off. There are better pubs and more interesting beers to be found within a stone's throw of the Lichfield, and at far more reasonable prices too.

A small pub in a small street leading to the cathedral, there’s a square room at the front with parquet flooring, wood panelling, a nice stone fire place and a posh ceiling. Less posh is the big screen over the fireplace and there’s a darts board lurking in a discreet cupboard to one side. The collection of old photos was quite expected but the collection of religious iconography much less so. Part of the highly polished counter is to one side. The counter extends back from here into another plainer room with more tables and chairs and a pew, beyond is a patio. The counter has five pulls in the middle serving national cask brews; Bass, Doombar, Adnams Broadside and Deuchars IPA and Flying Scotsman also from Caledonian, in reasonable condition, the pubs is GBG listed but doesn’t display stickers. Lots of keg founts are spaced along the counter length. It’s position makes it popular with tourists but the landlord coped well on his own with food and drink orders although his style and habit of vanishing at times won’t suit everyone. Customers at lunchtime were a mix of suits, tourists and locals.