The Union Inn, Cowes

A slightly kitsch but nonetheless pleasant town pub. The rambling interior is a bit dark, not helped at all by walls and ceilings being painted olive green (at least it's not grey). There is a nice corner by a fireplace with a couple of old Chesterfields though, which is very cosy. At the back a former yard has been covered over, although it is clearly still a yard, so doesn't achieve much. A Fullers (ex-Gales) house, with London Pride, Seafarers and HSB on draught.

I was drawn into the Union by a sign in the window that extended a welcome to dogs, goats, children and chickens. Upon entering my children were a little disappointed at the lack of farmyard animals, but after a week of sleeping above a stable in the New Forest I was glad of the rest bite. There is a table under the windows either side of the entrance and the bar is U Shaped. There is more seating in the rear section of the bar where there is also a fireplace. The toilets are located at the very back of the pub beyond an L shaped stone floored seating area. I suspect that this area was once the yard, but has at some point been covered. This is a Fuller’s pub so the four ale options were London Pride, Oliver’s Island, ESB and HSB. A standard keg range was also available alongside Leffe and Seafarers. Pub grub is available with most main dishes costing under £10. There is a quiz every Wednesday from 20:30 and the pub is licensed until 2am, although I am unsure which days this license covers and whether it is used regularly. Accommodation is available. I found this pub to be a proper local’s boozer with a polite governor and harmless clientele. I would include on a crawl of the area.

A Fullers pub in a characterful whitewashed building in a narrow alley off the main road. A bit of character inside the fairly cosy horseshoe shaped interior - pub carpet, aqua and white colours, fireplace, chairs and stools covered in map print fabric. Shame it's been knocked through a bit. Rear conservatory type extension. Four on from the Fullers stable - Summer Ale, HSB, Pride and ESB. I went for ESB and it was pretty underwhelming. Also pretty expensive - £7.60 for half and a G&T. At least friendly service but I wouldn’t really see a need to go here again when the vastly superior Cowes Ale House is just up the road serving lovely local beer at sensible prices. 6.5