The Plough, Norwich

A pub with an exuberant exterior in a street of niche shops, it appears to be the tap for Grain Brewery. Nastily modernised with a grey paint job inside and out, although fairy traditional furnishings of pews and wooden tables. There’s a small bar at the front with an L shaped counter just supporting six pulls with a range of Grain beers. Up a short flight of stairs is another bar with a selection of keg beers. The gents is out the back on the way to the rear garden, the ladies not quite as far via the upper bar as well.

To the left of the entrance to the Plough is some pew seating and in the front window to the right is more seating faced by a split-level U-shaped bar counter found mid-way up the right-hand wall. Craft keg was supported and five of the six hand pumps were in operation, all drawing Grain Brewery Beers. Steps mid-way along the counter lead up to the back bar area where three high tables with stools are found. There is a fireplace on the rear wall and wooden flooring is found throughout. There was some niche background music playing that I wasn’t a fan of, and the barman was less than friendly. I don’t plan on revisiting here.

Only the garden is presently available for drinking in, at this Grain Brewery pub. Although you do get to enter the pub's interior when paying up and exiting. Entrance is through a gate from the side passageway. The garden itself is very pleasant and nicely laid out. So, we were happy to sit outside in the autumn sunshine. Just the 3 ales were on - TheeeOneSix, Oak & Lignum Vitae. Decent enough place. But there's far too many better places in the city to make this a place I would rush back to.

Acting as the Grain Brewery tap, this old pub has been given a semi-modern makeover (in what would otherwise be an alehouse style, although the decor is too light for that). Retaining two small bars, the split-level interior feels quite cosy even during mid-afternoon visit. Five of six handpumps in use when I visited, all with house beers, from which the nicely contradictory Tropical Winter (£3.70) seemed the obvious choice.