The Red Hart Hotel, Worksop

As the solitary Good Beer Guide 2020 entry for the village of Blyth, I was expecting the Red Hart to be the best pub in the village. It turned out to be the worst of 3 below average pubs. It's situated slap bang in the middle on a roundabout. There is a dining room and a tap room. I chose the latter, where everybody else was drinking. Some had clearly had a few. Live football was showing on the TV. The major disappointment was the real ale range. Despite having 3 handpulls, only 1 was clipped with Wainwright. I avoided this and chose a bottled cider instead. Service was a bit brusk. Certainly not the pub I'd hoped for.

It is a miracle that 4 pubs so close together have managed to survive in today's climate in such a small town (or large village). We only visited as we were too early for our room at the nearby Travelodge and the Red Hart was the only one that appeared to be open. Since we virtually had the place to ourselves I can't really comment on the previous poster's experiences of the pub's usual incumbents. The lady behind the bar seemed pleasant enough as did as the pub's dog who was quick to get acquainted with a couple of strangers. The main body of the pub is divided into 2 bars, a lounge bar and a public bar (labeled the Tap Room). The lounge bar seemed to be totally set out for diners and it is quite a cozy room with plenty of brasses and plates on display to keep the cleaner in a job. A central brick fireplace divides the room itself into a smaller more intimate setting. I would like to think that in the evenings the room reverts to a normal lounge bar for drinkers, especially as there was what seemed to be an extension of dining facilities in a room at the rear of the pub but given that the lack of lunchtime business during our visit it does make you wonder why so much of the pub is laid out for people eating. The Tap Room would be far more comfortable if it were not for the intrusive pool table that dominates the room. There is also a dart board, an upright piano, TV and big screen and one can't help thinking how congested things would get if everything was being used at the same time. The fireplace contains an old stove and photos of the regulars are plastered all over the chimney breast. On the beer front 3 ales were available; Ossett Elizabeth Rose, Cottage HMS Ajax and the more standard Marsten Pedigree. Prices were very reasonable and quality was fine. Whilst the place is pleasant enough to kill a bit of time, it doesn't have any great lure but its main advantage is that the pub (and its neighbours) are easily walkable from the motorway Travelodge and I would have no qualms in using the place again at some time on my travels.