ReviewA prominent pub on the main road in the centre of Saltford. Unusually the pub sign is a two dimensional model of a gold crown, rather than the usual oblong board with a picture on it. There’s a good sized beer garden out the back in addition to a small patio area. Inside, it all seems to be a bit of a mismatch of different styles.
The main bar area has limited seating and looks a little shabby, with some old parquet wooden flooring around the bar counter and carpet elsewhere. The walls are mostly finished in a rough, painted plaster and the wood panelled bar has also been painted, a long time ago. You get the feeling that maybe at one time this was a decent place with exposed stonework and natural wood, but sadly no more.
To the left is a room dominated by a pool table, although oddly the few tables that were in here were laid up for food which seems an strange mix. At the other end of the pub is a large, attractive stone built fireplace and flagstone hearth, which is probably the pub’s best feature. There are a couple of old leather sofa’s just in front of it which is a pleasant enough spot. The plasma screen tacked on to the edge of the fireplace ruins the look somewhat though.
At the back is a large conservatory/restaurant area overlooking the garden. The menu appears to be of the usual mass-produced “pub grub” type, with various dishes such as chilli, lasagne, ham, egg & chips, etc, all offered at around the £6/£7 mark, although many were also available as a “2 for £10” deal. Other sections on the menu included baguettes, burgers, salads, jackets, grills, etc.
It was fairly quiet on a recent mid-week lunch-time, possibly on account of the prices being charged. £2.55 for an Orange Juice and Lemonade seems excessive. I paid over a pound less just a mile away in The Riverside Inn last week, which is in a prime location next to the river. A couple of the punters that were at the bar were using some rather course language, and the odd barman and heavily tattooed chef seemed happy to join in an animated discussion about hard-on’s.
Beers on tap were Gem and Courage Best. Ciders were Blackthorn and Thatcher’s Gold. Overall, I can see little reason why anyone would stop here unless you’re just passing through and don’t know any better. The three pubs down by the river are all far better establishments in much nicer locations.
