The Packhorse, Salisbury

A part of the Garrison welfare complex along with a small chapel, a nursery school and a NAAFI shop, this 1960s Poulson-style building is functional rather than picturesque. The pub was known as Wilson’s for a while, and its custom comes almost entirely from soldiers and their families. There is a car park behind, though this appears to be threatened by new development, and a smoking shelter on a paved terrace at the side. The landlord, himself a former officer in the Royal Artillery, is friendly and chatty. Cheap junk food is available, OK for a few calories when you’re ubiquitous (‘all over the place’, the Royal Artillery’s motto) but I wouldn’t make a meal of it. No real ale still, just Boondoggle and Doombar in bottles, and far from cheap – a lot to shell out. I won’t be gunning to come back here, but it does serve its purpose well.

A basic squaddies pub built as part of the local estate development, presumably in the late 60’s. As is usual for pubs of that genre it’s quite large, two rooms separated by sliding doors. Grey and red colour scheme. Pool table and darts in a raised area, plus screens with TV sports. No ale, just Doom Bar and 6X in bottles so a Guinness sufficed for me. Desmond was very impressed by the quality of the lemonade, wasn’t expecting that here. Not a soul in on our Saturday afternoon visit, the barmaid excepted. Serves its purpose but there’s no real reason to return and I doubt I’d want to use it if I were local. But then again I don’t wear fatigues for a living.