Ye Olde Talbot, Worcester

Official site of Ye Olde Talbot - www.oldenglishinns.co.uk

Official site of Ye Olde Talbot - www.oldenglishinns.co.uk

This is a large, detached corner hotel, with bar and restaurant. The website claims it is a coaching inn, dating back to the 13th century - which of course means there was a building on the site before the hotel. The one side of the hotel is in painfully modern brick, in fact it blends nicely with the 60s shops next door. The dormer windows at least save you from the feeling that you have chosen to drink in a former Victorian workhouse. The other side is a light nicer. It is in Georgian style, with sash windows. It is in cream render, with green paintwork - i know which side of the place i would want my room to be if i stopped here! The interior is a modern open plan room all around the serving bar that faces you when entering from the main door. The room is on a split level and is in green, white, peach and wood panel, with some patterend wallpaper. There is a white and fake beam ceiling (as the dendro date wasn't 13th century), with a wood floor. A small brick fireplace stands pround in one corner. There are a plethora of sofas, comfy chairs, high stools etc and the place is set up for dining mainly with foody tables. I didn't eat so can't comment on that. A lot of modern and bistro art decorates, but there are the odd old phot too (sadly, no 13th century carvings). I saw no TV and there was no music. The service was dreadful to start, as we waited while one lady chatted away, but the other came and saved the day with a friendly smile. The clientele seemed to be all the people from the hotel Beer; the usual tap stuff with the dreary Greene King choice of IPA, Abbot and a brew they have done for the place especially - amazingly called Old Talbot - 3.9% is was OK at best. Sadly, not my choice of beer and not my choice of decor. A lot will like it, as they do offer a complete package. No pool or darts of course.

The Ye Olde Talbot is said to be an old pub but it looked fairly modern to me from the outside with newish brick work and modern windows. Once inside there was one largish room that i noticed and this was quite smart and comfortable with normal tables and chairs,the pub is a Greene King tied house and there were two real ales on the bar i had a drink of Greene King IPA and this was nothing special the other beer was GK Abbot. The pub is fairly close to the cathedral but it is in a bit of a rundown area of the city centre. This pub was ok for a quick half but i would'nt stay any longer. Pub visited 30/12/2000