Bricklayers Arms, Shrewsbury

I spotted this one on the bus out to Bishops Castle and was delighted to find that on the way back the bus stop was right outside it. It's a fairly typical 20th Century suburban pub which at first didn't endear me to much to it. The main bar area has a wooden floor while the room to the right at the front of the pub has red tiles and a large rug. I was here on an early Friday afternoon and the landlady was bringing round a tray of complimentary sausage rolls. There are four beers and a cider on here. The beers were the three regular Joule's ones plus a new No 1 Stone Ale. I went for the Pale (£3.00) which was in good nick. After that I tried the Stone Ale (£3.20) and decided to eat here rather than chance on the mayhem that is a JDW on a Friday night. The Stone Ale was excellent and I confirmed on my return that it had New World (NZ) hops in it. This old school pub grew on me so I was glad I stayed for more than just a quick pint.

As recorded elsewhere it is a Joules run pub. Nice inside with a beer garden out front. Usual Joules ales.

This superb early 1930’s pub was bought by the recently resurrected Joules Brewery from Punch Taverns about twelve months ago. The interior is now a single open plan L shaped room with all wood floors and some nice wood panel and stained glass screens breaking up the room a little, The large Georgian style wood panel L shaped bar counter is immediately opposite the entrance and it bends round to the right, there is a large brick fire place with a thick timber lintel and a large Joules Brewery mirror above which houses a cast iron stove and canopy in the right hand wall, dark brown leather bench seats on either side of the entrance, the seating on the right is fairly traditional while on the left it is a little more modern, the back area on the right of the room has full wood panel and some waist high wood settles fixed to the walls with a couple of large wooden barrels for tables and a large flat screen TV on the back wall showing premiership football during this visit. The left hand area has some exposed brick walls with a second large flat screen TV on the back wall which was turned off. Various old photos and brewery memorabilia on the walls and much of the stained glass indicates that this is definitely a Joules tied pub. Regular ales are currently Joules Pale Ale, Blonde and Slumbering Monk with a single changing guest beer planned in the future. The Pale Ale and Slumbering Monk were both in excellent condition and the landlord was rightly proud of the fact. A great pub which has been saved from the mostly mediocre Punch Taverns brand, I really like what Joules are doing with the pubs they have bought, they seem to have a philosophy which leans towards traditional English drinking pubs which is very welcome in an age of boring family restaurant pubs. It is a little out of the way but I would gladly make the effort to visit this place again and there are some other decent pubs on the way.