The Reform Inn, Barnstaple

Great little local pub tucked away up a side street, that is probably more alley or passage than street. This is the brewery tap for the Barum Brewery and stocks a couple of their ales on cask (Original & Reformation) , along with a real cider (Green Man Landkey Gold). The bar has a pool table and a darts board, but it was quiet on my Wednesday evening visit, with just a friendly barman and 2 customers discussing mountaineering and the fear of heights! My Reformation was enjoyable and despite a lack of customers and therefore atmosphere, I quite liked this pub which is easily the better of the two Barnstaple pubs which feature in the latest Good Beer Guide.

Barum Brewery Tap in an awkward narrow backstreet, quite easy to miss. Pretty basic inside, an all-red public bar with pool and an all green ‘lounge’ (chilly and not exactly plush). Paintings in this bar by local artists for sale, some of which were of a good standard. Three of the Barum cask on, Original (NBSS 3, disguising a poor brew), Reformation (1, on the turn) and Shore Break. Only four other people in and not much atmosphere, to the point of depressing. Emblematic of the slim pickings in Barnstaple on a Tuesday night which is a weird little place.

Traditional and friendly back street local which houses the Barum Brewery. The larger room is effectively the public bar, with darts etc, and there is a lounge bar the other side. Well worth the walk from town.