Inn On The Green, Horfield, Bristol

Let’s get one thing straight first of all. This pub is not “on the green” as you might infer from it’s name. In fact there’s no green anywhere to be seen. True, there are some playing fields opposite, but they are separated from the pub by the A38, a high hedge and an even higher fence. Maybe there was a green at one time, but if you turn up expecting to see one today, you’re going to be disappointed. The pub itself is very long, having a main bar area, an intermediate lobby, and then another long narrow room that may well have been a skittle alley in a former life. Starting with the main bar, this is an L-shape running along in front of the bar counter and around the end where there are a couple of sofa’s and a fireplace. The flooring here is a mixture of carpet, wood strip and stone tiles. The bar counter itself has an exceptionally good selection of hand pumps all along it – see the end of this review for the beers that were available on this occasion. At the end of this bar it opens out in to a lobby area with a few leather sofa’s on one side and an open space with a dart board on the other. The décor here seems to consist mostly of hundreds of beer mats adorning the walls. The floor is stone tiling and leads in to a long room with a high ceiling going right up in to the apex of the roof and some exposed brickwork at the far end. There is some wood panelling on the walls and large dual aspect windows looking out to the road on one side and the small beer garden on the other. The regular printed menu seems to have slightly gastropub pretensions, with just half a dozen or so main courses, mostly around the £12 mark. Unusually the specials board is cheaper and seems to consist of slightly more regular pub food. There is also a selection of tapas style light bites chalked up above the bar, priced at three for £9. We chose a Thai Green Chicken Curry from the specials board, and although it was a reasonable £7.75, we were slightly disappointed especially after the long wait for it to arrive. The sauce was very runny, and there wasn’t much in the way of flavour, just plenty of heat which is not what I would generally expect from a green curry. As previously mentioned, there was an extensive selection of beer available. On this occasion it was – St. Austell’s Proper Job, Bath’s Barnstormer and Festivity, Woods Twist Grip and Quaff, Butts Barbus barbus, Wolf’s Woild Moild and Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, Wylam Northern Kite, Black Sheep, Butcombe, Bass and finally Firefly. I believe the last three are the regulars. Ciders were also well represented with Stowford Press, Addlestones, Thatcher’s Heritage and a trio from Weston’s – Old Rosie, Country Perry and Bounds Scrumpy. Overall, a bit of a mixed bag then. It was good to see it busy on a mid-week evening and on the plus side, they clearly take their beer seriously with a great choice on the bar and a festival planned for the end of the month, a good sized layout catering to different audiences, a beer garden, some reasonably priced food and some friendly staff. On the down side, I’ve had to prefix many of the above points with “some” as opposed to all, there was a long wait for the food (although we may have been unlucky, others seemed to get served quickly enough), most of the crockery it was served on was chipped, the garden’s a little tatty and the loos need a refurb.

The pro's,well the pro maybe-it was healthily busy,particularly with eaters. The cons,well see the previous 2 reviews. Been in a few times lately and always had medium quality ale,served by aloof staff,in (still!) dirty glasses. Beer range could be described as lazy. Had 4 different ales,Summer Lightening,Adnams best and Broadside,and Butcombe but left with a fur in my mouth. Still no lock on the bog door. I just dunno. But definitely no beer guide re-entry though. 31 December 2008 Down a couple of pegs after recent visits. I've noticed this place slip a bit each time I've visited in the last 12 months or so. It was still 11 ales(on a Tuesday) but the Wickwar was tastless,the Palmers 200 wasn't much better,the Bob Wall didn't taste as good as I've had and the Summer Lightning didn't just do it. Nothing of "sendback" quality but just limp and tired. For the record,Arbor Ales,Otter,Sharps,Flowers and Weymouth were some of the others available,all around £2.80/£3. Noted the glasses were rather dirty with "rings" and big bubbles on the inside. 2 barwomen were on,one slim and friendly though not doing much serving-the other was fuller figured(!) and unwelcoming but at least was selling drink,although with a grimace. No lock on the khazi door despite a repaint about 2 years ago(and no evidence of one ever being there) and the hand drier didn't work. This now seems to be a place that needs to have a look at itself. Half a dozen good fresh ales,served in clean glasses by pleasant staff in a tidy pub might be a better way to go. 9 March 2007 Visited last night. Busy-and this was only 8pm. Wye Valley Golden Ale was scrumptious. Recommended.

An absolute must for any Real Ale Drinker !!! Bristol CAMRA pub of the year 2006. Formerly the Royal George, this large roadside inn on the Northern outskirts of Bristol. One extended drinking area. Up to 12 guest cask ales on at any one time (16 the last time I went!!). They had a great beer festival last week.

An absolute must for any Real Ale Drinker !!! Bristol CAMRA pub of the year 2006. Formerly the Royal George, this large roadside inn on the Northern outskirts of Bristol. One extended drinking area. Up to 12 guest cask ales on at any one time (16 the last time I went!!). They had a great beer festival last week.