Three Brooks, Bradley Stoke, Bristol

Pretty much as described by Blackthorn, below. It’s definitely a lively local with a good community feel to it, although the barmaid was a bit sour-faced. The outside isn’t very picturesque due to its proximity to the garage and main road, but there is a terrace with table and chairs if you need to go out. They host regular quizzes and other events, and families are welcomed. Of the 8 handpumps, only 4 were dispensing, and the ales on were Butcombe Original, Adnam’s Camden-on-Sea, Black Sheep Twilighter and Bass. Sadly the beers were over-chilled and lacked any real flavour. We didn’t eat, but the food looked OK and was reasonably priced. The best bet in the area, though.

A good sized Ember Inns pub next to a retail park, it has a nondescript modern appearance much like many similar establishments with nothing particularly memorable about it. A car park is adjacent to the pub but this is pay and display (£2 for up to three hours) however this fee is refundable in the bar. Service was a little slow with just one person serving on a recent lunchtime visit. The main pub is a large L-shaped room, and there is also a separate dining area although we did not investigate this. Decor wise it's the usual mix of styles, trying to create a traditional pub ambience in a new build with the obligatory wooden beams on the ceiling. Flooring is mostly carpet with wood strip elsewhere and a few tiles around the bar. Walls are a mixture of painted wood paneling and paintwork in various shades such as burnt orange and grey as well as some wallpaper. There is also some exposed brickwork along one wall. A small fire-place was off to one side as well as a free-standing, dual-aspect chimney and fire in the centre of the room. The menu offered an extensive selection of dishes divided in to sections such as pub classics, pasta and salad, fish, chargrill, burgers, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, etc., so there should be something to suit most tastes. Main courses were mostly around the £7/£8 mark. There was also a set menu where one course was just £4.50, 2 for £6.50 or three for £8.50 at certain times. I went for the ham, egg & chips from this menu, and for the price I thought it was a pretty decent dish. A colleague was also impressed with his beer battered whiting and chips which included two good sized pieces of fish. There was a good selection of beers on tap which on this occasion were Brakespear Bitter, Doom Bar, Butcombe, 6X, Bass, Daleside Old Legover and Andwell Five Little Fishes. Ciders were also well represented with Blackthorn, Thatcher's Gold, Old Rosie and Stella Cidre.