The Brit Bar, Weston Central, Weston Super Mare

Down a very dingy backstreet and to be honest the interior is akin; basic, rough and knocked through with a dozen fruit files buzzing about. GBG23 listed, three Bristol Beer Factory cask plus one from Quantock were available, alongside some cider. My BBF Lemon was a bit fag-end but fine (NBSS 3). There’s a large courtyard to the rear to which I decamped to escape the flies though it was populated with some insufferable punters, presumably from the local College. Didn't enjoy this one at all, was glad to get gone. Too grotty.

Funny little bar with a compact, reversed J-shaped interior on three sides of the central counter. More seating outside in the yard, where a small open-air stage can be found for the regular live music. So far, so plain, but the surprise comes when one finds five handpumps on the counter (and all working too). Three interesting beers - including the Cascade from Gloucester Brewery (£4.00) - plus two versions of Hobgoblin.

This place was very quiet on my Wednesday evening visit. It's an odd place, the pool table at the back seems to take up an awful lot of space. One plus is that there was no TV on. Stencils had been used to create images of Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles on the walls. The bar has five hand pumps but just three were on all from the Marston's stable, Pedigree, Hobgoblin and Thwaites Magic Sponge. I went for the very good condition Pedigree (£2.99) and was offered a loyalty card but declined as I was only having one. I hadn't checked for the CAMRA discount. I didn't know what to make of this place. It's GBG 2016 listed but the beer choice was dull. I'll give it a six.

Extensively renovated and renamed from The Britannia since my previous review, it now has a contemporary layout in the “lounge bar” style. There’s a good sized patio at the rear with some covered seating, which was a popular spot with the smokers even on a very wet evening. Barmaid seemed friendly enough and there was a board listing upcoming events, including a music festival over the bank holiday weekend. Inside, the pub is a U-shape with the bar counter in between. The colour scheme is mostly white and a maroon shade, with some chocolate brown around the bar. Flooring is predominantly wood, although there’s a curious patch of lino in between the two halves, and white venetian blinds hang at the windows. Stylish vertical wall lights provide illumination. The left hand half has a few high tables and chairs whilst the right hand side has low burgundy leather sofa’s. This side also had a pastry counter which was unusual, but I can imagine it being a type of coffee shop during the day. Beers on tap were Gem (although this appeared to be keg?) and the rather pleasant Golden Bolt from the Box Steam Brewery which I’ve not come across before outside of their own pubs. The solitary cider was Thatcher’s Gold. There was also a good choice of bottled beer.