The Tuppenny, Swindon

U-shaped upmarket craft bar and I’d be hard-pressed to realise this actually a shop conversion from both the frontage and interior. Quite nicely done with dark blue/white colours, parquet flooring and traditional furniture. A set of kegs, a really good fridge of stuff and two eclectic cask from Electric Bear and Hobsons Bitter (sadly fag end, NBSS 2.5) which clocked in at a brilliant £3.50 for a pint. There's a piano and a plethora of board games available for your leisure. Live music advertised. According to the table literature you can order in momo from a nearby takeaway. I liked it here and stayed for a bottle of Ayinger Brauweisse - £5.30 – though on inspection 2 weeks past BBE so their stock control needs tightening. A mixed crowd in situ and I quite enjoyed it here, it’s a cut above the normal Swindon fayre and I’m likely to re-appear again.

Best described as an upmarket craft bar, to me it was verging on wine bar in feel. There are two handpumps but no ale on while I was there, one was loaded with Snails Bank Raspberry Ripple Cider, I passed on that, there were six taps for craft and another four for premium lagers etc. I ended up with a Pastore Bluberry Sour which was OK. Its worth a look in but I wouldn't make a beeline.

The Tuppenny is situated in the Old Town on Devizes Road, where a number of decent bars have sprung up during the last few years. It is certainly the best are for drinking in the town. We arrived to find only the barman/owner in situ, which gave us the full choice of seating in the single room split by a central partition. The barman was certainly knowledgeable about his offerings and also about the local pub/bar scene. We had an enjoyable chat. The solitary real ale is West Berkshire Old Boy. A second handpull had Cotswold Cider Company She Devil, but the focus is more on craft beers, with a decent range on offer. There was also a substantial gin list. Certainly worthy of a visit when visiting the Old Town.

Official site of The Tuppenny - thetuppenny.com

Official site of The Tuppenny - thetuppenny.com