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Detail Pages
The Old Sun, Dunstable
Harlington
Postal town: Dunstable
LU5 6LS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Old Sun
More of a hardened drinkers pub than the Carpenters Arms just up the road, I much preferred the Old Sun.
I'd called in advance to establish opening hours and had spoken to the Irish landlord. I'd also read TripAdvisor reviews criticising the landlord for being drunk and swearing. The "landlord smelt like he was drinking all of the profits" said one review.
Entering from the car park, we found a packed public bar. I instantly heard the same Irish accent on the customers' side of the bar and witnessed the smartly dressed landlord chatting with the locals. We retreated into a quieter side room, where another elderly local engaged us with conversation, before we eventually ended up in another small and cosy room up a few steps and near to the gents toilets.
The ale range was Ghost Ship, Tribute, Landlord & Proper Job and beers were served by a couple of friendly barmaids.
I quite liked this pub. It had a fairly edgy but friendly feel to it. Frankly, who cares if the landlord chooses to drink some of the profits. If I ran a pub, I'd probably end up doing the same. He's clearly got a fair few locals who recognise a well-run pub when they see one and whilst the real ales were all fairly mainstream, there is still a good choice. The better of the 2 pubs in Harlington.
On 2nd January 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Old Sun
The Old Sun is a former 17th century private cottage that was turned into a pub in the 1780’s and was the original pub in the village of Harlington, before two more (of which the Carpenters Arms remains) were built in the mid 1800’s with the coming of the nearby railway.
Internally it is a half timbered construction with bare brick walls and an inglenook fireplace. As mentioned below it still retains a multi room format with several nooks and crannies to sit in.
The main central serving area supports four real ale hand pumps. There are three regular house ales ( TT Landlord, Adnams Best Bitter and ST Austell Tribute), and then a rotating guest. At the time of my visit this was one called Battering Ram, a dark seasonal brew from Robinsons. And as it was one I hadn’t come across before the landlord let me try it before buying, which is always a nice touch.
The beer was well kept and although I didn’t eat , there is a fairly extensive standard pub fare menu available.
It’s not the smartest pub and the furniture and floorings are lived in, but this all adds to the character. Possibly also due to the fact that it advertises itself as Dog and Child friendly, with biscuit and water bowls down in the central bar area for our canine friends and it won’t be to everyone’s taste that there was a local’s or the resident pub dog hurtling around the place interrogating anyone who was eating. Fortunately I wasn’t in the mood to mind, although I never have had so much attention before whilst eating pork scratchings.
On 11th November 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Old Sun
Traditional village inn, thankfully retaining the original layout so you get an interesting collection of different-sized rooms and cosy corners. Four real ales on, including an excellent pint of the seasonal Camerons Fireside which was just right for a cold winter evening. Friendly and efficient staff too.
On 8th February 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]