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Pub annoyances #834 with Tris39
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Detail Pages
The British Grenadier, Colchester
Colchester
CO1 2AP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The British Grenadier
A fair trundle from the town centre, this a basic alehouse with a frayed linoleum tiled floor and very much felt like the sort of pub you tend to encounter north of Hadrian’s wall, if populated by the Essex Sci-Fi ComiCon branch (see the life-sized cardboard stormtrooper in the main bar). No longer an Adnams pub (to much wailing and gnashing of teeth a few years ago) and is now run as a hobbyist freehouse for the locals. Three cask; Elland Pale, something oak something and a sub-par Dartmoor Jail (NBSS 2.5). Cat sat on the bar. Maybe I hit it at the wrong time just after opening but it feels like a GBG makeweight.
On 1st February 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5182 recommendations about 5165 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The British Grenadier
A classic back street boozer free house,well worth the hack from the town centre.It's on a street corner and you enter via the apex door into the tap room.The flooring is very worn vinyl squares,to the end there is a darts board and a brick fireplace,while seating is along benches in this narrow space.Around the back there is a rear room with a pool table served from the island bar.
There are lots of boxed ciders and three real ale featuring on my trip City of Cambridge Boathouse Bitter and Wolf Mad Wolf and Sly Wolf (NBSS 3.5).The black pub cat rules the roost and will bat away any inquisitive dogs which are allowed in the pub if they can behave.
Got chatting to the friendly barman,and regulars started drifting in on the 5pm weekday opening time.
A genuine boozer experience with some real characters,give it a go and it deserves it's 2022 GBG listing.
On 29th September 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2745 recommendations about 2745 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thirsty Chaz left this review about The British Grenadier
Excellent unspoilt back street drinker . Real Ale gem , tried a pale from the York Brewery . Well looked after beers , well worth a stroll from Colchester Town BR
On 24th August 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 57 recommendations about 57 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham McCarthy left this review about The British Grenadier
An exceptional pub, this. I learned reecently that Adnams are tragically planning to sell this absolute gem. Why, I do not know.
A proper drinkers' pub, with effort towards exciting beers always in mint condition. Not many old-fashioned pubs exist that do not prioritise eaters over drinkers, but this place is a perfect example.
I did see that the local CamRA website for Colchester had a petition which I was told quite a few people are signing to support the Grennie against sale.
It would be an incredible loss and callous greed on Adnams part if it is gotten rid of.
On 29th July 2012
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The British Grenadier
Small, basic back-street boozer a five minute walk from Colchester Town train station. The pub has one main room with half pine panelled walls and a tile effect floor. Seating is limited and comprises mainly of backless banquettes and tables complimented with a few low stools. The side bar makes for a narrow room, with wider areas at either end. The left side is the larger end and there was a TV down there, which was switched off, a jukebox playing metal and obscure 80's stuff, a dartboard flanked by numerous trophies (dart flights were for sale behind the bar as well) and a fireplace that looked like it had seen a fair bit of action recently. There was also a games machine opposite the bar.
This is an Adnams pub, so three of their beers were on offer - Bitter, Broadside and Tally Ho at £3.40 a pint, but this is a 7% beer and the barman indicated that it is priced accordingly. My half of Tally Ho was in great condition and went down a treat on a cold, cloudy winter's day. A fourth pump had a clip turned and I think it was a guest from Purity. There was a fair collection of pump clips around the bar area which suggests that a guest ale could be expected on most visits.
I thought this was a good pub and it's encouraging to read that they have managed to keep the place going in spite of Adnams’ decision to close them down. Worth making the short trip out of town for and certainly worth supporting in their efforts to stay open.
On 25th January 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3126 recommendations about 3126 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The British Grenadier
In town several months ago for the Sheffield Wednesday match, a longish walk from the main railway station took me to The British Grenadier, a smallish street corner Adnams tied house to the south of the town centre.
It's a rather basic affair with one smallish room on the angle of the street corner and a separate pool room behind. It's very much a regulars pub and I don't imagine they get too much in the way of passing trade, but I received a very warm welcome from Simon and Linda, mine host and her ladyship.
Despite being an Adnams tied house, the pub has clearly been able to sell a good range of guest beers, as evidenced by the pump clips on the walls in the main bar.
The pub is evidently CAMRA friendly and displays a number of local branch award certificates. A good selection of CAMRA branch magazines - including the latest issue of London Drinker - was available.
Beers on were Adnams Bitter, Extra, Broadside and, as the guest, Gales Seafarers. Both the Bitter and Extra ( £ 2.80p and £ 3.10p respectively ) were in reasonable form, but tasted slightly too chilled.
The pub is listed in the 2010 CAMRA Good Beer Guide, where we learn that the pub was recently saved from closure by the persistence of the landlord and landlady.
I do hope this pub can keep going.
On 7th October 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The British Grenadier
Smaller lay-out than my beer-misted memory had me believe, but none the worse for that. I didn't record the ales available but do need to mention the late afternoon entertainment yesterday - the licensees' daughters were on vocals, accompanied by guitar, and were really rather good, well done them. Good local buzz about the place.
9 March 2008
Penultimate stop on Saturday's crawl so things are a bit hazy by now. I can just make out that 4 handpumps offered Adnams Bitter, Broadside, Oyster Stout, & Mauldons Cuckoo. There was a dartboard with its own space, ie not crowded by tables, & I think we endangered the local populace by having a couple of games of ‘tactics', sorry folks. Quiet, so we got a chance to briefly discuss the sad news of the Adnams disposal with the friendly landlord/lady, I wish them and the British Grenadier all good fortune for the future.
On 5th July 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]