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Beer of the Week (w/e 1st December 2024) with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
Saracens Head, Bath
Bath
BA1 5LP
Pub Type
Taylor Walker (Spirit Pubs)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about Saracens Head
A Greene King pub claiming to be the oldest in Bath, dating to 1713. The brewery is quite possibly trying to claim similar heritage for its beers, of which there were five on the bar, including two seemingly badged with the pub's name, but with a train to catch I didn't have the time or the patience. I'm afraid I gave the young bar manager a hard time, as I couldn't read the small print on the new, old style IPA Bitter pump clip; he told me 3.2% and when I was charged £3.15 for a half I may have used some extreme language. Actually, on reflection, it was in pretty good condition (NBSS 3.5) and probably as good as the former 3.6% version. But £3.15 for a half? You really have got to be joking.
On 5th November 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 4058 recommendations about 3760 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Saracens Head
Claims to be Bath's oldest pub, though the knocked-through and modernised interior isn't going to raise your interest. Looks like a lockdown makeover in here with greys, whites, dark greens and mushrooms - yuk. There's a moulded ceiling in the front area which could be a centrepiece but the picking-out is cheap and nasty. Island bar with low ceilings and even lower disguised RSJs. The main servery is awkwardly located on the left-hand side. Surprised to see some offbeat choices, GK IPA aside with two interesting guests plus a cider. My Hop Union Bonville Pale was in decent shape (NBSS 3) though the half came in some weird long thin glass which had no stamp and punched the life out of it. Awful modern music for the amusement of the barmaids. Worth a drop-in if crawling, but you get the feeling this could be so much better. 5.5
On 15th August 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5462 recommendations about 5444 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Saracens Head
Claiming to be Bath’s oldest pub, this GK-owned pub 18th Century town pub was a very pleasant surprise – hardly normal for GK, apart from the presence of GK IPA as one of the cask offerings. Also on were 5 Points XPA, Jester 13 and Wadworth’s 6X, all at reasonable prices and all well kept and served in jugs. There were also 3 fruit ciders, but these were more for novelty value than for serious cider drinkers. The barman was friendly and professional, the TV was broken, and the background music was rather dull. The food was the standard GK factory-produced stuff, but again not excessively priced for the area. All in all it was enjoyable visit, the beer was good, it was comfortable, and I’d be happy to come back and include in a crawl.
On 25th September 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3426 recommendations about 3391 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Saracens Head
A surprisingly large pub with entrances at both the front and the rear on to Walcott Street. There’s several different areas inside with a large central bar and a smaller lounge of to the rear, and a large room at the back with a pool table and darts board as well as a large projection screen although this was not in use on our visit. One wall here is built of Bath stone which is a change from the rest of the pub.
There are a few other TV’s dotted around, and a few of the punters seemed to be enjoying the football that was on. Mrs. B was none to keen on having to squeeze through a group of these blokes to get to the loo, and when she did get there found that one of them was blocked, no doubt due to the fact that the hand dryer was broken and everyone was throwing paper towels down the pan. The gents was no better being dark and dingy, and this was also blocked. The staff seemed pleasant enough, although seemed a bit distracted.
The food offering is fairly typical of what you’d expect with a large laminated menu divided in to several sections such as Lite Bites, Grills Pub Classics, Burgers, Mains, etc., and offering all sorts of price led promotions, such as curry nights, burger nights and grill nights. However, with the only drinks on offer as part of these deals being John Smith’s Extra Smooth or Fosters, they’re unlikely to tempt too many people I would have thought. Breakfasts are available from £1.99 or £2.99 if you want an extra sausage and chips (!).
Beers on tap were Buckley’s Best, Greene King IPA and 6X. There was a fourth pump on the bar but this did not appear to be in use. Ciders were Blackthorn and Strongbow.
On 18th October 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2023 recommendations about 1929 pubs]