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Coach & Horses, Wellingborough
Wellingborough
NN8 4HY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Coach & Horses
The Coach & Horses is an inviting looking pub from the road, and the interior is interesting, if maybe a little busy. The walls are plastered in beer paraphernalia and old pump clips, that latter of which also run along all of the wooden ceiling beams. Twelve hand pumps I counted on the bar, nine of which were in use drawing ale. I went for a pint of St Austell’s Proper Job which went down well. Seven real ciders are also available, their clips lining the bar in front of the hand pumps. To the left and right are premium and craft keg options. There are also a couple of tall fridges with shelves packed with craft cans for those who like to spend top dollar. Food is available during the day and the left rear of this L-shaped pub looked to be geared more towards dining. The burgers are priced at £13.95 and Pieminister pies are available. I’ve had one of these pies at the Pieminister restaurant in Leeds, top scran! There’s also a heated pork crackling display case on the bar. Some background music was playing during a recent Tuesday evening visit. I left at 20:00, leaving the pub empty apart from the friendly barmaid. I can see why they close at 21:00 during the week. This is a decent pub well worth a visit, but I was disappointed not to see a porter or stout amongst the cask. I suppose you can’t please everyone!
On 5th February 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5243 recommendations about 5211 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Coach & Horses
The Coach & Horses clearly has a reputation for serving decent real ales and ciders and is the go-to pub in town. I was looking forward to my visit here, but was perhaps a little disappointed.
The pub was quiet, with one other couple inside on my arrival. They soon left, but others appeared. There did however appear to be a few more outdoors at the rear. The main bar area is L-shaped and there is much to admire around the walls. Service was friendly.
The real ale range was good, without being exceptional. It would have been nice to have had a dark beer, or at least some beers from Northamptonshire and the East Midlands on. Nevertheless, the range was Black Sheep Best Bitter, St Austell Tribute, Big Smoke Distant Lands, Five Points Pale, Signature Roadie, Salopian Lemon Dream, Darwin's Origin & Lost In Translation, Adnams Ghost Ship & Abbeydale Moonshine & Alchemy.
There is a good craft beer range and there are further adventurous bottled and canned options in the fridges. Real ciders were Cotswold Cider Company Yellow Hammer & Lilley's Crazy Goat, Merry Monkey, Pickled Parrot, Bee Sting, Pineapple Cider, Collider & Somerset Scrumpy.
This is certainly not a pub you should miss if you are ever in Wellingborough. But it didn't quite hit the high expectations I had. Nevertheless, it's a solid 8/10 from me and I look forward to giving it another go some day when hopefully the current virus has been eliminated.
On 1st October 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Coach & Horses
Definitely the best pub in town, this traditional pub had a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. An excellent choice of 11 ales on our Saturday afternoon visit. Food wise we went for the daily special, which was a pie, chips and peas and a pint of beer for £9.95. I have to say their pies are out of this world, one of the best in the country in my opinion. Mrs A ordered her pie and a half of beer and when she went back to the bar after her meal for another half of beer, the barmaid said you can include that half as part of you meal price, which was decent. The pub had a log burning stove in the right hand lounge area. A separate room at the back to watch sport on the large TV and the front lounge had a very comprehensive display of pump clips, covering the walls and ceilings. Well worth a visit this one.
On 9th February 2019
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Coach & Horses
The must visit pub in Wellingborough for ale choice and it’s a comfy spot in which to enjoy it.
The pub is a traditional boozer with a large central bar surrounded by various drinking areas and, on our visit, a marquee at the back for footy watching.
We visited on a Saturday afternoon England World Cup game so there were tellys on throughout and the place was heaving. Despite that the crowd enjoyed the match in good humour and even though it was up to 3 deep at the bar the service was swift and efficient keeping the wait to a minimum.
The ale range was superb: Oakham Scarlet Macaw and Red Rye, Merrimans MPG, Phipps Gold Star, Radcliffe’s Celebrated Stout, Thornbridge Puja, Dhillons Red IPA, Grainstore Rutland Beast and Hop Back Groovy Mover. All that and there still one unused pump.
Many styles and strengths to go at there and a fair smattering of local breweries represented. Everything we had was excellent and in good shape.
Wellingborough’s must visit ale emporium.
On 6th August 2018
- rating: 9
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Coach & Horses
A modest frontage ,but a treat awaits within.This is a long standing CAMRA award winning ale house and a GBG regular.The front room houses the L shaped bar with it's 12 handpumps.There is a mix of furniture,some sofas and comfy chairs,bench seating,traditional wooden tables & chairs in a carpeted room.There is a rear room with much the same vibe with sports screens in both areas.There is a large beer garden out the back.
Pumps clips cover the ceiling and the pub retains a boozer vibe,which also means bar blocking regulars on bar stools.A board listing the ale choice would be helpful,especially when the pub is busy and it took us a while to spot an excellent Hop Back Groovy Moover tucked away at the end of the line of handpumps.Other ales sampled by the crew were Oakham Scarlet Macaw,Phipps Gold Star and Thornbridge Puga all in great nick.
A must visit in Wellingborough,I will be back.
On 14th July 2018
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Coach & Horses
This is a detached main road pub a short walk West out of Wellingborough. Inside it is a single open room with a wooden floor and a central bar. Pump clips seemed to be almost everywhere.
It was fairly quiet on my Friday lunchtime visit with a music track that included Jefferson Airplane, Radiohead and Led Zeppelin. Posters advertising a quiz and live music were around the place.
As I entered I had noticed a sign that said there were twelve ales and twelve ciders available. I didn't delve into the cider but there were certainly twelve hand pumps all clipped. They included three Kelham Island Beers, two Elgoods, Summer Lightning, Doom Bore, Hoggley's Mild, Great Oakley Wagtail, a Castle Rock beer and Dark Star Original. I tried the Hoggley's Mild and the Great Oakley Wagtail and both were in excellent condition at £3.40 reduced to £3.30 with the 10p CAMRA discount.
i noticed a board from where I was sitting that said that they had sold 2205 beers from 409 breweries since 1st September 2008.
This pub has won a few CAMRA awards and is a regular GBG entry. Given the ale and cider selection it's not surprising. I give it a strong 9.
On 25th May 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Coach & Horses
The Coach and Horses is a really nice looking pub that is situated just off the town centre.
Once inside there was a decent sized L shaped room the bar was facing,the seating was a mix of normal tables and chairs and banquette seats,the floor was bare boarded,the ceiling is beamed and had hundreds of pump clips fixed to it.
There was a very good choice of real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Nene Valley OZP which was a very nice well kept beer,there were too many beers to note but i did note a few,Nene Valley DXS,Taylor Landlord and Phipps Gold Star.
When i orderd my drink i asked for a half the landlady started pulling a pint,i asked for a half which she did,but the beer geeks who were hogging the bar sneered at me for doing this,why do some real ale drinkers think they are better than normal drinkers like me?,this really pissed me off.
This is a very pleasant pub with decent beer on the bar.
Pub visited 21/6/2014
On 21st June 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
James Past left this review about Coach & Horses
Not a lot to add to the review by Will. Again a midweek visit - [last week],again ,8 beers to choose from,only able to try two as I was actually heading for Kettering and noticed the pub as I went past on the bus !!
On 25th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 41 recommendations about 38 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Coach & Horses
This is a traditional roadside pub on the edge of the town centre. The internal walls have been removed leaving a large room with a long bar, though it is far from being a drinking barn. The renovation is in the modern retro-style, with wood floor and panelling, wooden tables and chairs, so there's a real pub feel to the place. The only jarring note is provided by the piped music, which may be a bit on the loud side for some - but on the other hand, if you're going to play music, there's no need to be shy about it.
There are ten hand pumps and they were serving eight beers from eight different breweries - I won't list them as they'll have changed several times already since my visit last week. The Hereford Dark that I tried was a little tired, but this is not unexpected on a quiet Tuesday when eight beers are available. I also had a Woild Moild from Wolf Brewery of Attleborough, which was better, though I struggled with the pronunciation.
There's a vast collection of pump clips, as you'd expect, and some appeared to be very old indeed. Also to be found on beams, ledges, shelves and in cupboards were some old jugs, bottles and soda fountains - quite a collection. An advertisement over the fireplace for Dulley's Stout commemorated the hundredth anniversary of the local brewery in 1902, and its "Red Well water", now also commemorated by the Wetherspoons of that name just down the road.
The landlord was very friendly and didn't mind when I said I wanted to take some photos for this website. I have taken marks off for the music and for the less than perfect beer, and also for the cheeky 10-out-of-10 in his own review!
On 28th March 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3740 recommendations about 3477 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
David Tobin left this review about Coach & Horses
This really is a good proper pub. There is an outstanding choice of beer and good choice of wine plus interesting soft drinks, etc. The food is good affordable pub food. It is a very clean, well managed place. Interesting collection of good historical pub memorabilia was installed at the time of its relatively high standard recent refurbishment. No idiots tolerated so it is a civilised place for a grown-up night out. There is a good mix of folk regulars and visitors alike. I am without a doubt this is the best pub in Wellingborough - the only really decent place is the fact. For smokers there is an extensive covered and sheltered heated outbuilding - the best smoking accommodation you can find outside of Westminster's House of Commons bars (I kid you not!). And in Northamptonshire it must be in the top 10. For my point of view there is one more outstanding quality - it is virtually next-door to my house. I am one lucky son-of-a-gun.
On 15th September 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]