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Detail Pages
The Salopian Bar, Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
SY1 1PW
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Salopian Bar
Modern ale house, aimed at the younger drinker (note that despite the pub’s name it is not the Salopian brewery tap!). Nice cream and blue trim livery outside which gives way to a bright red (too red!) interior and tiled flooring within. Seating is geared towards high chairs and tables which aren’t one of my preferred options. Some pavement seating outside, good for a sunny day. Eight ales, an excellent micro selection (forgot to note exactly what). My White Rat was in decent form. Also an impressive selection of US and Belgian bottles which were actively pushed rather than simply sitting in the fridge as a display point. For the fruit juice brigade there were also two proper ciders and a perry. Friendly service at the bar, felt very welcoming. Punter entertainment came in the form of SKY Sports and a selection of papers. Fridge at the bar with scotch eggs and pork & stilton pies sourced from a local butchers, reasonably priced and I can vouch for the calibre of the pork & stilton pie (would have preferred proper mustard rather than the nasty sachets, if I’m being pernickety). Probably the best beer destination in Shrewsbury but as a pub it didn’t quite work for me – just too modern and overbearing with the décor. That said, I’d put it near the top of the crawl list next time due to the range and welcome.
On 26th April 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5107 recommendations about 5090 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Salopian Bar
Close to the town centre and fronting on to what is effectively Shrewsbury’s inner ring road is The Salopian Bar.
It’s a stand alone rather unattractive looking building, but, as we approach the pub, we see a large banner proudly proclaiming the pub as “Shrewsbury and West Shropshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2008, 9,11, 12”.
It’s a single L shaped bar with a comfortable, but modernised, feel to the place. There’s a mixture of sofas, high backed padded chairs and some high circular tables. The floor has modern tiling and the walls are largely burgundy coloured. On the wall we see several items of artwork for sale. Reflecting its sporting interests, there’s a framed Shrewsbury Rugby Club shirt. We also see that the pub is home to the Shrewsbury supporters branch of Wolverhampton Wanderers F C. On my recent visit, a number of small silent TV ‘s were showing either Scotland v Serbia at football or the latest one day cricket international between England and South Africa. There’s a few seats outside on the narrow pavement at the front.
This pub clearly sets its stall out to attract drinkers, through not only its real ales, but its range of bottled Belgian, French and American beers, together with ciders. A leatherbound menu lists the bottled beers on offer. On my recent mid September visits, a cider promotion was being held with various ciders ( at around 6% ABV ) available at £ 2.50p per pint or £ 1.25p per half.
8 handpumps were serving local microbrewery beers – these included 2 Oakham beers, Buxton Moor Top, 1 from Woods plus the 2 regular beers ( Stonehouse Station Bitter plus Salopian Oracle ). Beers sampled were in excellent form. A discount is available for CAMRA members – shown as being 10p off per pint, but nil for a half pint.There’s also a loyalty card where the tenth pint comes free, but this is only valid between Mondays and Thursdays between 12 and 6 pm. A sandwich board outside advertised a forthcoming Ale Festival between 27–30 September 2012. The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular.
In “beer exhibition” pubs such as this, I generally find that staff are young, knowledgeable and enthusiastic and generally proactive in seeking to engage with customers in talking about the beers on offer and the various breweries involved. The Salopian Bar is certainly no different in this respect. Friendly staff explained to me that the pub normally focuses on pale coloured ales because “that’s the way things are going”, although they did say that they would have a porter or darker beer on in the winter months. Usually at least 3 of the 8 beers are changed daily. Unusually, for a pub like this, there appears to be a good solid core of regulars.
I normally prefer my pubs to have a more traditional, old fashioned feel to them, but I enjoyed my two visits here immensely. You should certainly do this one when in town.
On 1st January 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about The Salopian Bar
First pub of a dozen in Shrewsbury, easy walk from the station. The place was rammed to the rafters with rugby fans when we went, watching the first Lions test against Australia. It went mental when the Lions won by the narrowest of margins. Good selection of beers but the place was so full that it was difficult to make an informed decision and I went for Butty Bach as a safe option. I would love to come back when the pub is a little quieter but I am not complaining, it's nice to see full pubs being enjoyed by happy sports fans and drinkers.
On 24th June 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Salopian Bar
This is a modern style L-shaped bar with a decent location opposite the river and close to the bus station. The pub has a single room layout with a tiled floor and some striking bright red paintwork on the walls. The front part of the pub has mainly high tables and stools, but around the corner there are thankfully some nicely upholstered chairs, which seem a far more comfortable proposition. In better weather, it might be worth taking drinks out to one of the cafe style pavement tables, although sadly there is a busy road between the pub and the river. Several TV screens were on throughout the pub showing Sky Sports News and the place was filling up nicely on my early afternoon visit with fans about to make the long trek out of town to watch a match a Shrewsbury’s New Meadow stadium. The walls are dotted with a few bits of brewerania and there was a rugby shirt hanging from a spot which appears to have once been occupied by a dartboard.
Despite the name, the pub isn’t run by the Salopian Brewery, although one of their beers, Oracle, was available alongside Buxton Dark Nights, Dark Star Revelation, Mallinsons Nelson Chinook (£3.00), Stonehouse Station Bitter, Oakham Bishop’s Farewell, Hop Back Entire Stout and Holden’s Golden Glow, with three real ciders also available. I went for the Mallinsons which was well kept, but a little disappointing on the taste front. There is a good bottled beer selection, with many of them on display in fridges next to the servery.
Shrewsbury is one of those towns with plenty of excellent traditional ale houses, so the modern styling of the Salopian Bar offers something a little different, even if it’s not to everyone’s taste. Personally, I enjoyed stopping off here and would’ve gladly stayed longer had time permitted.
On 5th May 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Salopian Bar
Has changed a little over the last 4 years. The comfortable sofa's have gone and have been replaced by high tables. Called in for a pint on a Tuesday and the tiling was being upgraded in the toilets, so lots of circular saw noises, which was pretty unpleasant. Not at its best this time around, but I'm sure it's still a good place to go usually.
05/12/2008
This place is really a wine bar with lots of real ale. Bright red walls and comfortable leather sofas. Not really my sort of place when I'm on my own but when I'm out with the other half it's a very good compromise. I get good beer and she gets good wine. 10p per pint off for CAMRA members as well.
On 18th April 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
A B left this review about The Salopian Bar
Shrewsbury's only craft beer bar as far as I am aware. Had 5 cask ales on when I visited, and a range of UK craft beers on tap, including offerings from Brewdog and Thornbridge. Keep it up guys! Real cider and a huge range of bottled foreign beer were also available.
Could do with rearranging the furniture a bit perhaps.
On 21st December 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 27 recommendations about 26 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Anonymous User left this review about The Salopian Bar
This place is quite hard to judge really. Although the real ale/real cider along with the extensive belgian offerings, is top notch the furnishings are unremarkable with no outstanding features. I counted up to 8 handpumps on the bar.
A pub that's in the GBG and also offers a discount for CAMRA members. Got chatting quite easily with the locals and regulars. In fact, I had quite a good time and a laugh as the banter flowed along with the ales. I had a pint of 'Dark Side of the Moose' brewed by Ochr Dywyll Y Mws. Don't ask me to pronounce it though! It was obviously a Welsh porter/stout and was like amber nectar.
On 8th October 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 0 recommendations about 0 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Salopian Bar
Tone down the walls, which are bright red and turn down the music. Music was far too loud on our Friday lunchtime visit. Good pub for watching some sport though and had a great range of ales. Eight ales on offer, don't expect to see a lot of Salopian beers as it's not their tap pub. Only Salopian Shropshire Gold on offer, also went for the Dr Mortons Ball Relief brewed by Abbeydale and the Station House bitter.
On 22nd July 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Salopian Bar
Surprisingly modern inside considering the outside look, it looks like any old boring sports bar with its three big screens and venetian blinds. It’s open plan, L shaped with white and red walls and a tiled floor. Furnished with a mix of high tables and chairs and low sofas. It’s very CAMRA- friendly with a 10p per pint discount. Eight handpumps provide beers from micro breweries in excellent condition, the walls are dotted with Pub of the Year awards and such like. There is a good range of Belgian beers in the fridges and the kegs are a mix of UK standards plus more interesting stuff from Frulli, Bellevue (Kriek)and Leffe. Punters this lunchtime were almost entirely eccentric in one way or another.
On 16th September 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3275 recommendations about 2982 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Wainnock ....... left this review about The Salopian Bar
Very good range of beers in excellent condition
On 17th March 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 23 recommendations about 23 pubs]