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Disappointment of the week with Tris39
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Detail Pages
The Holly Bush, Alcester
Alcester
B49 5QX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Holly Bush
Attractive Everards pub in a side street beside the landmark Town Hall. Compact front bar, little larger than a snug, with light decor contrasting with the dark brown semi-modern furniture. Larger and more traditional lounge bar beyond the central servery, with various other rooms (not in current use) off the central corridor leading to the rear patio garden. Three real ales available from the four handpumps on each counter: Tiger, Sunchaser and an excellent small-batch Circadian (£4.10).
On 10th July 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Delboy 20 left this review about The Holly Bush
The Holly Bush is a traditional local. A few separate rooms with a great beer garden complete with outside bar. Very friendly service and it was quite busy.
Everards Tiger, Sunchaser and Jester on offer. I went for the Jester which was excellent. Live music and a function room for hire.
The pick of the pubs in Alcester for me and I will definitely be back!
On 21st June 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Holly Bush
The interior consists of two small rooms, one either side of the entrance. The left hand side room had its own separate door for entrance. The room was tastefully decorated, with dark blue patterned wallpaper and had access to one side of the bar. The room on the right of entrance was also homely and comfortable with painted dark purple walls and white woodwork. The room also had an elegant fireplace, which had a couple of small paintings above it. The corridor lead from this to another small room set out for dining. The main area was behind the bar area and continued over to the right. The walls in the main area were clad with 10" planks up from the dado height to ceiling, which looked to have been there for quite some time as they had aged nicely.
The young barman was friendly and helpful. There was a choice of six ales on handpump, four regulars from Everards and two guest, which were Burton Bridge bitter and Wood Farm Scrum. All the beers we tried were in top condition.
The barman told us the pub will change hands on the 1st March and the new landlord taking over is also a real ale enthusiast.
On 22nd February 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Helen Iwanczuk left this review about The Holly Bush
The Holly Bush has reopened.
On 5th January 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 255 recommendations about 195 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Holly Bush
The Holly Bush is a really nice unaltered pub.
Once inside there are three seperate rooms,there is a small room to the front,we went down a corridor which lead to a smart looking room to the rear left,this room was bare boarded and had wood bench seating and small stools,there was another room to the right but there is no bar in it.
There was a good choice of real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Purity Gold which went down very well,the other beers i noted were Hook Norton Lion,Black Sheep Bitter,Rat Dirty Rat,Hobsons Town Crier and a seasonal beer from Jennings.
The pub was fairly busy with drinkers on our Saturday afternoon visit.
This pub is well worth a visit if you visit Alcester.
Pub visited 10/5/2014
On 10th May 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Jillings left this review about Holly Bush Hotel
Good food, good real ale, good pub.
On 2nd January 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 59 recommendations about 54 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Holly Bush Hotel
In a town with pubs by the dozen, the Holly Bush outshines the lot. This is the sort of pub that needs to be explored rather than just sat in. A central corridor leads to 4 different rooms. First on the left is a carpeted front bar that is delightfully simplistic with built in pew seats and a welcoming fire. There are no TV's or games machines to distract one from conversation and the music from the other bar is barely audible. Without doubt, you will end up chatting to the locals. 2 rather interesting pictures London Bridge designs seem a bit out of place here but they make interesting viewing.
On the other side of the central bar (note the unusual central stack for storing bottles etc) is what appears to be the local's favourite gathering spot. The tongue & groove wood paneled room contains brasses, old pictures, a post horn and few more personal artifacts like cards and teddy bears.
Opposite on the other side of the corridor is another small room with old photos of town (including an aerial view), a newspaper rack and a couple of solid and sturdy tables. Tongue & groove wooden planking covers the upper part of the original wattle & daub wall (some of which is exposed behind a glass panel). Yet another room branches off at the rear, probably used more for dining but again, it is cosy and simplistic with just a couple of tables and a welcoming fireplace.
As for the beers, there were 7 Real Ales including a mild and they have been regular winners of the local CAMRA pub of the year (there seems to be an annual battle for this with Three Tuns down the road). The only downside was the absence of a real cider, something the barman was genuinely apologetic about.
During my stay in the area, the pub was undergoing refurbishment so I was unable to get into the remaining rooms or the garden but there was certainly enough here to more than warrant a return visit. I understand that they do regular folk evenings and have a beer festival a couple of times a year. Very highly recommended to anyone who likes a real and genuine, unpretentious pub.
On 11th December 2006
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]