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Angel Ale House, Atherstone
Atherstone
CV9 1HA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Angel Ale House
An attractive white painted building on Atherstone's market square, with what I take to be fake half timbering. Once inside there has been quite a bit of opening out so that the ground floor is one large space with pillars. The bar counter is perhaps a little small for the six hand pumps, which made me think it's not so much of a beer drinkers' pub, and the amount of gin and wine, not to mention lager, being consumed at the time of my visit (not long after 4pm opening) might be thought of as confirmation. But the young lad behind the bar was happy to talk about not just the six beers on the bar but about beer in general and why we like certain breweries and avoid others, and the pub has won local Camra awards. I exclaimed at finding Leatherbritches Mad Ruby, but apparently this is one of the two regulars (the other being Oakham Citra), with four guests.
There is a record player and a rack of vinyl albums beside the bar. I saw a disabled access toilet but there are steps at the front door, so presumably there is another entrance. There is building work going on at the back of the pub and no beer garden as far as I could see, though perhaps this will be recreated once the building work has finished. Atherstone is a bit out of the way for me, but this pub would be one of the reasons for making a return visit, especially if the Leatherbritches beer really is a regular.
On 23rd May 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3740 recommendations about 3477 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Angel Ale House
A traditional style pub, which has won North Warwickshire Camra Pub of the Year in 2016, 2017 and this year along with Cider Pub of the Year. Six pumps with five in use on our Saturday afternoon visit. The beer choice on our visit was Oakham Citra, Oakham American Red Rye, Beowulf Welgild, Iron Pier Porter, Bylth Brewery and North Yorkshire Brewery White Lady. I went for the Beowulf, which was in top class condition. There was an old vinyl record collection and turntable near the bar, where you could choose an album you wanted to play. The landlord and landlady were out for the day on our visit and had left their daughter in charge, who was delightful and had a great knowledge about beer.
On 31st July 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Angel Ale House
In a town that generally surpassed my low expectations this seemed to be the main attraction as far as real ale goes. The main bar area is at the front with what looks like a dining room to the rear which includes a tiny bar counter.
There are six hand pumps on the main bar which had Oakham Citra, Blythe Palmers Poison, Salopian Oracle, Ashover Amberella, Leatherbritches Ashbourne IPA and Beowulf Dark Raven. I tried the Citra (£3.20), Palmers Poison (£3.00)
and Ashbourne IPA (£3.50?) which were in pretty good nick given it was a hot day.
This was certainly the pick of the options in Atherstone, it's a shame that it's a late opener on weekdays.
On 2nd July 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Angel Ale House
Very appealing old in on the Market Square, with a black-and-white decorative façade (albeit with a slightly outdated banner proclaiming its status as the local Camra branch Pub of the Year 2016). However, the front bar, with its fairly limited amount of seating behind the two bay windows, still looks the business. There is also another bar at the back (not visited). Decent selection of real ales in a variety of styles, including a fine Beowolf Dragon Smoke Stout. Well worth seeking out.
On 19th November 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Angel Alehouse
The Angel occupies a dominant position on Atherstone's market square and is an imposing, historical, black and white building.
Inside it seems smaller than it appears from outside with an open plan room featuring two bay windows and the bar at the back. It feels fairly original in black and white with plenty of beams and has interesting touches such a vinyl collection and turntable.
As Mr. F notes, the furniture is mismatched and doesn't really fit the building but that's a minor point.
Our Wednesday evening visit found a mixed clientele and whilst the place wasn't overrun there were enough of people to create a decent atmosphere.
Beer on was Oakham Citra, a regular, Blythe Staffie and Palmers Poisoner, Dancing Duck 22, Leatherbritches Lemon Grass and Ginger and Titanic Plum Porter. An interesting selection sourced mainly locally. The Staffie and Plum Porter were in great shape.
The best pub I've visited in Atherstone for beer and my first, and probably only, stop when in town.
On 5th October 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Angel Alehouse
If you are looking for a great pint in Atherstone,this is the place to head.A pleasing exterior overlooking the market square,the covered courtyard to the left leads to the entrance while beyond is a tidy beer garden.The front room is where the handpumps are located and there was a very well thought out selection on my trip with everything sampled in good nick.The publican has been awarded the Oakademy Award,hence Oakham Citra is one of the permanent ales.The other permanent ale will be from Blythe while the guests are likely to feature breweries from the region and I was delighted to see Titanic Plum Porter on my visit,plus a brew from both Leatherbritches and Dancing Duck.
The pick your own vinyl LP and play it on the turntable was a nice touch and the interior shows the buildings age with some exposed timbers.There was a mix of somewhat dull furniture scattered around with cheap venitian blinds in the windows,it looks like the proprietors want to establish their ale credentials before spending hard earned cash on more authentic furnishings which is probably the correct priority.It rightly features in the 2016 GBG.
The back bar is a bit unloved with a series of sofas ,it's own bar but not featuring any handpumps.It just felt like an overspill area despite having a wood burner to one side.There is a kitchen area between the two serving bars but if food was available it wasnt obvious on a Wednesday evening visit.
This drinking town has been crying out for a decent real ale pub for as long as I can remember and at last The Angel Alehouse has answered the call.Route 1 for me when next in town,it is a top pub for any ale connoisseur.
On 2nd October 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ken Manger left this review about The Angel Alehouse
This must be one of the best in the town for several reasons. 1) is the variety of ales. At least 5 cask beers available, 2) is the warmth of the welcome from the staff. Always available to advise on the ale flavours, and offer snifters! 3) has to be the music....pick an album and put it on the record player, careful now, lower the arm gently....
Having propped up the bar in most of the towns ale houses, this is certainly the best I have come across in the town...so much so I even joined to give a review.
There is addition seating in the back if you want a quieter night without the record player.
In case you're wondering why I didn't review any of the ales they change frequently. So with one or two exceptions, whatever Ale I write about here, may not be on in a couple of weeks. Needless to say, never had a bad pint.
On 27th December 2014
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Angel Alehouse
The Angel is a decent looking black and white pub that is situated on a corner at the top end of the market place.
Once inside the front room is square shaped with a tiled floor,the bar faces,the seating is pew type to the right,there are a few tall tables and chairs in the middle of the room plus some small tables and stools,the ceiling is beamed,there is a larger room to the rear which was empty on my Saturday afternoon visit.
There was a good choice of real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Oakham Citra which went down very well,the other beers i noted were Kelham Easy Rider,Oakham Asylum,plus beers from Backyard and Blyth.
There was some music playing from a proper record player.
This pub seemed a bit too bare for my liking.
Pub visited 25/10/2014
On 25th October 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Angel
A detached corner pub with passageway to the side that leads to a patio area and a large beer garden at the back. The pub is in a mix of Georgian, mock-Tudor and Victorian Gothic styles; with a double gabled frontage in white render and extensive fake black beams, with two bay windows.
The interior has a couple of rooms, a bar at the front and a lounge at the back, served by a central island bar. The bar is in cream and beam walls (with ceiling support beams), a white and beam ceiling and a red tile floor. There is a red wall which takes in a large fireplace and there are photos on the wall regarding the Atherstone Shrove Tuesday footy match over the years, as well as a few small square mirrors bizarrely. It mainly has tables and chairs, although there is a sofa and there is also a pool table. There is a TV, which had daytime stuff on and the music was a little on the loud side. The back room is more of a lounge and was totally empty. It has comfy brown chairs and sofas. The TV wasn't on and there was a dart board here. The decor is cream and crimson walls and a blue patterned carpet. The bar had white wood panel (plain wood in the bar). The service was fine, the clientele in the bar was more local based, with some industrial language.
Beer; despite three handpulls there was no real ale on. Usual tap stuff with a rather poor M&B MILD.
The place has a nice exterior and a nice beer garden. It is a shame that it lacked a real ale for my personal taste and i think the MILD may have been the first of the day. Promises more than it delivers.
On 22nd March 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]