Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Talbot Inn, Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
CV31 1JA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Talbot Inn
As noted, The Talbot is an end of terrace back street boozer in an the Old Town area of Leamington which is dominated by Victorian terraces. It's basic from the outside and the inside is the same with the piano still lurking in the lee of the dartboard and plenty of Leamington FC, known as the Brakes, memoribilia adorning the walls.
Nonetheless, the welcome is warm and on our early evening visit there were a few friendly locals perched around the bar on stools and engaging in banter. It's very much a family run boozer and the guvnor's wife brought his two young children down to say goodnight to Daddy and various locals they know well as well as everyone else in at the time. The atmosphere is very inclusive and it's easy to see how Mr. Quinno got stuck here.
The four handpumps had on Byatts XK Strong, a Coventry brewery which features regularly, Wye Valley Butty Bach and Silver Lining and Oakham JHB. Not the strongest selection and having tried the whole range nothing really tempted us back in for a second. The beers do change regularly and there's a board which gives a reasonably long list of which beers are upcoming and an approximate idea of when. Some of these looked pretty good and some less so, so it's really a question of dropping in and hoping that something's on which suits you unless you're local in which case visits can be planned to make the most of your favourites.
A delightful pub which I'd happily return to and hopefully find a cracking pint.
On 26th March 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Talbot Inn
This terraced locals boozer doesn't look much from the outside but is well worth a visit.The tap room to the left is quite basic with a wooden floor,darts board,upright piano and some well worn furniture with a small sky sports screen to the side of the bar.The carpeted lounge through an arch has a pleasant bay window and bench seating.
It features in the 2014 GBG and the four handpumps normally feature a brew from Byatts,my XK Strong was pretty decent while the Wye Valley Butty Batch was acceptable.Lots of banter from the locals gathered around the bar,and some children (plus pram) in evidence around the interior were the landlords offspring.We got some useful information about local curry houses from the guv'nor and his wife,the pub itself is wet led.
Although it is at the edge of town and tucked away,it is also close the the Grand Union Canal so should attract boaters and liveaboards.It has one of the best music tracks I have every experienced in a pub,an eclectic selection of some standards from the 60's to the modern day.It's a proper boozer.
On 23rd March 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Talbot Inn
A real backstreet pub off the beaten track that, to be frank, looked like a bit of a dump from the outside (side wall mural excepted) and the interior wasn’t a marked improvement. However there were five ales (Everards, Wye Valley, Oakham, Byatts on my visit) and five American bottled craft beers advertised (at a very reasonable £3.50 a pop). A massive Leamington FC pub with scarves, framed shirt etc. Everyone seemed to have some barmy football accumulator on - Jeff Stelling’s utterances on the gogglebox produced either groans or whoops. Items of note included darts, daily papers, back copies of Viz and Private Eye and WiFi (which I couldn’t connect to though someone else was streaming through it).
To begin with I thought I’d just do a quick half or two (basic pub, surprisingly good range of beer and literature but that was kind of it) but I got rather into the swing of things and the Noah-bothering downpour outside gave me an excuse to stay a bit longer. Excellent decision, as the returning footy fans and some local characters meant the place became very lively. The dodgy-looking upright piano I spotted in the corner was fired up and a Les Dawson-esque performer who took requests ranging from an ABBA medley to a raucous rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody (I was told the piano came from salvage, rescued by the player). Having worked through all the excellent ales and having a thoroughly good time, I turned my attention to the American stuff and I really enjoyed my Flying Dog Doggie Style. The punters were friendly and I got chatting to a few who were very passionate about ‘their’ local and were full of praise for the landlord and assured me that this wasn’t a one-off sort of evening, either.
I was meant to stay for a quick half or two but did five (or was it six?) pints. So that's a measure of my night here. A real backstreet gem. In a way I’d be reticent about visiting again as I’m not sure this visit could be topped. Superb.
On 1st November 2013
- rating: 10
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Robert Baldwin left this review about Talbot Inn
What a delight of a pub! simple with a traditional fealalthogh updated, compleatly off the beaten track. with 4 real ales and a traditional cider always on tap you would be hard pushed to find a better pint in the area.
On 6th May 2011
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Hermione Dixon ✯ left this review about Talbot Inn
A gem of a place tucked away in a quiet close in Leamington with no passing traffic, so tends to be a locals place. It has been refurbished since the days when it was known as Hectors House, but it is simply done, nothing poncy.
Nick always has a fantasic range of real ale and cider on tap, always very well kept, and there is always something new on. Although sometimes quiet, you usually have the regulars in: it is a great atmosphere, the music is non intrusive unless Nick is joining in :) VERY glad it is my regular, this kind of place is getting really rare.
On 19th January 2011
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 2 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Talbot Inn
A little brick corner pub with black paintwork and a mural on the side where a demolished building once stood
The interior had two little rooms, in white and wood panel. The bar had Sky TV, the music was mixed and at a decent level. A traditional place, there was a few small prints on the walls and some mirrors. The service was fine, but the place was near empty.
Beer; tap stuff with four handpulls; an excellent Cottage Brewey's Puffing Billy, a well kept but unispiring Warwickshire Brewing Co's Shakespeare's County, Enville Ale - always a winner and BSH.
This place was quality - in the middle of nowhere it seems. I would happily return
On 22nd March 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]