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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Squirrel, Rugby
Rugby
CV21 3PU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about The Squirrel
A tiny, stand-alone pub on the edge of the town centre. It would be a haven of peace if it had been possible to ignore the background music. Four cask beers were on, two from Goffs in Gloucestershire, the other two from Somerset (Parkway and Nuttycombe), which might have prompted a question if I had noticed at the time - perhaps they send a van themselves, or use a southwestern wholesaler; it seems a long way for beers from small breweries to travel (160 miles from Somerton). I went for the Goffs Cheltenham Gold, which I had come across when in the Cotswolds in September, but this was much better (NBSS 4) and £1/pint cheaper.
On 13th January 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3470 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about The Squirrel
Nice traditional feeling pub ably described by Steve below. I had a couple of halves from the available cask range and chose Goffs Cheltenham Gold in good nick but uninspiring followed by an equally well kept Nuttycombe Snow Leopard and very nice. The pub deserves a well earned spot in any crawl of Rugby.
On 29th December 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Steve of N21 left this review about The Squirrel
A very nice historic single roomed low beamed ceiling pub with a decent range of ales and ciders that gets it regularly into the GBG and is one of six town centre pubs in the 2024 guide. A long thin room with the bar in the middle and comfortable sections at each end, with the far one having a nice period fireplace. For our visit there were Parkway Brewing Norwegian Blue, Goffs Brewery Cheltenham Gold and Black Night Ruby Red Porter and Nuttycombe Brewery Snow Leopard White Mild on four pumps and a cider on the fifth. All the ales we tried were in fine form and certainly a decent ale pub that should be included in any crawl of central Rugby.
On 10th December 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Squirrel
Tiny pub, low ceilings, not much room but a lot crammed in.
A cracking Sunday night atmosphere - with a three piece synth band belting out 80s hits. You had to be there.
Beer in good condition - a seasonal Red Nosed Reinbeer from Cotleigh.
On 11th December 2018
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Squirrel
A pleasant enough little pub. Its a small, thin single room with an area set up for live music on this visit. 6 handpumps on the bar with 2 beers from Cottage, an Otley beer and 2 ciders on.
On 16th February 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Squirrel
An excellent old pub with low ceilings and old beams. Loads of bric-a-brac around the walls and a good selection of table games in one corner. A friendly, amusing if rather cynical landlady adds to the character of the place. 4 handpumps for ale and 2 for cider. Marston's Pedigree is the house ale with the other 3 being available for guests, two of which were also from Marston's during my visit. The third had a beer from Dowbridge on it which was in excellent condition. This pub is quite rightly listed in the CAMRA GBG2014.
On 1st September 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3223 recommendations about 3134 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Squirrel
This is a very compact single room pub which is fairly basic but manages to provide a relaxing spot in which to enjoy some good beer. The pub has a wide, but shallow layout with the servery positioned centrally along the back wall. The flooring is a mix of tiles and linoleum depending which end of the pub you're stood. The left hand side of the room has a battered sofa, a dresser and a TV screen. There are some shelves holding books covering a range of topics including a few beer and pub related tomes. Fixed bench seating runs under the front windows opposite the bar, supplemented by a few chairs, with a collection of black and white photos on the walls to provide a bit of visual distraction, although there is a second TV screen here which probably does a better job. The right hand side has a few more tables in a slightly more open area with a bare brick wall to the rear, a dartboard and a nice, compact fireplace. Seating on this side is provided by benches and low stools and there is space here for live music to be put on, evidenced by a stack of sound equipment.
The pub is a freehouse but Marstons beers are regular staples on the bar, so on this visit we found Marstons Pedigree, Banks's Lion's Roar and Jennings Bitter on alongside a guest from the local Dow Bridge Brewery (Ratae'd). Two ciders - Old Rosie and Wild Wood - claimed the remaining handpulls. I tried the Lion's Roar which was in fine form. The landlady was very chatty and good humoured and at one point I wasn't sure she was going to let us leave.
I enjoyed this brief visit and can imagine a good atmosphere being generated in these close confines when there is a good evening crowd in. If I lived locally I think I'd be a regular visitor - this is one that should be included on any crawl around Rugby.
On 18th July 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Squirrel
I realy liked the look of the Squirrel from the outside.
Once inside i was'nt dissapointed,there is a long narrow oblong shaped room with the bar facing,the ceiling is quite low,there was a very narrow bench seat facing the bar,this is where i sat,thee are a few normal tables and chairs to the left plus a leather settee to the far left,the right side had a few normal tables and chairs and a tiled floor,there was a TV on showing horse racing.
There were four real ales on the bar plus two real ciders,i had a drink of Dowbridge Acris which went down very well,the other beers were Ringwood Forty Niner / Old Thumper and Pedigree.
I had only been in the pub a short time when the very friendly landlady started talking to me,she had a great knowledge of Rugbys pubs and directed me to some of the better real ale pubs in Rugby.
I quite liked this pub,one i could stay in for a good session.
Pub visited 12/7/2014
On 12th July 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Squirrel
A basic drinkers pub with a bit of history. The low-ceilinged interior is three knocked-through rooms with a tiled floor. Seating is at a premium with a mix of perches, stools and an old leather sofa circa 1993. Not a particularly tidy place, so don’t take an OCD friend. Board games and darts available, as well as home-made preserves for sale from an old dresser. Live music a regular fixture here. Four ales, mainly from the Marstons stable with an interloper of Dowbridge Ratae'd (in good nick) plus two Westons ciders. The landlady coped with our influx with good (dry) humour. Not in the same league as the Seven Stars or Alexandra but worth popping in nonetheless.
On 29th June 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Squirrel Inn
A charming town centre boozer with a very low ceiling and a small interior that became filled up by the PuG crawl.The landlady was ,as Ray mentions,very friendly ,helpful and ready to comment about the pub scene in town.The decor is quirky with a sofa and dresser by the front door reminiscent of a front room while beyond the bar there are bench seats and a Victorian fireplace with a darts board above and a very difficult throw for double top given the roof beams.Open mic every Wednesday,music plays an active role in this pub.The six handpumps deliver two real ciders,Marston's Pedigree and a range of guests normally including a brew from the nearby Dow Bridge brewery ,my Ratae'd was very good and one of the best on the crawl.The GBG listing seemed warranted and I would gladly pop in again given the traditional atmosphere and the chance to engage in some beery banter.
On 14th June 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]