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Deacons, Salisbury
Salisbury
SP2 7QT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about Deacons
Popped in as it continues to appear in the GBG and my now-departed fellow crawlee wanted a report. Well, it didn’t open on time which was a bad start, so I headed-off for a beer elsewhere and re-appeared later. Inside is a basic boozer which smells of damp though it's far less scruffy than it was back in the day. The 'real ales' stained glass window is a nice touch, can't recall if that was there previously. Two cask on the go, Hop Back GFB and a local one, Rude Giant Pale which in fairness was easily GBG quality (NBSS 3.5). I don't really understand the appeal of this pub but it started to get pretty busy, so I guess I’m in the minority as far as Salisbury goes…
November 2011
In my opinion it’s nowhere near as good as the hype would have you believe. Grotty looking from the outside, which at least leaves you prepared for the inside. Tiny front bar as you enter, which felt cold and draughty. More seating is available in the rear room, which has a bit more character about it. The jukebox was pumping out some decent tunes though it didn't really disguise the fact it was fairly empty for a Saturday evening. Three ales on the go, sadly not a great deal of imagination in seeing two Hop Back brews and the ubiquitous Doom Bar though in fairness my Hop Back was pretty good. It is a GBG regular, making it a default pub crawl option, though I wouldn’t personally spend more than a quick pints’ worth of time on it myself, especially as Hop Back beer is available in plentiful (and cheaper) supply at the Wyndham. And Doom Bar is available everywhere else…! Rated 5
On 30th January 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5107 recommendations about 5090 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Deacons
ORIGINAL REVIEW May 2010
This is an earthy gem ,a traditional drinkers boozer.A small street frontage ,the front door opens into a small basic area with a bar to the right with three handpumps dispensing very well kept Hop Back Summer Lightening,GFB and Sharp's Doom Bar.A real cider is stocked together with continental bottled lager in the fridge.There is some seating by the small fireplace but much more on the higher level at the rear beyond the loos.Here there is a large screen TV,off on our visit,and a table football machine and wooden settles,tables and chairs.There is background rock music but not cranked up to put you off from the fine ale which is very good value around the £2.50 per pint mark.Well worth missing your train for,a must visit on any crawl in the area.
UPDATE
After a short closure,there has been a change of guard and the ale house vibe is back.The exterior now looks much more traditional and lots of wood panelling and pews make the front lower section a comfortable place.4 handpumped ales with Hop Back Summer Lightening and GFB as regulars and guests on my trip Stonehenge Great Bustard and Danish Dynamite (cheap at £3.30,but not well settled from a new barrel).
Open on Monday lunchtime ,so Whatpub hours are wrong and glad to see this solid boozer open again.
On 17th December 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2737 recommendations about 2737 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Deacons
Temporarily closed until December 2018 when it will reopen under new management.
On 17th October 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3352 recommendations about 3289 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Deacons
Seems to have gone down market, never a salubrious looking pub the clientele now seems to match. Most were drinking macro lager so I was unsurprised at the lacklustre quality of the cask beers. Pool, darts and telly footy are the order of the day here now. A sad loss of one of Salisbury's better pubs.
On 15th January 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3276 recommendations about 2982 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Deacons
Unremarkable looking frontage to the pub,but once inside you find a quite vibrant locals pub with all the atmosphere you would expect from such a place, something that cannot be manufactured. Three beers on and my Hopback GFB was in fine fettle.This pubs right up my street, I will return.
On 8th August 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1875 recommendations about 1848 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Deacons
A well known and lauded Salisbury pub, handy for the station. Two rooms, a very small front room with the bar in a corner, larger back room up a couple of steps. Blue banded windows which I also saw at The Five Bells, not sure if they represent an old brewery livery, stone jars and jugs on a shelf, sporting apparel plus a life buoy hang from the back bar ceiling. Bank notes pinned behind the bar, other décor included horse racing photos, maps, pictures of the cathedral, a row of Guinness advertisements and a Salisbury City shirt in a case which was signed by just two players, oh well. There is a TV but this was off.
Beer wise, the same as others have listed, Doom Bar, two from Hop Back, GFB and Summer Lightning.
I have to concede that I struggle to understand the pub's semi-iconic status, I found it distinctly average and rather tatty. The newish exterior signage is rather garish, non pubby and from a distance has the appearance of a branch of Barclays Bank.
It's worth a punt, certainly before or straight after a train, but it really isn't the destination pub some regard it to be.
On 1st August 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Deacons
Basic, unpretentious pub with a compact front bar and more seats up a few steps. Traditional, if a bit down-at-heel, furniture and decor. Three handpumps dispensing three regular beers: Doom Bar and two from Hopback - Summer Lightning and GFB (well priced at £2.60). Handy as a stopping-off point when walking to or from the station.
On 13th December 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Deacons
A grey rendered Georgian styled end terrace pub, with recently refurbished frontage.
The interior has two rooms - though i didnt see much of the front room as it was full of younger clientele, so we went through to the back room. This room was in red and white with wood panel, with a stone floor. There was electic stuff all over the place - mirrors, posters, cricket stuff - and i made a note of a life belt! the same was true of the seating - from sofas to benches. There was a bar footy game. Service was fine, the music mixed and at a decent level.
Beer; tap stuff with a decent Sharpe's Doombar and Hop back Summer Lightning and GFB on handpull.
A decent enough place - and pleased i got to go in the room at the back. A real solid pub - i would be pleased to go back.
On 1st June 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Deacons
Deacons is one of the best drinkers' pubs in Salisbury. No nonsense, plain traditional bar at the front, small games room at the back and excellent beer. Sharp's Doombar and Summer Lightning were first class on my latest visit,and I've never had a bad pint here. An essential part of any Fisherton Street crawl and well worth a visit if waiting for a train.
On 19th April 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3289 recommendations about 3254 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Deacons Arms
There is nothing fancy about the Deacons that's for sure, just a great range of excellent beers, a good bunch of locals in dark but interesting surroundings. Beers from Sharps, and Hopback plus draught San Mig and Amstel, some interesting bottles lurking in the fridge. Tiny front bar but there is a bigger room at the back. Close to the station and the best pub close to it.
On 21st November 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3276 recommendations about 2982 pubs]