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The Cardinals Hat, Worcester

33 Friar Street
Worcester
WR1 2NA
Phone: 01905724006

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Quinno _ left this review about The Cardinals Hat

Seems to have carved out is niche effectively, with a full house on early Saturday evening. Relatively standard regional range at the bar with two good pints of Wye Valley’s Butty Bach (NBSS 3.5) and HPA (3.5). Ideally this one’s best done at a quiet time in order to truly appreciate the historic interior. 8.5

April 2019
Popped in as part of the Worcester Pub Beer Festival and this place was one of the few making a genuine effort, with stillage and live music out the back. Absolutely rammed and we ended-up in the corridor using a ledge as our table. My Teme was NBSS 3, since you asked. Rated 8.5

April 2014
First visit since the management/emphasis change. The exterior has been given a splash of deep purple which along with the black trim gives it an almost goth look. Thankfully the multi-room heritage interior has been left unmolested and indeed seems brighter and cleaner than previous. Five ales; Purity Mad Goose, Brakspear Special, Cotswold Lion, Marston New World and the gorgeous but lesser-spotted Bathams Bitter which slipped down a treat. Three proper ciders too, including a couple of unusual choices. I was always enamoured with the previous Austrian bier haus incarnation and whilst I’m sorry to see it go, I’m really happy that an excellent ale pub has taken its place. If you’re visiting Worcester, put this one on the list of ‘must-do’ pubs. Rated 9

June 2011
Multi-roomed Austrian bierhaus, in a historic 15th century building which is CAMRA heritage listed. The attractive exterior with leaded windows is enticing and the interior lives up to the billing, with three rooms (two front, one rear) plus a small drinking corridor. Dark oak panelling and real fires abound. Beer-wise, it’s all imported Austrian stuff being served so be prepared to pay for the privilege but it’s well-worth it. My half was £2.40 which was reasonable in the greater scheme of things; penny-pinchers can go and amuse themselves in the Postal Order. One slight downside was the grumpily Teutonic service – the place was packed with tourists and I think mein hostfrau was feeling the strain of having to explain why there was no Fosters, real ale etc. The funny farming implement above the bar may have been for dealing with annoying customers, luckily it wasn’t used during my visit. Beware odd opening hours - they generally aren’t open during the daytime. I liked this one and would happily go back here. Recommended to the open-minded among you. Rated 8

On 21st November 2023 - rating: 9
[User has posted 5050 recommendations about 5033 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Cardinals Hat

Our 4th stop in Worcester and the best one of the first 4, was the Cardinal's Hat. As the city's oldest pub, it has plenty of character with a number of different rooms. Purity Mad Goose is the regular ale here. Guests were Gloucester Cascade, Wye Valley Butty Bach & The Hop Shed Sebright. Ciders were Weston's Old Rosie, Thatcher's Cheddar Valley & Hogan's Panking Pole, Hazy Rays, Lonely Partridge & Libertine. There may have been one other cider. They were all listed on a blackboard behind the bar, with only the Old Rosie on handpull.

The young female staff were all very friendly. Apparently they accept CAMRA 50p off vouchers. But we missed out on that. Certainly a pub that I would return to next time I'm in Worcester.

On 6th September 2020 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2442 recommendations about 2441 pubs]


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Oggwyn Great left this review about The Cardinals Hat

Enjoyed my visit here , its a lovely old pub with friendly staff and locals , 6 handpulls , 1 given over to Old Rosie Cider , the other 5 to ale , Purity Mad Goose , North Cotswold Hung Drawn and Portered , Malvern Tighthead , Woods Shropshire Lass and a decent Malvern Berties .
Bar snacks available , we tried the mixed Meat and Cheese platter which was very good if a bit pricey at £15.

On 29th September 2019 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]


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Malden man left this review about The Cardinals Hat

Another top drawer Worcester boozer, multi-roomed with all areas linked via a flag stoned corridor. The bar serves the front room, ales are listed on a board together with those coming next so if you are sat in the back you can still see what's going on, St Georges Ascelon, Bank's Sunbeam, Wychwood Hayburner, Wye Valley Butty Bach, ciders from Cheddar Valley. A stone fireplace with herringbone brickwork and a wood burner was a feature, leaded windows, dark wood panelling, bench seating with the seat backs being a continuation of the wood panelled walls, copper jugs on the window cills, tables formatted from old Singer sowing machines. Quiet music in the background, didn't see a TV. Free WiFi. A lovely old pub, another on the Worcester must do list.

On 2nd September 2014 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


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Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Cardinals Hat

Only managed a quick visit the compact bar at the front of the building this time, but this is the sort of place which demands a re-visit. Thankfully, after a long day, we managed to secure seats at one of the high tables near the windows. Better still, the range of real ale included Batham's Bitter (£1.70 for a half). Excellent.

On 23rd March 2014 - rating: 8
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


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Bucking Fastard left this review about The Cardinals Hat

Clearly a very old building with an interesting interior with three rooms off a central corridor from the front door.The tap room is to the left and was the busiest area on the Friday evening visit.There furniture here comprised a few high tables with stools ,it's more of a vertical drinking area.The six handpumps were dispensing a real cider,Bathams Bitter (in good nick),Marstons New World,Cotswold Lion Best in Show,Purity Mad Goose and Brakspears Bitter,a decent line up.There is a quieter snug opposite the tap room while past a high table in the corridor is a most charming back lounge with a wood burner.The best part of the pub IMHO.
I would suggest this is a must visit when in Worcester for the interior alone,the presence of decent ale is a big extra plus.

On 23rd March 2014 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


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Gill Smith left this review about The Cardinals Hat

Really liked this pub and the beer selection here. Had Friday Brewing Co Black Hill Stout which is not usually in cask as the brewery usually just supplies it's beer in bottle conditioned form, as is shown on the pump clip. Very good too. Also had Malvern Hills Beacon Gold and Three Tuns XXX. All good beers and a great pub to enjoy them in. There were clips for 5 beers and 7 ciders.

On 8th December 2013 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]


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Real Ale Ray left this review about The Cardinals Hat

Great description Soupy, just to add the building dates back to the 14th Century. We didn't see any Austrian beers on the bar, so maybe the pub has changed hands, or we didn't notice them. We did have two very good ales though, Popes Brewery Hop Market and Hobsons Up 'n' Down. Enjoyed sitting and chatting to people in the rear oak panelled lounge. Will visit again.

On 22nd September 2013 - rating: 9
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


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Soup Dragon left this review about The Cardinals Hat

A terraced Georgian pub, with a patio area at the back. The building has three stories, the upper two being in plain brick, with large sash windows (slightly off-set) with fluted keystones and a moulded cornice. The lower frontage is Victorian mock-Tudor style, in black beam, white plaster and large windows. The entrance is off-set to one side and actually has three doors; one to the main room, one to the snug and one to the passageway that leads to the lounge and the patio. A great building.

The interior has three rooms; the main room, the snug and the lounge. The main room, to the left on entry, has white and beam walls and ceiling, with a carpet floor and there is a nice stone fireplace. The snug has the same décor, but is quite plain, with no real features or pictures. The lounge is at the rear. This is a nice wood panelled room, with a white ceiling and carpet floor. It too has a nice stone fireplace and lots of prints on the walls. It has bench perimeter seating, with green covered chairs. There was no TV that I saw and no background music. The service was great from the fräulein and the clientele seemed to be several regulars.

Beer; Austrian beers – lager, wheat beer and a dark, called Dunkel at 5.2% - I had this and it was nice.

Something really different and well worth a try. A nice building in and out, with good Austrian beer. I will definitely be back.

On 16th June 2012 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]


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Clive Thompson left this review about The Cardinals Hat

Dropped in for a small Dunkel to see if this place was still open. Glad to report that it is, and seems to be thriving. I like the Panelled Bar at the back better than the front bars, it tends to be more peaceful. Good basic food in the Austrian style, as you'd expect.

On 30th October 2011 - rating: 6
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]

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