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Detail Pages
The Half Moon, Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford
CM23 2LD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Half Moon
The Half Moon appears to be the most notable venue in Bishop's Stortford that has failed to re-open after lockdown (yet). This may well be because of its focus on live music.
On 9th August 2020
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Half Moon
The pub has two main rooms split by the central bar, with a smaller more intimate snug to one side although you can pass through here to get to the toilets. The site slopes quite steeply, so the rooms are on different levels. The upper room had wooden flooring, bench seating and small tables, a few pictures of horses, fish and a case of butterflies. The TV is in here, the 6 Nations was showing the Italy Ireland match.
The lower room has no TV, background music was playing in here. There is an exposed brick fireplace, various framed random pictures and a couple of fruit/gaming machines. There is a beamed ceiling throughout. Walls and ceilings are white and looked freshly painted.
There are eight handpumps, split equally either side of the bar but as they are not double clipped, if you want to make a choice you need to ask or walk round before ordering. The upper room had Directors, Bombardier, Crouch Vale Amarillo and Old Rosie cider, while down the few steps were Hook Norton Old Hooky, Deuchers IPA, OSH and Young's Special.
The standard pub menu had most mains at £7.95, sandwiches £3.65 to £4.75. The "Savers Menu" has two meals for £9. Outside and down an external flight of steps were a few wooden tables in a courtyard that looks to be the old stables.
Not a bad pub and the service was friendly and chatty, the beer selection is broad if mostly mainstream. The Amarillo was very good indeed.
On 28th February 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Half Moon
The original Half Moon dated from the mid 17th Century and stood stood a couple of doors down until it was effectively relocated to the current building in 1752. It had a short lived period as the Tap & Spile after a major renovation in 1999 before reverting back to its previous name.
The first thing to note is the raised front door, probably to accommodate the alighting of stagecoaches in days gone by. The interior has a central bar with 2 distinct bars either side as well as a simple snug bar at the rear. There were a number of stairs and passages that may have led to more. The décor is quite plain and basic with uneven beamed ceilings, bare floors and open fires (sadly unused) although it is fair to say it is a bit shabby (not helped by chaep posters everywhere) and a few licks of paint maybe needed in certain places. Marks on the wall reveal where old pictures once hung so maybe an overhaul is on the cards.
There is a large selection of mostly ubiquitous ales with 8 hand pumps (4 in each bar) although you need to check both bars as the selections are different in each and are not immediately obvious. The choices on my visit included Banks & Taylor Dragon Slayer, Bombardier, Deuchers, Hobgoblin, London Pride, Woodford Wherry and Courage Directors with Old Rosie cider also on hand pump.
The pub is well known for its Blues nights although these appear to be pay to view events and are held in a separate venue at the rear of the pub.
Overall this was one of my preferred pubs on my jaunt around town and, whilst it needs a bit of attention and tidying up, I found it to be a solid unpretentious place with a decent amount of character and reasonable ales.
On 15th April 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Half Moon
From the outside this does look a rough pub, but dont judge a book by the cover.The interior is quite interesting once your up the steep steps.The bar area has a small woodburner and bench seating,there is a seperate pannelled snug to the side with a dart board and also a downstairs area with its own lower level serving area with good views over the local street scene.Finally there is a seperate room to one side that hosts music events ,some with admission charged on the door.The real ale selection is from nationally available brands such as Deuchars IPA,Courage Directors,Bombadier,London Pride and TT Landlord with the board listing a few beers "available soon",an annoying practice when the barmaid offers no clues to when "soon" might be.Ale quality is acceptable ,however.The pub is very commited to evening entertainment and that is laudable.A more adventurous ale selection would elicit higher ratings and a spruce up outside is probably overdue.However one of the better pubs in Stortford,a town with an excess of poor boozers.
On 30th September 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Half Moon
An interesting, traditional town centre boozer over two levels.
There's plenty of wood in here - floors, furniture, bar and optics shelves all of which adds to a traditional and cosy feel which is enhanced by a brick fireplace and pictures and maps of historical Bishops Stortford.
There's an emphasis on music and a variety of evening entertainments are advertised most nights including the local ukele society.
Six ales are offered including Bombardier, Deuchars IPA, Directors, Hobgoblin and London Pride. The only exception to the nationals was a decent pint of Woodforde's Wherry and there does seem to be a policy of rotating guests. With a little care on beer selection, the addition of one or two micro offerings and a broadening of strengths and styles the Half Moon could easily be an outstanding boozer. As it stands it's reliable stop for a decent pint not a destination pub.
On 30th September 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Half Moon
Good old fashioned pub that has 2 bars on 2 levels with other seperate drinking ares.A very good selection of up to 7 real ales and one cider.Check the board for real ales that are on as they are spread between the 2 bars.
On 5th November 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]