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 Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Ale House, Colchester
Colchester
CO3 3DA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Ale House
Substantial L shaped pub opposite the Fat Cat. A pub of two halves; a traditional cosy feel along the front-facing seating area with pub carpet, black beams and loads of hanging jugs. The inset black wood timbers made me think it’s a late 60s/early 70s refit. Didn’t see the bar billiards table mentioned in the 2014 review, though WhatPub claims it exists still. Darts and TV sports are available, along with regular quiz and folk nights. The bar area has been refurbed and is a bit sparse which is a little sad. Seven cask available majoring on Tindall, with Wolf, Mighty Oak and London Pride in addition. My Tindall Black Hole was serviceable but not GBG standard (NBSS 2.5), served-up by a friendly landlady of the type who like a good grumble and we bonded over our preference for cash transactions. Decent place but felt like it was operating a notch below where it could and should be. 6.5
On 1st February 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5089 recommendations about 5072 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Ale House
Formerly The Dragoon,this is now a real ale boozer run by a friendly landlady.It's old school ,the interior has mock tudor woodwork,a lot of 4 seater tables with the bar at the far end and another section to the rear of the building.Whisky water jugs hung from the ceiling and the etched glass showed a previous multi room layout.It was musty inside,the carpet was a bit worn and the stated preference for cash showed that credit card charges were impacting profit.There is a regular quiz for teams on no more than 4,due to the table sizes and regulars drifted in to what is a community local.It's a lot more basic that the Fat Cat over the road.
The selection on my trip was Colchester No.1,Weetwood Cheshire Cat,Crouch Vale Yakima Gold,Mauldon's Silver Adder and Old Ale and Rooster's Easy Going Assassin (a bit flat,NBSS 2.5 ,£4.10,I may have been unlucky,I was offered a taster but declined).The stillage barrels behind the bar weren't being used.
Include on a crawl,this type of pub needs custom to survive.
On 29th September 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Ale House
The Dragoon closed about five years ago, both the building and the business in a state of decay. It was re-vamped inside, reinvigorated and re-opened as a real ale pub called The Ale House about three years ago and is unrecognisable from its former self. Renamed The Dragoon, t is once again a GBG regular, brought into the 21st Century in a good way, retaining the better elements of its original Victorian character including the etched and stained glass windows. It now has reconditioned wooden floors, though the presence of a modern bar and rather twee barrels as furniture make it feel a bit like 'Pugin goes to Ikea'. There is a dartboard, bar billiard table and a strong local following; regular quiz and poker nights are held. The landlady is most welcoming and persues a 'try-before-you-buy' policy. There were 6 ales on draft spread across the ten handpumps. I had a pint of Elgood's Spring Challenge, an unusual beer which I found light and refreshing. This pub is a definite for ale lovers and a valuable addition to a town crawl.
On 25th June 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3285 recommendations about 3250 pubs]