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Detail Pages
The New Inn, Salisbury
Salisbury
SP1 2PH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The New Inn
Didn't fully match-up to the 2012 visit (that long ago!) as the old club room was freezing and had a pool table in it so we repaired to the cosier bar area – you can read the previous reviewer’s florid description of the interior below. Two H&W ales, my Fursty Ferret was about as good as I ever get from their outlets these days (NBSS 3). The kind of place where you can while away an hour or two and forget about the outside world.
August 2012
Multi-roomed ancient boozer with a rambling interior. Owned by Hall & Woodhouse - three of their ales were on and the beer was good, if somewhat expensive (H&W seem to have a policy of screwing their customers for beer money these days). We settled in the front room which, as mentioned below, was reminiscent of a gentleman’s club (albeit one stacked with rugby memorabilia). My leather armchair was dangerously comfortable, so much so that the pub cat, Poppy, decided to pop in and sit on my knee. To the rear of the pub is a pretty beer garden with (sort of) cathedral views. Other items of note included daily papers and a wood burning stove. The barmaid was on the ball and bade us a farewell, which was a nice touch. I like it in here and would recommend it for a crawl inclusion. If the prices were a little less severe it would be a tempting place for a session and a higher mark. Rated 8
On 30th January 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5098 recommendations about 5081 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The New Inn
A short walk from the cathedral, this is a nice historic pub with a striking timber frame facade and multiple room layout. The front part of the pub is a wide but shallow bar area with seating areas either side of the front door and the servery along the back wall. The left-hand side has a slightly odd layout, with mixed seating available between a series of pillars and screening walls that strongly suggest a former sub-divided layout. There’s a nice brick fireplace on the end wall which helps make the space feel quite homely. A similar, but smaller, seating area can be found over to the right, where there’s a mix of flagstone and bare board flooring, timber framed walls, a long banquette under the front windows and another brick fireplace with an unused stove in the hearth. A few corporate-style blackboards line the walls, offset by some interesting old photos, paintings and adverts. The bar has a brick and wood panel counter and a more modern looking mirrored bar back. A passage to the side of the bar leads through to the rear dining room - a sizable area with lots of tables and chairs, a couple of benches and some leather sofas, under nicely panelled walls with more of the same decor as the front bar. A door leads out to a pleasant walled beer garden with plenty of greenery, a few picnic benches and a glimpse of the cathedral spire.
This is a Hall & Woodhouse pub, so disappointment is pretty much assured on the beer front, but even I wasn’t expecting to find just the one ale - Badger Fursty Ferret - whilst clips for Badger Best Bitter and Tanglefoot were reversed. The Ferret was in passable shape and served to me by a friendly enough barman.
This is definitely one to visit for the attractive building rather than the beer or ambiance. It has a bit of a food-led feel thanks to the large restaurant area, although I visited at a quiet time and wasn’t so distracted by this. The front room is a nice place to relax over pint or two, but whether they have the beer to merit more than a quick visit is a matter of debate.
On 21st February 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The New Inn
Running out of our allotted time in Salisbury when we came to this bar so didn't get much of a look round. There were 3 Badger beers on when I got in, but Fursty Ferret ran out leaving Tanglefoot and The Dorset Horn. Chose the Dorset Horn which was ok but not a lot of flavour.
On 12th May 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The New Inn
An attractive and traditional looking timbered pub just around the corner from Salisbury’s historic cathedral, this is currently run by Hall & Woodhouse.
Internally the bar area runs along the front of the pub, with what I assume was a restaurant area to the rear, although we did not investigate this. It’s certainly very cosy and “olde worlde” with a low, beamed ceiling as well as very thick timber supporting pillars and a mixture of flagstones, quarry tiles and sanded boards on the floor. There were some areas of exposed brickwork, but the walling was predominantly rough plasterwork with a few old pictures of the area dotted around. A large brick fireplace with a wood burning stove was off to the left and this looked to be a cosy spot with a few Chesterfield arm chairs clustered around it.
The menu offered a somewhat unusual selection of dishes, although there were also some pub grub favourites such as a burger or fish & chips. My chicken schnitzel with chips and a fried egg was ok – certainly nothing outstanding but then nothing really wrong with it either.
Beers on tap were all from H&W with their Tangle Foot, Thirsty Ferret and Pickled Partridge. Ciders meanwhile were Thatcher’s Gold and Thatcher’s Haze.
On 26th December 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The New Inn
Another splendid looking building both inside and out and one of three in the same street, which includes the Cloisters and the Wig and Quill. This building dates from the 14 Century and it certainly was full of olde worlde charm. We sat in the front room, which was quiet on our visit, whereas the majority of the locals preferred the back room, sitting at the bar. Three handpumps, two from Badger and a guest, I went for the Hopping Hare, which was interesting as I hadn't tried it for a good few years.
On 23rd May 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The New Inn
If there is one certainty about the New Inn it is the fact that it is definitely not new, an ancient timbered building, seemingly made up from a series of older probably cottages with a mix of flagstone, quarry tiles and wooden floors. A proper low black and white boarded ceiling and timber framed walls with projecting possibly wattle and daub infill. A rambling place of several connecting areas, the side rooms are up a step or two and some contain log burning stoves. There is a garden to the rear. Various bits of framed stuff but of note were the floor plans of Salisbury Cathedral which is nearby. Stairs lead up to rooms available for accommodation, meals are served in the bar.
Hall & Woodhouse beers from three pumps, two were on, Hopping Hare and Tanglefoot. Not my favourite brewery but the beer was in good shape.
A fine building full of history well worth a look around.
On 7th May 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The New Inn
Another nice looking pub exterior an ok inside with various interlinked rooms, the Badger beers (three available on handpump were average at best.It does have a very nice beer garden if thats your thing.
On 8th August 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Rowe left this review about The New Inn
Another visit and I wasn't disappointed. After a disappointing visit to the nearby Wig & Quill, our spirits were soon lifted here. Excellent Badger First Gold and Tanglefoot were on offer. The menu is simpler than it once was, but the food was good and not overpriced. A lovely barmaid and other friendly staff made this a most enjoyable lunchtime session.
On 7th August 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 65 recommendations about 57 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The New Inn
If ever a pub didn’t live up to its name it is probably this. Parts date back to the 12th Century and despite internal alterations and add ons, the New Inn is very much Olde Worlde material.
The cosy front bar is fairly small with low beamed ceilings and it is hard to conceive from here that the pub rambles on through a series of adjoining rooms through what were presumably 2 or 3 separate smaller buildings. Wonky walls, exposed brickwork and open fires abound and one room in particular ressembles more of a gentleman’s Club with plush leather armchairs, Chesterfields and dark paneled walls. This also appears to be the favoured room for rugby enthusiasts with a couple of signed shirts on display and a few sporting pictures on the wall. At the rear is an extremely attractive and spacious garden with fine views of the nearby Cathdral spire.
Being part of the Hall & Woodhouse group, the beers are all from Badger with the 3 available during my visit beuing Best, Fursty Ferrett and Tanglefoot. Prices are quite steep but it’s probably worth the extra for the surroundings and if you’re lucky, Poppy the pub cat will also provide some free entertainment.
The pub does have touristy appeal but there are enough cubby holes and hidden corners to secrete yourself away and all things considered, I would find it hard to have a wander around Salisbury without including the New Inn on my itinerary.
On 7th November 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Rowe left this review about The New Inn
A good H&W pub which has more of a 'country pub' feel to it. Excellent Badger beers on offer (Fursty Ferret, Tanglefoot, Best) which does alternate with others from the Blandford brewery. Very good food and a lovely atmosphere.
On 7th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 65 recommendations about 57 pubs]