Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Poll for date of Halifax crawl. with ROBCamra
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Merchants Inn, Rugby
Rugby
CV21 3AN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Merchants Inn
The exterior is painted a strange vomit yellow colour with some (presumably fake) tudor-esque exterior beams. However the interior is much nicer; multi-area’d and flagstone floored with a plethora of breweriana/old pump clips and perhaps reminiscent of the Fat Cat in Norwich. Cricket showing on a big screen in a rear area that was nicely unobtrusive. Unusually, the outside seating area is over the street. Plenty of ales. Mixed bag for me – the Tring Tea Kettle Stout was in good nick but the RCH Firebox rather less so, warm and a bit iffy (it was a daft ABV and I suspect mine was the first out for quite some time). I did like this one as a pub very much; I’d happily pop back and hope the Firebox was a one-off.
On 29th June 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5081 recommendations about 5064 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Merchants Inn
A real ale haven, plus a good choice of ciders and continental bottled beers. We called in early doors mid week, so we had a good chance to look round and chat away to the friendly and helpful owner and bar staff. Even the chef was helpful pointing us in the right direction to good refreshment houses. We also noticed the hundreds of pumpclips adorning the ceilings. There were nine ales to choose from on our visit. I went for the Box Steam Whistler Blower and Forge Brewery Hawkers. This pub is a must when in Rugby.
On 10th November 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Merchants Inn
This is a somewhat large pub and eatery, which has only been a pub since 2002. The innsign is 'The Merchant of Venice', which goes well with what looks like the main body of the pub, which is in yellow rendered brick and black beam - the Jacobean look. The interior is a large irregular open plan room around the central serving bar, with nooks and side areas in all directions. This room is in yellow with stone floor and an impressive pump clip collection on the ceiling beams. There is a darts area and more beer mirrors, bottles and bits of ephemera than you can shake a stick at. There is a small side room, down a couple of stairs. This is in green and wood panel, with a red tile floor. The same pump clip collection extends into here, as too does the signs and memorabilia - including a bicycle. TVs were everywhere, showing the rugby final. There was no music of course. They do food, but we didn't eat so can't comment on that. The service was fine and the place full of rugby fans watching the game (hence we retreated to the only haven away from the match). Beer; well, i couldn't see too much due to the crowds, but they had the usual tap stuff with at least the following handpulls; Bateman's XB, Purity Mad Goose and Gold, Oakham Bishop's Farewell and a decent Tring Mansion MILD. There is a continental beer menu too. I liked the pub and the fun ephemera, it was just that it was rammed out - i would like to return when quieter - i don't like to see people having fun!
On 26th May 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Merchants Inn
This is the leading real ale pub in Rugby,and should be first choice for any beer tourist to the town.Situated in a quiet back street close to the famous school,the front door opens into a small lounge area while the central bar is up a few steps.To the right of the bar there is a darts board while the interior opens out to the left with many wooden settles under a skylight while at the rear there is a drop down screen with much seating where only rugby is screened,footie fans need to go elsewhere.There is also a flat screen opposite the bar.There is a flag stoned floor around the bar and wood flooring elsewhere.The collection of breweriana around the walls in very impressive as is the range of real ales from up to nine handpumps with the excellent Oakham Bishop's Farewell on permanently with regularly changing guests across various beer styles on the other pumps.Wetherspoons CAMRA vouchers are accepted on the usual terms,which is generous by the owners. Ciders,perry,single malts etc are also well catered for,this really is a drinking emporium.
The regular beer festivals ,often themed,are worth attending so keep an eye on the website.This is an outstanding real ale pub for discerning drinkers.
On 25th April 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Merchants Inn
What a cracking pub. Traditional interior with lots of wood - floors, furniture etc. as well a fine collection of old brewery and beer signs. Visited during their beer festival when they wer serving over 100 ales during the week. The day we went in there were nearly 50 on. Tried 15 or so by buying a few rounds of 6 1/3 pints - a very sensible idea to get through a few different beers without falling over. Our favourites were Mamalade Cat from Fat Cat and Flower Power from the Whim Brewery. Food was also good and staff all knowledgable and friendly. Normally they have around 8 real ales on so this is a great place to head to and get quaffing.
UPDATE - April 2011
I regularly use the Merchants if in Rugby and it remains the stand out real ale venue in a town with some competition. There are always 8 or 9 well kept beers on, the food is standard pub fare but well done and the staff are invariably helpful, friendly and knowledgable. All helped by having the most attractive barmaids in Warwickshire. All this makes for a great atmosphere at any time of day or night.
Our most recent visit coincided with one of the semi-annual beer festivals (usually April and October) with the theme being On The Farm. The pub was painted in brown and white cattle print, the whole floor inside was turfed (yes with real grass) and there were various hay bales, scarecrows and pigeons around the place. They make a real effort on these beer festivals and again, it goes to creating a great atmosphere. Over the week there are over 80 real ales on with a country and farming theme with some 30-40 on at any one time in addition to 20+ ciders and perries. These are served both at the bar and from the barrel in the large, open room at the back. They also allow dogs, although I've rarely seen one in other my own, children, ditto and accept Wetherspoons vouchers.
Truly an outstanding town pub and one of my favourites. I will certainly return, hopefully on a regular basis.
On 24th April 2011
- rating: 10
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ga Andrews left this review about The Merchants Inn
The Merchants Inn
This gem of a pub is hidden down Little Church road in the centre of Rugby. On first impression the exterior looks like an old Tudor small pub, however on entering you are greeted with a warren of rooms (large and small) around the main bar area. Interior is nearly all wood, decorated with lots of very interesting pub and brewery memorabilia, in posters, mirrors the old metal pictures and glass bottles. As mentioned by others there are rows and rows of Bar Clips, in the area we sat we calculated there must be about 800, and I could only see 2 doubles.
Good old fashioned mix of bar chair and stools. Some areas were poorly lit and others light. The one criticism I have is the aroma on entering the pub, stale vinegar or a musty damp dog couldn’t work out what it was but after half an hour it wasn’t noticeable.
They had 9 real ales on tap, one being straight from the barrel. However the first 3 I choose all decided to be end of the barrel. Clearly a lot of thirsty regulars frequent the place!
The two young bar maids didn’t quite to seem to know there stuff when asked what the beers were like, but I imagine that with them changing to new beers all the time it’s hard to keep up to date. They had Mad Goose, Spitfire, Broakman, Bishops farewell, XB Batemans, Shedford Bitter, frog island, Mary Ruby’s Mild. Plus two ciders I have never seen.
They were advertising there 100 ales in one week beer festival in October, something not to be missed. Also their Belgian and German nights. www.merchantsinn.co.uk
Definitely a place to spend a few hours in!
23rd September 2010
On 27th September 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 64 recommendations about 58 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Merchants Inn
Ok, I love pubs, and I love beer. I don't know Rugby, other than the railway station, so I didn't know what to expect from a beer trip, but guess I had a view that it wouldn't be really good.
How wrong can you be, shame on you! This pub, and the beer it serves is as good as it gets for me, good choice, staff, locals, and its a lovely building with different areas, beams, low ceilings. To me this is perfect, more than pleasently surprised, thank you Rugby.
On 27th September 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]