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Detail Pages
The Water Gate (Lloyds No 1), Barnstaple
Barnstaple
EX31 1EU
Pub Type
Lloyds No. 1 (J D Wetherspoon)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Water Gate (Lloyds No 1)
I'm surprised that Wetherspoon's can sustain two branches of their pubs in this market town, but like Quinno before me, I found this to be the better of the two, despite it being the other branch (Panniers) that features in the Good Beer Guide. The Water Gate is a Lloyds No. 1.
It's quite a large place that stretches back to a large space towards the rear. But there were only a few folk, most older ones, rattling around inside. The usual real ales were on - Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best & Sharp's Doom Bar. 2 guest beers were Exmoor Gold & Dartmoor Jail Ale.
I was quite impressed with the real cider range here - Healey's Flattler, Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon, Weston's Old Rosie, Thatcher's Cheddar Valley, Sandford Orchards The General & Broadoak Moonshine.
On 20th March 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2493 recommendations about 2492 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Water Gate (Lloyds No 1)
Much nicer and more atmosphere than its sister pub in town, felt like it might be a purchase of a former nightclub or similar (yes – research says it was a Litten Tree many moons ago). Nice décor; burgundy walls with a bit of lime green and some William Morris style wallpaper (well ok it doesn’t sound nice, but it works). This is a Lloyds version of Spoons with piped music and what looks like a dance floor with lights at the far end. Three cask available all Hunters brewery; I tried the Crispy Pig (NBSS 4), Pheasant Plucker (3) and swerved the Rucker. Seven ciders in addition – you’re in the Wezzcuntry ere. Quite decent overall, though I was here on a quiet Tuesday night; Friday and Saturday might be more of an ordeal… 6.5
On 14th April 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5107 recommendations about 5090 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Water Gate (Lloyds No 1)
This one is a Lloyds number one where with the external signage they are not shy about letting people know it. On the face of it as you enter it seems like a fairly standard square room but it extends back a long way to the right where the Lloyds Disaster Area can be found with the dance floor and all the other paraphernalia that make any late evening weekend visit a complete ordeal.
The bar is in the front area and I counted nine hand pumps which had the JDW Trio Of Doom with Doom Bore doubled, a GT Ales beer, Wadworth Green Beacon 3 Bolt, two available soon and a Bru Red Ale. I went for the International Green Beacon beer which happily didn't taste much like a Wadworth beer.
Generally it's the norm for Lloyds bars to have poor beer choices and this one was no exception but overall it's better than many of them.
On 22nd April 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Water Gate (Lloyds No 1)
Usual formula Wetherspoons but its a big pub and a bit gloomy.8 0r 9 handpumps with the usual suspects plus Exe Valley devon glory which was okay.
On 25th August 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]