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Detail Pages
The Old Dog, Ashbourne
Thorpe
Postal town: Ashbourne
DE6 2AT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Old Dog
My first visit for about 25 years (except to take a photograph at a time when the pub was not open). Today I had been on a strenuous walk with my daughter and we were in need of liquid refreshment; the new owners have thoughtfully provided a serve-yourself water cooler next to the bar. First impressions were that the pub had been drastically made over since the previous review, with nothing traditional remaining. To be fair, the emphasis on stone, wood and plain painted walls has been tastefully done, so it is with a heavy heart that I have to report that we were greeted with a very loud blast of "Get yer rocks off, honey" on the music system. Other dross followed, to be replaced, thankfully, after about 20 minutes with That's Entertainment by The Jam. Is there a vegetarian version of "one man's meat is another man's poison"? I suppose someone, somewhere must actually like Def Leppard. The debate about background music continues.
Anyway, a description of the pub: we entered through the side door, which gives immediate access to the toilets (including wheelchair access) in a short corridor ahead; to the right a ramp leading down to a small area with a few chairs and tables, which at the time of our arrival was occupied by two dogs and their attendant humans (the latter in the chairs, obviously); further on is the bar area in the centre of the pub, with what could almost be a drinking corridor in front; further on still to the right hand side of the pub (which can also be accessed via the front door) is the largest part, having wooden tables, benches, chairs and stools.
Returning to the nub of the matter: the bar. This has four hand pumps with an interesting selection of beers in what I propose to assume are carefully chosen contrasting styles: local Whim Hartington IPA and Slaters 1 Hop, plus two Celtic interlopers in Tiny Rebel Cwtch from Cymru and Skinners Betty Stogs from Kernow. I went for the Slaters, which I admit to having drunk under its previous name of [can't bring myself to type it, sorry], and which although a little on the cold side was in excellent condition.
The bar staff were two young women who were friendly and welcoming. During an otherwise slack period, they were entertaining two equally young men by reading out quiz questions, to which they then gave hilariously wrong answers but which me and my daughter then gave the correct answers to. That's entertainment, I suppose.
On 7th August 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3470 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Andy Ven left this review about The Dog and Partridge
Pub consisting of restaurant on one side and bar room on the other. Traditional style pub in the bar room with wood burning stove set in a brick fireplace, brass artefacts on the mantelpiece and jugs lined up on the dado rail. Benches formed the seating around the outside of the room with wooden chairs on the opposite side of the tables. Half a dozen stools were placed around the bar.
While there was nothing outstanding about this pub I would say that my experience was better than that of previous reviewers. Service was friendly enough and food was just typical pub grub although I had a report that the ladies' toilets left a fair amount of room for improvement.
Cask ales were Martson's Pedigree and Black Sheep Best Bitter. The only keg offering appeared to be Carling Black Label. While I don't usually add a score rating my accomplice and I decided on 5 and a half out of 10.
On 9th June 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 244 recommendations about 240 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Sarah Higgins left this review about The Dog and Partridge
Brown pineapple.... out of date shriveled nuts and landlady with a frosty welcome and looks like sucking a lemon... Horrible wild horses would not get me back.
On 28th March 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
mark franik left this review about The Dog and Partridge
Did not go for a meal, as the previous reviewer had, we stopped off for a drink on the way to Dove Dale and for our needs fitted the bill.
On 18th October 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 57 recommendations about 57 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
jo marshall-clarke left this review about The Dog and Partridge
We met here for a family reunion/celebration[my sisters golden wedding,as she was staying nearby].The pub was prebooked but our welcome was less than warm and the food was mediocre at best.I would not recommend this establishment unless the garage across the road is closed and there is no other means of acquiring refreshment!
On 24th June 2009
- rating: 2
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]