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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 14th April 2024) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Jailor's Barrel, Lancaster
Lancaster
LA1 1HP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Jailor's Barrel
Located a short walk down the road from the station, this is a small pub set out in a pleasant, contemporary fashion. Large shop style windows to the front allow plenty of light in to the decent front seating area, where high tables and stools run down both sides, along with a lone regular table with chairs, next to a small, lit fireplace. Three quarter height wood panelling can be found down the left side, with plain uppers, whilst the rest of the room is dominated by a series of exposed stone walls. The servery appears part-way down the right-hand wall and has a nice dark wood counter with a curved end, which has an unusual glass fronted display case built into it, full of old bottles. The bar back is matching and has some high, blocky shelving units. Beyond the bar, seating comes mostly in the form of lounge style furniture, including some fancy looking wing back chairs in front of a large stone fireplace on the back wall. The room has been decorated with lots of old paintings and photos, with beer boards on both sides, an unused TV screen to the front and a plain mirror above the rear fireplace. Stairs opposite the bar lead to the toilets and possibly a second seating area, which I failed to explore.
There were just two handpulls in operation on my visit, dispensing Cumbrian Loweswater Gold and Cross Bay The IPA, whilst two more had been left unclipped and one had a 'coming soon' sign on it. The Loweswater Gold was in reasonable condition and served to me by a cheery barman.
I found this quite a pleasant, comfortable pub with tasteful, modern decor, friendly service and a couple of well-kept, local beers to try. It felt like the sort of pub that might appeal to people who don't generally enjoy pub visits, but had enough to work for a more traditional pub-going audience too.
Date of visit - 14th January 2024
On 7th April 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
The Chairman left this review about The Jailor's Barrel
A very quick visit but one which impressed me. There were quite few people in the pub but service was very quick, and I easily found somewhere to sit and enjoy my excellent pint of Lunebrew LB202. On reflection, I should have had a second rather than rushing off to investigate the Tite & Locke at the station.
On 25th February 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 30 recommendations about 30 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Jailor's Barrel
Just a quick visit when I was here in April for Lancaster City's last match of the season, and just time for a couple of pubs before my train back to Sheffield. Notes were skimpy, but I do remember that it was quite busy in here. If this was the start of a night out then there'd been quite a bit of pre-loading going on, but maybe this was the remnant of an afternoon session. Why hadn't they been at Giant Axe to support their local team?
The Jailor's Barrel is much the same as the Robert Gillow but with a larger and longer bar now installed on the right hand side, replacing the smaller one that used to stand at the back. At the time of my visit there were six hand pumps with five Hydes beers (one of which was "coming soon") plus one from their experimental line (see photos). However, there is a photo on Retired Martin's blog, showing the line-up in July, which you can see if you follow this link [https://retiredmartin.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/wp-1691912719101.jpg] and make a donation to his favourite charity; this shows no Hydes beers at all.
Back in April I went for Hyde's Dark Ruby which was way too cold and therefore scored an automatic NBSS 2.5. At only £3.50 per pint it was easily the cheapest beer I had on my quick visit to Lancaster (only one other beer under £4). As with a lot of town centre pubs, it's not really seen at it's best on a Saturday evening, so maybe next time I'll pop in before the match instead of after, to see if it's any better.
Date of visit: 8th April 2023
On 13th August 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3724 recommendations about 3461 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Robert Gillow
2021 update - now called Jailor's Barrel. No other obvious change.
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as others have said, it's cramped and it lacks any real pub atmosphere. very much aimed at the trendy middle class of Lancaster, often frequented by groups of university academics. there's nothing much terribly wrong with it but it's just a bit tedious.
On 9th July 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Robert Gillow
Apparently refurbished last year (not that I noticed much difference – read into that what you will) and seems to have a good turnover of customers. Six ales on, we went for the Battlefield Saxon Gold, Beer Studio Citra and Lancaster Black (the former was ok, the two latter on good form). There’s so many good pubs in Lancaster, this one has done well to establish itself as a ‘should do’. 7.5
August 2010
A fairly new pub (from 2007 - formerly a grocer’s shop) named after a renowned furniture-maker that has been given that text book Victorian ‘look’ on the exterior, though the lovely curved windows are apparently original features. Hydes own the place and you’ll see three of their ales there; they are invariably in good nick but can be pretty bland affairs at the best of times. The interior is smaller than you might expect - long and narrow, with the bar at the far end. Apparently upstairs there is a lounge with sofas. The interior is clean and tidy. Not necessarily one to go out of the way for but worth a visit if crawling the town. Rated 7
On 2nd October 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Robert Gillow
Have been in before and enjoyed it. Did so again although on Wednesday afternoon there was only me in. A narrow pub with the bar on the right. Beers listed on the wall which indicated Jaipur was on, but when I asked, it had just gone off. Had Black Hole Milky Way @ 6% ABV which was fine.
On 15th July 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Lester Ford left this review about The Robert Gillow
With only enough time to tick just 1 pub in Lancaster between trains I made the short stroll here as it appears in the 2017 GBG.
6 ales available, Ilkley’s Mary Jane was very good and went down a treat. Pretty busy with the evening crowd starting to filter out into the City. The atmosphere was very good with the clientele being slightly older and made up of couples and small groups.
From a flying visit I really liked this place and have earmarked it for a return when hopefully I have more time to enjoy it.
On 19th April 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 80 recommendations about 78 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Robert Gillow
I found this pub to be pleasant the drinks good. It was a bit cramped though.
On 21st January 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about The Robert Gillow
Sorry had a bad visit could not get to the bar for a drink the managers child was doing his home work on the small bar the manageress said she would not be a minute she was on her phone we waited long enough and left nobody else was in Thursday teatime about 5pm
On 21st March 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Robert Gillow
A friendly welcoming pub, which opens at 8am. A good musicians pub this one, were the piano does get used, rather than collecting dust. The Lancaster Blonde had just gone on that morning, so we enjoyed a few more before the station. Another note to add, was they sold fresh oysters and were advertised at the bar. The barmaid was telling us that she has to open them also. An interesting pub, well worth a look.
On 24th February 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]