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Detail Pages
The Wig & Pen, Northampton
Northampton
NN1 1JA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Wig & Pen
The Wig and Pen has long been my favourite of Northampton's town centre pubs and it remains so in its current ownership.
The pub itself has a narrow frontage and is quite easy to miss. Inside it's long and narrow in an inverted L shape with a large covered smoking area at the back.
We visited on a Saturday afternoon when the England - South Africa rugby international was being shown on the various screens around the pub, including in the outside area. Consequently it was very busy and is likely to be so whenever there are internationals or Saints matches being shown. Nonetheless, we managed to get a seat and something of a view and the service, despite the number of people, was quick, friendly and efficient and the atmosphere generally was very light hearted and jovial. In spite of the result.
The food menu looked good and all the meals we saw being served were very tempting. There was a card on the bar offering a bucket of warm seafood, including lobster, crab claws and cockles for £19.95 or £29.95 for two. Not cheap but very tempting and it smelt extremely good.
A wide selection of beer was listed on the blackboard behind the bar: Old Speckled Hen, GK IPA and London Pride as the national selections with the rest being: Thwaites Nutty Black, Hoggleys Northamptonshire Gold, Abbeydale Big Amy, Daily Bread and L'Age d'Or, Franklins Grumpy Guvnor and Elgoods Black Eagle. Everything we tried was in good shape and that's a fair range to have a go at.
The Wig and Pen has always been a comfortable and friendly pub and with its current policy of providing a wide ale range it's especially appealing.
On 27th November 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Wig & Pen
The pub has a small traditional frontage with etched glass windows.The interior extends back from the entrance up a level to the L shaped bar, then widens out to the rear and has a large covered courtyard.There are ten handpumps with the uninspiring GK IPA,Old Speckled Hen and London Pride as regulars ,but saved by seven guest from far and wide.The Abbeydale beers I sampled were in good nick if a touch pricey at £3.40 for a 4%er.There is also a long list of bottled beers and an equally impressive list of single malts.Three real ciders complete the drinks menu.
We didn't eat but wished we had,for despite being served on wooden boards,the actual meals looked wholesome , well cooked and were substantial.We did snaffle some left over chips and they were top notch.The seafood options also smelt wonderful.
The numerous flat screens only show rugby,including matches on Sky and we were in for that reason.The pub was therefore busy and attracts a lot of Saints fans but there was a wide mix of customers,and it is possible to base yourself in the front section if you want to get away from the screens.
The exposed beams show the age of the building and there is an authentic pub atmosphere.Quite rightly the pub is now in the GBG and should be visited on any ale tour of Northampton.A proper town centre boozer.
On 25th November 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2737 recommendations about 2737 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
michael furn left this review about Wig & Pen
The pub reopened in 2010 , its got 12 handpumps , 3 of which are draught ciders, also maels are excellent , it has its own facebook page.
Live music, wall to wall TV
On 27th August 2012
- rating: 10
[User has posted 38 recommendations about 37 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
michael furn left this review about Wig & Pen
The pubs doors have ben closed for at least 6 months, notice says deep clean, understand brewer went bust
On 2nd February 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 38 recommendations about 37 pubs]