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Rugby Tap, Rugby

Pub added by Thuck Phat
3 St. Matthews Street
Rugby
CV21 3BY

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Moby Duck left this review about Rugby Tap

A pretty bog standard attempt at a micro pub lacking much in the way of natural ambiance and character, however it's a functional bar with three cask on gravity dispense and a small range of craft keg, like Steve below I went for the Brunswick Railway Porter and also like Steve found it to be in not the greatest of shape. Certainly worth a look in here but not quite the shining star I was hoping for.

On 29th December 2023 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


Steve of N21 left this review about Rugby Tap

After visiting four very good traditional ale pubs in town the Rugby Tap was a bit of a comedown, both in terms of character and ale range. It is a former shop conversion and although they have tried with some related pictures and brewing memorabilia it still feels like a rectangular shoe box conversion with some beer barrels on stillage at the far end. Three ales and four craft keg beers on and the ales were Byatt's Easy pale ale, Red Star from Phipps NBC and the local Brunswick Railway Porter as reported below. I went for the Railway Porter and found it a bit thin and lifeless, but the keg stout enjoyed by another of our party was rather good.
As Micro pubs go it is perfectly fine, but I have been in others with significantly more character. However, it is well worthy of its inclusion as one of the six Rugby centre pubs in the 2024 GBG and should be included in any crawl around town. You will need to take account of the intermittent opening and closing hours and this one does not open till 4.00PM most days and 5.00PM on a Wednesday.

On 10th December 2023 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Rugby Tap

First revisit to this very basic micro-pub, housed in a narrow but reasonably long converted shop, for six years. Rather scrappy mix of plain furniture at the front and along one wall at the back, opposite which is a twin-rack stillage with three beers being served by gravity from jacketed casks: Byatt's Easy pale ale, Red Star from Phipps NBC and the local Brunswick Railway Porter. A range of craft beers in cans and bottles is also available from some shelves, with the top also forming the bar counter.

On 10th December 2023 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Al Bundy left this review about Rugby Tap Room

A longish, narrow micropub. There isn't actually a bar of sorts in here as you'll get your beer poured, by whoever is serving you, from one of the 12 barrels that you will find at the back of the room. The beer is dispensed by gravity so there are no handpumps. Of the barrels that were on today you could have chosen one of 5 beers. There are 5 beer taps for crafty stuff on the wall to the right of the barrels. Next door is the bottle shop. I liked it.

On 16th February 2017 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Aqualung . left this review about Rugby Tap Room

The original off licence and newer micropub sit side by side on a main road on the South side of Rugby town centre. Although the address is St Matthews Street they are more or less on the main Lawrence Sheriff Street.
I didn't take much notice of the off licence but the Tap Room is a long narrow space with an assortment of basic but adequate furnishings and a wooden floor that seemed to have old company names or products inscribed in the wood panels. It's a reasonable size for a micropub, not one of the largest but not so tiny that a small group would pack it out.
Down the end is a metal stillage containing six casks. Although these had jackets on I'm not sure how effective they would be in hot weather. There were three Byatt's beers on and Oakham Citra. I went for the Byatt's Coventry Bitter (£2.70) which was in great condition and at a good temperature. The landlord was friendly and we chatted briefly about beer and micropubs in general.
My only reservation about this place was the lack of a cold room but on my brief November morning visit there was no problem at all.

Opening hours are as follows
Mon-Thu 10:00-18:00
Fri-Sat 10:00-21:00 earliest or 22:00 latest
Sun 12:00-15:00

Note the off licence closes at 19:00 on Fri-Sat. Whether the Tap Room is open later for the Thursday music nights is unclear but one would assume it is.

On 10th November 2015 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about Rugby Tap Room

The fact that this micropub was an extension from the existing GBG listed beer shop gives you the chance to sample some very interesting bottled and cask beers.It is worth engaging with the knowledgeable and friendly owner about his range of bottles and he will make informed recommendations if you want to sample a certain style.My companions treated themselves to two outstanding strong bottled IPA's after swinging the bat at the choice from the constantly rotating cask polypins.This is a must visit on any beer tour of Rugby,the quirky interior is weathering in,it's friendly and a place to sample something completely different.

On 16th April 2015 - rating: 9
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Real Ale Ray left this review about Rugby Tap Room

We didn't know their opening times, so decided to take a chance and arrived at 5.15pm on a Tuesday. The friendly and welcoming owner explained that during the week, he opens shops hours and closes at 6pm. So in our half hour or so visit, I managed to sink a couple of pints of Byatt's Glorious and Mrs Ale went for the Church End Poacher's Pocket, which was also another superb offering. This is a great addition to Rugby and I wouldn't hesitate to revisit here in the future.

On 4th March 2015 - rating: 9
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Thuck Phat left this review about Rugby Tap Room

Original Review - December 2014
Rugby's first micropub opened in December 2014 next door to the established Rugby Tap off license which specialises in less widely available drinks including cask ale and a wide range of bottle conditioned beer. As the name suggests, the two are run by the same people who staff both premises. The Rugby Tap, unusually for a place which doesn't actually serve beer on it's premises, is a GBG 2015 entry.
As with many micropubs, the Tap Room occupies a former shop premises, in this case a cartridge shop, and has had a double quick transformation into a drinking establishment which, whilst perfectly functional, hadn't had the finishing touches applied on my opening day visit. I'll reserve a rating for a later visit on that basis.
There's a large window at the front where you can watch Rugby life passing by and the room is a simple long rectangular space beyond this. There are benches either side initially and then various tables and chairs and one or two high tables and stools. To the right at the back is a double height rack housing the barrels from where the beer is served directly. It can be slightly confusing on arriving here as you may have to wait for someone to arrive from the shop next door and there isn't an obvious till. Service though is very knowledgable and friendly as you'd expect given the treasures available in the Tap.
Three beers were available on my visit: Hart No. 1, 4.1% at £2.68, Mad Goose Purity, 4.2% at £2.92 and Long Itch Choczilla, 6.5% at £3.10. A good selection of local beers at sensible prices and all that I tried was in good condition. You can also choose any bottle you like from the Tap next door with a 72p corkage charge on the retail price.
Although it wasn't terribly busy on my lunchtime visit, it was the first day and the atmosphere was very good with lots of ale related chat and I look forward to future visits.
The Rugby Tap has provided an invaluable service to the beer drinkers of Rugby over the last couple of years and enjoyed success doing so. I wish the owners every success with the Tap Room which will, I'm sure, be a quality addition to Rugby's thriving real ale pubs.

Update - January 2015
A couple of recent visits have found the Tap Room much more 'finished'. There are now beer and drink related wall decorations, plenty of comfortable furniture with some small tables made of plastic bottle crates topped with wooden wine boxes and many more people drinking.
The service is intentionally personal with whoever is serving pottering around with a money belt and chatting rather than using a till. It's a nice touch and is gently done rather than being intrusive.
The draught beers offered are predominantly from within a 30 mile radius and one visit found the following on: Phipps NBC Gold Star, Gun Dog Chilly Dog and Jack Spaniels, Purity Mad Goose, Sadlers JPA and Dow Bridge Praetorian Porter. A good selection and all that we tried was in fine nick. In addition to the 3 or 4 barrels housed in the Tap Room itself there are also barrels in the shop next door so you need to check which labels are shown and what's on and sometimes hang on while your pint is fetched. It's all so close that this isn't an issue.
The Tap Room is already a fine destination in itself with the small space and personal service creating a warm and friendly atmosphere to complement the quality ale. I've thoroughly enjoyed my visits and will certainly return.

On 2nd February 2015 - rating: 9
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]