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The Badgers Arms, Northampton
Long Buckby
Postal town: Northampton
NN6 7RD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Badgers Arms
I was last in the village of Long Buckby back in March 2019 to visit the Old King's Head. At this time, the Badgers Arms must have been open. But I wasn't aware of it.
Arriving on my recent Friday evening visit, I noticed a sign on the window stating that they would sadly be closing on Saturday, July 8th. So, if you want to visit here, get down quick.
I suspect that this is a case of excellent pub, wrong location. With spiralling costs, I doubt many villages can support a micropub. Although, maybe micropubs are not quite as popular in Northamptonshire. I read that the excellent St Giles Ale House in Northampton itself has also closed.
Whatever the reason for its closure, this was my favourite pub of a day in the county. The micropub itself is situated upstairs on the first floor. It consists of two cosy rooms, all well decorated and featuring plenty of knick knacks to admire. I'm not 100% sure, but I believe there was also at least one room at ground floor level.
The 4 real ales on were Phipps NBC Red Star & Gold Star, North Cotswold Jumping Jack Flash & Great Oakley Abbey Stout. Real ciders listed on a blackboard to the side of the bar were Farmer Jim's Rhubarb Bob, Lilley's Mango Cider, Kent Cider Company Waken, Elderflower Cider, Discovery & Bramley, Snail's Bank Orchard Dry & Bad Boy Original. Also listed was a sparkling cider from local producer Eydon.
Easily the best pub in Long Buckby for now, it is a real shame for the village to lose this one, but is an unfortunate sign of the times.
On 4th July 2023
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Badgers Arms
Three ales to choose from on our Saturday eve visit, two bitters Potbelly Best and Towcester Mill Bell Ringer and one dark, which was North Cotswold Hung Drawn & Portered. I went for the Towcester, which was fine and we took our beers downstairs to the snug on the right of entrance. This area was well kitted out with a couple of upholstered armchairs, a couple of low tables and chairs, wallpapered walls and tv. We got a couple of portions of fish and chips from the excellent and busy fish bar around the corner. The deal here is that you ask the micropub owners for the thumbs up and then donate a few quid to their charity box upstairs on the bar.
On 22nd March 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Badgers Arms
Long Buckby has long been short of decent boozers so the arrival of the Badgers Arms was a welcome addition and it does seem to be well attended by locals and regulars.
It's been nicely done and the space upstairs is cosy and the welcome from behind the bar warm.
As mentioned below there's a lot of gin, some locally made cheeses which won't be found elsewhere and plenty of badgers.
Four local beers were on on our visit and that is the usual trend. Our selection was: Langton Thomas Lift, Merriman Odd Shaped Balls, Phipps Diamond and Great Oakley Welland Valley Mild. The Thomas Lift was palatable. I thought that the choice of beers was dull, with nothing above 4.2%, and there are much better options available locally even from some of the breweries represented. This could just have been unlucky but I've heard many similar experiences.
A good addition in Buckby which I'd visit more frequently with more dynamic beer range.
On 19th March 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Badgers Arms
Previous reviews paint a very accurate picture of the micropub,the name is the nickname of the landlord and there are a lot of badger references around the interior.The upstairs bar and lounge seemed the most welcoming space ,and it is like going to visit someones flat,all very homely.There is a good selection of real ciders,local cheeses,various pickled items and plenty of gin besides 4 ales. Expect Locales but the selection on my trip was somewhat pedestrian with nothing over 4.6%.A decent Great Oakley Delapre Dark was the pick ,while the other brews on my trip from Langton,Phipps and Merrimen lacked excitement from these quite ordinary brewers although it was good to see a commitment to at least one dark ale.Fine for a pint,a pleasant place to visit but not quite in the Premiership of micropubs.
On 25th November 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Komakino . left this review about The Badgers Arms
As described by JAQPTIO below, with a small area downstairs just off a hallway, the bar is located up a flight of stairs on the first floor. This was what estate agents would call "cosy" on a Friday early evening visit, with the bar half of the room standing room only - the one bar stool, two high tables and standard seating against the window all taken and the hubbub of an after-work crowd. Nobby's Celeia, Potbelly Black Sun, Potbelly Inner Daze and Phipps NBC Diamond Ale - £3.50, but reduced to £3.20 with Camra discount. The second half of the room is more loungey, with carpeted floor, tables and mixed seating, along with decor including badgers portraits and a wall-mounted stuffed specimen. Real cider and a selection of gins also available, along with various bar snacks including cheeses. I've yet to visit a bad micropub - this one won Northants Camra Summer Pub 2018 within its first year of business - and long may my streak continue.
On 15th September 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1075 recommendations about 1075 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Badgers Arms
New micro-pub, housed behind a domestic-looking front door. There is a room with a few tables to the side as you enter, but the compact bar and a small side room are located at first-floor level. Mix of furniture and relatively sparse decor, but the emphasis is beer and conversation anyway. No handpumps on the counter, with the real ales being dispensed by gravity from a cool room behind the servery. Interesting selection of five real ales in a variety of styles, from which I went for the local Phipps NBC Ratliffe stout (£3.50).
On 18th February 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]