The Horse & Jockey @ Norwood House, Newport

Will Larter left this review about The Horse & Jockey @ Norwood House

This was a coaching inn but became a hotel and is now a pub again; it's part of the Norwood House estate, and the inn sign still says "Norwood House". The present occupants have revived the old name of the inn and are trying to make a name for themselves as a real ale venue. They have a banner to this effect, and a couple of signs planted in the grass verge, but while I was able to take this all in as I walked here, the majority of passers by will be in their cars doing 50mph around the bend on which the pub sits. They might see the benches and sunshades, but will they think of stopping for a beer - or even coming back later?

I suggested - for I spoke more words than I wrote notes at the time of my visit - that getting a proper pub sign might help. (They have a catchy design on a banner - done by a family member (see photo) - and if they could get this on an inn sign or on the front of the pub it would catch a few eyes.

This is a long building, with a dining room to the left on entering, the bar room to the right and a further area for seating beyond that. The bar has six hand pumps, arranged in pairs between the keg fonts (see photos). The beer offering is a little skewed, with a couple of porters and everything else at the lighter end of the beer spectrum. I would guess they are likely having to throw away a lot of beer while they try to establish a name for real ale, but a more organised bar would help - one nationally known name like Tribute, Landlord or Black Sheep might enable customers who don't recognise the obscure beers/breweries to feel happy about what they're drinking, for example. Though of course I also approve of their support for breweries like Enville, Backyard, Wye Valley, Rudgate, Beartown and Fixed Wheel.

I had two halves here rather than the one I had anticipated - and even that had seemed a forlorn hope when I arrived to find the pub shut. (I'm sure that opening early at 3:45pm was partly prompted by the sight of me sitting on a bench out front drinking the fruit juice that I had in my rucksack!). Both the Rudgate and the Backyard were in excellent condition (after being pulled through), and I hope the enthusiasts who are running this pub make a good go of it.

On 9^th May 2022 - rating: 8
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