Pub Reviews

Loughborough Pubs [Reviews]

YPR

You can find Photos of a ALL of these pubs by clicking on 'Pub Site' on the home page.

Amber Rooms

RAIN [Alcazas [closed] Now RAIN entry fee required

The Albion 213 952
The Barley Mow [Barleys] [Shop units now]

Varsity (Barracuda) (Warehouse)
Bar Europa
The Beacon
The Druids [The Bitter End]
The Blackbird [CLOSED] :-(
@The Office [Smiths] [voodo/ AKA TBA] [The Blacksmiths Arms] [Has own page][Reopened Sept 2005]
The Blue Boar [closed & demolished] Amber there now.
The Boat
The Longsdale (Closed)
The Gallery (Cassablanca)
Browns [Lane][Brascos](Charlie Browns)
Cherry Tree [Closed]
Great Central Hotel
Corporation (Closed)
Custard Bar
Cotes Mill
12 degrees west [Bar 32] (Flan O'Brien's)
Maxwells
The Crown and Cushion
The Forest Gate(Toby Carvery)
The Gate
The Garton
The Generous Briton
The Greyhound
The Griffin 01509 263893
The Harvester
The Hobgoblin
Hunters Moon
Jack O Lantern [new paint job]
Lloyds 01509 234755
The King's Head/Jarvis Hotel (Ramada) {take-over]
Hayleys [Matt's Bar]
The Maltings
The Moon and Bell
The Old English Gentleman
The Old Pack Horse
The Orange Tree
The Paget Arms
The Peacock
Beauchief Hotel (Peggy's Bar)
The Phantom (but no longer)and Firkin
The Plough Inn (Thorpe Acre)
The Priory
The Railway Inn
La Piazza [Zero] (Rickenbackers)
The Ring of Bells
Twentyone [The Rose and Crown]
The Royal George
The Royal Oak
The Station
The Swan In The Rushes
The Tap and Mallet
The Three Nuns
The Unicorn

Vise Versa (Busters)

Valkries [Wine Bar]
The Warwick Arms
Maxwells 243701
The News House
The White Hart
Lynroys (Canal Bank)
The Windmill

REVIEWS

AMBER ROOMS ypr

Will Gardner August 10th 2004

Amber Rooms is a 'classy' establishment that have bouncers on the door. If you want to be able to talk to anyone further than a metre away either sit outside or in the no smoking area as everywhere else is pretty noisy. Again, quite expensive though.
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This place is great to eat throught the day and night I always have a good laugh in this place and even though there isnt a DJ they play a wide range of music. If you havent visited yet do so you will have a great time. [Sarah] April 7th 2004

SWAN In The Rushes
The Rushes (Derby Road) near the traffic lights.
Free Trade
Local CAMRA pub. Excellent choice of beer, including bottled beers from around the world. Live music at various times.
Some of the best beer in town and a good 'drinking pub'.So it's not the place to take your date unless they like beer.

YPR

A proper locals pub and deemed worthy of inclusion by CAMRA. Guest ales and beer on offer plus an extensive selection of whiskey. The pub is divided into two sections, one of them non-smoking. Regular food menu and daily specials. Jukebox and skittle alley to keep you entertained.

VARSITY [BARRACUDA BAR]

YPR

People seem to like this new place.

Fantastic! Karaoke on a Tues with the chance of winning 25quids worth of drink vouchers! Good music, fab atmosphere and great staff. Nic (Nic - 30 Sep 2003 )

This place is awful if you are under 35. Granny puller pub! Not great! Music a bit pants as well.
+ they charge entry fee.(JP - 25 Sep 2003 )

barracudas good, cheap drinks on thursday but flooded toilets and busy quite often. (lufbra lad - 9 Aug 2003 )

anywhere which does pints for a pound ( thurs ;) ) is alrite by me! (Tom - 24 Jul 2003 )

THREE NUNS
Church Gate, near the big church.
Everards
Usually has a good guest beer.
Often have live music, a good all round pub liked by old and young,local & students alike.

YPR

Big screen Sky TV. A cark park cum concrete beer garden in the rear. Huge Sunday dinners, as well as food the rest of the week. And if you don't finish it the big dog will.

Well I love this pub cause my super cool friend Chloe works there. It has had the odd good event in the past and hopfully more in the future. THUMBS UP! (Jill - 19 Oct 2003 )

Its good with some pretty decent bands on at weekends,but usually full of the older generation and not much totty or talent. (nic and claire - 13 Jul 2003 )

OLD ENGLISH Gentleman
Ashby road

The following via e-mail (More like this welcome)
18/8/2001
hello denis its mels dave here thought i would give you the details of my
local the old english gentleman for your site
paul + julia hosts pool table best pint of boddingtons in town blazing glory
scooter club meet there every other Wednesday night a real cross section of
community drink there from professors to bin men heavy drinkers to orange
juice drinking karate teams.

The GARTON
Near Mr Chan chinese rest. Bedford Square
Free Trade
Good choice of beers,reasonable price, pleasant staff Has been 'redecorated' inside and looks quite good now. I quite enjoyed it Music not too loud but 90% students.

BLACKSMITHS ARMS [@the office]
HAS OWN PAGE SEE TOP.

PACK HORSE
Wood Gate, Loughborough
Kimberley
folk club upstairs. The beer is usually OK.
The Priory

from Rob August 2004

Monday night Special Food - it is terrible dried out fish and tough steaks the worst kind of pub food - cant they see it doesnt do pubs any favours to serve this type of stuff - why not fresh pasta, decent salads and baguettes, decent steak etc
The ALBION
Canal Bank, Loughborough past LYNROYS
Free Trade
Beer is good.Careful when you walk home (Canal is deep!)Old fashioned type pub for drinking beer and chat.

THE BEACON
Beacon Road, Loughborough
Not bad for an estate pub. Well it hasn't changed in 20 years.Beer ok in fact an excellent Pedigree or bottom end Websters.There was a guy singing in 'the big room'.Pool & 3 TV's in bar. Pleasant, but dull.

MALTINGS
Epinal Way
Local estate pub. Has some sort of 'entertainment' on almost every night, from Bingo to Quiz (win cash) with music at week-ends. The beer has improve somewhat with 'Old Original' quite pleasant if a tad dear.
However you can get a double whisky at fair price. They do tend to kick you out quite quickly!

The CUSTARD Bar
Wards End.
More eats than drinks, but I'm told a good place for quick lunch.At night it's jumping and an excellent 'pub'.

COTES MILL
Out of town on the A60 (Nottingham Road) just past the BRUSH
Free Trade I think
Not been for long time used to be very good pub with live music.

HOBGOBLIN
The Rushes.
Hobgoblin Beer
OK to meet then move on somewhere else.
YPR

Well I went in and couldn't get a pint of Hobgoblin!!!

ashhowe - 1 Feb 2006

I had the same thing happen to me- what's the point of a Hobgoblin pub if there's no Hobgoblin to drink?! Apparently, this is quite common. The focus seems to be on sport in this pub, not real ale!

pint_sizedvix - 11 Feb 2006

I agree, Hobgoblin is one of my favourite beers, and Wychwood a great brewery, so if no Hobgoblin at least there should be some Goliath or something. Went in in December had a pint of Cains IPA which made me physically ill, wouldnt recommend this place. Saying that, I went in with a student friend and he got us 20% discount, so that made it slightly better!!

rjsdoyle - 1 Mar 2006

This used to be a good pub when it was the Black Lion but like so many in Loughborough it has been ruined by image and name changes, come back Hoskins and John and Jane!!

ranger1485 - 12 Jun 2005

Totally rubbish (Ted - 25 Apr 2003 )

A great place for an afternoon's drinking, and excellent for sport, football, football and football are all shown and occasionally wrestling can be seen. Well worth a visit if you are in the area... (A. Partridge - 25 Apr 2003 )

Great crowd, Couple of barflies too, Christoph Larrypie and Robertos Lemmingos. Make sure you say hello if you manage to pop in. Stella is their tipple....(Terry Nutkins - 25 Apr 2003 )

Looking for a beer fuelled evening with both students and locals, then this is your pub.
On experience, best time to frequent is 11.30am, leaving approximately middnight. Oh, and I forgot to mention the superb curry house directly opposite, 30 paces across the road. What more do you want? (Eddie Brew - 25 Apr 2003 )

KINGS HEAD/Jarvis Hotel/RAMADA
The A6 town centre.
Bass/Burton
Beer is OK but it's a 'Hotel' bar so a bit expensive. Been taken over Sept 2005, heard its no good now, lot of the staff have left. That tells you something is wrong.

PLOUGH INN Thorpe Acre
Thorpe acre road.
Bass
Can have a 'beer' with no hassel, and play darts or cards,etc.Has music on Friday & Sat nights in the lounge.A very 'safe' pub.

DRUIDS [BITTER END]
Pinfold Gate.

Druids is a good pub, well furnished, small rooms Beer is a good price and is Barnsley bitter, an aquired taste. [4 june 2005

BARLEY MOW [Barleys]
Market St.
Closed

GRIFFIN Inn
Ashby Square(near Barlys).
Marston

Will Gardner August 10th 2004

I'd say The Griffin is about the best pub in Loughborough. Usually easy to get a seat on all days of the week and dead friendly bar staff/manager. Only problem is it can be quite expensive - VK bottles are only 1.50 though which is pretty good.
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Good place to meet students.The beer is good though. More older people go there as well.

CROWN & CUSHION
Ashby Square.
Good pub neat athmosphere.Found the staff friendly.

MAXWELLS
by SAFEWAYS.
bass
Large estate pub. Good beer prices ( new and nice landlord and pleasant enough pub, however it always reminds me of Terminal 3 at Heathrow for some reason? There was a guy singing on CCTV & I wished I'd brought a remote with me, but the 'toliet talk' said he was the worse they had seen. So other acts may be better. (Take a remote just in case.) [Open until 0030 Thur/fri/sat]

The NEWS HOUSE
Bedford Square.
Couldn't get in the place at 9 o'clock. Apart from the 2 bouncers on the door the place was packed with young ones. It reminded me why I don't go into town on Sat night.Younger people tell me it's expensive to drink there and wouldn't go there, but it must have something going for it.
YPR

Rectangle shaped pub with a big giant rectangle 'cheers' style bar in the middle. Packed due to lack of space but they made it that way. A good pub for L'boro.. One of my faves, big cocktails too. Lots of mirrors. (JP - 25 Sep 2003 )

pretty small inside, expensive too :( dodgy bouncers (rob - 19 Sep 2003 )

great little bar/pub/restaurant, urbany, retro feel, live music on sunday and thursdays. excellent food with an extensive menu. (anonymous - 4 Jun 2003)

ORANGE TREE
Bedford Square.
Not my sort of pub. Packed at week-ends with bouncers on the door.When you do get in it's difficult to get served the expensive beer they sell.If you must try it go on a week day.

The PHANTOM

YPR

Big screen Sky TV. Beer garden - more of a patio really. Cash machine on the premises. No giant jenga or kerplunk though.

MOON & BELL
Bedford Square.
Free Trade

Will Gardner August 10th 2004

Wetherspoons (Moon & Bell) is about the best on price but can get very busy.

Good pub, good prices,good staff,packed at week-ends and most nights.Got the best toilets in town.Worth a visit as are all W/Spoon places.Excellent choice of drinks, packed to the gills on sat nights!!

THE GATE
Meadow lane.
Marston
A very small pub with a few regulars, but an excellent pint of pedigree. A place to have a quiet pint and contemplate your navel .

UNICORN
nr the bus station. [at least when we had one]
bass (I think)
This place really has changed over the last few years from a pub I wouldn't have gone near, to quite a good (just off center)place for a beer and chat.Still retains a 'pub' athmosphere but clean and friendly now. (but not too friendly).(Tony died Nov 2001)

White Hart ypr

Visited on 15 December 2003. Friendly pub under very recent new management.
Spankingly good pint of Pendle Brewery's Witches Brew - malty, clean and refreshing.

from Neil Southampton

Bar EUROPA
Devonshire Square.
My friend likes this place but I can't stand it! Make your own mind up.

The BLACKBIRD
Reopened, as a Balti House.

The BLUE BOAR
The Rushes.
CLOSED

The BOAT
Meadow Lane (On Canal).
Marstons

VICE VERSA

Big bar, big dance floor. balcony upstairs.. metal decor. sofas. too much space! Small bar in basement, bit like a red padded room. Music in all areas. good if v.busy!n (JP - 25 Sep 2003 )

Longsdale (Closed)
Burder Street (Nr Train Stn).

	Pub Reviews
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Loughborough Pubs [Reviews] (UPDATE in progress 4/01/07) This page lists ALL of the pubs in Loughborough, and a brief comment about some. YPR [means young persons review] .You can find Photos of a ALL of these pubs by clicking on 'Pub Site' on the home page. Amber Rooms RAIN [Alcazas [closed] Now RAIN entry fee required The Albion 213 952 The Barley Mow [Barleys] [Shop units now] Varsity (Barracuda) (Warehouse) Bar Europa The Beacon The Druids [The Bitter End] The Blackbird [CLOSED] :-( @The Office [Smiths] [voodo/ AKA TBA] [The Blacksmiths Arms] [Has own page][Reopened Sept 2005] The Blue Boar [closed & demolished] Amber there now. The Boat The Longsdale (Closed) The Gallery (Cassablanca) Browns [Lane][Brascos](Charlie Browns) Cherry Tree [Closed] Great Central Hotel Corporation (Closed) Custard Bar Cotes Mill 12 degrees west [Bar 32] (Flan O'Brien's) Maxwells The Crown and Cushion The Forest Gate(Toby Carvery) The Gate The Garton The Generous Briton The Greyhound The Griffin 01509 263893 The Harvester The Hobgoblin Hunters Moon Jack O Lantern [new paint job] Lloyds 01509 234755 The King's Head/Jarvis Hotel (Ramada) {take-over] Hayleys [Matt's Bar] The Maltings The Moon and Bell The Old English Gentleman The Old Pack Horse The Orange Tree The Paget Arms The Peacock Beauchief Hotel (Peggy's Bar) The Phantom (but no longer)and Firkin The Plough Inn (Thorpe Acre) The Priory The Railway Inn La Piazza [Zero] (Rickenbackers) The Ring of Bells Twentyone [The Rose and Crown] The Royal George The Royal Oak The Station The Swan In The Rushes The Tap and Mallet The Three Nuns The Unicorn Vise Versa (Busters) Valkries [Wine Bar] The Warwick Arms Maxwells 243701 The News House The White Hart Lynroys (Canal Bank) The Windmill REVIEWS AMBER ROOMS ypr Will Gardner August 10th 2004 Amber Rooms is a 'classy' establishment that have bouncers on the door. If you want to be able to talk to anyone further than a metre away either sit outside or in the no smoking area as everywhere else is pretty noisy. Again, quite expensive though. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This place is great to eat throught the day and night I always have a good laugh in this place and even though there isnt a DJ they play a wide range of music. If you havent visited yet do so you will have a great time. [Sarah] April 7th 2004 SWAN In The Rushes The Rushes (Derby Road) near the traffic lights. Free Trade Local CAMRA pub. Excellent choice of beer, including bottled beers from around the world. Live music at various times. Some of the best beer in town and a good 'drinking pub'.So it's not the place to take your date unless they like beer. YPR A proper locals pub and deemed worthy of inclusion by CAMRA. Guest ales and beer on offer plus an extensive selection of whiskey. The pub is divided into two sections, one of them non-smoking. Regular food menu and daily specials. Jukebox and skittle alley to keep you entertained. VARSITY [BARRACUDA BAR] *YPR* People seem to like this new place. Fantastic! Karaoke on a Tues with the chance of winning 25quids worth of drink vouchers! Good music, fab atmosphere and great staff. Nic (Nic - 30 Sep 2003 ) This place is awful if you are under 35. Granny puller pub! Not great! Music a bit pants as well. + they charge entry fee.(JP - 25 Sep 2003 ) barracudas good, cheap drinks on thursday but flooded toilets and busy quite often. (lufbra lad - 9 Aug 2003 ) anywhere which does pints for a pound ( thurs ;) ) is alrite by me! (Tom - 24 Jul 2003 ) THREE NUNS Church Gate, near the big church. Everards Usually has a good guest beer. Often have live music, a good all round pub liked by old and young,local & students alike. YPR Big screen Sky TV. A cark park cum concrete beer garden in the rear. Huge Sunday dinners, as well as food the rest of the week. And if you don't finish it the big dog will. Well I love this pub cause my super cool friend Chloe works there. It has had the odd good event in the past and hopfully more in the future. THUMBS UP! (Jill - 19 Oct 2003 ) Its good with some pretty decent bands on at weekends,but usually full of the older generation and not much totty or talent. (nic and claire - 13 Jul 2003 ) OLD ENGLISH Gentleman Ashby road The following via e-mail (More like this welcome) 18/8/2001 hello denis its mels dave here thought i would give you the details of my local the old english gentleman for your site paul + julia hosts pool table best pint of boddingtons in town blazing glory scooter club meet there every other Wednesday night a real cross section of community drink there from professors to bin men heavy drinkers to orange juice drinking karate teams. The GARTON Near Mr Chan chinese rest. Bedford Square Free Trade Good choice of beers,reasonable price, pleasant staff Has been 'redecorated' inside and looks quite good now. I quite enjoyed it Music not too loud but 90% students. BLACKSMITHS ARMS [@the office] HAS OWN PAGE SEE TOP. PACK HORSE Wood Gate, Loughborough Kimberley folk club upstairs. The beer is usually OK. The Priory from Rob August 2004 Monday night Special Food - it is terrible dried out fish and tough steaks the worst kind of pub food - cant they see it doesnt do pubs any favours to serve this type of stuff - why not fresh pasta, decent salads and baguettes, decent steak etc The ALBION Canal Bank, Loughborough past LYNROYS Free Trade Beer is good.Careful when you walk home (Canal is deep!)Old fashioned type pub for drinking beer and chat. THE BEACON Beacon Road, Loughborough Not bad for an estate pub. Well it hasn't changed in 20 years.Beer ok in fact an excellent Pedigree or bottom end Websters.There was a guy singing in 'the big room'.Pool & 3 TV's in bar. Pleasant, but dull. MALTINGS Epinal Way Local estate pub. Has some sort of 'entertainment' on almost every night, from Bingo to Quiz (win cash) with music at week-ends. The beer has improve somewhat with 'Old Original' quite pleasant if a tad dear. However you can get a double whisky at fair price. They do tend to kick you out quite quickly! The CUSTARD Bar Wards End. More eats than drinks, but I'm told a good place for quick lunch.At night it's jumping and an excellent 'pub'. COTES MILL Out of town on the A60 (Nottingham Road) just past the BRUSH Free Trade I think Not been for long time used to be very good pub with live music. HOBGOBLIN The Rushes. Hobgoblin Beer OK to meet then move on somewhere else. YPR Well I went in and couldn't get a pint of Hobgoblin!!! ashhowe - 1 Feb 2006 I had the same thing happen to me- what's the point of a Hobgoblin pub if there's no Hobgoblin to drink?! Apparently, this is quite common. The focus seems to be on sport in this pub, not real ale! pint_sizedvix - 11 Feb 2006 I agree, Hobgoblin is one of my favourite beers, and Wychwood a great brewery, so if no Hobgoblin at least there should be some Goliath or something. Went in in December had a pint of Cains IPA which made me physically ill, wouldnt recommend this place. Saying that, I went in with a student friend and he got us 20% discount, so that made it slightly better!! rjsdoyle - 1 Mar 2006 This used to be a good pub when it was the Black Lion but like so many in Loughborough it has been ruined by image and name changes, come back Hoskins and John and Jane!! ranger1485 - 12 Jun 2005 Totally rubbish (Ted - 25 Apr 2003 ) A great place for an afternoon's drinking, and excellent for sport, football, football and football are all shown and occasionally wrestling can be seen. Well worth a visit if you are in the area... (A. Partridge - 25 Apr 2003 ) Great crowd, Couple of barflies too, Christoph Larrypie and Robertos Lemmingos. Make sure you say hello if you manage to pop in. Stella is their tipple....(Terry Nutkins - 25 Apr 2003 ) Looking for a beer fuelled evening with both students and locals, then this is your pub. On experience, best time to frequent is 11.30am, leaving approximately middnight. Oh, and I forgot to mention the superb curry house directly opposite, 30 paces across the road. What more do you want? (Eddie Brew - 25 Apr 2003 ) KINGS HEAD/Jarvis Hotel/RAMADA The A6 town centre. Bass/Burton Beer is OK but it's a 'Hotel' bar so a bit expensive. Been taken over Sept 2005, heard its no good now, lot of the staff have left. That tells you something is wrong. PLOUGH INN Thorpe Acre Thorpe acre road. Bass Can have a 'beer' with no hassel, and play darts or cards,etc.Has music on Friday & Sat nights in the lounge.A very 'safe' pub. DRUIDS [BITTER END] Pinfold Gate. Druids is a good pub, well furnished, small rooms Beer is a good price and is Barnsley bitter, an aquired taste. [4 june 2005 BARLEY MOW [Barleys] Market St. Closed GRIFFIN Inn Ashby Square(near Barlys). Marston Will Gardner August 10th 2004 I'd say The Griffin is about the best pub in Loughborough. Usually easy to get a seat on all days of the week and dead friendly bar staff/manager. Only problem is it can be quite expensive - VK bottles are only 1.50 though which is pretty good. ----------------------------------------------------------- Good place to meet students.The beer is good though. More older people go there as well. CROWN & CUSHION Ashby Square. Good pub neat athmosphere.Found the staff friendly. MAXWELLS by SAFEWAYS. bass Large estate pub. Good beer prices ( new and nice landlord and pleasant enough pub, however it always reminds me of Terminal 3 at Heathrow for some reason? There was a guy singing on CCTV & I wished I'd brought a remote with me, but the 'toliet talk' said he was the worse they had seen. So other acts may be better. (Take a remote just in case.) [Open until 0030 Thur/fri/sat] The NEWS HOUSE Bedford Square. Couldn't get in the place at 9 o'clock. Apart from the 2 bouncers on the door the place was packed with young ones. It reminded me why I don't go into town on Sat night.Younger people tell me it's expensive to drink there and wouldn't go there, but it must have something going for it. YPR Rectangle shaped pub with a big giant rectangle 'cheers' style bar in the middle. Packed due to lack of space but they made it that way. A good pub for L'boro.. One of my faves, big cocktails too. Lots of mirrors. (JP - 25 Sep 2003 ) pretty small inside, expensive too :( dodgy bouncers (rob - 19 Sep 2003 ) great little bar/pub/restaurant, urbany, retro feel, live music on sunday and thursdays. excellent food with an extensive menu. (anonymous - 4 Jun 2003) ORANGE TREE Bedford Square. Not my sort of pub. Packed at week-ends with bouncers on the door.When you do get in it's difficult to get served the expensive beer they sell.If you must try it go on a week day. The PHANTOM YPR Big screen Sky TV. Beer garden - more of a patio really. Cash machine on the premises. No giant jenga or kerplunk though. MOON & BELL Bedford Square. Free Trade Will Gardner August 10th 2004 Wetherspoons (Moon & Bell) is about the best on price but can get very busy. Good pub, good prices,good staff,packed at week-ends and most nights.Got the best toilets in town.Worth a visit as are all W/Spoon places.Excellent choice of drinks, packed to the gills on sat nights!! THE GATE Meadow lane. Marston A very small pub with a few regulars, but an excellent pint of pedigree. A place to have a quiet pint and contemplate your navel . UNICORN nr the bus station. [at least when we had one] bass (I think) This place really has changed over the last few years from a pub I wouldn't have gone near, to quite a good (just off center)place for a beer and chat.Still retains a 'pub' athmosphere but clean and friendly now. (but not too friendly).(Tony died Nov 2001) White Hart ypr Visited on 15 December 2003. Friendly pub under very recent new management. Spankingly good pint of Pendle Brewery's Witches Brew - malty, clean and refreshing. from Neil Southampton Bar EUROPA Devonshire Square. My friend likes this place but I can't stand it! Make your own mind up. The BLACKBIRD Reopened, as a Balti House. The BLUE BOAR The Rushes. CLOSED The BOAT Meadow Lane (On Canal). Marstons VICE VERSA Big bar, big dance floor. balcony upstairs.. metal decor. sofas. too much space! Small bar in basement, bit like a red padded room. Music in all areas. good if v.busy!n (JP - 25 Sep 2003 ) Longsdale (Closed) Burder Street (Nr Train Stn).