St Andrews Tavern, Norwichback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
...at least, that's how it was last week. Now it's closed with a rather small 'to let' sign on the wall outside. In these times you worry that the plan is not to find a new tenant so it can then be sold off for redevelopment etc..
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Slightly schizophrenic pub- the bar and entrance area are really basic, even shabby, but go further in and it gets quite smart and restauranty. Beer quality is excellent- I had some great Adnams Broadside here.Have never been quite sure whether Adnams own the pub or whether it's a free house which specializes in Adnams beers, either way it's well worth a visit if you fancy a good pint.
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This Pub has changed hands a couple of times in the last year. Despite this, the beers are still well kept and the welcome warm
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A wonderful Adnams pub (and I am indebted to the gent in front of me in the non-moving queue at the Norwich beer festival *grr* for recommending it). Had a delicious pint of Old Ale here - followed by another. Yum yum.
8/10.
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The St Andrew`s Tavern has certainly lost an element of charm thanks to the refit (some years ago) mentioned by Palm.
Prior to the painters and decorators arrival it had an intrinsic earthy feel, with sturdy indoor benches, un-glitzed bar and bare white washed walls occasionally decorated by the odd poster or passive print. The attempt therefore to “swankify” the joint, which while certainly on the mild side (i.e. the bar has been rebuilt along spoons specifications, new overly bright lighting hooked up and a moderate gastro-pub purge in the separate back section), leaves you unfortunately with the feel that the cold fingers of pub chain land are intruding somewhat.
However, all is not completely lost: the benches are still there, the walls mostly left untouched and many other good features remain in excellent condition. The booze selection is on a par with Norwich`s excellent reputation in this area, with a wide mix of well kept ales, lager and (if you must) bottles: a selection that is occasional supplemented further by beer festivals that now and again stop off at the St And. The service is both fast and friendly – the latter term also applicable to the clientele that is usual a good mix of normal people with a smattering of well adjusted students. Its slight removal from the core of the city centre also means its never particularly crowded even on weekend nights.
I would have preferred if the St And had never been touched by the gittish refitter mentioned above, but in truth so much good remains that the St And still deserves a very good 8/10.
pgazz - 19 Jan 2006 01:02 |
I always used to go here but on a recent return I found its odd shape annoying.
Good beer but a shadow of it's former self.
palmwinedrinkard - 17 Sep 2004 17:27 |
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