please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I'd been advised that this was the best pub in town. So, I was left a little disappointed by the Cavens Arms. It certainly has a good selection of ales. But there was nothing too unusual for me to try. The selection was Fyne Jarl, Greene King Abbot & Yardbird, Morland Old Speckled Hen, Hardy & Hanson's Rocking Rudolph, Black Sheep Blitzen, Titanic Plum Porter & Orkney Swannay IPA. I went against my usual choice of a dark ale to try the Swannay IPA, which was very pleasant indeed. The interior is very nice, with carpets all round and a cosy feel. The bar area felt a little cliquey. But most of the venue is geared towards dining. So, I sat at a table laid out for diners. None of the staff seemed too bothered with this. Undoubtedly a good pub. But not quite the best in town, in my opinion.
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In town for a Queen of the South v. Hibernian fixture.
This was going to be the first point of call. As it happens, it was the second. On a miserable day, many of the 1,500 thirsty Spoonburners in town made for this establishment. It's the reigning CAMRA Dumfries & Galloway area champeen and there looked to be a good selection. However, it was far too crowded to even think of a pint, so we reluctantly went elsewhere. The dining area is far larger than the drinking area and that was just about full as well. From the brief glimpses of the plates, the food looked good. I'll definitely give it a go when Hibs are next in town, in January... when the Cup-winning bubble might have burst and there may be fewer fans.
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Don't know where the expensive phone number came from.
I have just looked up the number which is 01387 252896 and, except at madly busy times, they answer quickly and professionally.
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Excellent pub, worth visiting. Have found the staff very helpful and friendly, whilst both the ale and food are amongst the best.
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My partner and I called into this delightful public house whilst on a day trip to Dumfries on 12.11.13. The pub was welcoming on entry and the staff were very pleasant when we got to the bar. We only intended on staying for a quick pint but ended up staying for a couple of hours and had some dinner while we were there. The haggis, neeps and tatties I had were superb and my partner enjoyed his haddock goujons too. The real ale they served was excellent as well. Would call in here again next time we decide to come to Dumfries again.
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Good Food Excellent Service but BEWARE:- do NOT phone the listed number (0871....) as I did. 15 mins @ 10p per minute with NO response..Equates to £6.00 an hour for NOTHING
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Probably the home of some of the best kept real ale in Britain. I have rarely had better. We had already eaten before we arrived, which was a pity as the food looked great. Still, we had some fairy cakes to soak it up. Friendly and pleasant staff and a cracking picture of Elvis as Rabbie Burns topped it off nicely.
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Paid a flying visit today, as I had a train to catch, and only had time for a swift pint. I was a little disconcerted to be asked if I was eating and then firmly led to the back of the pub where I was allocated a seat: I hadn't expected that at a pub with the accolade of the local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year for 2012.
In retrospect and having given my experience a little thought, since the beer was very good, it was tea time so a few people were eating, the pub itself was immaculate and the plentiful staff were friendly, polite and clearly very busy (although I was only there 15 minutes 5 different staff spoke with me) I can see why the rating is so high and would like to return with enough time to eat (the food indeed did look good) whilst knowing what to expect.
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Must confess to being slightly put off as I thought I'd entered a posh restaurant rather than a pub. I said I was only there for the beer and was directed to the rear where I found 10 handpumps featuring a mix of interesting English and Scottish beers. I only had time for a pint - chose the Ayr beer - very well kept. I got the hang of the place listening to what was going on and indeed it seems a very friendly, well run place. Must go back sometime!
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real customer orientated bar.
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I popped in here after watching a football match, I wished I had gone in earlier. An excellent choice of ales on offer,and decent value too. Went down very well indeed. The pub was busy after the footy but seemed a friendly atmosphere.The staff were on the ball to deal with customers and food was being served fairly quick. I couldve stayed in there all night drinking various ales but had to return home via train early. Best pub we went in that day and will no doubt return to it when we have a day out again in Dumfries.
Top notch.
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No food when we visited, but good choice of well kept beer and friendly service. A very nice pub.
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The best pub in the town - comfortable, varied food and exemplary beer. Success means that it can be packed even on a lunchtime, but that is a price worth paying for somewhere of quality
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Food is excellent, real ales are well kept. The staff are polite & friendly & service is always timely. My only "grouse" is that it is nearly always stowed out,BUTwith the food being so good it's not that surprising. For regulars it is the Dumfries equivalent of Cheers, a really frindly crowd, you can always find someone you know to have crack with. All in all the best pub in the area
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Update!
Now Cavens has been awarded "Dumfries Pub of the Year" four years in a row.
Still great real ales, great food, and some of the best service in the UK.
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Superb pub and deservedly popular (book for food). Bar staff are very very friendly, the beers great, and there's a bustling, cosy atmosphere.
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This pub has the best kept ale in Dumfries, my only gripe would be that is very, very full on a weekend night. Can't blame them for being good though. Several guest ales including one from Phoenix which is my local brewery. All the way to Dumfries to be served something I get at home all the time. Oh Well! Very friendly and efficient staff. It's a very good pub this.
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Excellent pub/restaurant. Good selection of real ales, ciders and lagers. Good pub food with excellent service. Gary is a great guy, he runs a tight ship and employs really friendly staff.
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This is (still) an excellent pub, well liked by CAMRA. Visiting at 8pm on a Wednesday, most people were eating and, indeed, one is invited to wait on entry to be seated. But the beer (we tried Phoenix: Arizona and Palmerston: Queen of the South) was well kept and the food good (if not very interesting).
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update-
this pub gets better and better-
CAMRA Pub of the Year for Dumfries 2 years running-
THE BEST fish in chips in the town- no contest!
excellent chef- excellent staff- very fast and knowledgeable.
Gary runs a very good pub- lots of real ales- good malt selection
no smoke- no kids- no dogs
great place!
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The Cavens has gone from strength to strength since I posted the first of these reviews. The kitchen is producing pub food of the highest quality, and in large portions, using top class ingredients. The selection of ales has increased (so has the price, �2.15) and they are invariably in perfect condition. Professional management, strong but quiet, ensures that staff are efficient and enthusiastic, and they are mostly friendly and cheerful, too. And you can suggest ales, and they will be stocked if possible. I originally rated this 7/10. If I were doing so today it would score 9.
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One of the friendliest, best run pubs I've ever come accross. Staff A1, 99.5% customes ditto. As I used to meet the majority of my friends, or should that be fiends?, there, it is the one place I miss having moved from the area. Food was way above average for a pub/ restaurant, ale was always in good condition. The bar staff were ALL well trained in how to recognize a "bad pint" i.e., coming to the end of a barrel. The lines were never allowed to be left between brews.
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Now selling 9 yes nine real ales plussmiths smiths cold guinness guinness cold stella fosters coldtennents lager magners on tap belhaven............staff very well trained under Gary...food out of the top drawer......service10/10.great value for money.now local camra pub of the year
anonymous - 20 Jul 2006 18:03 |
Gave this one 10 out of 10.
The Cavens Arms is great - I spend too much money there! They do food every day apart from Monday - snacks or main meals.
The food is beautiful and the portion sizes are huge. It gets especially busy at the weekends - so much so that they don't take bookings I don't think. It must be the busiest pub in the town for meals on a weekend night.
Drink is good and ok value. If you like real ales, this is the place for you, about �2 a pint & they have recently won an award for them.
Staff are really nice, expecially the three waitresses - they are always smiling.
anonymous - 11 May 2006 11:57 |
friendly place...
absolutely the best pub chef and the best table service in the toon....
excellent real ale selection and excellent malt selection...
good for a blether or read in the afternoon....
atractive and friendly bar staff....
not dog friendly...
no children allowed... (makes it a much calmer and enjoyable place)
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Without doubt the finest beer drinking pub in the area.Real beer that is. At least 6 on at one time including some guests. Just put your beer request in the diary and Gary will endeavor to get it in.
Come on CAMRA get the finger out and award this great pub your highest . The staff are well trained in the art of pubmanship and the food is of the highest order
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Car park at the rear is not a public car park, and the back door's only open in summer anyway. There's free parking (display a disc) both on and off George Street, straight across the road. Anyway, abandon the wheels and get in among the six real ales at two quid a pint. There's a non-smoking section, and effective air filtering in the smoking bit. They are doing deservedly good business with the food - but the kitchen is closed Mondays.
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Lovly grub! Excellent meals. Theres a selection of Ales which I havn't tried yet. But the grubs good! feels narrow inside and is crowded a lot of the time. Toilets are downstairs so not very convenient for disabiled people. Car Park at rear is handy but there is steps to get into the pub from car park.
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This is a kind of child of Wetherspoon, the licensees having worked in the Bruce nearby. Always at least four real ales at about 30p cheaper than anywhere else (except the Bruce). They probably do quite a lot of Brake Bros-type catering, but there are also specials and home-made dishes that lift it into a different league. Legendary fish 'n' chips - at a reduced price on Tuesdays, as I recall. The best food pub in the town.
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