please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
As previously mentioned this pub is situated right next to the Theatre Royal and is an ideal spot to start a pub crawl.
Large outside area which would be nice in the better weather.
This was my first pub of 8 in a day during a short visit. Dining room to the left as you enter with the bar and less formal eating area to the right.
A few patrons were waiting for their food and the service did seem slow with one couple co9mplaining about the waiting time. Netherless this is a busy bar, comfy sofas dotted along the back wall.
4 pumps dispensing 3 locals ales. The pints I had were Stonehenge's Pigswill and Glastonbury's Holy Thorn, both were very good.
Nice friendly place but maybe a little bit too upright for me.
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Located right next to the theatre this is a two-roomed pub that has a suitably arty feel to it, perhaps at the expense of it�s �pubiness�. In many ways it has more of a wine bar feel to it. Ceilings are high, and there are large dual aspect windows with black and white tie-back curtains. A fire was roaring away on a recent January afternoon visit which was very pleasant. It was also very busy, with barely any standing room. This made it very difficult to get to the bar as there was a group of punters stood at one end and another group sat up on stools at the other, leaving one small gap in the middle. Fortunately the barmaid was able to see beyond the front row and service was prompt enough.
Paintwork is a rather plain cream with some black woodwork. Four large silver serving platter covers were stuck on the wall above the fireplace. There was a large board listing some menu choices, but in spite of the size of the board there were only about half a dozen choices. Whether this was just a specials board I�m not sure. Other boards listed the wines that were available and a dozen or so �beers� available by the bottle, although many of these appeared to be lagers. There were a couple of leather sofa�s at the front, and candles on all the tables. A smaller room to the right looked as though it may have been more geared up for dining, although we didn�t investigate this.
An unusual selection of beers on tap with Palmer�s Best, Redemption Ale and Green Laner. Ciders on tap were Pheasant Plucker and Orchard Pig, although a board also listed Kingston Black and Broadoak Perry. I�m not sure if this was draught or not. In addition to this, hot mulled cider was available from a barrel at the end of the bar.
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Good perry, didn't try the ales or food, though have eaten here before and meals expensive, even for Bath.
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It's a while since I reviewed this, so just an update. A pleasant bar serving good beer and comfy seats. The outside drinking area has increaed dramatically, which is a good thing if we ever get any sunshine. The food is expensive and not really worth it in my opinion - try the Vaults if you're going to the theatre. The last time I ate here the service was very slow - not a problem for some but it does irk me.
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Thought I'd pop in here on a Saturday evening before going for something to eat. Seems like the interior is split down the middle - half bar, half restaurant. friendly enough service although the pint I had (three were on offer) was unremarkable.
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It's more of a bar/restaurant than a proper pub, but it's comfortable, with blazing fires (gas, not real, but warm enough!) and good beer, and no pressure to order food. Very much aimed at the theatre crowd. Prices not unreasonable. There are better pubs in Bath, but I'd have no objection to another visit here.
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Thought I'd try this pub as its in the 2011 GBG and I hadn't ever been in before, its situated right next door to the theatre royal so must attract the pre show 'luvvies' but I was quite impressed. I like pubby pubs, but with its comfy sofas and general 'cafe bar ' style it was warm and friendly. Three beers on handpump including one of my personal favourites Cotleigh old Buzzard, and at �2.90 a pint it was the cheapest beer we had in Bath during our crawl. The barman was sociable and engaged in chit chat with the punters and overall I think I'd pop in again for a pint or two.
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I have now made a couple of visits to the Garrick since it has been universally overhauled as a gastro-haunt clearly pitching at the pre/post-theatre glitterati of the city. The decor is fiiting for the building's quality and period and doesn't jar, and there is plenty of space for drinkers as well as diners. The service, at least on my brief acquaintance, has been efficient, if not enthusiastic. The pricing strategy is, rightly or wrongly, set at a higher bar but then considering the likely clientele, this should come as little surprise. To my relief, a pleasant little array of 3 cask beers are now offered, and on both occasions I have found these to be on form. Stonehenge ales often feature and are always kept beautifully.
The crowning glory however, if one reads the local press, is the food. Yet, when I ate there in 2009 (thought I'd reviewed this at the time but apparently not), I was decidedly underwhelmed by the quality of the food. Given that it is now a year since I partook, don't expect dissected detail, but suffice to say although it was passable, it did not measure up to its billing - or its price tags.
Maybe I was unfortunate; I wouldn't avoid eating here again, but given the plethora of options in Bath, many of which have proven themselves time and time again, it will be some time before I give it another spin.
Please don't assume it's too dreaadfully cliquey though; some folk instantly take offence at somewhere that's marketed at the higher end of things, and their views can sometimes be found to be unbalanced accordingly.
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I WAS NOT SUPRISED TO HEAR WHAT BAD SERVICE ONE OF THE VISITORS TO THIS PUB RECEIVED. I USED TO VISIT BATH OCCASIONALLY WHEN I WAS LITTLE 30 YEARS AGO AND ALWAYS IMAGINED THE PUB WOULD BE A WARM AND FRIENDLY PLACE FULL OF LOTS OF STORIES ESPECIALLY WITH THE GHOST WALK TAKING PLACE OUTSIDE IT EACH NITE. I TURNED UP FOR THE GHOST WALK BUT THE GUIDE DIDN'T SHOW UP SO THOUGHT I WOULD ASK IN THE LOCAL "FRIENDLY" PUB IF THEY KNEW IF AN EVENT THAT HAD GATHERED OUTSIDE THEIR PUB FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS HAD STOPPED. THE BAR MAID GAVE ME A LOOK OF DISDAIN AND WAS SO OFFHAND WHEN SHE SAID" ITS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME!!!! " THATS NOT THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION I ASKED SO I ASKED AGAIN. "ITS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PUB" I TOLD HER I KNEW THAT BUT HAD SHE NOTICED IF THE CROWD THAT HAS GATHERED EVERY NITE IN AND OUTSIDE THE PUB HAD STOPPED-NOTHING JUST A BRICK WALL THEN SHE WHINED THAT SHE DIDNT LIKE ME RAISING MY VOICE TO HER. I TOLD HER I RAISED MY VOICE BECAUSE OF HER NASTY ATTITUDE. THE ATMOSPHERE IN THAT PUB WAS COLD MORE AKIN TO AN UPMARKET WINE BAR MY CHILDHOOD ILLUSION WAS SHATTERED AND I WAS SAD TO FIND THAT THE GARRICKS HEAD WAS NOT THE WARM AND FRIENDLY PUB THAT I HAD IMAGINED IT TO BE. THE LOCAL BOBBIES WALKING PAST WERE MUCH MORE HELPFUL THANKFULLY BUT GET RID OF SOURPUSS IN THE PUB SHE IS ENOUGH TO FRIGHTEN EVERYONE AND ALL GHOSTS AWAY!!!!
MRYAN - 29 Oct 2009 16:25 |
We were visiting the Theatre during our holiday in Bath (The Winslow Boy with Timothy West, good stuff), so decided to have a couple in here before the show and I was duly impressed. It wasn't on my original Bath list, but the beer was good, the food looked pricey but hearty, the place was packed with theatre goers and there was a nice buzz about the place.
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I have used this pub on a few occasions - nice and clean - good beer, BUT recently my wife arranged to meet our son and go there for a drink. The one barman was on the phone when they arrived. My wife took a seat and our son stood at the bar waiting to be served - and waited, and waited. The barman did not acknowledge him at all, not a "Sorry to keep you". or "Be right with you". He just carried on talking and pacing up and down whilst our son waited at the bar. After a few minutes they got fed up with it and walked out. So that is three customers who won't be returning.
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Nice pub conveniently next to the theatre.Split into two; one for dining and one for drinking. Both very nice.Worth a visit.
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Good beer selection, comfortable bar area, excellent outside area. Food is OK, but restaurant prices, so personally I'd go to a restaurant.
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Seemed more wine-bar like. But a good range of beer, including Bath Ales and Arbor Ales. Plenty of space out front if it's a nice evening and you want to watch the world go by about their business in Bath. Right next-door to the theatre, so time to there in the interval instead of the theatre bar!
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Things have improved at the Garricks since my original post below. Well, that was quite a while ago now...
They've divided the two rooms between eating and drinking - so no more confusion booting you off tables just because you are 'only' drinking and no more of certain members of staff looking down on you.
The beer prices haven't really gone up since then, when everwhere else in the city has, and the choice of beer has become more adventurous, but remain well looked after.
Still more of a nice place for a Sunday dinner than an evening of drinking but its a good place. If only they turn the theatre announcements down slightly...
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A warm welcome on a very wet day from one of the seven Bath pubs I visited on 8th December. very high quality Palmers bitter and although the food looked good it was pricely but then so was most of Bath. Nice pub though and would recommended.
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OK, if you want to watch football, drink crap lager and shovel down reheated lasgane and chips, the Garricks probably isn't for you. This is one of the few pubs in town that regularly serve beers from Milk Street in Frome and Matthews in Timsbury, plus Palmers, and ace cider from Burrow Hill - all well kept. Proper food too. Gastro it may be, and there is a big wine list, but it's fine if you just want a drink too. And sitting outside in one of the most interesting bits of Bath is a pretty good way of passing the time as well.
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Ig06111985 can't get out much there are two king william pubs in Bath one on the London road/Thomas St. and a rubbish one which I believe is in Landsdown which is the king william the IV. Bath city centre has a plethora of " proper pubs " and every now and again you need to eat something more than the reheated tripe that most places pass off as food. It may be expensive but that only reflects the cost of ingredients, labour etc. And not be crammed up next to some half-daft in a rugby top drinking fosters or some other attrocity. phew I must relax more.
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Nice inside, great place to take your mum for a drink. Beer good nice selection of spirits and the 8.50 cauliflower cheese is a myth. classic british food using top ingredients is the deal here and the portions are big enough. Rib of beef for 2 and goose fat chips and pint of Uleys forget the bill, enjoy.
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Um... yeah it's gone a little gaaasstro. As they book tables so you can't just turn up for a drink, they over-charge for beer (albeit well enough looked after) and they gouge �8.50 our of braying middle class ninnys for cauliflower cheese. There are numerous better places to go nearby. Except for the new one that has just opening in what used to be Broadley - that is even worse.
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Re-opened as a restaurant or gastropubthing- and an expensive one at that- rather than a proper pub. Seemingly all-new decor, although i'd never been in the old pub. Disappointed, as this could have been a real winner as a decent, large traditional oub in the centre of town.
Umm, and I don't think the King Billy is a pub- at least not in Bath!
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The Garricks Head has reopened. It now serves half a dozen real ales from the region, has a smoking and a non smoking bar and serves real food. The new landlords are Charlie and Amanda who also run the infamous King Billy on Thomas Street which is highly acclaimed as one of the better Bath pubs.
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It is also shut and has been shut for some time. Signs in the window promise that this is due to refurbishment but they've been saying that for two years.
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Half of this pub is devoted to the theatrical crowd, the offer half to the Gay crowd, with obviously some crossover.
Not everyones cuppa therefore, but not a bad pub in it's own way.
The Ginger Prince - 11 Aug 2004 15:29 |
