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Thread: Worst Pub of the Year 2021

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  1. #1
    Between pubs sheffield hatter's Avatar
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    Default Worst Pub of the Year 2021

    It feels almost churlish to revive this thread after what has been a difficult year for pubs. Many commenters on this forum and elsewhere have noted how good the cask beer has been in the majority of pubs, as responsible, observant and competent licensees have dealt with the slow reopening of pubs by stocking fewer cask beers than before, thereby ensuring that good quality is maintained. Sadly, this has also meant that some city centre pubs, notably in London, have stopped offering cask beers altogether.

    Also noteworthy is the way that regulations have brought out the best, and sadly, the worst, in some pub managers. I have tried not to criticise where this has impacted on my experience, but inevitably it is sometimes hard not to let a trace of irritation creep in when writing a review.

    Despite having about 30 pubs still to write up on Pubs Galore, I am confident in identifying the very few that have provided poor experiences for me.

    No pub that I visited in 2021 merited such a low score as 1 or 2.

    The following pubs deserved a rating of 3 in my reviews of visits in 2021:

    The Fountain Inn, Ingbirchworth
    Rose Villa Tavern, Birmingham

    Given that the former at least provided some amusement, and to be fair the beer wasn't utterly dreadful, my award for worst pub of the year must, somewhat reluctantly, go to the Rose Villa Tavern, a beautiful building being run as a pub with what can only be described as an astonishing level of neglect.
    Come On You Hatters!

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    Pub researcher (unpaid) rpadam's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sheffield hatter View Post
    No pub that I visited in 2021 merited such a low score as 1 or 2.

    The following pubs deserved a rating of 3 in my reviews of visits in 2021:

    The Fountain Inn, Ingbirchworth
    Rose Villa Tavern, Birmingham

    Given that the former at least provided some amusement, and to be fair the beer wasn't utterly dreadful, my award for worst pub of the year must, somewhat reluctantly, go to the Rose Villa Tavern, a beautiful building being run as a pub with what can only be described as an astonishing level of neglect.
    You probably won't be too surprised to know that the Rose Villa Tavern is closing today... with Star Pubs & Bars looking for a new operator.

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    Between pubs sheffield hatter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by rpadam View Post
    You probably won't be too surprised to know that the Rose Villa Tavern is closing today... with Star Pubs & Bars looking for a new operator.
    That's good news.
    Come On You Hatters!

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    It wasn't me Quinno's Avatar
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    Three pubs with a score of 1

    Spread Eagle, Ipswich
    The Spread Eagle

    Turtle Bay, Swansea (yes of course it isn't really a pub but people insist on listing them here so...)
    Turtle Bay

    White Horse, Headington
    White Horse

    For an all-round atrociousness, it has to be the White Horse. If I could have scored 0.5 for it, I would have.
    Last edited by Quinno; 02-01-2022 at 22:35.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Quinno View Post
    White Horse, Headington
    White Horse

    For an all-round atrociousness, it has to be the White Horse. If I could have scored 0.5 for it, I would have.
    Been past any number of times due to proximity to the JR and occasionally been tempted to kill an hour there rather than sitting in the car with a petrol station sandwich.

    Just as well that temptation was resisted.

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    Pub researcher (unpaid) rpadam's Avatar
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    This year's selection has actually been better than most, but two Kent contenders for this award stand out:
    • With a score of 3, the Ship Inn, Cobham (where initial looks deceive)
    • But alone the bottom of the heap, the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone (where they don't...)

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    Quote Originally Posted by NickDavies View Post
    Been past any number of times due to proximity to the JR and occasionally been tempted to kill an hour there rather than sitting in the car with a petrol station sandwich.

    Just as well that temptation was resisted.
    I've glided past countless times on the bus nearing 30 years (and last Wednesday) and it must be the least appealing pub with an OX postcode. Reviewed in September, I can't imagine how much worse it must be when filled with the hoards of students from Brooke's over the road.

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    I Keep Mine Hidden Delboy20's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sheffield hatter View Post
    That's good news.
    Not sure it's good news to be honest.

    The place needs a change of ownership to be sure but it won't be "good news" if it never opens again.

    I for one really hope it gets a new lease of life because it has been a fine pub over the years and would be a sad loss to the area.


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    Between pubs sheffield hatter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Delboy20 View Post
    Not sure it's good news to be honest.

    The place needs a change of ownership to be sure but it won't be "good news" if it never opens again.

    I for one really hope it gets a new lease of life because it has been a fine pub over the years and would be a sad loss to the area.
    Yes, obv I didn't mean it was good news that it was shut! It's good news that the pubco has realised that the person running it was not doing a good enough job and is now looking for someone else. It's a beautiful building, outside and in, and it would be a major surprise if no one of above average ability came forward to take it on.
    Come On You Hatters!

  10. #10
    Just Missed the Round
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    Do you all have really good memories? Or is there a way of pulling your reviews for the year and sorting by lowest score given?

    I have had some disappointing experiences this year, but where I felt it would be unfair to criticise too much (eg pub only just re-opened after lockdown and finding its feet, or pub didn't fare well compared to previous positive visits so I put it down to a one-off) I tended not to leave a rating anyway, so perhaps that would miss some contenders from my own visits.

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