I for one have never particulary liked Doom Bar, Cornish Coaster or their Eden ale. Some of their stronger bottled beer is good though and their Head brewer Stuart Howe is probably one of the best around in large breweries. Some of the specialities are supposed to be good allthough I am yet to come across one.
I have maintained that Doom Bar is the new Courage Best of the South following the latter's steady slide and decline since the Bristol brewery closed. Indeed I started a thread on the Troll pit on the dominance of Doom Bar when their forum was still going.
So for me a state of ambivalance, alltough I am always sorry to see breweries closed like those mentioned above, I cannot see much change in this neck of the woods. Perhaps those further North should look out!