Ye Old Farmhouse

No Longer In Business

The landlord of Ye Old Farmhouse has changed several times since Chris O’s visit and it now has little to differentiate itself from other pubs in Bath that sell Wadworth’s beers. Indeed, there are a few in the city centre,so there is little need to trek up the hill to try them. As of late 2009 became an Abbey Ales pub, so the range on offer has improved. UPDATE: Pub is now closed and being converted into a clinic and offices.

If you’re thinking of visiting this place, don’t bother. Rude staff, expensive drinks, bad atmosphere, and they forced a band to stop playing their set after a mere 6 minutes and threatened to call the police because it was apparently "too loud". For a place that claims to be "Bath’s premier music venue", this is a complete and utter joke, especially as the band in question had travelled from the Netherlands to play the gig. There are many fantastic pubs in Bath, but this certainly isn’t one of them. Avoid this place like the plague!

Way up the hill, attached to the Abbey Ales brewery, whose beers tend to be very good. A bit scuffy, this place, but friendly and the beer is good. Only about 4 handles.

Adjacent to the Abbey Ales brewery and has their beers. Uphill from the old town, it felt to me like a one-round pub and not a priority visit for Bath. However, we were there during the day when it was slow and boring. Friday night is jazz night--have not checked that out so don’t know what kind of jazz or what the crowd is like. They do have a small beer garden, a cozy, spacious interior and warmer service than many of the other Bath institutions. Also, a visit here can be easily combined with a visit to the Star, which is one of the most characterful pubs in Bath and well worth the trek!

Bit of a Bath institution, this place. Back in the 1970s, when I first visited, this was the pre-eminent real ale pub in Bath. Its a Wadworth house these days (which might be useful if you are in the area and need the Wadworth beers). Usually has three of four Wadworth beers on tap, including Bishops Tipple (which is not always that easy to find) plus Abbey Bellringer and, maybe, another guest. In fact, although not owned by Abbey Ales, its the closest pub to the brewery, which is actually round the back of the pub. So, if you are doing a tour of the brewery (not sure whether they are doing them regularly these days) its a convenient watering hole. Free live jazz music every night is a big draw. The landlord, Dave Bradshaw, has been there for donkeys years and even has his picture on the pub sign. Its a Victorian, street corner boozer, that’s looking a bit frayed round the edges these days but there’s something about the atmosphere that makes it a pleasant place for a drink, particularly if its a weekend and all the city centre pubs are jammed solid. Lots of jazz and Bristol Rovers (which is a bit tough to swallow for a City man) memorabilia. Be prepared for a short, but steep, walk out of town. Does food but I don’t know what its like.