Latest reviews from Hinckley
| 60 /100 New Baron of Hinckley (Bar) 5-7 REGENT ST “Weird place this. It used to be a Wetherspoons, and the layout is sort of like the corpse of a Wetherspoons (upstairs toilet, 80s carpets etc). It's pretty town centre and macro so wouldn't normally merit inclusion except for the fact that it's been bought by Elmesthorpe Brewery. They aren't particularly notable in their own right but they are competent enough if mega-traditional, and you can try 2 of their beers on cask, among the easily available stuff. So there are better pubs in Hinckley but it's half a step up from its former self. Plus a half a handful of Leicestershire ticks. And it's really cheap and friendly.“ |
| 90 /100 26 STATION ROAD “Build it and they shall come. In the previously dry outback town of Hinckley (142 pubs serving lukewarm dimpled mugs of Marston’s Burton Bitter) has arisen a mirage made real; a small miracle. It’s one of my favourite beer places on Earth. And I’ve been to Kulminator when the owner has fallen asleep and left the cat in charge. Chalkboard of knowingly-curated rarities from cutting edge craft concerns I’ve never heard of. That said Cloudwater, BBN, Siren, Twisted Barrel, Kernel, Wylam, Almasty, Shiny, Neon Raptor, Wiper and True are repeat features. Never dreamt these beers would come near to Hinckley. Unless it was to my house. But it happened. The usual format is 4-5 casks, 4-5 kegs. Real time online updates. Dogs. Toddlers. Babies. My 2 year old is a regular (he's not the youngest) and has always been made welcome. Hipsters. Tickers. Hot Young Ladies on the gin. Don’t forget the gin. Who knew these people lived in HNK? A tasteful selection of bottles and cans too. But really, why bother? Always something rare, unexpected and humming emerging from behind the sliding glass doors. CAMRA discount. But the murkiness and flavour of the beers on offer will send your average CAMRA beard home foaming with apoplexy, bewailing these new-fangled ales that look like chicken soup and taste of shower gel. Socialist realist artwork. Dog-like industrial chic, down to the fairylit ducting and cracked plate glass windows (EDIT: now replaced). Probably desperate patrons trying to get in. Closed Mondays. Too full Fri and Sat, but it's a bijou place. Overspill patio seating on the kerb outside. Been that desperate I’ve sat out front in sub zero temperatures, post run, my head a Krakatoa of steam. I can’t wait for Tuesdays to roll around. Your only problem will be getting a seat, or through the door at busy moments. The most compelling reason yet to visit Hinckley. In fact, the only reason. Value irrelevant: many of these beers are rare, not easy to source and don’t come to Hinckley. Coventry. Leicester. Maybe Brum. My only criticism (and it’s a petty one) is the awful piped new age acoustic musak which makes Ed Sheerhan sound like Slayer. Otherwise, Brilliant.“ |
| 70 /100 Rugby Road Wine Cellars (Beer Store) 82 RUGBY ROAD “great selection of German beers“ |
| 78 /100 26 STATION ROAD “Ok, now we're talking. Almost certainly the best place in town, would be better if not for the very loud accordion player as entertainment on a Thursday night (but by God they do get the punters in). They've got it all covered with decent cask beers, a keg from Verdant and an enticing bottle selection. The crowds suggest that the good people of Hinckley are gagging for decent craft beer, and they're getting it here. Would be a winner in most towns.“ |
| 72 /100 Pestle & Mortar (Bar) 81 CASTLE STREET “As a rule, micropubs are decent places to drink, and this is no exception. It's very crowded and very traditional with nine cask beers, nine ciders, a couple of keg and a mead available. None of the offerings will knock your socks off but you have plenty of choice, and you'll almost certainly get your ticking arm going. Maybe not the best place in town, but one that would merit a slight detour.“ |
| 72 /100 White Bear (Bar) COVENTRY ROAD “One of the better Steamin' Billy pubs. Large and open plan although there are two fairly separate areas to the left and right of the bar as you come in. It's been recently refurbished so it's got a bit of that 'new pub' feel. The cask selection is a bit pedestrian: a couple Steamin' Billy beers alongside the likes of Derby. However there were a couple of nice beers on keg (Salty Kiss and Brooklyn's Scorcher) and a decent can selection. The 'craft' cans are £3 from 12-7 and contain decent offerings from Alphabet and Electric Bear alongside Vedett and Grimbergen. Worth seeing what's available.“ |
