BATH
trail 1 - upper trail
Bath is a large city in Somerset with a population of about 89,000 augmented by over a million staying visitors a year and a further 3 million day visitors. These tourists are attracted by the historical and cultural activities in Bath.
The Romans built baths and a temple here and Bath Abbey was founded in the 1600s. Bath’s real rise to prominence was in the Georgian era when the spa waters were believed to help cure disease. During this time the Georgian city was built and the population increased, and Beau Nash organised the social life for the city. Jane Austen famously lived here in the early 1800s.
Bath has a wide variety of pubs catering for all tastes ranging from Cocktail bars to old corner beer pubs; four storey monsters to four tiny rooms; touristy places to locals only (preferably); young and old.
26 pubs split into two rings of 13 and each trail will start from the Pulteney Bridge - the one with shops on it - that crosses the river Avon
Bath - upper ring (RED ICONS)
From Pulteney Bridge walk directly away from the bridge towards the city centre. Turn right at the top and then go quickly left on to Upper Borough Walls. Walk up here to find Sam Wellers just before the cross roads. From here walk back and turn up an alley just to the left of it. In this alley is The Volunteer Riflemans Arms. At the end of the alley turn left onto New Bond St then curve right up Milsom St and turn right again into Green St. Down here on the right is The Old Green Tree. Continue down Green St and turn left and a little along, across the road, is The Saracen’s Head. Continue along this street to the corner where there is The Pig and Fiddle.
Leave here by the garden exit and walk down then left along Walcot St. This is your longest walk to a next pub. As the street eventually rises a little on the left side is The Bell. Continue up Walcot St to the busy junction and turn round to the left and walk up to reach a row of Georgian houses. You should see across the road The Star Inn.
Continue walking along The Paragon and turn first right up the short but steep Hay Hill. At the top cross over and veer right to go down Alfred St to The Assembly Inn. Now cross over and to the right go down the lane to reach George St. Across on the left is Revolution and along to the right is the Slug and Lettuce.
After the Slug & Lettuce walk to the corner and turn down Gay St. Turn first left into Old King St and at the end is Hall & Woodhouse. Leaving here turn down to the right and find The Salamander on the left and further down on the corner The Raven.
Walk down to the second intersection and you are back on Upper Borough Walls where the first pub was.
Sam Wellers
Sam Wellers is a two roomed traditional bar and offers traditional pub grub. There is seating and small tables at the front of the room then the servery on the back right wall with more seating opposite it. Then there is a second room through from this area with seven tables for ding or sitting quietly. Dog friendly.
Have a pint here
Real ale: Bombardier Pale Ale; Landlord; Doom Bar; Butcombe Gold
Lager: Fosters; Heineken
Cider: Stowford press; Blackthorn Guinness
The Volunteer Riflemans Arms
The Volunteer Riflemans Arms is up an alley and has some outside seating in front of the pub. The pub itself is a small one room bar with the servery in the centre of the right wall. It has a cluttered and a busy well lived in feel to it. Prominent colour is red and walls have some military memorabilia. Disabled access. Lunches only. Dog friendly.
Have a pint here
Real ale: Lighthouse (red Rock); Exmoor Gold; The Volunteer
Rifleman Arms Best Bitter; Butcombe Original
Lager: Amstel; Heineken; Peroni
Cider: Dry Blackthorn; Thatcher’s Gold; Skorryon Cider (real) Guinness
The Old Green Tree
The Old Green Tree, Bath
The Old Green Tree, Bath - small lounge to the left
The Old Green Tree, Bath - main servery
The Old Green Tree, Bath
The Old Green Tree, Bath - corridor room
The Old Green Tree is much as it was when refurbished in 1926. It consists of two rooms either side of the servery. These rooms are connected via a wide corridor where the main servery counter is with some stools but rest standing. Each of the panelled rooms can be served via the end of the counter or through the door. The first room is first on the left, then the lobby bar and further on to the left the back lounge. The first room has bench seating along window and three tables and the only window to the street while the lobby area has light from above. Lunchtime meals
Have a pint here
Described in Britain’s Best Real Heritage Pubs (CAMRA Books)
Good Beer Guide 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025
Real ale: Exmoor Gold; Butcombe Original; Incognito (Plains); Maverick (Blindman’s); Butcomble Bitter
Lager: Veltins; Budweisser
Cider: Ashton Press; Honey’s Midford cider
Saracen’s Head
Saracen’s Head is a Green King pub which has two entrances as it stretches between two different streets. It claims to be the oldest pub in Bath running since 1713. Entering from the door on the higher up of the streets there is a central servery in the middle of the room. There is seating either side of the door and down the right-hand side opposite the servery. The left side is mainly for standing. Beyond the servery there is a smaller area with dark wood tables and chairs. Meals lunch and evening.
It would be better if staff quietened down rowdy customers.
Have a half pint here
Real ale: Green King IPA; Abbot; Amplified; London Glory; Otter; Doom Bar
Bitter: East Coast
Lager: High and Dry; Estrella
Cider: Thatcher’s Haze; Thatcher’s Gold; Kopparberg Guinness
The Pig and Fiddle
Pig and Fiddle, Bath - view to back, main area, servery up to the right
Pig and Fiddle, Bath - front
Pig and Fiddle, Bath - side and beer garden
Pig and Fiddle, Bath - view to front
Pig and Fiddle is a corner pub with a small front and a long side stretching down the road and becoming a beer garden and rear entrance. From the front there is a long wooden floored room with a few steps half way downs it and then the room continues to patio doors opening onto the beer garden. At the front there is a mixture of styles of tables and seating on both sides with the right side having a glass ceiling letting in lots of light to what would otherwise be a dark room. Up the steps and the beamed ceiling is closer. Along to the right just after the steps is the servery, which is in dark narrow space which is also the path to another room round to the right. Food is served and is family and dog friendly.
Good Beer Guide
Have a pint here
Real ale: Butcomble Original;; Big Cheese (Redemption); London Pride; Once bitten (Woodfordes); Hakka (Butcombe)
keg: Bohemian ; Goram (Butcombe)
Lager: 1664; Carling; San Miguel; Mahou
Cider: Ashton Press; Thatcher’s Gold Guinness
PUB QUIZ
Who was the Roman Goddess of the dawn?
Answer at foot of page
The Bell Inn ★
The Bell Inn is a community pub owned by 536 of its regulars since 2013. Entrance has door to right to bar and left to lounge although once inside the two are not separate and the servery runs between them. This lounge looks as if it is up on a big stage and is rather sparse but music is on Mon, Wed and Sunday lunchtime. Covered outside seating space serving pizza.
Have a pint here
Good Beer Guide regular including 2023, 2025
CAMRA Bath and Borders pub of the year 2014; Independent Bath Awards POTY 2015; Bath Chronicle POTY 2013
Real ale: Otter; Butcombe Origimnal; Abbor Oz Bomb; Summer Lightning; Golden Bold (Box); Great Bustard (Stonehenge Ales); Dagger’s edge (Three Daggers)
Lager: 1664; Fosters; Kosel; Birra Moretti
Cider: Wildside ; Ashton Press
The Star Inn ★ ❤
The Star Inn, Bath - counter at main entrance
The Star Inn, Bath - counter at middle room
The Star Inn, Bath - outside
The Star Inn, Bath - side room
The Star Inn, Bath - servery
The Star Inn, Bath - main room
The Star Inn underneath a Georgian terrace and existing at it has been since a 1928 refurbishment (although first licensed in 1760s). Coming in the entrance there is a small lounge to the left. Moving on there is a small snug, with a bench, which is served from the side of the servery. Continuing to the left is another small room with a fireplace. Finally, through to the main room with the servery on the right and which has table and bench seats either side of the fireplace. There is a corridor further on to a side exit where darts can be played. Rooms are panelled with glass at top to spread the light otherwise the window is behind the servery. As well as pumps there are two barrels on the floor at the back of the servery. Often beer, even from pumps, is poured into a large jug before being dispensed into your pint. No meals, just rolls and music on Fridays.
This is the brewery tap for Abbey Ales
Have a pint here (closed 2.30 to 5.30 during week)
Described in Britain’s Best Real Heritage Pubs (CAMRA Books)
Good Beer Guide 2023, 2024, 2025
Real ale: Bass; Broadside; Tunnel Vision (Box); Bellringer (Abbey Ales)
Lager: Prevha
Cider: Thatcher’s cheddar valley; Thatcher’s Gold; Guinness
The Assembly Inn ★
The Assembly Room, Bath - outside
The Assembly Room, Bath - left hand bar
The Assembly Room, Bath - rear outside seating
The Assembly Room, Bath - right dining area
The Assembly Room, Bath - right lounging area
The Assembly Room, Bath - left bar
The Assembly Room, Bath - right small servery
The Assembly Inn (Abbey Ales) has two large rooms, lounge to the right and two pool tables in the left room, with servery catering for both rooms although larger in the pool side. The lounge has couches and low tables by window and a variety of table and chair shapes and sizes in rest of room. The left-hand room is still attractively decorated despite the emphasis on pool, white to dado then grey if plaster and white if wood. A Sports bar, with SkyBT and 3D TV, but not in your face about it despite the two pool tables. There is a small garden to the rear and outside seating at the front. Dog friendly.
Have a pint here.
Real ale: Bath Best; Bellringer; White Friar (all Abbey Ales ); Bedrock Bitter (Keystone)
Bitter: Punk; East Coast IPA
Lager: Staroperaman; Prevha; Bath craft Lager
Cider: Thatcher’s Gold; Thatcher’s Haze; Thatcher’s Dry Guinness
Revolution
Revolution is an attractive large room with large windows letting in lots of light and a long servery along the right-hand wall. There are stools by the counter, tall tables beyond this then a mixture of different table and chair combos. Tiled below counter and just in front of it with wooden floor for rest of the room. The tall ceiling gives room to show off the ducting and lots of small searchlights hang down. The emphasis is on cocktails and shots in 1, 6 or 10 sticks and service is slick. Lots of world and craft lagers in bottles.
Have a half pint
Bitter: Gem (off both days visited)
Lager: Budweisser; Amstel; Mahau; Peroni
Cider: Magners Guinness
Slug and Lettuce
Slug and Lettuce is a youth orientated pub busy with cocktails of a Saturday evening and offering food to tourists during the day. It has several distinct drinking and relaxing areas. Neat wee entrance hall then through to a bar on the right with seating in front of window and in middle of room; tall tables close to bar and smaller ones around the room. The servery starts half way along the long wall and curves round to the left. Opposite servery is a room with tables and armchairs. Around to the left the pub opens up to a seating area then up a few steps to larger dining style space and then onto pleasant outdoor seating. Cocktails take ages to get served. Food and family friendly.
Have a half pint
Real ale: Doom bar
keg: Punk
Lager: Stella; 13 Hop; Amstel; Estrella; Peroni
Cider: Thatcher’s Gold; Stowford Press
Hall and Woodhouse ★
Hall and Woodhouse is named after the brewers of Badger ale range. This is a giant of a place covering several floors of an old auctioneers with the top floor being a rooftop terrace. The bottom floor is the main drinking area while the floors above have a restaurant and private dining areas.
The bottom floor with its high ceiling has a copper clad servery running along the right-hand wall with the pillars closest to the servery also copper clad. This downstairs is split into different style drinking areas; immediately to the left of the entrance is the Potting Shed area with armchairs and wicker chairs. Further on opposite the beginning of the servery is a rustic coffee shop. In the middle of the room there is sofa seating on a rug by the large curved staircase and along the window wall is some bench seating. Beyond the staircase and dominated by the fireplace and bookcases on the rear wall there is table seating and some sofas in what is called The Common Room.
Have a pint here
Real ale: C and C; Tanglefoot; Fursty Ferret; Best Bitter (all Badger)
Bitter: Owlers IPA
Lager: 1664; Peroni; Amstel; Birra Moretti; Caledonia Hop Lager
Cider: Thatcher’s Gold
The Salamander
The Salamander looks like an old bar but is a successful modern copy. The main ground floor has three separate seating areas. Round to the right where the servery is on the side wall there are tables by the window and stools along the counter. Further on there are two seating areas to the right and left both with high backed benches and cushioned seating and tables. The whole pub is wooden panelling and floorboards. The stairs beyond the entrance lead to plenty of upstairs seating.
Regular in Good Beer Guide, including 2023, 2024, 2025
Have a pint here
Real ale: Prophecy; Barnsley; Gem; Special Pale Ale (all Bath Ales )
Lager: Amstel; Birra Moretti; Korev;
Cider: Thatcher’s Gold; Thatcher’s Haze Dark Side (Bath)
The Raven ★
The Raven, Bath - downstairs
The Raven, Bath - upstairs
The Raven, Bath - front
The Raven, Bath - downstairs
The Raven is a two-floor pub; bar downstairs and lounge/ restaurant upstairs. Downstairs the servery is to the left-hand side of the back wall. There is seating around the sides and to the right of the bar with small tables. Upstairs the smaller servery is at the top right corner with the room laid out with tables down both sides. The Raven is famous for its pies and does food on a Sunday evening rather than a lunchtime roast and then food stops as in most places. Expansion
Famous for Kier Stammer getting flung out of it during the coronavirus crisis.
Regular in Good Beer Guide, including 2023 , 2024, 2025
Have a pint here.
Real ale: Raven Ale; Raven Gold (Blindmans); Summer Light (Otter); Damson Porter (Burton Bridge); Town Mill best (Lymme Regis); XT Unfined 666
Lager: Tuborg; San Miguel; Korev; Grimbergen Blonde (Grimbergen)
Cider: Lilley Wild Dog Cider; Devon Mist; Sheep’s Cider London Stout
PLACES TO VISIT WITH PUBTRAILS
The towns and villages highlighted on this web site have a wide variety of pubs and beers in them. All of the places are great to visit, whether for a day or longer, and most have tourist attractions for all of the family.
There is a large variety of pubs throughout the different towns shown below. Some you may wish never to visit again but even discovering these can be interesting. There are pubs that you would not take your wife into. While some you could not take your girlfriend into. A few you would not take either into. However, most of the pubs are very pleasant.
HOME MAP of places visited
Alnwick Ambleside Anstruther Bakewell Bamburgh Barnard Castle Bath Berwick upon Tweed Birnam & Dunkeld Bourton on the Water Bowness on Windermere Bridge of Allan Chester Chichester Dunblane Dunoon Edinburgh Ely Fort William Glasgow Gourock Greenock Helensburgh Inverness Kelso Keswick Knaresbourgh Largs Linlithgow Lyme Regis Melrose Montrose Newton Stewart North Berwick Norwich Oban Pebbles Penzance Portree Pitlochry Quorn Richmond Rothesay St Andrews Seahouses Seend Shrewsbury Skipton Stirling Stratford-upon-Avon Stockton Heath Whitby Windemere Whitstable York
“Wine is sunlight held together by water.”
— Galileo Galilei
ANSWER: Aurora