by Bath is known for its history and has many venerable pubs. There are plenty of wood-lined, nooks-filled taverns in which to while away an afternoon, some with age-old features, others serving the best Sunday lunches and comfort food in town. A new generation of pubs, however, also aims to please, serving dozens of varieties of craft beer and cider in open-plan spaces designed for socialising.
For more Bath inspiration, check out our guide to the city and its best hotels, restaurants, bars and nightlife, things to do and places for afternoon tea.
Center
The Inn of the Bell
Robert Plant, Peter Gabriel and Michael Eavis helped support the community takeover of this much-loved Bath institution in 2013. The no-frills, slightly bohemian 18th-century pub on Walcot Street is the place to go city for regular and free live music. Sunday lunchtime and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings you could hear everything from jazz and blues to folk and roots and, as the pub says, ‘some things we don’t quite know what to call them’. There is also an open mic spot on Thursday nights and vinyl DJ sets on the weekend. The beer is also good – options on tap include Abbey Ales’ Bath-brewed Bellringer. Even pizzas in the garden at certain times.
Contact: thebellinnbath.co.uk
Price: £
The architect
In a prime, central location overlooking Orange Grove, this new venture calls itself a pub but that doesn’t really capture what’s on offer here. This is one of Bath’s most atmospheric places for a drink or a bite to eat. The high-ceilinged, leather-lined eating and drinking areas occupy the former dining rooms of what was once the Empire Hotel, a grand affair completed in 1901 and designed by Major Charles Edward Davis – the architect to whom refers. Davis was also responsible for opening the Roman Baths in the 1870s and 1880s. The Architect is open 9am-11pm daily and you can pop in for anything from a pint of Bath Ales’ Gem to cocktails , breakfast, afternoon tea and a full meal (traditional pub fare).
Contact: thearchitect.co.uk
Price: ££
Reservations: Recommended for dining
The old green tree
An old-fashioned, friendly, civilized pub in the center of the town, not far from the abbey, with pretty oak-panelled rooms and an open fire. Talkative locals who love this place say the beers are always superbly kept. There are also stacks of malt whiskeys to choose from – just ask Tim, the owner. It ticks the boxes for everything you could want from a traditional pub, and as such the food is secondary to its main focus, but soups, sandwiches and farmer’s lunches are still available (but only at lunchtime) . The pub gets busy on rugby match days.
Contact: 01225 448259; facebook.com/OldGreenTree
Price: £
The old green tree
An old-fashioned, friendly, civilized pub in the center of the town, not far from the abbey, with pretty oak-panelled rooms and an open fire. Talkative locals who love this place say the beers are always superbly kept. There are also stacks of malt whiskeys to choose from – just ask one of the friendly bartenders. It ticks the boxes for everything you could want from a traditional pub, and as such the food is secondary to its main focus, but soups, sandwiches and farmer’s lunches are still available (but only at lunchtime) . The pub gets busy on rugby match days.
The Inn of the Stars
This is Bath’s most entertaining traditional pub. Outside the Georgian area of The Paragon (actual address 23 The Vineyards), it dates back to 1760 and you can expect cosy, paneled rooms and an absence of music or fruit vending machines. Try an award-winning hoppy pint of Bellringer, brewed by Abbey Ales, Bath’s oldest brewery. Beers can also be ordered by the jug. Traditionally, generous free appetizers (mostly cheese) are offered on the counter on Thursday nights, and the first Sunday of the month is trivia night.
Contact: www.abbeyinnsbath.co.uk
Price: £
The Raven
This pub on cobbled Queen Street in Bath city center is normally a quiet place, but it hit the national headlines in April 2021 when one of the owners kicked Sir Keir Starmer off the premises over differing political views. It has previously been voted Bath pub of the year by CAMRA, so there is a good range of ales to choose from, including the honey-like Raven’s Gold. The pub’s hearty locally made pies are also recommended, with a variety of classic meat pies on offer, as well as a vegetarian option (usually a creamy goats cheese and sweet potato) and occasionally a vegan one too. Most diners sit upstairs, leaving the bar to those seeking dinner and good-natured chat.
Contact: theravenofbath.co.uk
Price: £
The Bath Brewery
With an on-site brewery and huge vats on display, this large venue right next to the Odeon cinema on James Street West has a spit-and-sawdust style and a 60s-70s soundtrack. Multi-colored picnic tables and fairy lights are scattered around the huge back yard. Craft beer fans might want to take a tour of the brewery, which runs twice daily at 12pm and 6pm (£7.50 per person). The menu includes pub classics like mac and cheese, fish and chips, and burgers.
Contact: thebathbrewhouse.com
Price: £
The boatman
The Boater is a short walk from the Ponte Vecchio-inspired Pulteney Bridge. An attractive webbed bay window welcomes you into a compact but pleasant main bar, with steps leading down to one of Bath city centre’s few large beer gardens, although it’s more of a courtyard, set back from the horseshoe weir of the river . This is a Fuller’s pub, so come here for the lager, craft ale and lager – wine and cocktails aren’t a specialty, although there’s often some house-brewed gin to sample. Pub grub is available. The place is absolutely buzzing on rugby match days.
Contact: boaterbath.co.uk
Price: £
The grape
This multifaceted freestanding house on Westgate Street is one of Bath’s oldest buildings. As a tavern it dates back to at least 1792; before it was accommodation for visitors heading to the nearby thermal baths. It has recently undergone a complete overhaul by owners Ellie and John Leiper. The heart of the enterprise is the downstairs bar, with mismatched tables and seating including salvaged bus seats, lots of Somerset and Bristol ales and ciders, and live blues, jazz and traditional Irish music usually three evenings a week. There is terraced seating in the front and back. Upstairs, a large room with an ornate Jacobean plaster ceiling is used at weekends as an izakaya bar (something like a Japanese version of a tapas bar) and at other times for various events such as life drawing classes and debates.
Contact: thegrapesbath.co.uk
Price: £
North
The Marlborough Tavern
This gastropub – all reclaimed furniture and autumnal colors – is a popular spot for an afternoon cider, and makes a handy stop if you’ve been visiting Royal Victoria Park or nearby Royal Crescent. On the weekend, it’s packed with families wanting lunch after a run on the park’s huge playground. The patio garden has many benches and is lined with trees. The roast dinners here are a favorite, although there’s plenty more on the menu, all freshly cooked. It’s dog-friendly, too—perfect, really, for all kinds of park life.
Contact: marlborough-tavern.com
Price: ££
Reservations: Recommended for dining
Hare and hounds
High up on the northern edge of Bath, this Victorian pub with a modern makeover (think huge paintings of cows on the walls) enjoys magnificent far-reaching views across the countryside. The scene is best appreciated from the picnic tables set on the giant open terrace and adjacent lawn; there is an open bar in the summer. The food is the other big draw: Hare & Hounds is one of Bath’s leading gastropubs. It keeps things simple and wins, in the form of house-made burgers, fish and chips, pork belly, steaks, Sunday roasts and sticky toffee pudding and local Marshfield ice cream. The place is popular with families and dog owners.
Contact: hareandhoundsbath.com
Price: ££
Reservations: Recommended for eating at home; the tables outside cannot be reserved
The pack horse
This dreamy pub in the heart of South Stoke, a beautiful little village on the southern outskirts of Bath, dates back to the early 1600s when it was an alehouse. It was recently saved from being transformed into a private residence by a heroic community takeover. Inside there are nooks and exposed beams and outside is a large, carefully tended tiered garden filled with lavender and roses and plenty of seating. The food is some of the best pub food in and around Bath, and local drinks on tap include Honey’s cider and Butcombe ale. Beautiful walks extend from the door, including along the rest of the Somersetshire Coal Canal.
Contact: packhorsebath.co.uk
Price: ££
Reservations: Recommended for dining
