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John Bull Inn, Alnwick

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user reviews of the John Bull Inn, Alnwick

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

I was on holiday in Alnwick and couldn't believe my luck when I noticed the holiday rental my wife booked was about 100 yards away from this little gem.

Decent range of guest ales which change on a regular basis. Well kept and superb value for money. I was paying between £2.90 and £3.40 a pint. The locals all seem to appreciate that the Landlord makes an effort to keep his prices reasonable. Really I could not have been made more welcome and this has to be the friendliest pubs I've ever visited.
Not a flash pub, no pub food, just a good honest pub of the sort which are fast disappearing.
Great beer, great atmosphere. Really what more could anyone wish for if I lived in Alnwick it would definitely be my local.

slowprop - 10 Aug 2017 07:35
The John Bull was my last stop of the evening last Thursday before the long trip back to London. It does not open until 7pm. So this had to be the last pub I had planned. Several other people entered at the same time as me and a few more entered soon after. So it took a while for the landlord to clear the initial rush. The pub has a musty smell to it on first entering. But it's a really old-fashioned (in a nice way) backstreet local, the likes of which have been vanishing all over the country. The single room is split into two by a central partition, whilst there is a small outdoor seating area to the side with tables made out of bottles. 3 ales were available - Acorn Blonde, Hadrian Border Bandwagon & Black Country BFG. There were 2 ciders - Westons Old Rosie & Broadoak Moonshine, in addition to Broadoak Perry. Probably the best pub in Alnwick. Although the Tanners Arms runs it close and would probably be many people's favourite. I'd advise everybody to try them both one evening.
blue_scrumpy - 18 May 2016 17:45
Lovely pub. Friendly barman and nice atmosphere. My only disappointment was that they only had one local ale on - the others were from Scotland and Essex. If I'm around Alnwick again, I'll make sure I go back.
paul154 - 16 Sep 2013 16:34
The pub in Alnwick, open late and busy with good ales and loads of whiskys. It's a house up a side street.

rpf1955 - 27 Mar 2012 13:11
Good, good pub. Very well-kept real ales (I counted six handpulls but only three on), draught Hoegaarden, a whole raft of bottled Belgian beers and more single malts than you could wish for. The interior was a bit out-dated and 'club'-like, but still once you find this pub you might not want to leave. Also very knowleadgble barstaff, very enthusiastic about what they're selling and more than willing to chat. Nice little outside area to one side as well.
FightingFit - 12 Oct 2011 14:25
If you want to drink, I concur: the best pub in Alnwick by a long chalk. Usually at least 3 real ales on, up to 6 at weekends. All top quality, as they shift so much, nothing has time to go stale! A big variety of beers on offer, from all over the country (EG Skinners, from Cornwall, when I was there). Usually, there are different beers for each session, as the turnover is so fast.

I calculated approximately 130 different single malts available. Barman seems knowledgable on the malts - the wife tried one on his advice, and loved it.

Not many many visitors (as it's a bit hard to find) but busy with locals every night. However, they are friendly here - more than I can say for some of the pubs in Alnwick! A great, old-fashioned (in a nice way) atmosphere. A real, local boozer.

If you are in Alnwick, do not miss the opportunity to visit this fantastic little pub. If only there were more like it.

Note: only open evenings (most days), and no food.
bluebootycat - 26 Sep 2010 20:35
Cracking pub, the best in Alnwick (sadly not a hard competition to win). A good selection of rotating guest beers, a massive selection of whisky and bottled Belgian beers, friendly locals, board games, no terrible music and a barman who is one of the politest I have met...and an annual leek growing competition. Well worth seeking out.
monhiem1983 - 19 Sep 2010 10:38
Great back street pub, five minutes walk from the theatre and well worth seeking out. No piped muzak, no games machines, just excellent beer in a friendly atmosphere.
Excellent range of whiskies and Belgian beers, the latter also available to take away.
Yellerbelly - 25 Jul 2010 11:19
Truly excellent proper back-street pub, mostly seems to be frequented by locals but very friendly to strangers. Hard to find, but only a short walk from the town centre. There is a good range of Belgian beers on offer if the enthusiastically-kept choice of cask beers doesn't tempt you, and there are few pubs on Speyside, let alone England, with a better selection of malt whiskies. This is one of the best pubs I've been to anywhere.
newbury_drinker - 28 Jun 2010 09:53
Friendly, good beer - 4 on tap in Feb 09. Good locals pub.
Boongie - 15 Feb 2009 17:30
This is something else. A real old fashioned pub, with proper beer. Do yourself a favour, call in.
madgeordie - 8 Jan 2009 13:21
Wonderful back street pub with a lovingly kept selection of ales, including Belgian beers and a shelf full of whiskies. Order a Kwak in a wooden coach-horse glass, mind the air bubble, then work your way through the wealth of eclectic beers on offer.Avoid the numpties - settle down in the John Bull and drink yourself into quiet oblivion.
dableywolf - 26 Jun 2008 21:16
Went in on recomendation on a wet Tuesday night. Pleasent atmosphere with a large selection of whiskey and beer.
mrse1 - 16 Aug 2007 15:10
My friends and I were recently holidaying in the North East and were fortunate to visit this pub. There is a wonderful selection of ales. My friend Cheek and I unfortunately didn't have enough time to sample them all. The locals who frequent this pub are a friendly bunch who enjoy fine ale. They were very hospitable, inviting us to join in with the buffet on offer. If you are ever in Alnwick make sure you visit this fine pub.
MrEddie - 19 Dec 2006 15:36
A huge selection of well kept real ales and single malt whiskies. Nice, small walled, beer garden out the back
RoryMcKnight - 7 Mar 2006 22:46

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