The Old Post Office, Warwick

The seating behind planters, and a bit of trellis, on the path out the front of the Old Post Office was all taken during a recent Sunday afternoon visit, but thankfully it was less busy inside. There is some seating on a stone floored area by the entrance and then some steps lead up to the small bar area and then more steps lead up to some pew seating at the rear. This is a small pub so it wouldn’t take many to pack it out, thankfully it would seem that I visited at the ideal time to have a look around. The walls and ceiling are adorned with a host of oddities, including lots of ecclesiastical pictures, paintings and also a psalm number board. The was some mood music playing in the background, I’m not really sure why. The bar counter supports limited keg and four hand pumps, although there were five cask options of Fixed Wheel Brewery’s Wheelie Pale, Northampton Brewery’s Phipps IPA, Froth Blowers Brewing’s Barking Mad, North Cotswold Brewery’s Moreton Mild and a decent pint of Bass. This is a good pub, but I did find the young barman to be a bit frosty, he needs to lighten up a bit.

Quirky micro, where no expense has been spared on interesting nick nacks that can brighten up a place. A WWI fighter plane and a hot air balloon? We'll hang that from the roof. Stuffed and mounted animal heads.... that'll do for the walls. What can we do with a false leg? A lower drinking area. Bar reached by narrow steps. A good choice of cask (although I had not heard of the breweries) and craft keg. Pricing got me thinking. All keg is £6 and the ABV was less than a couple of the cask, which were all £3.80. So quite a considerable jump in price. Even the Irish Stout was £6. Personally, I dont mind paying more for higher ABV craft. Maybe just me. Glad, I wasnt in a round :-)

A good little micro. Its all a bit cramped inside but it is an interesting interior with all the trinkets dotted around as noted in other reviews. Quite full on my visit so it was standing out front for us. A good selection of real ale available. Worth a visit if in Warwick.

A quirky and interesting micro, with six ales and two ciders on our visit. I found the pub to very narrow and cluttered with small tables and stools around the front. It was also quite awkward to navigate with a handful of beer, especially down the steps to the front room and once the bar area had a few drinkers in, it was a nuisance excusing oneself on the way to the loo. The manageress was friendly and welcoming, and had good patience when choosing a beer. I went for the Abbeydale Deception and the Phipps IPA. The best chippy in Warwick is only a couple of doors down.

An enticing micropub which doesn't disappoint once inside. The reviews below paint the picture: it's an unusual space on two levels with a variety of tables, chairs, benches and stools all crammed in amongst an eclectic mix of decor. I was especially taken with the animal heads but you don't need a newspaper in here for a brief visit as there's plenty to look at. The service was friendly and knowledgeable on the beer front with tasters given as a matter of course. It attracts the discerning drinkers in Warwick and was fairly busy on our Thursday evening visit with locals and visitors alike. There is enough space here, unlike some micros, to avoid chatting with the other boozers if you wish but the atmosphere is still convivial. Beers on were: Prescott Track Record which deserved a second at least, Salopian Vapour Trail, Church End What The Fox's Hat, Youngs Special - why?, Byatts Platinum Blonde, Slaughterhouse Saddleback and Kendricks 1823 Mild. A fair selection with a number of local breweries represented. When asking about some of the unknowns I was warned when the strength crept up to 4% and that would be my only gripe here. Seven beers on with most 4% or below and one of those Youngs Special. Perhaps the selection could be a touch more adventurous. One of the best in Warwick for a beer as long as it isn't too strong.

I only had a very brief visit here as I had to dash off to get a bus. It's an unusual micropub in that the single room is on three different levels. The bar is in the middle and had several beers on which in my haste I only noted two, Stratford-On-Avon Stratford Gold and Phipps IPA. I went for the Phipps IPA (£3.00) which was in excellent nick. On an early Saturday afternoon there were a few locals in chatting with the friendly landlord. I'm giving it an 8 but suspect it may be worth a 9. It's one I'd really like to return to and may well do as I missed out on the Wild Boar up by the Railway Station.