The Wheeltapper, Loughborough

I visited the Wheeltapper not long after the 16:00 weekday opening so I was the only customer sat in this L-shaped bar with a short counter on the rear wall that faces a couple of tables to the left of the front entrance. Across the front windows to the left of these tables are a couple of sofas and in the far left is a dartboard. Some high tables and bench seating run up the right-hand wall and there’s a railway and beer theme on the walls throughout. The back bar and supporting pillars around the counter are plastered with old pumps clips, quite a collection is being amassed. During my visit the five hand pumps were drawing a very good Elgood’s Black Dog Mild alongside Little Brewing’s Epiphany, Hollow Stone Brewery’s Sorbeto Mango IPA, Shiny Brewery’s 4wood and Attic Brew Co’s Centro. There are also ten craft keg fonts on the back bar. I found the owner to be polite and I enjoyed the 1970s background music that could have come off my Spotify account, however there’s no character and it feels a bit like drinking in an office block. I would pop back in if passing, but only for one.

As described before a bare modern room on the ground floor of a modern block, it does have a railway theme which relives the modernity. One wall is covered with 1950/60s BR posters and there are many other railway references. Fairly basic craft bar type furniture but there’s a pleasant atmosphere. An L shape with a central counter, home to five pulls with well kept local beers and the standard 10 keg taps on the back wall with a mix of non Camra approved ciders and craft kegs. Lots of pump clips decorate the walls inside the counter. There’s a rear garden with a second entrance off an adjacent alley. It has a dart board but I’m not sure that qualifies it for the CAMRA Traditional Pub of the Year 2023 (3rd place) award it displays. It does however well deserve its GBG 2025 place.

Facebook page of The Wheeltapper - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Wheeltapper - www.facebook.com