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| Arkell's brewery, it's old you know | |
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Arkells dates back to 1843 and is still run by the original family. Remains very much in the 'regional brewer' tradition, of which there used to be dozens and dozens and now sadly are very few.
A smallish range of beers, a hundred or so tied houses, and steeped in its locality. Arkells has a long association with Swindon Town FC, witness the Arkells Stand you will probably be in.
2B (session) and 3B (Best) are its older beers, dating back to the early years of the Nineteenth Century. Kingsdown Ale was originally created to celebrate Swindon Town's winning of the League Cup in 1969. It went into regular production in the mid-Seventies as the demand for stronger beers increased, it's 5%.
More recently the brewery has followed the market further with the introduction of an organic honey ale called Bee's, and most recently a smooth called er, Smooth.
Archers Golden Lion; no longer with us, I'm getting all tearful
Glue Pot: 5 Emlyn Square, SN1 5BP
After that build up I'm recommending a pub that sells beer brewed in Salisbury, but still in Wiltshire, and it's very good. 10 minutes walk from the rail station. Best way from there is to go in a straight line from the station, past the GW Hotel on the left turning right at the lights, walk past several pubs, but don't be tempted, keep going in a straight line, it's hidden away on the right.
This is a great pub, small but perfectly formed. It has a fine choice of beers, Hopback/Downton, and for those of you who like cider there is a good choice as well. A good old fashioned local and if you like a decent pint then this is the place to start. Serves basic pub grub, well cooked. 20 minutes to the ground, get back on Manchester Road on the map below.
The Merlin: Drove Road.
'Sports Bar' orientated pub around five or so minutes walk south of the stadium. Has 8 TV's, 2 plasma TV's, a 67" plasma screen, 3 pool tables, dartboard, and video juke box. Real ales are Greene King IPA, Ruddles County, and a rotating guest.
Also on draught are Fosters, Kronenbourg, Stella, Carlsberg, John Smiths, Guinness, Guinness Extra Cold, Strongbow Cider. All lagers are served iced - if that excites you. Food is served lunchtime and early evening. There are parking spaces for 40+ cars. Strictly over 18's, away fans welcome but NOT in colours used to be the rule but not sure if that's still the case.
The Tap and Barrell: 115, Manchester Road.
See the floodlights:
And you can, to the left
Straight up from the station, go back down towards Corporation Street and all roads right lead to the County Ground, 20 minutes
Not as far way as it looks, at the end of Drove Road, past the Park, is the ground
The old Archers brewery; now a gastropub!
Weybridge Brewhouse; Penzance Drive, SN5 7JL
Anthony and Allyson Windle, who also run the Three Crowns in nearby Brinkworth, bravely bought the old brewrey buildings in November 2010 and re-opened the hostelry in August of this year.
Three beers are brewed on the premisesand there are also three guest beers available on handpump.
However, the beers will not carry the famous Archers name, sadly that was purchased by the Evan-Evans brewery in Llandeilo, Wales!
Weybridge Brewhouse; to the left on Penzance Drive to the west of Swindon station
Saracens Hotel; High Street, Highworth, SN6 7AG
Easy to get to, especially if driving in from the M4 is Highworth on the edge of the Coltswolds, as the estate agents would say, and only 7 miles from Swindon.
Leave at Junction 15 and on to the A419 into Swindon, turn off at the Rat Trap Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto the A361 (signposted Highworth, Burford).
It's home to several pubs, all within walking distance, and all pretty good!
However, our choice would be be the Saracens Hotel down the High Street. All the Arkells range on offer and a regularly changed guest ale. Always employs a fine chef for food before and after the game. (Or there's the Wine Cellar next door, a true freehouse.)
Leave the car there, there's a car park opposite the Saracens, and get the No. 7 to the ground or drive into town but give yourself a good hour hour due to traffic and finding a parking space.
The No. 7 can also be caught from the main Swindon bus station, near the train station. Buy a day rider plus (£4.00) from the driver, 30 mts. journey.
Leave by 14.00 but can get off one stop earlier by the County Road, you'll see the crowd.
Website: www.saracenshead.co.uk/
Sarancen's Head; It's at the end of the arrow!
Click on to Shrimpers Travel, found on the main page at www.southendunited-mad.co.uk, for the quickest and most cost effective ways left to get to Swindon.
(Thanks to www.beerintheevening.com & www.pubsgalore.co.uk for the use of their photos.)