Cheltenham - Town Centre(ish) Pubs

Dress up, come to Cheltenham, get drunk, and pull a funny face

Visitors and residents of the town cannot have failed to have noticed the recent increase in drinking establishments. So, as they are not yet featured on this site, get yourself down to The Toad, Hogshead, Bar Med et al, send in your review when you have sobered up, and get your name on the Internet. Woo hoo!

(Review supplied by Adam Davis). If you like waiting twenty minutes to get served, having to walk around with your elbows pointing inwards to avoid knocking into the scummy looking people, getting fags stubbed out on your cheek, spending a fiver on two pints, watching as the average size of bar maid increases weekly, then Peppers is the place for you. JD Peppers is in the Guiness Book of Records for being the busiest yet shittest pub. Despite pubs that are a million times better being less than five minutes walk away, the management still manage to attract far too many people into this overpriced and over populated 'pre-club' drinking point. If you have enough of Peppers don't ever consider the Slug And Lettuce because it is the same, only with a slight increased chance of actually sitting down!

(Review kindly supplied by someone with no name). Cheltenham's biggest and, in it's short history, probably the most popular pub is far too large to be a pub and should become a club to make it the hottest night spot for the under 18s. With it being packed on Friday and Saturday nights it's hard to find a seat so bring your own.

There is a great atmosphere and with no trouble that I've ever witnessed, so why so many bouncers? As the bouncers are too busy mentally undressing all the females on the premises to notice the minors entering the bar staff (even the glass collectors) take the law into their own hands by I.D.ing those who look under age. The staff are competent enough except for the fat blonde with attitude, but try your luck at chatting up the sexy coloured girl with braids most blokes try. Anyway, in my opinion, the "Furkin" for short is most definitely largin' it.

(Review kindly sent by Haris Michael). The F&F is a great place to go if you are from South America or if you just like the Latino music. The Fish called by some is a hip place to go with your new found mates from college. It is exceptionally good because it has been issued with a club licence therefor not having to close at 11pm but, yes, 2.30pm! The Fish is situated opposite the Town Hall, the bouncers look mean but trust me, they are big softies at heart! The Fish can also be a bit preppie as a lot of people from Pates hang around inside but most of the women are attractive. That's if you can take their annoying snobby voices! On the whole the place is not that bad and if you are with a good crowd you will have a bomb. The best days to go are on Thursday through to Saturday!

Local barman points to milk as he pours a traditional Cheltenham cup of tea

Its been said that to be considered a true 'Cheltonian' one has to have been born within the sound of the 'Dobells'. In a traditional setting this comfortably busy, centrally located 'boozer' can offer a large selection of wines, beers, spirits and cigarettes. "Thats all very well" i hear you say "but is there the usual array of savoury snacks that we have come to expect?". Of course! As well as keeping your hunger and thirst at bay the Dobells offers mental and visual stimuli in the form of arcade and fruit machines. Don't expect a lock on the cubicles if you decide to 'check your lottery numbers' three pints into the evening as these were removed long ago to fall into line with standards in the North.

Afterwork drinkers can reserve a bar side stool with a single phone call but book early to avoid disapointment as local barflies Andy Beadnell, 'Heavy' Matt Earl and Alan Stone will be discussing politics, art and religion just after the evening broadcast of Neighbours. So next time your shopping at Index, why not cross the road and give the Dobells a try. 'Dobell-ieve' the hype!

(Review kindly supplied by someone without a name). This has to be Cheltenham's number one underage pub where a variety of fake IDs are widely accepted, but what is so special about this place is the apparent large number of OAPs. It appears that you have to either be under-16 or over-60 to get served in here by Dave or Shirley (the resident management). Another unique aspect of this pub is Ted. No matter what time of the day it is, 7 days a week, 12 months a year, come wind, rain or sun, you can always guarantee Ted will be sat at the bar - amazing! Ted particularly likes to pass his time by looking down the low cut tops worn under the Kappa tracksuits of the underage female contingent who swell the building on Saturday nights. The pub appears to do its' best trade during School Holidays, GCSE results day is a particular bumper day for Dave and Shirley!

(Review kindly supplied by someone without a name). Based in Portland Street the Prince Of Wales is surely Cheltenham's best traditional public house. The bar is always well stocked and the locals a friendly welcoming crowd. The bar staff (led by Bill) are always polite and courteous, however their horseracing tips do leave something to be desired! This pub enjoys a large local following and with many other places to get a drink in a small area the fact that it is always so busy tells its own story.

(Review kindly sent by someone without a name). For all the racegoers and general old boring farts amongst you, this is the hippest and trendiest place to be. Complete with a jukebox which continuously plays the same five songs and two fruit machines dating back to the 1930s this pub has everything needed for a brilliant night out. Afterwards why not try the fabolous chippy down the road owned by Mr Blokey Blokey and his good wife Doreen.

(Review kindly submitted by D. Roberts). Opposite Sandford Park can be found, in my opinion, the best pub in Cheltenham. It has a good range of drinks, a pool table, table football, friendly bar staff and very few underage drinkers.

What makes it stand out is the excellent live bands that play there. There are acoustic, karaoke and various other nights, the best of which are when the brilliant Kirstan Spratt play. It is slightly expensive, but so is everywhere in Cheltenham. It can get quite packed, but is still a great place to go. They even have good bar snacks!

If you've had a fun-filled night out in a Cheltenham pub then let the whole world know about your drinking problem by writing a review. There are so many pubs not covered above, it would just be so jolly nice of you if you were to fill in a review using this form.

THE BIT OF ADVERTISING YOU GET ON ALL SITES:
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