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| - Visiting from New Jersey. Undersigned is an ex-patriate Brit, wife is from Ohio. This was a surprise. We initially just went into to look around, went and did some shopping, and then decided to come back and eat. Impressed by the overall decor - real effort to create a pub atmosphere. If you want to be picky, ceiling is a bit high, losing that cosy medieval atmosphere of many period English pubs, but otherwise full marks for effort and attention to detail. Waiters in kilts may be OTT (do they travel to work in those things ?)
We were served by Jeremy (I think - T3 on our bill). Very knowledgeable about beer and communciated his enthusiasm. We started with a hoppy Fathead session beer. My wife continued with a Twisted Thistle Scottish Ale, while I had a cask conditioned Great Lakes Commodore Perry. All excellent. I appreciated having the cask conditioned beer served at around 50 degrees, the warmer temperature allowing the full taste of the beer to come through. My wife had a turkey burger - moist and delicious, with cranberry chutney on the side. I had the bangers and mash - a hard dish to excel at, but sausages were the best I have tasted in a while, well accompanied by herbed mash potatoes and onion gravy, together with a small salad.
Altogether an unexpectedly rewarding visit. I think if we lived here this could become my local. I would never have thought that I would say that about a pub located in a mall. Who knows what an authentic British Pub is like these days - so much has changed since they did away with licensing hours in the UK and stood the pub economic model on its head. But I would have to say that this is one of the best tries I have come across.
Should mention that they also have a "serve yourself " bar where you pull your own taps ! Sounds a little gimmicky, but if it leads to more people coming to understand what really good beer tastes like I am all in favor.
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