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A few days away before RIAT (Royal International Air Tattoo) at RAF Fairford on Saturday. The first day is spent around Swindon, a town made famous with the coming of the Great Western Railway in 1843, transforming the town from a small market town to one of the largest railway engineering complexes at its peak. Some great bars here including brewery taps, brewery pubs aswell as some great craft and cask bars. The bottom 2 breweries were visited on Saturday (but have included to keep it all together)
The Glue Pot
The first pub is a short walk from the Railway Station. It is part of the original railway village which was built in the 1840s. “The Glue Pot” is a pub owned by Hop Back Brewery who are based on Salisbury. Great chatting with Landlord Mark in here.
The name was originally “London Stout Tavern”, with the “Glue Pot” name coming from workers from the nearby cattiageworks bringing in their pots of glue to keep warm while they enjoyed a drink.
A great selection of beers here with 6 from Hop Back Brewery and 2 from Downton Brewery. I started with “Glasshopper”. A refreshing Golden Ale, and moved onto “Garden Party”, another easy drinking light ale, both from Hop Back Brewery.
A great outdoor seating area to the side of the pub aswell, perfect for catching the sun (when its out).
The Drink Valley
A short walk down the road brings me to “The Drink Valley”. A brewpub which started up in December 2021, and brews cask and keg beers for the pub. Great chatting with owner and brewer Dhiraj in here.
A great selection of 4 cask beers available today and a choice of 12 keg beers (some brewed in house and some guests). I started with “Session Ale” and moved onto “Bright Time”. Both really easy drinking pale beers.
Thursday to Saturday, Indian Street-food is on offer at certain times so is worth dropping in and checking out. A large front outdoor area, and the brewery can be seen from the front of the bar.
The next few bars are up in Swindon Old Town (around a 20 ish minute walk out from the Railway Station end of town). Although frequent bus services do go up there.
The Hop Inn
The first bar of 4 within a minutes walk of each other is “The Hop Inn”. This bar started the real ale scene on Devzies Road and used to be 2 doors down before moving to its current premises. This building was built in 1847 and called The Britannia.
A fantastic range of 8 cask beers alongside a good choice of keg beers (and fridges filled with cans and bottles). I started off with their house ale brewed by Ramsbury Brewery “The Hop Inn” and followed with a sour beer from Play Brew Co “Mellow Yellow”, a Banana and Tutti Frutti Ice Cream Sour. Delicious!
Some delicious smelling food here from on site kitchen named “Hop Nosh”, and Sunday dinners served. This pub also won local CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year this year.
Tap & Brew
Located directly over the road is “Tap & Brew”. Owned by Hop Kettle Brewery this bar opened in December 2019, and includes its own small microbrewery which is used to brew experimental beers.
A great selection of both cask and keg beers here to choose from. 6 cask beers today. I started with “Element”, a light easy drinking session beer. The beers are brewer at either their Swindon or Cricklade brewery sites.
I went onto try the experimental beer they had behind the bar. “Nori Omoi” a Wee Scotch Heavy with the added flavour of Japanese Seaweed. A really smooth drinking beer. The Microbrewery can be seen at the back of the bar, or the side when going to the outside area.
Little Hop
Another jump over the road, this time to the “Little Hop”, the previous home of The Hop Inn and what was Swindons first Micropub. This place really stands out with its bright purple front. The building was a sex shop before changing to The Hop Inn.
Five cask beers alongside a number of keg beers and ciders to choose from, along with a fridge packed full of cans to drink in or takeaway. I went with “One for the Team” from Arbor Ales. A tasty hazy pale ale.
The Tuppenny
My last call in the old town is to “The Tuppenny”. This opened in November 2016 with an emphasis on craft beer. The premises was formerly a hairdressers. The name comes from the Victorian Tuppenny gin which was a more refined premium product than the infamous “Mother’s ruin” gin.
9 keg beers alongside a couple of cask beers, aswell as a couple of fridges packed full of bottles and cans. Lots to choose from! I went with “Pompelmocello” from Siren Craft Brew. A favourite of mine, a Grapefruit sour beer.
Hop Kettle Brewery Tap
Back down to the Railway Station end of town and a 10 minute walk out of town from the station brings me to “Hop Kettle Brewery Tap”. This opens every Wednesday between 5pm and 8pm. Served out of a van in the car park with seating outside and inside the brewery.
A brilliant selection of cask and keg beers, alongside coders and other choices. The 2 Cask Beers that they had on (and one of the keg beers) are produced for RIAT (Flying Solo, Chinook and Dog Fight).
In addition to the bar, they have “Gurt Wings” on site every Wednesday. You can always tell good food when theres a big queue for it. Serving lots of tasty wings, strips and more. Check out where they are going to be. Click Here
The Queens Tap
Onto a pub directly outside the Railway Station “The Queens Tap”. This pub opened in 1841 and is the oldest surviving pub of New Swindons fully licensed houses. It was completely refurbished in 2018 and now has a great outdoor beer garden aswell.
A choice of 2 cask beers on here changing regularly from different breweries. I went with my local brewery Ossett Brewery and “Silver King”.
The Beehive
The last call is to a pub called “The Beehive”, a corner pub built in 1871 by the Belle Vue Brewery. A four room pub which is really quirky and different. Lots of artwork around the pub and Maxine The Mannequin.
A great selection of 6 cask ales on the hat here with a number being from local breweries. I went with “Snow Leopard” from Nurtycombe Brewery based in Taunton. A really interesting White Mild beer
These bottom 2 breweries were visited on Saturday, but I have included on this blog to keep everything together.
Vibish Brewery
A taxi out from town to “Basepoint Business Park“ and located in Unit 95 is “Vibish Brewing”, a nee brewery who have been open for around 7 weeks. A really vibrant looking bar and walls, with indoor and outdoor seating. (if you head by car remember to pay for parking).
A choice of 5 beers here all keg beers. 4 brewer in house, and the 5th being from local Hop Kettle Brewery. I tried all 3 pales – “The Yellow One”, “Oasish” and “Any Day IPA”, all really easy drinking and tasty.
A food truck is located outside, today was “Timbers” Pizzas. A mouth watering choice of pizzas to choose from.
Rusty Garage Brewery
Located a minutes walk away in “Unit 115” is another brewery “Rusty Garage Brewery”. A small brewery at the back of the unit, alongside a bar and freshly made Margarita or Pepperoni Pizzas. The brewery was started in 2019.
Some great unusual and unique seating with old car seats fitted to half wooden barrels. Some great regulars in here so stayed chatting for quite a while. All beer served is unfined so naturally hazy.
A fantastic selection of 8 keg beers alongside cider. I started with “No Brakes V15” a tasty New England Hazy IPA, onto “H.G.Citra” an easy drinking Saison IPA and lastly “Oktoberfest V16”, a Oktoberfest Marzen beer. All beers can be canned on put into plastic bottles to takeaway.
Micropub Adventures 
Thanks for the lovely write-up ~ The Beehive
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I lived there for 30 years and I reckon you’ve found the good ones 🙂 A few more have appeared since I left which I will try if I ever return!
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