The 11 best pubs in Bath
Bath is known for its history and it has lots of venerable pubs. There are plenty of wood-panelled, nook-filled hostelries in which to lose an afternoon, some with centuries-old features, others serving some of the best Sunday lunches and comfort food in the city. A newer breed of pubs also aims to please, serving dozens of varieties of craft beer and cider in open-plan spaces designed for socialising.
For more Bath inspiration, see our guide to the city and its best hotels, restaurants, things to do and places for afternoon tea.
Find a pub by area
Centre
The Bell Inn
Robert Plant, Peter Gabriel and Michael Eavis helped support the community buyout of this much-loved Bath institution back in 2013. The no-frills, somewhat bohemian 18th-century pub on Walcot Street is the place to go in the city for regular, free live music. On Sunday lunchtimes and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings you might hear anything from jazz and blues to folk and roots, and, as the pub says, 'some things we are not sure what to call'. There's also an open mic spot on Thursday evenings, and vinyl DJ sets on Friday and Saturday evenings. The beer is good too: options on tap include Bath Ales’ Gem. Also pizzas in the garden at certain times.
Contact: thebellinnbath.co.uk
Price: £
The Architect
The Architect calls itself a pub but that doesn’t really capture what’s on offer here. In a prime, central spot overlooking Orange Grove, it is one of the most striking-looking places in Bath to have a drink or bite to eat. The high-ceilinged, leather-filled drinking and eating areas occupy the former dining rooms of what was once The Empire Hotel, a grandiose affair completed in 1901 and designed by Major Charles Edward Davis – The Architect being referred to. Davis was also responsible for opening up the Roman Baths in the 1870s and 1880s. The Architect is open daily from 9am to 11pm, and you can pop in for everything from a pint of Bath Ales’ Gem to cocktails, breakfast, afternoon tea and a full meal (mainstream pubby dishes).
Contact: brunningandprice.co.uk/architectbath
Price: ££
Reservations: Recommended for dining
The Old Green Tree
An appealingly snug and civilised old-fashioned pub in the city centre, with charming, small, oak-panelled rooms and an open fire. The talkative locals who love this place say that the beers are always superbly kept. The Old Green Tree bitter is brewed by a local microbrewery exclusively for the pub, and the local cider, Honey’s Midford, is very drinkable. There are also stacks of malt whiskies to choose from – just ask Tim the owner. The pub gets packed out on rugby match days.
Contact: 01225 448259; facebook.com/OldGreenTree
Price: £
The Old Green Tree
An appealingly snug and civilised old-fashioned pub in the city centre, not far from the abbey, with charming, small, oak-panelled rooms and an open fire. The talkative locals who love this place say that the beers are always superbly kept. There are stacks of malt whiskies to choose from also - just ask one of the friendly bartenders. It ticks the boxes for everything that you could want from a traditional pub and, as such, food is secondary to its main aims but nonetheless, soup, sandwiches and ploughman's lunches are available (but only at lunchtime). The pub gets packed out on rugby match days.
The Star Inn
This is arguably the most enjoyable traditional pub in Bath. Off the Georgian sweep of The Paragon (actual address 23 The Vineyards), it dates from 1760, and you can expect cosy, panelled rooms, an open fire in winter and an absence of music or fruit machines. A bench popular with regular customers who are getting on a bit is known as death row. Try an award-winning, hoppy pint of Bellringer, brewed by Abbey Ales, Bath’s oldest brewery. Beers can be ordered by the jug. On Thursday evenings generous free nibbles (mostly cheeses) are laid out on the bar.
Contact: abbeyinnsbath.co.uk
Price: £
The Raven
This traditional pub on cobbled Queen Street in central Bath hit the national headlines in April 2021 when one of the owners kicked Sir Keir Starmer off the premises due to differing political views. It has been voted CAMRA’s Bath pub of the year in the past, so there is a good range of ales to choose from, including the honey-like Raven’s Gold. The hearty, locally-made meat and vegetarian pies are another key element in the pub’s appeal, and come highly recommended. Most diners sit upstairs, leaving the bar to those looking for good-natured supping and chatter.
Contact: theravenofbath.co.uk
Price: £
The Bath Brew House
With an on-site brewery and huge vats on show, this large and lively venue just along from the Odeon cinema on James Street West has a spit-and-sawdust style and a 1960s and 1970s soundtrack. Multi-coloured picnic tables and fairy lights are spread around the massive yard out the back. Fans of craft ale may want to take a brewery tour, which are on offer most days. The menu includes pub classics such as mac and cheese, fish and chips and burgers.
Contact: thebathbrewhouse.com
Price: £
The Boater
The Boater is just a few steps from Ponte Vecchio-inspired Pulteney Bridge. An attractive webbed bay window welcomes you into a compact but pleasant main bar, with steps that lead down to one of central Bath’s few large beer gardens, though it’s more of a yard, set back from the river’s horseshoe-shaped weir. This is a Fuller’s pub so come here for the lager, craft beer and ale – wine and cocktails are not a speciality, though there is often some home-infused gin to try. Pub grub is available. The place is absolutely heaving on rugby match days.
Contact: boaterbath.co.uk
Price: £
The Grapes
This multifaceted free house on Westgate Street is one of Bath’s oldest buildings. As a public house it dates back to at least 1792; before that it was lodgings for visitors heading to the nearby thermal baths. The heart of the enterprise is the downstairs bar, with mis-matched tables and seating that includes reclaimed bus seats, lots of ales and ciders from Somerset and Bristol, and live blues, jazz and folk music usually several nights a week. There’s terraced seating out the front and back. Upstairs, a grand room with an ornate Jacobean plaster ceiling is used for various events such as life-drawing classes and debates.
Contact: thegrapesbath.co.uk
Price: £
North
The Marlborough Tavern
This gastropub – all reclaimed furniture and autumnal colours – is a popular spot for an afternoon cider and makes a handy stop-off if you have been visiting Royal Victoria Park or the nearby Royal Crescent. At the weekend, it is busy with families wanting lunch after a run around the park's huge playground. The patio garden has lots of benches and is lined with trees. The roast dinners here are a favourite, though there is much more on the menu besides, all freshly prepared. It's dog friendly too – perfect, really, for all sorts of park life.
Contact: marlborough-tavern.com
Price: ££
Reservations: Recommended for dining
Hare & Hounds
High up on the very northern edge of Bath, this Victorian pub with a modern makeover enjoys magnificent, long-reaching views of the countryside. The scene is best appreciated from the picnic tables laid out on the giant, decked outdoor terrace, where there’s an outdoor bar in summer. Many visitors come to eat. New owners the St Austell Brewery group have made the food more mainstream – think burgers, fish and chips, sausages and mash, steaks, roasts on Sundays, and sticky toffee pudding. The place is popular with families and dog owners.
Contact: hareandhoundsbath.com
Price: ££
Reservations: Recommended for eating indoors; tables outside can’t be reserved
South
The Packhorse
This dreamy pub in the heart of South Stoke, a gorgeous little village on Bath’s southern outskirts, dates back to the early 1600s when it was an ale house. It was recently saved from being turned into a private residence by an heroic community buyout. Inside is all inglenooks and beams and outside there’s a spacious, lovingly-maintained tiered garden brimming with lavender and roses and with lots of seating. The food is some of the best pub grub in and around Bath, and local drinks on tap include Honey’s cider and Butcombe beer. Lovely walks stretch from the door, including along the remainder of the Somersetshire Coal Canal.
Contact: packhorsebath.co.uk
Price: ££
Reservations: Recommended for dining
How we choose
Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of traveller – and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.
