Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall Lord Marples

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

Marden Village Club, Marden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		24 Oct 2026	7th beer of this visit: Exceedingly good head and lasting lacing presented on this mahogany-chestnut coloured bitter from Thornbridge Brewery set up in 2005 in the old 18th-century stables and joiner’s workshop on the grand Thornbridge Hall estate, in Ashford-in-the-Water, near Bakewell within the Derbyshire Peak District before moving in 2009 to Riverside Business Park in Bakewell. A malty fruited first hit on this bitter first brewed in early 2005 and named after a colourful old squire who used to own the Hall. A hoppy bitterness rising from its Goldings hops exhibiting a floral spice, a touch of citrus orange zest, and earthy, twiggy touches. A hint of caramel and honey emerging from its malts, Maris Otter lending a sweet and bready biscuit base, Caramalt behind its light-toffee notes, Crystal aiding a caramel sweetness, and its Chocolate malts exuding a touch of bitter cocoa, hazelnut and light roasted coffee. A dark fruited hoppiness winning over for me. A dry and tangy herbal bitterness sailing out. Served in top nick condition.

The Park Tavern, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		17 Oct 2026	1st beer of this visit: Served with an impressive head and lasting lacing on this mahogany-chestnut hued bitter from Thornbridge Brewery which got its grand machinery clanking in the year 2005 with their first firing up of the boiling copper inside the historic grounds of Thornbridge Hall in Bakewell, Derbyshire. A dry bitter first hit. A sweet maltiness rising but not outnumbering its bitter hoppiness from a four-way alignment of Maris Otter lending a biscuity bread-crust, Caramalt tossing in a sweet touch of liquid honey, Crystal heaping on a heavy dollop of dark, charred toffee and sticky caramel, and Chocolate malts behind its hint of roasted hazelnut and bitter cocoa for me. A hoppy fruitiness prevailing from a single legendary British green as in Goldings hops exuding a peppery spice, a touch of earthiness, and a subtle floral note of autumn orchard fruits and herbal fields. A dry, slightly peppery hoppiness sliding down my neck-hole. Served in top dick condition and ready to dance a jig.

The Royston, Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		16 Aug 2025	Head and lacing, good, and lasting, good, on this bitter from Bakewell, south-west of Sheffield. A very malty bitter first bite to it from its Maris Otter, Caramalt, Crystal, and Chocolate malts in on the mix. A dry moreish bitterness rising aided by its Goldings hops. Nothing in the least sweet about it which I personally like greatly in a bitter, although it is said to have flavours of honey and caramel. It must be just the merest hints therefore but served slightly too chilled for my liking and so perhaps somewhat hiding the more subtle flavourings! A dry bitter, bitterness living on, on the palate. This was the brewery's first ever Thornbridge beer back in 2005 and named after Mr Marples, a former owner of Thornbridge Hall, a Grade 2 listed stately-home situated in Derbyshire in the heart of the Peak District, and who enjoyed using the title of Lord while never quite achieving it. From 2002 Thornbridge Hall has been owned by Jim and Emma Harrison, owners of Thornbridge Brewery.

The Colmore, Birmingham, West Midlands

The George, Croydon, Greater London

The Rusty Bucket, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	12 Feb 2022
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	11 Jun 2018
Philip Pirrip		07 Jun 2018	New on today

Little Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		05 Oct 2021	In top condition.

The Mitre, Richmond, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		03 Jun 2021	Excellent, I had several of these.

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	02 Nov 2020
Philip Pirrip		01 Nov 2020

The Admiral's Arm, Queenborough, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Archie14		21 Jun 2020	Lovely pint of proper old fashioned best bitter, I think it may catch on? 👍

York Tap, York, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	13 Dec 2019
HSB	Not Tried	15 Sep 2015
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	10 Aug 2012
Philip Pirrip		10 May 2012

Tapped, Leeds, West Yorkshire

Sheffield Tap, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	18 Dec 2018
Magnus Greel		03 May 2017	Full bodied and fruity, not an unsimilar description to an early departed friend of mine who shared the same name.
HSB	Not Tried	05 Aug 2015
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	01 Mar 2013
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	29 Jan 2013
Philip Pirrip		26 Sep 2012	An interesting foil to the stronger Tempest
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	06 Sep 2012
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 May 2012
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Apr 2012
ChrisE	Not Tried	07 May 2010
JeffnJo	Not Tried	21 Mar 2010

Royal Albert, New Cross, Greater London

The Ealing Park Tavern, Ealing, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		20 Aug 2018	Warm tired and cloying.
ChrisE	Not Tried	07 Jun 2017
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	31 Jan 2017

Lord Aberconway, City, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		18 Jul 2018

Leyton Orient Supporters Club, Leyton, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		28 Jun 2018	Another well-brewed Bitter.

Marksman, Bethnal Green, Greater London

The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

The New Inn, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William	Not Tried	10 Aug 2017
Mick	Not Tried	20 Feb 2016
Mick		12 Oct 2012	Nice amber bitter, nice balance of malt and hops.

The Clement Attlee (formerly Craft Beer Co.), Limehouse, Greater London

Tap East, Stratford, Greater London

Craft Beer Co., Aldgate, Central London

Earl of Essex, Islington, Central London

The Wenlock Arms, Hoxton, Central London

Kings Arms, Bethnal Green, Greater London

Oscar's Inn, Newark, Nottinghamshire

Hand in Hand, Brighton, East Sussex

Annie's Burger Shack, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	21 Aug 2015
ChrisE		21 Aug 2015

The Dog House Pub (formerly The Dog House & Vinyl Micropub), Smeeth, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		27 Jun 2015	In very good condition. I had a pint in memory of the late Roger Marples.

Old Fountain, Old Street, Central London

163 Upper Street (formerly The Taproom), Islington, Central London

The Victoria Hotel, Beeston, Nottinghamshire

The Sovereign of the Seas, Petts Wood, Greater London

Coach & Horses, Dronfield, Derbyshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Nick Willis	Not Tried	04 Nov 2014
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	01 Apr 2013
Ian		11 Jun 2008	Copper, thin beige head. Malty aroma, light grapefruit hop, really drinkable best bitter. Bit of toast/caramel, lovely malty flavour and some good hop bite on finish. I could drink that all night.

Hooden Smokehouse & Cellar (formerly Hooden on the Hill), Willesborough, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE	Not Tried	22 Aug 2014
Ian		30 May 2010	Got the last half, but it was very good. Great condition to the last and great malty and hoppy flavours.
Ian		29 May 2010	I'm never going to complain at a Thornbridge beer on in Ashford. Good decent brown bitter.

St Barts (formerly Balfour at St Barts; St Barts Brewery), Smithfield, Central London

Red Lion, Leytonstone, Greater London

The Prince Rupert, Newark, Nottinghamshire

Craft Beer Co., Islington, Central London

Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	02 Mar 2013	Had run out
HSB		02 Mar 2013
ChrisE		02 Mar 2013	An obvious choice for this festival, and one of the must have beers.
Pedro		02 Mar 2013

Magpie & Crown, Brentford, Greater London

The Humphrey Bean, Tonbridge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11		12 Jan 2013

Catford Bridge Tavern, Catford, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		27 Jun 2012	Did not have the body or full taste I expected

Brigantes Bar & Brasserie, York, North Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		02 Jun 2012

Alma, Newington Green, Central London

The George & Dragon, Swanscombe, Kent

Craft Beer Co., Clerkenwell, Central London

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		27 Sep 2011	a little tired
Dosser	Not Tried	25 Sep 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	25 Sep 2011
Pedro	Not Tried	24 Sep 2011
Pedro		26 Nov 2010
Pedro	Not Tried	25 Nov 2010

The Greystones, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Trippets, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Waggon and Horses, Alfreton, Derbyshire

The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		22 Jan 2011	Wonderful pint, fresh with delicate toffee and a balanced hop finish
Mick		16 Oct 2009	Very nice, Malty with some sweetness.
Blair		14 Oct 2009	Exrtremely drinkable bitter, fruity with plenty of bready malt. Great beer.

Spread Eagle, Cottingham, Northamptonshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen		19 Jun 2010	Still right on the money will miss it when its gone
Stephen		11 Jun 2010	Top quality brown best bitter full on fruity malts and a lovely bitter finish.

Cask Pub & Kitchen, Pimlico, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		18 May 2010	Really solid best bitter, good malts.

The John Bull Inn, Alnwick, Northumberland

Who	Score	When	Notes
Flying.geordie		15 Aug 2009

Rutland Hotel, Bakewell, Derbyshire

Ye Olde Dolphin Inne, Derby, Derbyshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		14 Jul 2009	How I remembered it from the Coach & Horses. A malty brown best bitter with lots of hop on finish. So drinkable.

The Bull, Horton Kirby, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ian		06 Jun 2009	No where as good as at Coach & Horses but still a very good brown bitter. Lots of fruit salad and good mid malts. Very drinkable
Dubbel	Not Tried	05 Feb 2009