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The GW (Arkell's)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Arkell's - MoonlightExcellent1
Arkell's - MasterExcellent2
Arkell's - Wiltshire GoldGood1
Arkell's - RugbeerGood1
Arkell's - 3BAcceptable3
Arkell's - Mighty MarisPoor1
Arkell's - Bock BeerNot Tried0
Picture 1. The GW, Swindon, Wiltshire

Visits Details

19 Aug 2019 (Magnus Greel)
Just after 11am we were the first customers for a swift one before heading for the bus station nearby.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Arkell's - Wiltshire Gold4.00Good
Arkell's - 3B4.00Not Tried
19 Oct 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Probably the last one out prior to closing.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Arkell's - Rugbeer4.20GoodGood condition but an undistinguished beer
Arkell's - 3B4.00Not Tried
Arkell's - Wiltshire Gold4.00Not Tried
07 Sep 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Arkell's - Mighty Maris3.60PoorNot right and hazy too. Either stale from a long stay in the pipes or on its way. Clip used the meaningless description "craft ale", words we should all be removing from our vocabulary
Arkell's - 3B4.00Not Tried
Arkell's - Wiltshire Gold4.00Not Tried
22 Jun 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Has had a bit of a makeover since my last visit which makes it feel clinically soulless.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Arkell's - 3B4.00Acceptable
Arkell's - Wiltshire Gold4.00Not TriedNo abv legible on the clip
Arkell's - Bock Beer4.20Not TriedTaster seemed a bit Sarsonic to me
22 Sep 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. 2230 and front doors locked. A member of staff came into the Queens Tap next door later and said it closed early as no business tonight.
BeerABVScoreNotes
21 Jul 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. 2nd visit 'twixt trains.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Arkell's - Master5.50Excellent
Arkell's - Wiltshire Gold4.00Not Tried
21 Jul 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Arkell's - Master5.50ExcellentThe barman offered me a taster before I had ordered anything or even spoken. Pleased he did. Superb afterburn on the lips from this rich stout
Arkell's - 3B4.00Not TriedRan out
Arkell's - Wiltshire Gold4.00Not Tried
30 Dec 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. 2nd visit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Arkell's - 3B4.00PoorExceedingly cloudy. Either end of cask or as barman suggested maybe had been knocked in the cellar. Nothing like earlier visit's 3B
30 Dec 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. 1st visit. Only 1 beer on with 2 handpumps sadly at rest.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Arkell's - 3B4.00ExcellentActually excellent although it did seem to be exceedingly yeasty in flavour. Ripped through restrictor dispense
19 Sep 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Early evening. Had apparently been a very busy afternoon and only 1 beer was on with 2 pumpclips turned round.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Arkell's - Moonlight4.50Excellent

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About The GW

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent7
Good5
Acceptable1
Poor2

Website.

The pub is found in Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 1DH.

Previously the Great Western Hotel and still outwardly looking every inch a railway hotel in the grand tradition, this large and imposing pub in the shadow of Swindon railway station is now a vibrant bar and grill. Also provides various types of overnight accommodation wearing its hotel hat. Arkell's originally purchased the land in 1869 and on it erected its first purpose-built pub, which it called The Great Western Hotel. It was excellent news for the station porters who supported the application for the licence by drawing attention to the fact that the Queens Tap Hotel (on the opposite street corner) was asking the extortionate sum of 2d (1p) a pint. The hotel proved an instant success because the taproom was altered in the following year and another year on stables were added. A large wing of bedrooms were added in 1904 and the Great Western remained a hotel until 1973. It was then converted to a steak bar and restaurant and rechristened The Noah's Ark, a name that remained for ten years. Then it was back to being The Great Western again, but a re-fit in 1991 called for yet another new identity and this magnificent old building re-emerged as the Flag and Whistle. After a major re-fit in 2000, the once famous name synonymous with Swindon returned and the hotel re-opened as the Great Western, or GW as it is more commonly known as. External signs say The GW. 6 handpumps being 3 on the main counter and another 3 on the lower level bar.

We have visited this pub 17 times, seen 9 different beers and tried 7 of them.

Map location

Postcode: SN1 1DH