Great Yarmouth – Mariners

It’s been an omission of mine that I haven’t visited this Good Beer Guide listed pub in Great Yarmouth before, a traditional pub located just a short walk from the town’s market place. This can’t be the easiest pub to make work, as Great Yarmouth hasn’t been the most prosperous of towns in recent years, and the Mariners is a little tucked away, so the owners have done well to keep it going. Although the pub has been trading since the early nineteenth century, I can’t find much mention of its history on-line.

The interior was pleasant and there was a selection of around eight or nine beers available, with a variety of different types. I really can’t resist the Plum Porter from Titanic Brewery, even though I’m aware that it’s becoming increasingly ubiquitous. Reasonably priced, excellent flavour and at the appropriate temperature, so all very lovely.

The fire was going, which added nicely to the atmosphere in the pub, which was otherwise quiet. I suspect that most customers are regular, but there wasn’t a cliquey and unwelcoming feel, so it seemed non-judgemental. There’s no food offered, so the main draw is the wide selection of real ales and the traditional pub atmosphere.

Some kind soul decided they’d try and do some damage to the pub by leaving a review on TripAdvisor saying:

“Old Man’s Pub! Went here for drinks before a meal – not really the sort of ambience we wanted and as we were dressed up to the nines we stood out like sore thumbs!”

I’m not quite sure what the pub is supposed to do about that, destroy its ambience to deliver a different and generic atmosphere? Although Craft Union seem to be doing that in some pubs, so perhaps that is the future…. Anyway, I hope they don’t change, another well deserved entry into the Good Beer Guide.