Royal Union Inn in Cheltenham

The friendliest pub I have been in for a while, first time I had visited and I will definitely be going back, great ales and I think I had at least a small conversation with everyone in the bar, brilliant local.

Great pub with friendly staff and customers

Always a nice pint...... Sat infront of the fire last evening, thinking about the walk home. Dog friendly pub, very friendly staff & customers. A cash only pub, which can be a pain, so just need to remember.

They don't do food so didn't rate it. This pub has the community spirit you want from yr local and is run by a family who understand what it means to provide excellent Ale. I've heard customers say it's the best lager they've had, a testimony to the owners passion to providing beverages of outstanding quality!

Cash only Bit of a nightmare tbh

Great place! lovely friendly staff, brilliant Quiz Nights!

Top venue if you like good beer, good company, and a community spirit, a real hidden gem tucked away in plympton

Nice friendly pub, excellent service.

Friendly well stocked proper pub

Excelent service and a great pint as always

This pub is cosy, immaculate, friendly, and amazing ales served by such friendly staff.

A very traditional pub, with friendly staff good drinks and free on site car park.

Nice little traditional pub also home to a former racing champion gray hound staff are very friendly and great

Proper pub to enjoy with friends for a few drinks

Brilliant, traditional, local pub. Always have real ale on the pump, plus everything else of course. Owner / managers are lovely people too. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I never went in, but the people inside sounded happy.

Great pub where you are always welcome. Known gor its quality of real ales

Great atmosphere. Friendly service. Good selection of 'real' ales. Competitive prices. (NB cash only transactions)

Good rustic public house, good well kept range of ales and very welcoming. No longer serving food other than your usual range of bar snacks

Long time since I'd been in due to moving house. A very enjoyable evening meeting up with old friends. The hospitality was amazing definitely will be making sure that its not too long before I'm going back.

Great pub wide awake and cash only we will definitely be back

Great Pub!! Very Welcoming! Everybody is really helpful!! Old type of English pub!! Really pleasant to spend time with friends there!!!

Rarity these days, a traditional old style pub, no fruit machine, no jukebox and very dog friendly.

Excellent good landlord and bar staff

Dog bit me an apology would be fine, "you'll bleed to death" we're shut.. went to leave escalated quickly...walked away. Avoid

Great little pub. Good beer and cider.Welcoming staff.

A wondered local where everyone knows everyone- you are like 1 big family. Kids and dogs are allowed in. Best time to go there is 4pm till 6pm on a Friday

Proper old style local pub, excellent ever changing real ales

El propietario consideró que la banca por Internet demoró demasiado en transferir dinero, así que nos echó y nos siguió por la carretera con un encanto agresivo. Así es como trata a los de 65 años (con su esposa). Debería haber protestado, pero mi desalojo fue tan astuto y profesional que cualquier otra provocación podría haber causado más resultados impredecibles. Horrible.

Crazy price £1:60, for a small bottle of coke, enough to drive a person to drink, it's cheaper!

Great local pub great old feel Take cash though they don't take card due to in house bank charges

Great place to meet up with old friends

My wife and I went here on the recommendation of two ladies we met in The Tivolli pub just around the corner. We walked into an empty bar apart from a large gentleman sitting at bar. We said hello to the bartender and as my wife looked at the selection of ales I asked the bartender about the cider on offer. He told me he only had two and that he thought they were medium dry. I asked if I could try one of the ciders at which point the large gentleman stood up and turned to me and said and I quote “ You can either have a half or a pint or you can leave we don’t do tasters “ He then walked over and opened the door. Absolutely disgusting treatment of two potential customers. After reading the reviews on here I don’t seem to be the only one. He might know his beers but he has absolutely people skills. The place is described as shabby chic. It’s not it’s just shabby. Avoid at all cost.

We visited the Royal Union this evening and really enjoyed the local real Don'tales and the alcohol-free flavoured low calorie gin and tonics and the free snacks. The atmosphere was friendly and the Landlord welcoming. We had a great evening with friends playing cards. Unfortunately we have no choice but to leave a one star, wish it could be a zero, as it was raining when we left!

So I visited the Royal Union recently as I had heard so much about the quality of the beer and food and the traditional pub ambiance. I have to say I wasnt disappointed, the beer was stunning and kept perfectly. Obviously the Land Lord knows his stuff, I particularly enjoyed the copper bitter. Anyway I was enjoying myself so much and laughing at the dogs I thought lets have some Tucker.. I went for a steak baguette and, like the beer, first class. So all was well when I noticed the pub was adorned with many clocks, I counted 8!!! And only one was set at the right time.. I challenged the Land Lord one this and he said it was a bit of fun.. sorry sir when I go to the toilet in a pub I dont think its fun to pass through several time zones and come back with jet lag!!!! Sorry but as great as this pub is I have no choice but to leave a one star.. wish it could be zero!

I visited the Royal Union this evening and the landlord had the cheek to give us a bottle of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey Tynt Meadow trappist beer completely free of charge. I am not sure why but I am sure there must be a motive. Never trust people who are nice to you.

This is such a lovely cosy pub. We sat up in the lounge and loved its quirkiness. Good range of beers - I hadn’t tried many of them before. Friendly bar staff who made me feel welcome. Unfortunately it’s too far from my mum’s to vist regularly so I’ve had to give it a one star rating. It’s a shame because it’s so lovely

Visited the Royal Union with a mate. Great ales, superb food and a very pleasant ambience. On leaving, I asked for a glass of tap water. All they had was Severn Trent which is just not acceptable. Unforgivable !! therefore 1* at best.

Great beer kept really well and on a continuous rotation, whats not to like

A proper traditional pub. No TV to watch means you actually have to speak to each other.

Deluded landlord that takes out his frustrations on his costomers with rudeness. This was a good pub with a little alley before and now ruined.

The Royal Union pub is a hidden gem. On a quiet back-street in a residential neighbourhood, far from any other business, it's really off the beaten track. But pop in for a drink or a meal -- it's well worth it! The landlord is the chef, and you can get a fantastic meal here in the evenings. Try the chateaubriand steak, if it's on offer! The landlord also brews his own beers, named for the Tivoli district, and again, they are superb. True craftsmanship! This little pub doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's the essence of a friendly and classy neighbourhood pub on the inside.

At a time where pubs are closing down left, right and centre, I am amazed that this pub stays open with such a rude landlord.From the moment we walked in we were made to feel unwelcome. Despite the unfriendly atmosphere we ordered a couple of ales, which on inspection were not fit to drink. When we asked the barman to replace them, we were asked to leave by the landlord. We will not be returning, as there are so many better and more friendly places to drink nearby.

Walked in with 4 friends to a pub I’ve been in many times before to be be told by the landlord “you’re all too drunk, leave”. WOW 40 years of age and asked to leave a pub for no reason. Great approach mate, horrific manners.

Dog friendly great pub, made feel very welcome, with great beer.

The food in this pub is second to none I have eaten all over the county and this is the best food I’ve had

I finally got to visit this renowned Cheltenham pub with a drinking buddy who also lives in Prestbury, the other side of the town. It was certainly worth the long trek on a pretty chilly night as they serve a very good range of well-kept ales - we tried a couple before moving on to other hostelries. The service was good and the landlord very friendly.

We have recently moved back to Cheltenham after 3 years being away and now class this pub as our local. Great atmosphere and selection of gins and beers and it's quite a cosy and rustic place but it's great. We are eating here tonight for the first time as we saw someone have a roast on Sunday and it looked delish. I also believe the weekly quiz night is on tonight, too.

Wonderful pub with the most welcoming atmosphere to make you feel like it's second home. Wine and beer always excellent with good quizz on Thursday to enjoy

We have just moved to the area and a friend recommended this place, i'm so pleased she did as it's fantastic! Very cosy little pub with log fire and an adorable pug sleeping in front of it. We had the sharing steak between us, it was cooked perfectly and the mixed vegetables that came with it were so tasty. Excellent French red wine at only £18 a bottle. Great service, very friendly and accommodating landlord and staff. It has a very special atmosphere and lots of old-fashioned charm, if you're looking for great food and somewhere to cosy up together then this is it! Looking forward to our next visit already.

Having frequented this pub many ties over the years and always enjoyed the beers and quiet friendly atmosphere which makes it great for a chat I was horrified by the reception received last evening by a totally inept barman. On entering and saying good evening and acknowledging Robin the landlord, then reviewing the selection of ales I heard the barman state "I think you have had enough for today". On inquiring what he meant he stated he thought we looked a little wobbly on entry and it became evident he wasn't going to serve us. Had he engaged in conversation with us it would have been totally apparent that we were not inebriated as was his insinuation and that he had made a grave error of misjudgment. I was absolutely disgusted by the way this was conducted and also the fact that Robin, to whom I am know, made no attempt to intervene! We are two middle aged professional individuals who had turned up to have a quiet chat and catch up but will not be back!!

one of the most unique and original pubs i have been to ,far superior than the chain pubs ,did not even have to look at menu the landlord Robin said do you fancy a chicken for sharing not knowing what we were getting,was one of the best meals we have had for years, carve it yourself comes on a large plate served with vegetables and a superb mix of herbs and spices and some of the best chunky chips ever ,all swilled down with some superb ales,and another nice touch is dogs are allowed in so no need for doggy bag,cant wait till next time to try the Sunday Roast,So a big thank you to Robin and the team for looking after us a big 5 star service,

What a great place no-where quite like it, cozy and relaxing, made to feel very welcome by Robin and his team. Didn't know what food to order so Robin chose for us an amazing chicken share platter with roasted veg and the best hand cut chips ever. It might sound boring (just chicken and chips) but with Robins herbs and spices and his expertise absolutely fabulous!!!! Looking forward to a Sunday lunch soon.

Gran selección de cerveza personal agradable ambiente fantástico de gente como gestión de mente son muy serviciales con casi cualquier petición.

Me he alojado aquí unas cuantas veces a lo largo de los años y siempre disfrutamos del ambiente. Es un lugar encantador amable y hace cosas su propio camino, este es sin duda uno de esos lugares de cadena. La cocina es pequeña, así que no ofrecen un menú enorme que está más que compensado por la calidad y cantidad de alimentos.

Gran pub de la calle con bolsas de carácter. Seis bombas de mano reparte cervezas locales de Gloucestershire, junto con la típica travesura para sidra, grifos de cerveza y artesanías de barril. Usted puede esperar una cálida bienvenida del personal y el encargado, dos perros.

Excellent selection of all Gloucestershire brews - well almost.I reckon Bristol qualifies as local.Crafts and decent ciders complement the list!Not to be missed. See you there

We visit a lot of pubs and strolled in here one August afternoon.We could not have being made more welcome by the landlord who went out of his way to make us feel welcome.He offered tasters of any of his beers and even though we originally came in for one drink insisted we participate in some of the free bar snacks.We ended up having another beer as the quality and choice were so good.We did not have any bar food but what we saw looked good.The regulars were friendly and we really felt at home.Thanks for a lovely short stay !

Great little pub in the backstreets but its landlord is one very rude man! There are much more welcoming pubs who will give you samples of ale to try if you ask.

Came here for friends birthday and had a great time. We went for the rump of beef sharers which were cooked medium rare to perfection, with yummy hand cut chunky chips and veggies. The owner even did a slow cooked version of beef well done for my pregnant wife. It was perfect! Lovely friendly staff and great selection of beers. Recommended.

Really nice beer. Always changing the range which Ï think is fun.I try three thirds and then decide on a pint if Ï don't know the new beer. A quick taste is not really enough.A pub that has lots of charm character and characters including some behind the bar! Make it your local and get to know some new friends?

We come here every so often and like the pub. It's cosy and traditional with an open fire and offering a range of real ales and wines. The landlord and lady are also very social, often seen talking to customers. Being hidden away in a residential area it is also nice for those wanting to escape the chains of the centre of town. Be warned though, one member of the bar staff is consistently grumpy / rude. As her primary job is to serve drinks she seems very reluctant to do so with any thing but a frown and scorn. It actually becomes quite irritating asking for a drink and being spoken to rudely which is a shame as otherwise this pub is a winner.

After visiting this pub in the summer to sample some of their real ales, we booked a table for 5 people for one of the Sunday sharing plates. Communication with the landlord was excellent on the run up to the date. When we arrived, the pub was really welcoming. The fire was lit, there were a few people in the bar and the staff were really friendly. The landlord/chef came over and told us what he had prepared for us. We had ordered the leg of lamb, but he had prepared a number of side dishes, including cauliflower cheese, curried leeks, sprouts, carrots, green beans, broad beans with bacon, sweet chilli mash, roasted celeriac and deep fried courgettes.Following a small appetiser of chicken skewers, the leg of lamb was brought to our table for carving, along with all the sides. It was a feast. More than enough for the six people it was aimed for. We nearly managed to eat everything, but were just too full in the end. Would recommend for good value, interesting roast dinner, in a lovely residential area of Cheltenham, with a great choice of accompanying real ales and ciders.

I have now been to this pub three times. Every time it gets worse. We only stayed for one drink as the owner / landlord had clearly sampled a lot of his own product and was not very friendly as we came in for a drink on our way home and he didn't appreciate us coming in at 10.30pm for a last drink! It will be the last time for us.

As a family of 6 we visited for Father's Day. The quality of the food is second to none. Masses of food and so reasonably priced. A dinner home from home atmosphere but with exceptional quality! A hidden gem!! A must visit!

Another good pint on my Cheltenham crawl. Last stop before my train home and enjoyed the recommended beer based on what I said I liked, Well worth a visit.

I can't believe that I haven't already submitted a review for the Royal Union as I have visited three times now. It's on the corner of a side street in the Tivoli area of Cheltenham. You could quite easily walk or drive by and not realise it is a pub....don't! As it is well worth the visit. There is a corner in the pub to cater for everyone - bar stools, wooden tables and chairs for larger parties or the top room which has a slight Gentleman's Club feel to it. I have visited once just for a drink and twice for a mega Sunday brunch with a large group. I have enjoyed all visits, the landlord and landlady and their staff are very hospitable and welcoming. A genuine real pub, one that hasn't been 'gastropubbed' and ruined. Thank you!

I almost don't want to share this place with you guys as its perfect just as it is! Backwater quiet but authentically rustic with the best pints of beer! Lots of visiting beers too. Friendly Staff and people.

Never had a bad ale here. Prices are average (which is to say, too expensive IMHO), nice interior, normally some attractive barmaids.

A really nice friendly local pub with a good choice of Beers. A good menu to choose from. We like the sharing meals which I think is excellent value.

My friends and I love coming to the Royal Union for a roast! The chef goes out of his way to create some unusual dishes (curried leeks for example!). You can tell he really enjoys what he does. I love the fact you get to carve your own meat too. It just feels very homely and the food is delicious. What more can I say :)

Its a small local pub that also serves food. The landlord can often be seen at the end of the bar sampling a lot of his own product. Its neither a gastro pub or trad pub but tries to be both. The Jolly brew around the corner is a much better trad pub and has a better vibe. Very small bar area often crowed by locals or the landlords mates!

Have visited this pub on numerous occasions over the years. It's very much a local and has a pleasant local feel to it. The food is quite unusual in that you can get whole joints of well prepared meat, with vegetables, to serve for a group. I've done this several times. There's also a wide selection of draft ales. The trouble is the landlord. Others have already commented on his refusal to offer taste samples. My problem is his reluctance to serve a full, legal pint. In law a pint is a pint - you wouldn't expect a less than full pint of milk - and the landlord's support association says that their members should serve a glass at least 95% full. It also says that if a customer asks for a top-up if the glass isn't served full, then one should be given in good grace.I was recently served a short pint at the pub and was refused a top-up by the server. She said she was trained to serve a less than full measure. I asked the landlord about this and he declared in front of all his customers that the law says he could serve a glass 90% full. He then asked me to drink up and leave!My friends and I won't be returning to the Royal Union Inn, and I suggest other beer drinkers think carefully before doing so themselves.

Ok pub, good beer with cosy feel. However, what an unfriendly landlord! If I thought for a minute he might have listened to customer feedback I might have stayed. Plenty of other great choices so exercise your consumer power is my view. He won't be getting any of my hard earned cash for a long while!

super quality food great service very friendly staff good selection of beers & wine with great atmosphere .

Went one evening with friends on a bit of a pub tour of the area. Being ale drinkers we asked to sample one or two ales to see if they were to our liking. With the huge variety of ales served across the county, and all being kept differently, i feel it essential to sample before you buy to avoid disappointment. We were refused and told the only option is to buy thirds. A third of an ale you don't like is too much. It is all rather stingy and unwelcoming. They should at least limit people to two shot samplers. On a positive note the decor is lovely, clean and clientele a decent mix. Live upbeat jazz/blues? music on some nights too.

Booked for a birthday party large group and the service was amazing. Lovely pub with excellent food! Good selection of real ale, the staff were very friendly and couldn't have done more to make our evening perfect. The 'sharing menu' for groups is excellent with a whole leg of lamb/whole chickens - creates a cosy experience with everyone sat around, sharing food in an amazing venue. Good time had by all!

The Royal Union is set on a corner plot on Hatherley Street in Cheltenham and does little to tempt the unknowing to enter it. However, once inside the atmosphere grabs you and entices you to have a drink. For those with a taste for real ales there is a regularly updated selection of mainly local brewery ales of all types and for those who prefer the lager style there are a couple of artisan varieties. There is also a small choice of some really good traditional ciders which are unfortunately very easy to drink!However, one of the unsuspected delights is the food. There is a good a la carte selection and the blackboard by the bar reveals several 'specials'. But, for those of you who want to eat well with a few friends there is a choice of 6 'sharing' meals for between 2 and 20 people.They also host a regular jazz night where anyone is welcome to entertain (with prior approval) and although I am not a jazz lover (or even liker) I have been told by several people that it is an evening worth attending.Bottom line - would I go back? Certainly, probably more often than my wife or my liver would like!!

Lovely pub. Great atmosphere. Live music. Good too that pets are welcome, as long as they and punters are well behaved.Will definately be coming back again!

Well it's a while since we've been made to feel so unwelcome in a pub!We were down in Cheltenham with friends & they'd found this neighborhood pub on TA. It sounded so lovely. We walked in around 10:30pm one Saturday night, after a delightful meal out. It was all but empty & we enquired about the ales on offer. "We don't do samplers", the young barman told us (brother of the landlord?), "you'll have to buy 3 thirds if you want to try any of our beers!" Really? You mean you can't even spare a thimbleful of beer for customers to sample before purchasing? Wow! I can't ever remember being refused a sample taste, particularly in a quiet pub with so few customers in. So we ordered our drinks - the 2 guys shared a sample of 3 thirds. The ladies had shorts.The lad then locked the front door (they lock them at 10:45, but the pub allegedly closes at midnight). He then switched off the lights in the characterful front room - evidently he'd decided we weren't going to be sitting there. And it worked a treat. We left after that single round, disappointed. We'd have stopped for another full round at least if we'd been made to feel more welcome & the guys would have chanced a full pint each, instead of having to share 3 thirds. We love our pubs, but I'm sorry to say, this one simply does not deserve customers if they treat them the way we were treated.I've given this a rating of 2 because the actually beer was lovely & it the decor was lovely, as was the characterful front room that we were discouraged from sitting in. Otherwise I'd have given it a rating of 1.

We dropped into the Royal Union for a couple of drinks after a meal recently, expecting to enjoy some quality beer. Instead we were made to feel completely unwelcome. When we asked to taste a couple of the ales before choosing, we were flatly refused, although every other pub we went to in Cheltenham was happy to let us do this. Buying 1/3's was the only option here. The atmosphere was just so unfriendly that we couldn't leave quickly enough and take our custom elsewhere. I've no idea what the problem is, but it's not somewhere I'll ever go again.

great selection of beer friendly staff with great food Atmosphere good with lots of friendly locals who where willing to chat

Called in for a couple of pints with the wife on Saturday night. On arrival, the beers on offer were all strange to me, so I picked one suggested by another customer (there were around 6 or 7 people in the bar) and asked for a sip, to make sure it was to my liking. I was promptly told that I would be charged for 1/3 pint in order to taste it! We left immediately in disgust.In all my years of visiting pubs, I have never come across such an unfriendly attitude to customers and this was clearly a policy by the management of the business, as the owner was in the bar and he made no attempt to stop us leaving.We went to the Jolly Brewmaster and received a warm welcome in a friendly pub that was packed...and so was the garden! We spent £25 there.Best of luck for the future Royal Union, you will need it!

Thank you Robin for the fantastic meal on 16th, although our party increased by two 24 hours before we sat down there was enough food all round to accomodate us. We totally agree with earlier comments, this is probably the best Sunday roast by a pub or restaurant in Cheltenham and value for money and you did not disappoint our guests who are not from the area. See you soon Robin.

I really enjoy my regular visits to The Royal Union, a friendly, traditional and what I would call a 'proper' back street pub which stands out in a time when everything is a chain of some sort. The owners are really accommodating and the staff and regular local faces have always been really chatty and friendly which only enhances a great atmosphere. You will be lucky to find a selection of real ales as good as the Unions anywhere else in Cheltenham and the menu is creative in providing 'sharing' meals as well as the usual fayre.

Probably the best Sunday Roast in Cheltenham. It was for my birthday and my wife arranged the meal for 9 of us. You pick from a set menu, which you need to book in advance, you can't just turn up. We picked a leg of lamb and chicken which is served whole at the table for you to portion yourself, both very tasty. There was so much veg -probably too much to be fair and I have pinched the owners leek recipe. It is a bit different and a bit quirky granted but definitely worth a try - from the outside you'd probably pass it by. It was also very reasonable at circa £22 per head for the meal we had. There is plenty of ale choice as well, which kept the drinkers more than happy. We fancy trying the suckling pig next time for 10+ people.

Pretentious place - owners a bit strange. Staff friendly to you if you're a regular, otherwise treat you with contempt. Food overpriced - £12 for a bog standard burger. Decorated in a very pretentious 'style' - shame because it looked like it used to be a nice pub. On the plus side, beer is very good.

Went for sunday lunch with my family in great anticipation due to the great trip advisor reviews...Must say we were all a bit disappointed. The place lacked atmosphere, the food was average and overpriced.After we left, we decided to go to the Tivoli for a drink which felt so much more warm, alive and 2 courses were cheaper than the royal union! I think we'll just head there next time...

Wow! Lovely unique atmosphere, buzzy and fun, but like an old fashioned pub with the best food we have ever tasted. Couple who own it are lovely, nothing is too much too much trouble. Would recommend.

Saw this pub on tripadvisor on glad we did. Lovely friendly welcome from the manager and staff. Ordered the steak and it was cooked to perfection one of the best we have had. The chocolate brownie was to die for again one of the best and we have tasted a few. The beer choice was good. The whole chicken looked amazing too. Shame we were not local as we would be visiting soon again!

We booked a table for a share Sunday roast and we weren't disappointed. We decided to have a whole roast chicken. The meal started with some vegetable spring rolls which were great and whetted our appetite. The chicken was cooked to perfection and the stuffing was homemade and delicious. There were 9 vegetables to go with the chicken and the roast potatoes were second to none. The gravy was also so yummy. The landlord recommended a bottle of sauvignon blanc which accompanied the chicken perfectly and reasonably priced. The atmosphere in the pub was also very relaxed. We did not have enough space for dessert otherwise we would have loved to try the crumble too!! All in all, a perfect Sunday and it's great that we can support a local business. WE WILL BE BACK!!!

I usually visit the royal Union on a Friday evening with my girlfriend and meet friends chatting by the lovely open fire. This is a warm friendly local pub where you see the same faces time after time. We decided to have some food a shared meal of fillet of rump steak with roasted vegetables and chips (proper chips) the plates were nice and hot and the food was just great very tasty and plenty of it. The place was filling up as we left with few seats available. There is also a good selection of real ale served by friendly staff. This pub is slightly off the beaton track but well worth a visit.

With only one night in Cheltenham we wavered between a sophisticated restaurant and a local pub. We opted for the pub and followed the advice of Tripadvisor and went to the Royal Union. I'm so glad we did. It was everything a pub should be, crowded, noisy, friendly and to cap it all the food was far better than your average pub grub. Beware, if you opt for the Portuguese piri piri chicken you get a whole chicken plus roasted vegetables plus chips which was more than enough for three people - and all for only £10 each. Added to which the Butcombe bitter was aso very good.

This is a great pub just to drink in. The landlord serves an excellent variety of local real ales - as well as good craft beers, too. It's a traditional pub - open fire and all.On top of that, the food is very, very good - but not served every night of the week. I've eaten in there several times and always enjoyed it. This time we had the large sushi platter - and it was superb. It's a great place to go.

This is a traditional pub serving truly excellent beers. The pub owner, Robin, is clearly passionate about the beers and is always happy for customers to try a taster glass so that they can decide which to choose. Cosy bar area with real fire and lovely snug with comfy sofas. This is not a "designer" pub with anaemic bar staff but a hidden gem of a place which is very welcoming. Highly recommended. Have not yet tried the food but will do so shortly and then report back.

Brilliantly authentic English pub tucked away in fabulous Tivoli quarter! Fresh ales, beers from the area and the Sushi was brilliant! The cone thingies were a work of art and tasted gorgeous! Need some hot Japanese dishes to follow... Go. Enjoy. Brilliant.

Called into the Union the other night on the off chance and had a great selection of Sushi that was well prepared and correctly served with various sauses. A good selection beer was on hand along with a welcome open fire, what more could you want on a cold winters night. My only comment to people is this is a pub and not a fancy one at that but if you like good beer and a friendly atmosphere then you could do a lot worse.

Popped into Cheltenham to help our son put up curtain rails etc as he just moved into his flat and decided to go for a meal just up the road. Checked on Trip advisor first so this seemed a good bet. We were starving having worked all day and though the menu was limited in terms of british dishes (about 3-4dishes only, including steak, burger and chicken), we decided to order the 10 oz rump as the menu description seemed very appetising. We had to wait over half an hour for the food which I thought was excessive for 3 medium rare steaks. As the steak came without any sauce, I asked for horseradish sauce when the food arrived but was told they didnt stock it. The steak was lean but cut up into little slices - had it said this in the menu description I wouldn't have ordered this dish as I would always opt for a piece of steak which I can then cut as I want. While I was waiting for the waitress to return with some mustard,(a good 5 minutes !) my husband said I ought to start eating as the steak was barely warm. I checked and slices on the end were completely cold and the rest was clearly nearly cold. Chips were dull and very average and nothing like the menu description. The roasted vegetables tasted like chinese stir fried vegetables and were unappetising and only just warm. Didn't taste at all like roasted vegetables.As I eat all my food when it is piping hot, the meal was quite frankly a 14 quid disaster and it ruined our evening. Clearly all our food had been left out for some time before being served and the dinner plates were luke warm. Won't be back here again and if you like your hot food hot, I would suggest you try somewhere else in Cheltenham!!!

For a long time this 'real' pub has offered a great selection of beers and some lovely sharing meals. Now the addition of Sushi is an absolute winner! I am new to Sushi but I am told, by a Japanese friend, that it is of a very high standard. Congratulations to Matt Gable, the chef! And to Robin and Karen for going from strength to strength!

I visit the Royal Union on a reasonably regular basis and have reviewed it before. I went there last week because I'd heard they had a new chef who specialises in sushi. I have to say that the thought of real ale and sushi was something I hadn't considered but let me tell you it works. I've eaten sushi lots of times in a number of different places but this was, without doubt, the best I've ever tasted. My wife used the word orgasmic! The chef, Matt, is a trained sushi chef and makes everything by hand to order rather than it being produced beforehand. I can't tell you how delicious it was and judging from the packed tables others felt the same. It was great to look around and see regulars sitting at the bar enjoying a small plate of sushi as a bar snack with their pint. The pub's usual menu is still being served and as good as ever from what I am told.As normal, the beer is tremendous, the clientele as eclectic and as friendly as ever and still no TVs or music blaring out. It's just a lovely, unpretentious place to spend a couple of hours for a drink or a meal.