The Ale House in Stroud - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Another great Sunday lunch cooked to perfection full of flavour and big portions great rhubarb crumble at a great price the waitresses are friendly and do a great job and also the pianist

We had a table booked for 11 people at 13:00 for the set Sunday lunch menu (beef or asparagus and mint tart). We were going to have 8 vegetarian options and 3 beefs, but were told there weren't enough vegetarian portions. There were a total of 5 vegetarians among us, and some people that don't like beef. 3 people decided to change to the beef option, but there still weren't enough vegetarian options. I find it absolutely ridiculous that there were only 3 vegetarian tarts available at 13:00. When asked if we could supplement the tart with extra vegetables, we were denied. Absolutely horrible service and a severe lack of preparation. We decided to leave and won't come back.

VERY disappointed!!! I went into the Ale House for a drink with my partner early on Friday evening. I took a call from my son which I had to put on loud speaker due to the speaker on my phone being broken (it was no different to having someone else sat on the table talking to me) The next thing I know I’m be shouted at in an aggressive manner by an red faced scarecrow looking man and his group. This man was absolutely awful about me being on my phone and was set on humiliating me. The whole pub came to silence and watched whilst he shouted at me stating he was the owner and to get off my phone, the table next to us stated they could not hear us on the phone and my partner also stated she could not hear my conversation with my son. If this man is the owner ,he has a very nasty and threatening way of dealing with two females who have gone in for a drink on a Friday evening. Never in all my years have I been shouted at in front of a pub of people by an owner. If my call was bothering him (and he is more than entitled to have expectations in his pub) all he had to do was come and speak to me, not shout so loudly to ‘shut up’ and humiliate me in front everyone in the pub. It’s such a shame as we often pop in for a drink and a game of bar billiards and the staff have always been lovely. TRULY AWFUL experience and an awful and intimidating man who is nothing but a bully. Now I understand why it’s always empty.

Really strange experience. Phoned to book table for Sunday lunch 12.30 onwards as advertised. Phone wasn’t answered until just before 12 for lunch at 1.30 for two of us. Arrived at 1.30 to be told kitchen closes at 1.30 but if we got our order in quickly that would be ok. Really nice 3 course meal, very good value and nice relaxed surroundings. Service seemed rather rushed with no one asking if all was good. Also no tab could be set up and very much pay as you order. Will try again another time though.

Portions smaller and they regularly overcharge. We were overcharged by £4.70 ,another group by £32.00 so pay attention. During our visit it became apparent that the staff were untrained and did their best. Landlord needs to increase his prices for Sunday lunch before the plates look half empty; down to two roast potatoes per plate now. £15 would be fine. Nice pub, good atmosphere, no children running around which is nice. Pianist on Sundays.

Best pub in Stroud a nice friendly relaxed atmosphere a pianist playing on Sundays and £12 for a 3 course sunday lunch cooked to perfection

Nice old pub, with nice food and great staff. Recommend the sausage sandwich. Dog friendly and centrally located. Stroud is a pleasant provincial town with good parking, an underground market, and an occasional farmers market which is extensive

Excellent Chicken Roast with all the trimmings Amazing value and soup and dessert terrific too Definitely will come again - great find in our Market town Stroud

Another excellent Sunday dinner. Great value at £11 for 3 courses . No price increase, which is surprising. Great table service with the food, and a great selection of beers at the bar.

Popped in on a visit to Stroud. Well priced and good selection of ales and the meal I had was top quality and also nicely priced. Service was excellent too. If in Stroud again, it will be my first stop.

Its unfortunate that a pub in a small town (Stroud) for some obscure reason thinks its able to have up to a dozen real ales on at any one time. Maths alone tells one that 72 pints (firkin of ale) × 12 equals nearly 1,000 pints which should be sold within 3 days. Ie turnover of £1,000 a day!!!!! Utter foolishness. Even the dreaded Wetherspoons would not attempt this many ales. Result, after the first pints we drank Budvar on draught It is ALWAYS better to have fewer on which sell quickly... One needs to look no further than The Turks Head in Gloucester to see how it should be done There they only ever have 3 on at a time - BUT the barrels never last longer than a day... Say no more..

Visited here for the first time since lockdown recently. If you are partial to amber/ruby ales, this is not the place for you.

We were served this tripe on Sunday at this so called establishment . A plate full of fatty undercooked dog meat. Nobody touched it and the owner cowered in the kitchen instead of facing up to us. If you’re thinking of going here to eat I’d strongly advise you don’t. To be fair the pub itself was pleasant but they shouldn’t be serving food. AVOID.

A family group of eight for Sunday Lunch today. We all had fore-rib of beef which turned out to be utterly inedible for all, very fatty, some bits raw and some bits cooked. We politely asked to speak to the Owner/Manager and were told by the lovely junior staff that he wouldn’t come out to see us, he had apparently grumbled and then admitted the joint of meat wasn’t good. I know times are difficult at the moment but his attitude was surly and unbelievable - a little bit of civility would have gone a long way. Utterly spoilt my son’s 40th birthday - not that he would care.

. . . refused service AGAIN at The Ale House. I had a fourteen year old young lady with me and was told in no uncertain terms, to leave. Earlier the same day I called in to this pub specifically to ask if I would be allowed to enjoy a drink with friends for an hour during the early evening, including the young person and was assured that this was fine. If there is a policy regarding young people using this place then I don't know what it is. And neither do the staff! I find this establishment to be rather unfriendly and unwelcoming, particularly for family gatherings. Perhaps more suitable for older teenagers and young adults.

I love the Ale House! It's an absoute gem right in the heart of Stroud town. Exceptional beers & delicious food. Well worth a visit!

Always a good selection of curries & chilli along with a few other home made dishes - all the food we've eaten on several visits has been very good. Good selection of beers. Lovely building and often some good live music.

Although we regularly go to The Ale House on a Saturday after visiting Stroud Farmers’ Market it’s been a while since we went on a Sunday. We put that right last Sunday to enjoy a three course lunch. We had booked and there were plenty of tables free in the light and airy environment of the large bar area. This week’s offering was a home-made tomato and basil soup, roast beef and a lemon and lime cheesecake. As with all Nigel’s dishes the portions were generous and each course quite delicious. It was a lot to get through but we managed it! As usual we accompanied our meal, not with wine, but I had a couple of pints of Plateau from the Burning Sky brewery and my wife two halves of cider. As we left we said that we mustn’t leave it so long before returning on a Sunday.

Compared to other offerings, this place is well above par for non-mass produced lager crap. Reasonable prices too.

We visit the ale house often for for their extensive beer selection that changes frequently . By far it’s the best in Stroud for beer lovers . Yesterday we had the Sunday lunch which is very good value. Just £11 for 3 courses . I had the chicken my husband had the goats cheese tart . Both were excellent . The chicken was so tasty . Beautiful presentation and outstanding quality ingredients .

This is a great beer pub on the edge of the town centre with a great choice of real ales and ciders all well-priced. Every taste is catered for and a visit is a must. Just check the opening times.

Friendly waitress who seemed to be working on her own. We were lucky to be able to sit in the courtyard. The beers were fine and the food was just OK. We did eat early evening and the sausage and mash did look re heated , the gravy was very glutinous and the mash had a skin on it. I had the aubergine parmigiana which looked nice, plenty of aubergines and tomatoes but far too much oil and not enough herbs or seasoning. Both were served so hot we had to wait 5 mins before touching them. What was odd or maybe we have not come across this but we had to pay for everything as we ordered. Just a bit inconvenient when ordering another drink whilst eating.

No food on the night in question but the great range of ales and a comfortable interior made up for it. Distancing was observed; ale pumps behind a screen, drinks delivered to the table. Did I mention a great range of ales?

En nuestra estancia de cuatro noches en los Cotswolds (alojándonos en Stroud) visitamos la Ale House tres veces. Una gran selección de cervezas y un lugar divertido para beber antes o después de una comida. Disfruté especialmente probando la cascada de Tiley y la API (de Gloucestershire). En general, vale la pena una visita para tomar una pinta o tres.

Visitar Stroud al menos un par de veces al año The Ale House siempre es mi elección para el almuerzo. No fue construido como un pub, por lo que el ambiente es un poco diferente y eso me gusta bastante. Se ha cambiado con simpatía, sea lo que sea, sin que algunos eejit golpeen las vigas falsas de fibra de vidrio del pub y lo conviertan en algo que no es.Han tenido un letrero que anuncia su orgullo de proporcionar un lugar para la conversación y para un espacio tan abierto, la acústica es sorprendentemente buena para un natter. Encontrarás una variedad de asientos para disfrutar cómodamente de tu conversación con amigos o, de hecho, con los amigables lugareños. Esa es otra cosa buena de Stroud, la gente te habla. . . . ¿Pero tal vez lo hacen para asustar a los turistas estadounidenses?La comida está por encima de lo que ofrecen la mayoría de los pubs; el menú siempre me presenta decisiones difíciles, escrupulosas.El día de mi última visita, las insignias de la bomba mostraron una variedad de cervezas y sidras de moda. Ya me han hecho esto antes. . . Solo quiero un amargo decente, simple y tradicional para complementar su comida. No quiero algo que ofrezca una mezcla embriagadora de sabores complicados fusionados para tentar mis papilas gustativas. Una vez más, no pudieron acomodarme.En casi todas las visitas, he encontrado que el personal del bar se ha vuelto loco. Siempre son agradables y hacen todo lo posible, pero me pregunto si la gerencia aprovecha su clientela tranquila y paciente de Stroud para involucrar a la cantidad mínima de personal.

Visité la cervecería ayer por la noche con amigos y experimenté el peor servicio al cliente que he visto en un bar. Después de esperar más de media hora en el bar que mi amigo pidió que le sirvieran, nos dijo que estaba "ocupado rascándose el culo" y que si no nos gustaba esperar "para salir de aquí" . Sorprendido es quedarse corto. lenguaje y comportamiento atroces. No volverá.

Visited the Ale House and was glad to see 10 ales on hand pump, however as I made my way along the bar I found that 9 of them were pale ales! Being a fan of amber ales/best bitters this was not good news especially as the 10th one was a stout. What is the point of having so many pumps if you're not going to provide variety? This is not the first time that I have encountered this issue here. Maybe time for a name change to The Pale Ale House?

A visit to the Ale House has become a regular feature of our trips to the Stroud Farmers’ Market on a Saturday morning. Once again we resisted the tasty treats available around the market as the plan was to lunch at The Ale House. As usual we couldn’t resist the curries. I’ve been a fan of Indian food for years and creating dishes in the kitchen has been a hobby of mine for over 50 years. I have to say that Nigel demonstrates great skill in this style of cooking and that I have rarely, if ever, experienced dishes prepared with such flair. The spicing is spot on and the balance in the use of ingredients masterly. Today we chose a Chicken Parsee and a Chicken Achari. As has become customary we share the dishes by eating half and then exchanging plates to enjoy the differing flavours. A final word about the rice - it was cooked perfectly (and I use that word very rarely in reviews) with each grain separate and having just the right ‘bite’. I must ask Nigel how he achieves that. On the beer front there are always several interesting Real Ales available but I am always drawn back to the exemplary Plateau by Burning Sky brewery. Nigel’s ales, ciders and perries are always served in fine condition. As a member of the Campaign for Real Ale I regularly mark ale quality on a 1 to 5 scale. Over 10 years I have only given a 5 twice but I am delighted to say that today I gave my 3rd. On a side note I’m astonished that so much flavour and depth can exist in an ale of 3.5%. A delight. So, thanks again Nigel for making our Saturday visit to Stroud such a treat.

My husband and I have been here many times, mainly for drinks but occasionally to eat. The landlord is always very rude and rude to his staff in front of customers. He went the extra mile this time - we ordered vegetarian Sunday roast which was Spanikopita, roast vegetables and vegetarian gravy. The gravy came is a tiny jug between us that couldn't have been more than 2 teaspoons to share. When we asked the waitress for more, she said that was it. We were quite happy to have meat gravy, but the kitchen said they couldn't provide that either. It was so dry with any gravy or sauce we returned the meals having eaten one mouth. The landlord was cooking in the kitchen, my husband poked his head around the door only to get receive a load of verbal from him calling me pretty unsavory names- not sure why as I hadn't complained apart from sending the meals back. When I went to ask him why he called me that (miserable cow), he made out he just worked in the kitchen and wasn't the owner/ landlord.

Finally got around to trying here for Sunday lunch and whilst good value and efficient service, I would probably pay a bit more and eat elsewhere.

The food was all cooked from scratch which is unusual these days...no "Aunt Bessie's " anywhere.The vegetarian alternative was very good.The pudding, (Eton mess) was sublime.The price is extremely reasonable £10.00 for two courses and £11 for three.The service was excellent and the staff were really friendly and couldn't do enough for us.We drank a lot of wine with the meal and this was not at all expensive.The atmosphere in the Ale House is cosy with the smell of woodsmoke in the air, the decor is "paired down" but not stark and the bar is well stocked its a great place for a relaxing Sunday meal.It's not really suitable for children though.

Si bien este lugar tiene buena cerveza y comida razonable, siempre está tranquilo.Abandonado a veces.Me he preguntado por qué y ahora lo sé.El personal más subalterno es agradable pero la administración es francamente grosera.Inesperadamente tan.Al pedir hablar con el gerente por un minuto me negaron rotundamente: "No, estoy ocupado".No podía creer mis oídos.Nunca volveré a ir allí y compartiré esto como una advertencia para otros clientes potenciales.Después de todo, aunque pueden pensar que son el único pub en la ciudad, hay muchos otros con más respeto y respeto hacia sus clientes.Está tranquilo por una razón. . . . .

Great bar. Food looked and smelled great. There was a cider and beer festival on and they had a good range of wines. Great atmosphere.

Very nice pub in centre of Stroud. First time we have visited, will return if we are near Stroud again. Good service, nice barmaid, lovely food and fine ales. Reasonably priced, a really good find.

La administración hace que sea su negocio encontrar y presentar una selección en evolución de cervezas, cervezas y sidras de todas las islas británicas. Un buen lugar para probar algo que nunca antes has tenido. La comida no es la característica, pero siempre ha sido buena cuando la he probado. Los espressos miden bien.Las bandas de fin de semana son poco convencionales ya menudo buenas. Algo de acento en la música arraigada. Consulta su calendario.Lo mejor de todo es el ambiente. En realidad me gusta colgar aquí. La sala principal con el bar y la chimenea o la sala final con los grandes ventanales. Todo bien.

The clue to the purpose of this establishmwnt, is in the name The Ale House. The focus is more on the drink side, rather than dining.

We went in here on a Wednesday night as a party of nine for drinks and dinner (worth noting that we tried repeatedly to book but the phone was never answered). Firstly, overall impressions: a decent selection of beer, mediocre food (mine was an okay curry, surrounded by dried-out rice which kind of ruined it) and absolutely no atmosphere. A lot of warning notices as you enter about how they don't want children in after 7pm.

They do keep a decent pint and have won awards for it, however trying to get food is hit and miss, today I was refused because “the landlord is counting a till “ well if they keep this up there won’t be any tills to count...!!! So do come for the beer and open wood fire but plan to eat either before or after your visit

Big open space with plenty of tables & chairs. Great big bar with plenty of ales & cider on offer. Greeted by a lovely young lady offered a sample of a cider which went down very well. Lovely open fireplace, if you are looking for TVs with all the sports you want this may not be the place for you but if you want proper ales then it is. Will definitely be visiting if in the area again.

La Casa Ale es un gran lugar para una variedad de eventos. Puedes hacer una bebida rápida por tu cuenta, organizar una reunión en el club, ver música en vivo, tener una comida familiar o lo que sea que hagas en los pubs.

Vine aquí con algunos amigos. Ninguno de nosotros tiene hijos, pero tenga en cuenta que hay una gran cantidad de señalización anti - infantil agresiva pasiva. . . Si traes un niño, ¡prepárate para ser regulado! Nos hizo preguntarnos qué historia tenían para hacer que odiaran tanto a los niños.

el cordero fantasma saag y la pinta de aguijón que acompaña, wow wee, desearía que el servicio local de autobuses nos permitiera un viaje nocturno aquí porque apuesto a que sería genial cuando está abarrotada, el primer lugar que voy cuando en stroud, el amable personal del bar también , siempre sonriendo

A really nice choice of real beers, this pub has been recognized by “camra “ for their beer, good food and an open log fire, just right for those winter evenings, do stop by and try it....

Mi esposa me tentó a probar este lugar, que había visto en un viaje anterior a Stroud, aunque sabe que prefiero evitar tomar una cerveza la noche anterior a una carrera larga, ¡y estábamos abordando la Media Maratón de Stroud a la mañana siguiente!

I visit a great many pubs looking for quality real ale and I am often disappointed but not here this guy really knows how to choose and keep beer. I live 50 miles away but I will be back on a regular basis. Superb.

Rocked up for the start of the start of the East Anglian Beer Festival at the end of May 2018.

A wider and significantly more interesting selection of real ales than all the other pubs in Stroud put together. It's an eclectic blend of modern and old-school. A roaring fire and wingback chairs are supplemented by quirky art and a London townhouse vibe. A must-see in a town where, frankly, good beer and cider should be easier to come by.

My partner was really pleased with the choice of ale and there were also a few ciders to try too. Good choice of gins too. The Sunday lunch menu looked fantastic value - £10 for 3 courses and all local produce. Sadly didn't get chance to try it the next day. Definitely worth a visit - lovely Regency style building.

There is a wide and varied selection of ales here and all seem well kept. It's got a few CAMRA awards too. This is not a purpose built pub but a converted building - perhaps an ex bank? So the space is light and airy and not really very pub-like. The food we had was a bit perfunctory. Tasty but nothing special. V limited vegetarian options and no vegan. The two people behind the bar were efficient but not friendly. On a Saturday lunchtime the place was fairly busy, with quite a few young children. So an inclusive sort of place but perhaps not ideal for a quiet drink. That said, if you like real ale then this is an essential place to visit, and a pleasant and comfortable to linger.

Went over to Stroud to see a band at Subscription Rooms , went onto TripAdvisor and found this pub around the corner, arrived at 20.00, polite bar staff , my husband and myself both wanted bubble and squeak but were asdvised there was only one portion left so we ordered 1 bubble and squeak and one cottage pie, however 10mins after paying our food order were informed they could not provide any food due to a large order- we were quite taken aback , I was offered a refund and but had to ask for our drinks to be refunded as we had to go staight away and try and find somehere else to eat, the young barman was very polite however the manager could have shown their face and apologise,

We’ve been several times and always enjoyed the exceptional beers (all beautifully kept) and splendid wine.

Always visited on Friday or Saturday nights for drinks which is always great...huge selection, open fire, usually a band on..nothing to fault! Decided to try the £10 3 course Sunday lunch and it’s almost too good to be true. Soup was great with decent bread, roast beef spot on and dessert likewise! Would definitely recommend.

3 courses for £10....and the food isn't just acceptable, it's very good hearty fare. The soups are always delicious, as are the desserts. I opt for the veggie roast and am never disappointed. To cap it all, the range of beers is stunning and they are always well kept

A very handsome building happily pressed into service as a real ale and music venue and doing very well at both. Saw the excellent Liam Ward perform miracles on harmonica and drank plenty of fine ales although couldn't say what they were.

While wondering around Stroud, when the annual Fringe Festival was on, August bank holiday weekend, Friday to Sunday. We came across this ale house, as we were looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat we went in, only to find they were having an ale festival on at the same time as the Fringe Festival, we sat down to peruse the ale menu, picked out 3rds to try, and enjoyed all 3. One thing that was lacking was there was no food available, no menus out, no one else eating, so we took it that due to the festivals they had stopped serving, pity but not the end of the world.c

Cayó en una copa para reunirse con amigos y pasamos unos bocados para compartir. Un lugar realmente encantador, con habitaciones grandes tipo antiguo georgiano y techos altos. Tenía una gran banda en vivo en que realmente fabuloso y la gente baile típico que siempre es divertido stroud! Disfrutamos de nuestra noche aquí - gran cervezas dijo mi marido!

Un excelente abrevadero para cualquiera que disfruta de una ale - Nota otras bebidas están disponibles. Siempre hay una opción de barril - wunderbar típicamente 10 plus. La comida también es buena, calidad y relación calidad-precio. El propietario también es un poco de un héroe.

Nos acercamos a la Ale House para el almuerzo y qué gran sorpresa!

A menudo nos dirigimos hacia Stroud cuando los mercados están en sábado y más a menudo que no pare en este excelente año 1.913. De hecho, casi siempre cuando tenemos amigos.

just got back from the ale house, we went in for a drink after eating elsewhere and stumbled upon a quiz night that we thought might be fun, however, after spending nearly £25 at the bar the landlord passed us by for the quiz sheets and we felt very uninvolved. When I challenged the landlord he explained that he didn't think we were interested because we weren't regulars. On my question as to what do regulars look like he didn't have an answer, he also stated that he couldn't care less if we had spent £500 at the bar.

Lovely pub with a good selection of real ales kept very well. Very relaxed surroundings and could easily have spent the afternoon here but we had to drive back to Sussex after visiting friends in Stroud for the weekend. The menu choice is limited on a Sunday but as we were looking for a Roast Dinner anyway that wasn't a problem. The lentil and tomato soup lightly spiced with cumin was delicious and the roast chicken accompanied by home made bread sauce and stuffing absolutely delicious. Remarkable value as well at £35 for 4 adults! If it wasn't 140 miles away from where I live I would be there most weekends.

A fantastic night a band ragged edge were playing really good great atmosphere good service the taster beers was a lovely touch and we will be back

Very limited menu on a Sunday which meant my meat-free, diary-free father could only have tomato soup. When we asked for this to come out at the same time as the roasts, we were told that wasn't possible as it was a starter and "that's not how the chef works". The soup came out in a matter of minutes, complete with a dollup of cream which we'd asked them to leave out.It was then just under an hour before the two roasts arrived, and then only after prompting, which I suspect is because they forgot the order. The food was good, though the beef was very fatty. Fifteen minutes after we'd finished eating, with our plates still on the table, I managed to flag a waitress down and ask when we could expect dessert: she disappeared for about five minutes before coming back and telling us it would probably be another fifteen minutes. I then asked if we could have it to go and she just shrugged and said "I don't think the chef will like that but I'll ask". Long story short, we left five minutes later without the dessert we'd already paid for, nearly two hours after we'd ordered.

The 2 high back settles which you have in the main bar should be secured to the floor - a little girl was behind one the other day and it nearly toppled over - could be an accident waiting to happen - other wise a great place lovely beer and food would strongly recommend

We have visited the Ale House several times on a Sunday for their lunch and in the evenings for drinks.Great selection of cider & ale and a nice atmosphere on Friday & Saturday nights, often with live music.Sunday lunch is great value and the soup in particular is always great with a veggie option always offered. We have yet to try the main menu but hope to soon.The only drawback is that in Winter it can be incredibly cold in the pub if you aren't sat right next to the fire!

Wonderfully kept beers and ciders, wide choice, food cooked with heart and good portions (bubble & squeak with egg/bacon fantastic if you're hungry). Currys are good. Most mains were about £8. We were looking forward to our visit here and did have a nice time, the building is wonderful, real fire in the main bar, right by the farmers market (but no boards outside displaying menu specials to tempt shoppers in..a missed sales opportunity in an area crowded on Friday and Saturday lunchtimes!). It is filled with light, high ceilings, vast walls....but with seriously tragic art (terrible framing, haphazard hanging, art mediocre at best). This building could be really vibrant with buzzing great art, do monthly exhibitions etc...what a waste of great well-lit display space! It gave the whole room a run-down empty feeling...which it isn't. Hope the management go in with fresh eyes if they read this and get something nice up for people to look at. It would be transformed.

The Ale House is now well established as a first class pub with a wide range of perfectly served beers. Well worth a visit.

We discovered the Ale House whilst wandering through Stroud. It was early evening and the shops were closing so we decided to stop for a pint before going back to our b&b. We had a delightful pint of Dark Star's Hophead ale and sat by the roaring log fire. All in all a very pleasant experience.

What a fantastic place this is smell of an open fire, rustic setting, wonderful staff and service once again we have been impressed and will return again and again

Popped in on a Sunday night whilst visiting Stroud. Very good selection of ales many of them local. Tried a particularly pleasant milk stout. Friendly bar staff and locals. Would definitely return. Has a strict all children to be gone by 7pm policy for info.

A group of 10 of us met here for a retirement do. It didn't start well when I rang repeatedly to try to advise we would be coming on a Monday night, some to just drink but some to eat. I also wanted to advise we were bringing a cake with us. Nobody answers the phone and the mailbox is full so you can't leave a message.On arrival, we were met by a surly landlord/manager and a barman who didn't seem to quite know what he was doing. I advised what we were intending and that I had tried to ring to be told "he didn't know how to empty the mailbox" - it doesn't stop you answering the phone though! We enquired about food to be told in a matter of fact way that we wouldn't be eating until after 7pm as he was cooking it and he was going to the doctor's! There are ways of saying these things & this wasn't one of them. The menu was very limited and it appeared that some of the stuff wasn't even available on that. In the end, I plumped for the Moroccan Chicken - I paid £8 for a very large bowl of rice and a small amount of the chicken which the spices hadn't been cooked out of properly and it made you cough. We asked if we could possibly have some plates for the cake and instead were given napkins - fair enough I suppose, but on asking for a knife to cut it with was presented with what looked like a butter knife. Perhaps by this time they had judged that I was in danger of wanting to slit my wrists with it.The welcome made me want to go elsewhere and if I could have communicated a change of venue to everyone I would have done so.Will I come here again, no. There are far better and more welcoming places around town and the five valleys. ~Very disappointed as I have been here in the past and it was very good.

Dropped in for lunch because it looked an interesting place outside.We were very pleasantly surprised to see a bar with 12 hand-pumps, tried a couple and found them to be excellent.We only had sandwiches to eat, but they were very good and the food arriving at other tables looked good too.I can't comment on what it is like in the evening, but next time I'm in Stroud I fully intend to give it a go.

Good bar with real ales - as hinted in the title. NB for disabled patrons: quite steep steps at the entrance. Didn't eat when I visited as it was nearly closing time (3pm), but would have on another occasion. Small but adequate courtyard to the rear.

Working as I do, in a real ale pub, I know a cracking boozer when I see one. 11 ales to choose from and good grub, what more do you need.

Went here for a sneaky one the other day. It's next to the farmers market area in town. Nice staff, good beer choice and it has free WiFi.Certainly worth popping in for one or 3!

First time in Stroud, visited Ale House on a Sat night, interesting building, art on the walls, open fireplace, some live blues in the background.Food could do with some improvement...

Called in for a few pints when in Stroud.Didn't have time to eat, but the the cider( Orchard?) on draught, and real ale were spot on.Good service, friendly atmosphere - live music was being set up as we had to leave, means we will definitely return when next in Stroud.

Popped in here to sample a few beers before moving on to another pub to watch the England v Wales game - we (16 beer drinking college friends) didn't make it to the other pub as beer was excellent and we managed to get the room with the TV in it.Staff were friendly, beer excellent and the free roast potatoes during the interval were just what was needed. Thanks guys, we'll be back and look forward to trying one of your curries!

Had lunch at The Ale House Excellent home cooked food ..very tasty and good portions. As you would have made at home.Beer was good..a generous selection.Definitely worth going back and live music on several nights.

Great place, great beer, well priced food and very relaxing - we take our grand children but I think it is a good thing that after a certain time children must go home - there are plenty of later venues for eating out with toddlers and mostly they benefit from going home to bed. It is good to have some adult time now and then

If you want fine dining, go somewhere else. But if you crave a log fire, great big bowls of well cooked food, Nigel's mix of music, lovely bar staff and a good selection of beers, ales and cider, then go to The Ale House. I have nearly recovered from no pudding being served in the week.......an apple crumble would have been nice....only on Sundays which is a shame...this week it's going to be sticky toffee pudding....but that would have just made it 6/5 .

The Ale House is my local pub & i'd highly recommend it. The standard of the bar is the best i know, it's easy to see why it's an award winner! Great live music nights & the roast on Sundays is well worth trying.

The owner literally snarled and made it quite clear he didn't like children being in the restaurant when a group came in behind us with toddlers crying. That's fair enough and it does say that kids are permitted at management discretion. But if you really don't like kids then just ban them so it's clear for all! There are other messages in here with similar comments so why let children in? Could it be because every single table had children on it? Either welcome families with children with a smile, if economics dictate, or ban them and have an empty pub. Food was ok but the bad vibes and lack of hairnet made us lose our appetite. We won't be going back.

This is the first time I have been to the Ale House but would go again. The beer was excellent and the food on offer was very pleasant and not too expensive. The building appears to be an old hotel but is pleasantly converted.

The food was fantastic. All freshly home made. Very friendly atmosphere, loads of different ales on offer. very spacious.

A pleasant pub in the heart of Stroud offering a continuously changing variety of good beers with a pleasant atmosphere.

We visited on a wet Monday lunchtime not really expecting much but were pleasantly surprised. We were in great need of basic rest and refreshment after an arduous journey. All I can say is that the beer and sandwiches we ordered were first rate. The bread was from a traditional bakers less than a hundred yards away and the fillings were generous and good quality. It's always a good sign when the kitchen can get the basic things right.The hot food menu was interesting with a Middle Eastern influence and would be worth dipping into.It would be nice to return at a busier time to test the ambience

Great selection of reasonably priced beer. They have a few local ales but at least 10 that are different each time I have visited along with a few guest ciders as well. The ambience is certainly a bit lacking but the two main rooms are spacious and there is another small room off to the side. I've never tried the food other than the chips but well worth a visit if you like a good pint.

This place is a gem, they keep a good barrel or nine of real ale as well as doing food. We had the Sunday roast which was fresh and plentiful, with a savoury tart as the vegetarian option, two courses for £10.00 is not a bad deal..the pudding was sublime !. The pub is roomy and tastefully decorated with an open fireplace and cosy leather chairs as well as the usual wooden furniture. One or two gripes, firstly, it should be made clear that on Sundays only the roast is on offer as I've seen people choosing from the wall menu only to be told that there's only a roast available...a little notice on the blackboards would do this. Also, the place is a little understaffed - one young woman serving at the bar as well as carrying the food over, people were walking out when we were there as they'd waited so long to be served at the bar. Can't believe that such an excellent pub and eaterie can't recruit another staff member for busy times.

The pub was our first stop when visiting Stroud yesterday and we stayed longer than intended we liked is so much. We are also planningon popping in again today. Beer is very well kept, and they have a great range of gin! Lovely courtyard to enjoy the , zte afternoon sun, and bar staff were warm and friendly.

An interesting place. Lots of ales, as suggested in the name of the place, and you can try before investing in a pint, or two! I have eaten there a couple of times now, food is good, portions are ample, they make a curry that is not your run of the mill pub grub but something a bit different, and veggy meal looked really nice as well, my friend said it was good, sausage and mash recommended. Also live music on a Thursday. You can park in the evening in the car park next to the church/police station for free and walk down past Costa and Iceland and its on your right. Little outside courtyard but the few times I have been its used mainly by smokers. You should try it, don't look much from outside but don't let that put you off.

I usually go here when I'm out with my friends for drinks as they love the ale here. I don't drink beer so I usually have mixers or cider. I was here for one of my friends birthdays and decided to order some food. I can't remember what I had (probably due to the alcohol) but it was very enjoyable, warm and quite a good amount.The atmosphere is nice and cosy. And luckily there are no children running around or screaming babies (it's beyond me why people bring them to pubs). It also doesn't attract the young loud youths which is definitely a plus.

Called in over the bank holiday. The chap serving up the beers and cider was very helpful. I sampled four ciders before I decided which one to have. It was quiet in the pub but very relaxing. We didn't try the food but the small menu looked tasty and reasonably priced. Good bar to try the ales.

Finding The Ale House was a real delight - I was passing through Stroud (a place I've visited before and will visit again) and had to find lunch, and had an hour or so to kill. And I found a wonderful pub, that on the basis of what I saw, gets so many things right.First, the building is airy and spacious - high ceilings, several rooms, an enclosed outdoor area too. The decoration is interesting too - effectively serving as a gallery of contemporary art (and far from the worst of that that I have seen...). There's also a noticeboard advertising various types of events taking place in the town (and for all that it is a fairly small and relatively remote town....Dolly Parton was on the cards, soon, in the town's subscription hall.....) And there are different places to seat, low, soft, chairs, higher, harder ones, tables high and low, some better for drinking, some better for food. And an extensive range of good quality and interesting beers - 12 real ales on tap when I visited, and a barman/owner who clearly is passionate about running the pub as a special place (a regular quiz evening was advertised, the chance to buy large quantities of fresh and alive local real ales to take away.The food menu is not wildly extensive (or at least, wasn't when I visited) - there were a number of dishes - of various kinds - from traditional English pie and mash - to south Asian dishes - complimented by a range of baguettes and sandwiches. Which was what I had - a pork and leek sausage sandwich, in good quality granary bread, served with a homemade relish, a sizeable and tasty salad, and some crisps. The price was very reasonable, the setting excellent; I have no complaints. Service was quick and notably friendly. I see the pub has won awards in the last two years - all I can say is that they seem to have been well-deserved. This is a fine pub, that many could appreciate and feel at home in.

pub from any other that i have visited, large, airy good outdoor area, but felt it lacked any atmosphere, the walls were decorated with paintings from a local artist, the art is different but not my choice although other people seem to like it, and that is good, food was very good as were the choice of ales, but again seemed to lack any atmosphere, this was a lunchtime, probably better evenings and weekends, also the manager (i think it was anyway) was friendly and seemed to enjoy what he was doing, two bonuses (1) Disabled Toilet easy acess (2) NO KIDS RUNNING AMOK

What a great pub. Spacious and comfortable. Barman welcoming and enthusiastic. Excellent range of ales and the food was also good value and delicious. Hope to return soon.

I love the Ale House. It has by far the best selection of beers, all interesting and really well kept. Also a good selection of interesting spirits. The food is also really good quality, home cooked and very ample portions. Try the soup which is served with thick chunks of crusty bread. The fish finger sandwiches are brilliant. And if you like a hot chilli ..... they call it "perky" which is a serious understatement. Once a month (first Thursday) they have live jazz which is of amazing quality and not to be missed. They also have other live music, not sure exactly when, but usually on a Friday night. The quiz night (Mondays) is not for the feint hearted!

This is a must for anyone who loves beer. Located in the center of Stroud this lovely old building is full of character. The visitor is greeted with an immaculate bar with no less that eleven beer engines (all working). The selection of ales is astonishing ranging from a sedate session ale at 3.8 vol up to the heady heights of 6%+ for the brave or reckless. The key thing is the quality. EVERY glass is presented in perfect condition. Clear, bright and a joy to behold. The no nonsense licensee actually works behind the bar (always a good sign ) there are no corporate uniforms (always a good sign!) and the cost of a round doesn't require a loan (always a good sign!!)For those wishing to try a few there is a taster menu offering three one third pints which is a great idea. It is just a pleasure to find somewhere like this where the landlord is really only interested in providing quality ale to ale lovers. They also have a wide ranging menu which I have yet to sample but it looks good to me. I shall return soon.

My boyfriend and I stopped off here for a quick bite to eat before the cinema. On arrival, we were greeted by the friendly owner and his gi-normous dog. The owner has worked hard to revamp this place. Once a large, clattery open space, it is now welcoming and inviting. Fabrics, bold colours and artworks adorn the rooms and it has a much nicer feel. Outside, the courtyard has been transformed into a Mediterranean-style courtyard. The bar is arranged well, with a good selection of beers and ciders. I had a glass of Merlot, while my partner tried one of the ciders (both good). We sat outside in the courtyard as it was a balmy October evening. My partner chose the beef chilli, while I went for the version with chicken and chocolate. There was a good selection on the board, including sandwiches with crisps and side salad and vegetarian options. Our food arrived promptly (we had said we were going to the cinema) and it was freshly prepared and garnished with coriander and soured cream. The portions were extremely generous but it was so delicious, we ended up polishing off the lot! We noticed that there was a £9 Sunday lunch menu -- homemade mushroom and tarragon soup, followed by roasted haunch of venison (and a vegetarian option of goat cheese tart) and lemon tart. Very tempting. Previously, we have had fantastic homemade curry during the Fringe Festival and the best fish-finger sandwich with salad and crisps for £5. This place is great and deserves to do well. We will definitely be back soon (and probably this Sunday!).

My bowl of Jamaican goat curry was so substantial it almost scared me. The waitress was friendly and helpful in finding me a box to take my leftovers home. And she gave my dog a biscuit! Great service and food.