Very friendly if you’re a local, a bit less for those who are not, The Barley is a nice community pub.

The Venue
There is nothing special about the decor of this pub but, if the bar area is rather stereotypical (fireplace, bench, pub chairs and tables), the back room is much brighter and newer. Here you will find new wooden furniture of the type you could use in your garden or games room, a couple of comfy couches, modern paintings giving some colour to the space, and lots of light. There is also a tiny back garden so you can smoke outside with your pint.

The People
The Barley looks more like a nice community centre than a pub. The weekly quiz gathers a regular crowd of locals and the barstaff don't bother asking you to take part if you’re a new face. It is not rudeness on their part, there is a strong family feeling here and you must gain some credit before being allowed to take part. Until then, they will be very polite with you, if a bit aloof. There are also many board games you can play and this is a good way to gain some confidence with the community. Alternatively, pet the big dog; he's one of the regulars.

The Food and Drink
The Barley does not stray from typical pub grub but there are a few rare exceptions. Within the specials, for example, you can get Greek salad (£6.50). The meats are what you would expect at any pub, but you can also order the not too common pork tenderloin with honey mustard or chargrilled tenderloins (£8.50).

There are only three standard whites, three reds, one rose and one sparkling in the wine selection. The regulars don't seem to mind, and when the quiz time comes quite a few of the girls go for a large glass. Prices are more than reasonable at £11 to £12.75 a bottle with small glasses at £3 to £3.30 and large ones at £3.90 to £4.30.

If the wines are not very exciting, there’s always the good selection of ales and ciders to choose from. These include Thatchers Cheddar Valley, Bob, Hobgoblin and Doombar. The highlight of the draughts, instead, is San Miguel, while hidden within the usual bottles you will also find Estrella Dam and Corona. The pints are priced at £2.75 to £3.10, not exactly a rock bottom price, but for a regular pub the rates remain slightly cheaper than average.

The Last Word
Moving to the neighbourhood? Take it slowly and approach the regulars one by one. Very soon, they will not remember you were new around here not so long ago.