Friday 28th August 2015
Bob Thompson
This pub is an example of what can be done if one comes under the control of the right management.
Like so many other suburban houses it was born in the late Victorian era and it was first recorded in 1880. Back then it was known as the Park Tavern and was purely an ale house. This changed in 1899 when it obtained a full license. It continued more or less in the same way until the second decade of this century.
This story of the pub under its present day name begins in 2011. It is a collaboration between the Slaughterhouse Brewery of Warwick and Everards Brewery of Narborough, Leicestershire.
The latter is an old-established regional brewery that was founded in 1849 and has 170 pubs throughout the Midlands. They operate Project William whereby they financially join forces with a second party, often a small brewery and refurbish a pub for the future. I am presuming this was an Everards house before its change.
Inside we have a two-bar local with a main area facing the street that was once two separate rooms. With a separate serving bar there is a smaller room that has some lovely wooden panelling that I assume was in the pub before 2011. From here there is a window that allows views of the small (2 barrels capacity) pub brewery; more on that later. Out the back there is a nice beer garden that is partially shaded and covered.
As mentioned before, the co-owner with Everards is the Slaughterhouse Brewery. Their premises are one and a half miles away from the pub; they were founded in 2003. It is operated by two partners, Peter Knell and Stephen Ridgway, who were previously design consultants for the motor industry. I guess that the name came about as they use a former slaughterhouse.
Their brewery is of 16 barrels capacity and they normally brew about three times a week. They supply a number of pubs in the immediate locality.
Despite it being late afternoon on a Friday, the pub was very full. I found a stool by a shelf on the wall and ordered the first of the beers.
There were five from the Slaughterhouse (Warwick) Brewery: Saddleback (3.8%), a regular beer; Summer Daze (3.5%); Warwick Rocks (4.0%); Hog-Goblin (4.6%) and Altbier (4.8%).
I have seen mention somewhere of a Wild Boar Ale which I would think comes from the pub’s brewery. This lot would all appear to be off the main plant.
The “guest” beers when I visited were: Colchester Brewery (Wakes Colne, Essex) Red Diesel (4.2%); MerriMen (Towcester, Northamptonshire) The Merri One (3.6%); Stratford-upon-Avon (SUA) Brewery, (Stratford, Warwickshire) Stratford Gold (3.8%) and Tring Brewery (Tring, Hertfordshire) Side Pocket for a Toad (3.6%). Also available was Everards Sunchaser (4.0%). Cider was represented by Weston’s (Much Marcle, Herefordshire) Old Rosie (7.3%). A great selection, I’m sure you’ll agree.
The pub has been CAMRA Heart of Warwickshire’s Pub of the Year for both 2013 and 2015. A full menu is offered at lunchtime followed by a pie and mash selection up to 21.00. There are acoustic nights on the last Tuesday of the month, the Cinema Club meets fortnightly on Wednesdays, Also musicians and bands play on the second Saturday of each month and finally there’s a Quiz night on the first Sunday of the Month.
So as can be seen there is more than just good beer offered here; not to be missed if you are in the area.
Important Information:
The Wild Boar, Lakin Road, Warwick, CV34 5BU. Tel: 0196 499968
Open: Monday-Thursday 12.00-23.30; Friday-Saturday 12.00-00.30; Sunday 12.00-22.30
Kitchen open: Monday to Friday 12.00-15.00; Saturday 12.00-16.00;
Sunday 12.00-16.00 (for roasts)
Pies with mash and peas are available daily from 12.00 to 21.00
Some other small snacks are offered
This pub is very close to the railway station. Exit from the north side. If you follow the signs to the hospital you are going the right way through the subway. As you leave it you will see a street to the right and another almost opposite. Both are Woodcote Road, take the one opposite and walk to the junction with Lakin Road. Turn left and you will see the pub immediately on your left. It should take no more than three minutes.
The X17 bus stops close by. This operates from Warwick to Coventry via Leamington Spa and Kenilworth. It is very frequent and runs every 15 minutes throughout the day on Mondays to Saturdays, less often in the evenings. On Sundays it is hourly with the last bus being just after 19.00.
