“ELEGANT”. THE MARKET TAVERN TAP, ATHERSTONE

August 2025. Atherstone.

Part 6 of the Atherstone Ale Adventure, and a sign that I must be approaching middle-age as after five (5) pints I was ready to retire.

So I left the hardened Leicester/Marple/Sheffield contingent to the White Horse (mixed reports, about to change hands, revisit next week),

and joined Stafford Paul on the final leg in the market place.

Notably busier at a quarter past four than at noon, the two market pubs have seemingly alternated as GBG entries for a decade or more.

The Market Tavern has the better pub sign,

and has more of a feel of a “beer” pub than elsewhere in town,

right down to those electronic displays us traditionalists love.

“Batches” ? Again ? Note the addition of “cob or roll” to pacify visitors who take umbrage at the incorrect word for a bread product.

CAMRA’s pub finder uses “elegant” to describe the Market Tavern, as it’s a place the gentlefolk of Atherstone bring their greyhounds of a Friday teatime.

Charming, with cool beer from Bristol Beer Factory (NBSS 3.5) and Hop Back, a choice of seating,

and some Midlands memories.

Right, 10 minutes for a quick half in the Angel before the train.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

10 thoughts on ““ELEGANT”. THE MARKET TAVERN TAP, ATHERSTONE”

  1. I had met those two elegant whippets on two earlier visits to Atherstone.
    They must tend to use the same pubs as me – Blue Boar, Angel, Old Swan, Market Tavern.
    And their owners regularly take them round pubs across the midlands.

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      1. I had early tea in the Punchbowl up the hill from us and for a few seconds a couple of 6 year old ran around the pub, the sort of thing that prompts calls for children to be banned from pubs forever elsewhere. But on reflection I prefer pubs to be open and used by all.

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  2. “and a sign that I must be approaching middle-age as after five (5) pints I was ready to retire”

    Don’t forget that 0% Heineken at the start!

    “(mixed reports, about to change hands, revisit next week)”

    I hope that doesn’t mean the hardened contingent were swapping hands (unless that’s how they became hardened?).

    “and joined Stafford Paul on the final leg in the market place.”

    Final leg indeed! Most folk would find themselves legless by this time.

    “The Market Tavern has the better pub sign”

    And, unlike the two ‘real’ windows on either side, this one is a window into history.

    “and has more of a feel of a “beer” pub than elsewhere in town,”

    Berate me if you must, but in the pic below, I would’ve plumped for the La Chouffe (love that beer!)

    “right down to those electronic displays us traditionalists love.”

    I see in the pic below they are trying to avoid the whole batch/cob/roll imbroglio.

    ““Batches” ? Again ? Note the addition of “cob or roll” to pacify visitors who take umbrage at the incorrect word for a bread product.”

    NO COMMENT.
    (note to self: scroll past the pic below before commenting)

    “as it’s a place the gentlefolk of Atherstone bring their greyhounds of a Friday teatime”

    Over here in North America greyhound is a bus line. 😉

    “a choice of seating,”

    I see you picked the window again.

    “Right, 10 minutes for a quick half in the Angel before the train.”

    You’ve got your second wind! 🙂

    Cheers

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