The Merchant's Inn — Restaurant in Rugby

I have been contacted by the managment and asked to remove my post. I am unwilling to do this but am happy to amend it.

As a regular I thought I would take my son for the first time on his 18th birthday. I have always enjoyed the Merchants and I was hoping that my son would carry on the tradition... what a shame that the manager claimed that the pub was full due to the rugby (England v Scotland)... I asked if he could let us in as it was my sons birthday and I had promised to bring him for the match on his 18th... ''NO" came the reply "I can't break the rules". OK I thought fair enough.. rules are rules. So, disappointed, off we went. As I walked up the street I had a sneaky feeling that this guy just wasn't being honest! I looked back and saw him letting a couple in no questions asked!!! I watched a while longer and sure enough he allowed another male in. I walked back towards him and he looked towards me... maybe he saw me, maybe he didn't ,but as I walked towards him to question his decision he walked into the pub and out of sight.

I do not accept the managers explanation that the couple had just 'popped out' because they passed us on the street 30 metres or so away from the pub as we were walking away. I looked back a couple of times and you did appear to be looking in my direction whilst the couple stood by the door. As soon as it appeared that we were out of sight (we weren't) you let the couple in. However, I do accept that the single male could have already been inside and had just popped out for a smoke.

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my original post. It is unfair of me to give you 1 star as I have had many more positive experiences at the Merchant's than negative ones. On reflection I have amended it based on those previous visits. However, I remain disappointed in relation to our treatment on that...

If I could I would not give a star! We were made to feel unwelcomed so rushed our first drinks and left. I thought I'd look at Google reviews . . .

Well, discovering the General Manager's response to Mr Mcleod's review shows we're not the only ones speculating discrimination, whether directly or by association!

In response to Mr McLeod's review, the General Manager states:

'What I don't like and what has left me sad, upset and extremely frustrated are the implications that you were refused entry because I don't like you, your 18 year old son or the ethnicity of your wife. lf you knew me or anything about the pub you'd know this is downright wrong and morally unfair. These ambiguous accusations are potentially slanderous and completely unnecessary.'

Well, General Manager, as you claim to be upset about the accusations, think about the people potentially left sad, upset and extremely frustrated because they were made to feel unwelcomed for some reason!

What is it about you and the pub that means suspecting discrimination is ‘downright wrong and morally unfair’ – a strong statement I’d say so expecting a compelling account, if you can be bothered to respond to my review.

And ‘These ambiguous accusations are potentially slanderous’ reads like a threat to me but why should people keep quiet about what they experienced at your pub and what they suspect? My review clearly shows that Mr Mcleod and his family are not alone to speculate...

If you are into real ales combined with liver damage then do not miss a visit here.

The Merch, as I believe it is sometimes called is nothing short of heaven on earth for them as like real ale.

When I visited there just happened to be a real ale festival in progress and every bit of space, almost, not already a bar as such was pressed into play as somewhere to buy beer.

I won't bother naming the ales as I can't remember them and you will find different brews on at the next festival anyway.

The place itself is a bit like the TARDIS, the rooms are quite spacious and a reasonable amount of seating to be had.

However, the ambiance of a proper rural real ale country pub is not quite there if that's what you were looking/hoping for.

Nothing like enough dodgy looking rural villeins/villains (?), sundry terriers, ferrets or badgers in evidence for a "real" country pub but if you don't care then neither do I.

There is Sky Sports on tap as well as excellent beer so it's worth the five stars... either for the sports or the ale, you decide...and after sinking a pint or three of what's on offer you won't be quite sure of where you are anyway...and, as mentioned above, care even less.

There is some very local "pay for" parking but you won't be interested in that as you are drinking...

In short definitely worth a visit if only to sample a proper hand (?) crafted real ale and to start weaning you away from frigid fizzy beer or even...