TRAFALGA INN - Yes, it's the right spelling. At the north end of the village on the seafront road, this pub was enlarged a few years ago to include a very pleasant family room (the type that makes you feel wanted). The outside seating area is not particularly inviting, however. Initially had Bateman's XB and John Smiths on handpump, but then switched to Bass and Tetley's. Now back to Bateman's XB only (but I'm not complaining). Good value food served until late.
WHITE HORSE - 100 yards up the road from the Smugglers. Has a small conservatory on the front that serves as the family room, with a small outside seating area in need of some refurbishment. Courage Directors normally available, with an additional guest beer served during the summer months.
Nothing in this section, following relegation of Smugglers Inn and Neptune.
SHIP - Was once a regular in the Good Beer Guide, this pub is on the northern outskirts of the village. It was a locals pub, with most of the Batemans range, and had a small separate family room and fair sized reasonably equipped garden. However, during the early 1990s, whilst the beer quality remained good the family facilities seemed to be falling into ruin. In 1995 it supported a banner stating it to be a 'Bateman's Refurbished Pub'. It certainly looked tidier from outside, and the redecoration inside was in character, but no improvements had been made to the family room or garden. Previously busy with locals, at 8.00 pm on a Friday night (with food available) the pub was totally empty - a great shame as the Bateman's was still perfect. We tried to visit last year, but found the garden to be completely taken over by caravans, hence the pub's sorry relegation to the red category.
VINE HOTEL - Large hotel in the centre of the village, with a large (but smoky) family room, additional covered family seating in a (now tatty) glass enclosure on the front and recently much improved outside seating adjacent to a public childrens play area. Stones and Worthington were the early handpump choices, and later the beer range was much improved to Bateman's XB, Pedigree and Stones. Unfortunately things have gone downhill with regular changes to the licencees resulting in regular reductions in the beer range. Last year it was just Boddington's, this year nothing. Don't be fooled by the Batemans advertising boards that they continue to use.
SMUGGLERS - Large pub on the road connecting the two halves of the village. It previously had a large family room with well-used furniture (but good enough for a quick one or two). The problem was that it would be impossible to have a quick one of the very cold Pedigree and Boddingtons. Plenty of outdoor seating, but no view and nothing to do. Our first visit for several years found that no real ale is available.
NEPTUNE - The first of the pubs at the Trunch Lane end of the village to sell real ale. I don't know how good the family facilities are, but there is outside seating and a Vaux Samson handpump was spotted on the bar. Unfortunately, this has now gone, so instead of elevating this pub to the green section, it has been relegated.
There are several other pubs in Chapel, particularly at the southern Trunch Lane end, and whilst most have family facilities I've yet to spot a handpump.
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