Review: Green Park Tavern

Following some major renovation work, TGtB's resident bar hopper Henry Heffer dropped by Green Park Tavern to check out the venue's new look. Read on to find out what he thought...

The lower Oldfield area of Bath is going through major renovations, with more to come. Including new student housing and hopefully a professional Creative Centre, bound to the riverside. It is possible that G.P.T may have jumped the gun with this redevelopment. However the Christmas rush of office and student parties has given it a great platform to cut its teeth, before the New Year. This is what G.P.T solely needs.  

Although aesthetically, the new G.P.T is much more attractive than its older incarnation, there is a lack of cosiness in the minimal design. The strong sense of community will remain, as long as the bar stays packed, the cliental will not notice the wide open spaces and patio furniture.

An authentic smokehouse is a great theme to build the bar around and some of the more visible branding and design features reflect this well. The food certainly makes this an interesting addition to the new wealth of renovated pubs in the Bath area. The question is, will G.P.T’s delightfully meaty menu be enough to draw punters from out of the centre of Bath? Or will this smokehouse be kept up by its loyal cliental from lower Oldfield?

Their cocktails certainly will not be a draw. The bar staff are young and inexperienced and find it very difficult to even make a passable mojito. However, this will come, as the drinks menu becomes more refined and the staff practice their flair. For the time being, G.P.T will have to rely on the quality of its food and start putting together some truly exceptional event packages. Of course we remember the old incarnation used to be a live music venue as well. This used to attract a youthful and alcohol tolerant crowd, which the new G.P.T could use.

More than any other gastro pub, bar or eatery that has sprung up in the last two years, the G.P.T embodies the belief that, ‘If you build it, they will come’. A tricky existence, however sometimes an inevitable part of ownership. I have no doubt that when the renovations begin, Lower Oldfield could become a cultural centre, with G.P.T providing a hub and meeting place. However, there may be some dark months ahead.