A Pub Rescue on a Scorching Day
The Courthouse Hotel Smythesdale was our escape from a scorching 42°C summer day. We’d had a few failed attempts trying to run our air conditioner off our generator (ugh, that’s a whole story in itself), and I turned to Isaac and said, “Let’s go to the pub.”
Sadly, the kitchen was closed — not so sadly, because it meant we ended up at Rustic Edge Café and Takeaway for lunch (a little bonus, I say!). But we were craving that classic pub vibe, so after a quick feed, we ducked into the Courthouse Hotel for a drink… or maybe a few.
The sweetest part of the whole experience? I asked if Benjamin could sit under our table instead of outside in the heat. They kindly said yes — just this once — so our little pup didn’t have to endure the scorching sun. Honestly, who could resist that face?
We ended up staying until dinner service started (it doesn’t cool down until at least 7–8pm in summer!).
The place is a little pricier than other pubs in the area (ESPECIALLY the drinks $$$). While it has great atmosphere and friendly service, we’ve since found the food a bit hit-and-miss and quite expensive for what you get.
We do feel it’s worth visiting at least once, but if you’re not in the area long, we recommend a few other local pubs we’ve explored and preferred. You can read more about our experiences and more places to eat in our Smythesdale blog.
Looking for more delicious discoveries?
Explore all of our café, restaurant, pub and other recommendations at Foodies Corner:
Stay Connected
Our blog is where we share our detailed guides, reviews and travel tips. On social media, you’ll find the day-to-day adventures, behind-the-scenes moments, local discoveries and plenty of Benjamin along the way.
Follow us where you prefer: → Instagram | → Facebook
Leave a Reply