BITE user comments - Bernie5
Comments by Bernie5
Packed out to the rafters and I can see why, the staff were right on it, beer excellent and the food looked superb, didnt try it as I couldnt get a table.
6 Jun 2016 07:25
Couple of "different" beers on plus Ruddles, Abbots etc - no its not a Greene King house in disguise - as far as I know! Ate there once and it was OK. Went to eat there again and run a tab as I intended on having more than one beer with the dinner, no problem said the barmaid, just need table number. Then whilst pondering the menu a differfent member of staff wanders over says I havent paid for my beer... I explained the previous conversation with the barmaid. In a "computer says no" style this person says we dont do tabs. No apology for THEIR error, no polite would you mind paying as we've made a mistake - so I paid for the beer and walked. You just lost a possible regular customer - although judging by the conversation skills I doubt the member of staff in question could read this.
Wanderd along the waterfront to William IV - less beer selection but excellent food.
6 Jun 2016 07:23
Beer generally good although there is alot of Haresfoot which is an acquired taste in my view. Usually got about 6/7 beers on, food is good, staff are excellent, quiz nights once a month, screens for the rugby/football etc. Complimentary snacks at half time during rugby and the quizs. The volume is turned down when just regular TV being shown - fine by me. This place has been pulled up by its bootstraps and is now a good place to visit.
22 Mar 2016 10:04
Still a good pub although beer variety is starting to slow (This is OK if you like Woodefords Wherry, Adnams Bitter and Haresfoot beer). Usually 6 beers on, plus a couple of bottles and Red Stripe, Hoegaarden, Carlsberg. Quiz nights once a month-ish... Advertising for this is poor so if you're interested in the next date you basically need to be lucky and be in there about 7-10 days before it happens. Prizes for the quiz are good and the atmosphere usually very jolly. Gents toilet still needs serious attention.
Staff can be good, or... not... depending on if they have just had a txt or if they have a facebook notification, in which case you may be waiting a while.
22 Mar 2016 09:58
Three proper beers on, polite landlord, good food, good atmosphere - all good. Just won another CAMRA award...
22 Mar 2016 09:51
Superb pub tucked away at the end of the village - couls almost be a set from Tom Baker era of Dr Who! (Anyone remember the Daemons?). Food was great in the evening and breakfast excellent. 8 beers on and all them excellent. Staff attentive and locals somewhat entertaining - to a point... Local drunk bloke slightly annoying until he fell asleep on the floor! Landlord superb, if all landlords were like Roger pub closures would not be going at such an alarming rate.
22 Mar 2016 09:49
Good beer, usually 3 on. Food excellent and the pub itself is superb and in a quiet area, love it. Accomodation upstairs needs to be modernised, clean and functional, needs updating, especially the bathroom.
22 Mar 2016 09:45
Greedy King outlet, only Otter beer on so as it was St Patricks Day, had a Guinness. Pleasant surroundings and the food looked good, great position right next to the beach access.
22 Mar 2016 09:43
As a hotel it was OK, the food OK and a decent breakfast. Dartmoor beer was on the way out but they didn't take it off although it tasted like warm vinegar. London Pride was fine. Nothing special although the beach was fabulous that evening.
22 Mar 2016 09:40
Pie night on Thursdays, this week was steak and onion or chicken/bacon/leek, veggie was cabbage and mashed pots. £7.95, good portions, hot and very tastey and good value. Beers were also on good form including a limited brew by Oakham, The Racketeer.
12 Mar 2015 21:04
As its been a while since last review, heres a new one. With ref to blue_scrumpy, it wasn't you, the bar staff are specially trained to be miserable under all circumstances. At no time will there be a please/thank you either.
The food is generally good, (Or has been) the beer is generally excellent and this goes for my visit last week, it was top notch.
However the week previous to my visit a few friends visited and had several pints and a meal. Without exception the beer was good. The meals ranged from good to inedible. The majority being poor at best. There was no word of apology or reason why this massive screw up happened, just an offer of 30% discount. The inedible meal was not paid for as it was er... not eaten. These friends posted reviews on Trip Advisor and it seems they were not alone in experiencing this pathetic service. (Pie crusts which were then sold on as paving slabs, chips sold to B&Q as clout nails, fried eggs - or were they a large puddle of snot? etc etc).
When I have had food there before it has always been good, very good, so why this happened is a mystery, there is no excuse either. They have a restaurant and marketed as such...
24 Feb 2015 14:08
Visited here for first time in a while and the beer as always was top notch. Landlord was on form this time but that may be because I hadn't been in for a while!
Agree with other opinions on some of the locals... Shame really as it is a great pub, great beer and food, just perfect in the Summer otherwise.
24 Feb 2015 13:50
New management taken over 7 weeks ago. Popped in on hearing good reports and found 8 real beers on, I tried 6 and all were in excellent form. A couple friends had small lunch which was just what they were after, all agreed beer was superb.
New mangement were available and chatty, comfortable surroundings, daily/local papers for punters to read. Will defo be coming back here and I really hope they make this a success.
Its actually a real challenger for Our Mutual Friend, although on other side of town, its worth the trip.
24 Feb 2015 13:44
Still a great pub, but the gents REALLY need to be sorted!!!
24 Feb 2015 13:38
Looks like a long time since anyone reviewed this place. Two bars, real fire.
I have visited twice in recent weeks on recommendtion from friends. Both times the beer was excellent with 6-8 real ales (Baldock Bitter, couple of Oakhams, couple of Bunthingfords and Olde Trip). The visit yesterday we had a couple of pints and lunch. Beer was spot on and food excellent quality with good choice. £5 for a fried fish sarnie with chips, proper fried fish, not fish fingers so all good.
They also have good selection of Aspells cider, not my tipple but clearly is someones! Would def revist again...
24 Feb 2015 13:37
Beer fest last weekend in January. Starts Thursday evening...
20 Jan 2015 16:14
Goat curry was good, although portion size was small. Wifes dish also good, however they forgot to supply the rice we ordered and because we were not part of the large party going on in the adjacent room, we seemed to not matter. Could not get anyones attention, so ate up, paid the bill (Once the rice was taken off) and had some dessert at home. Beer was Buntingford Hurricane, drinkable but it was just on the turn. Doom bar - thats just poor consistently since the recipe was changed by Molsen-Coors. Buntingford Highwayman was also put on while we were there, it was fine.
Might go back but at some point fo another try, but wont be rushing.
27 Oct 2014 12:28
One beer on, which was good but full of lager types and not a great atmos. However the fry up a couple had on the next table looked superb!
23 Oct 2014 22:12
The Grafton Arms, Kentish Town
Quiet in the main but staff were polite and on the ball. 8 beers plus cider and keg avaliable plus the usual fizz. All the 4 beers I tried were good. No complaints
23 Oct 2014 22:10
Not a great deal going on in here, Pool table, music box and OK beer. Friendly staff and dog too. Busier later on in the evening.
3 Mar 2014 16:03
GK pub and a bit shiney, shiney at the bar area. Polite staff, TV screens showing football. Beer was OK - for a GK outlet ("outlet", not pub)
3 Mar 2014 15:58
Interesting pub from the outside and I remember the inside from years ago with the light coloured wood. V quiet on Weds and Thursday evening... Had a Ringwood beer, just the one as the couple of locals seemed a bit odd as they sat at the end of the bar on their perch. Only 1 toilet?
3 Mar 2014 15:55
Beer seemed to be all Badger, no problem for me, I love it. Bar staff a bit quirky and both evenings I went in the music was not the greatest... Karaoke. Prior to the karaoke starting the music was good - Led Zep, Aerosmith, etc
Blokes toilets need fixing.
3 Mar 2014 15:52
Went in on Tuesday evening - dead as dead can be and the bar staff we similarly matched to the atmos. Tried a pint of Status Quo Piledriver, very excellent. Due to lack of atmosphere/punters this was the only pint we had.
3 Mar 2014 15:49
This place was closed the previous evening when we went by (A Tuesday evening, but not late), however on the Wednesday it was open and the Hobgoblin we tried was spot on. I think there may have been Ringwood on also. Didnt have food but saw some and it looked excellent. Friendly bar man, real fire, no complaints.
3 Mar 2014 15:47
Fullers pub but had Seafarers on also which was superb for a lower ABV beer. Decided to have several, then the Big Boy Mixed Grill - I couldn't eat it all! A plate of good quality food at an excellent price. And a real fire!
Also much military memorabilia, which could take quite some time if you wanted to study it all.
The other punters in there were a bit clicky but that aside, a stonking pub! Absolutely worth the visit... and again the next night...
3 Mar 2014 15:43
Incredible selection of beer, good staff. Great selection of bottled beer also - defo worth a visit if you're passing through Sheffield station.
No sign of food but not a disaster as the place is top notch.
9 Feb 2014 10:00
Superb in every way - especially after the disaster of Kelham Island just minutes before...
Food was well priced, tasted good with the service taking all of 5 minutes. Beer selection excellent, real fire, cheeful staff (Not just one sulky bloke as per Kelham Island).
Atmosphere superb, plenty of space upstairs when the bar got crowded.
Defo go here again when in Sheffield.
10/10
9 Feb 2014 09:51
The Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield
Arrived yesterday, Saturday, early lunchtime. One barman and not particularly quick in this cosy bar with an excellent selection of beer. Acknowledged I was waiting 3 times, while he was serving others. Some locals then came in and they were immediately served, ignoring me and others in our party. This was over about 10 minutes... I walked off in disgust but a friend managed to get me a pint. After taking about 8 orders for food, this was then halted and the chef came out and told a friend the tikka masala was actually jalfrezi - but it was about the same. (Chef - if you know your stuff, they ARE NOT the same). Everyone was then told the food would be a long while. I departed for The Fat Cat, ordered food, ate it all good... I later found out some of the food was wrong, each plate came out with several minutes between each plate. At no point was there an apology.
If food is advertised (Menus on table, chalk board of specials) then be prepared to serve it and the kitchen staff should know what is what and who ordered each dish.
Beer was excellent, the rest of the experience was pants - will not go in here again.
Fat Cat over the road was everything this pub wasn't in terms of organisation.
3/10
9 Feb 2014 09:47
Went in last night at about 10:05pm, cosy place busy and the food aroma was good. Asked if there was still any food available, after a couple of minutes the barmaid came back and said no. Literally 2 seconds later the chef (Or someone wearing a chef style garb) came round to the bar area and said they were now off home. It was on the late side agreed (10:05) - although I would have settled for a bowl of chips, burger, salad - anything quick and easy to put together. But this was not offered. Ordered a pint of Tribute, tasted quite good... Asked for peanuts; "We got crisps..." was the reply. As it turns out they had one flavour of crisps... After one more pint of Tribute, I left for the hotel room...
Conclusion: Tribute was good, the other beer was Rev James, didn't try it. Bar staff were OK. Very disappointing with the poor food show, having already checked the website earlier in the day there was no stated cut off time for last food orders. I re-iterate I'd have settled for a bar snack but this wasn't even offered. I was extremely tired and probably looked worse for wear so a bite to eat would have been gratefully received and probably generated a financial tip for the bar staff... But as there was no food offered...
18 Jan 2014 22:07
The beer fest at the end of January will be about 18 beers, split between Dark Star (Bar), Osset and Oakham (Stillage).
Starts 5pm Thursday 23 January 2014, then on until it runs out - probably Saturday lunchtime when Everton play Stevenage in the FA Cup, late kick off I believe around 17:00 ish...
13 Jan 2014 09:17
Visited Saturday 11 Jan. 3 beers on, asked for JHB but it went so had Twenty instead which was fine. Later on, the second pint was the JHB replacement of 3 Brewers from St Albans, also good. I did hear later that the JHB was poor before it went.
Dinner was fine, decent steak and fish pie.
Service was generally good, maybe they have read some of the previous reviews referring to service?
Total cost wasn't a disaster either, working out about £23 a head including a couple of drinks.
No complaints from here...
13 Jan 2014 09:13
After ale was totally removed from here, it has now been brought back. Usually only 1 but have tried Adnams Lighthouse and Bombardier both were fine whilst washing down a curry in the Indian restaurant at the back. Definitely improved recently. Worth a visit following recent times of pure lager hell.
30 Dec 2013 13:24
Voted North Herts Cider pub of the year and beer fest at the end of January.
30 Dec 2013 13:20
Good beer, great selection of single malts, superb pizzas and the atmosphere was good too. Patio out back, def worth a visit.
30 Dec 2013 13:19
The Assembly House, Kentish Town
Recent visit to get out of the rain and it was a million times better than the last visit. It was packed out and couldn't get served, only 2 people behind the bar but the beer looked good (More than it did on last visit), left and went to the Pineapple where it was also wedged. However the Pineapple had 5 people behind the smaller bar and service was instant!
30 Dec 2013 13:16
5 beers on here recently, all OK but the Redemption Trinity was excellent. Pub was wedged but not quite so much as the Assembly... Food looked good but didnt try it.
30 Dec 2013 13:11
Good pub, 3 beers on I think... All were fine. Fire was nice, bar staff all polite and friendly. Defo worth another visit, I can imagine this place would be heaving in the Summer!
1 Mar 2013 13:26
Not bad, only one beer on but friendly enough barman. Pool table at the back.
1 Mar 2013 13:21
No real beer on so stuck with Newcastle Brown. Pub was quiet but it was early evening for this visit, seemed OK but difficult to tell. Shame no real beer though as I was actually recommeneded this place.
1 Mar 2013 13:19
This place has just been refurbished and apparently doing well. Went there this weekend to try it out. London Pride, GK IPA and a Sharps Doom Bar but the pump clip was not turned round initially when we arrived. The LP was fine, just as well because the tsble we had booked for 7pm wasn't ready. People that entered the pub after us were served before us. When we were finally seated it was in a ridiculous position for a table. Food ordered and it took 45 minutes for 2 lots of fish and chips. The food, when it finally arrived was excellent, when asked if everything was alright with the meals I said yes but it took too long. The boy behind the bar looked at me as if to say "Er... compu'a says no" Then a manager came over and said the wait was because of a long queue in the kitchen in front of our order.
Dear manager - there were two other parties mid way through their meals, when our order was placed - thats not a long queue. Their food was also taking an age - we heard the complaints. This establishment is now a reastaurant with a pub bar, you start serving food at 6 - we arrived on time, 7pm, you were not ready. It was Saturday night in a restaurant, peope tend to order food, thats why they go there. Get more trained staff in.
18 Feb 2013 16:52
Excellent beer, excellent pub! Shame about the miserable landlord.
18 Feb 2013 16:38
Good bar staff, excellent ploughmans lunch and a good pint of Proper Job! Loads of parking, this is more of a restauranty pub than a beer pub although they did have Betty Stoggs aswell.
10 Feb 2013 14:14
Good fire and it was fairly quiet when I was in there, although it did get busy later I noticed when walking by. Beer was only St Austall Tribute but it was in good condition and the bar staff we good. A bit of a new and shiney bar but no complaints.
10 Feb 2013 14:09
Weird bar, a bit too bright which showed the slightly tired look of the place. Barman was good, beer was Sharps Own which was in good condition - cant remember what else as I only had one pint. Food looked and smelled good... Excellent location!
10 Feb 2013 14:06
Pub was warm and snug, just what was needed this weekend! St Austall Ruck N Roll, Tribute, Bays Top Sail and Sharps Atlantic, food was excellent although when it filled up in the evening - it REALLY filled up and got slightly stuffy, esp with the real fire on too.
Good pub, recommended...
10 Feb 2013 14:03
Really, seriously crap. Ale tastes like its been in the pipes for weeks, pool table - no cues with tips, chalk... Dead. 0/10
30 Jan 2013 14:51
Bar Ten 28, London City Airport
How can this have a current rating of 5/10 without any reviews? Anyway, the prices make Heathrow look quite cheap. Defo not worth 5...
30 Jan 2013 14:27
The beer list from AleSipper was accurate, however I was at the beer fest almost constantly and I don't recall the Oakham RCH Light Porter going on. No I wasn't that drunk, just enjoying it. Also I thought Oakham and RCH were 2 different breweries...
All the seating in this pub has now been re upholstered also.
On the Sunday afternoon the remaining beers on the stillage were £1.50 a pint while they lasted.
30 Jan 2013 14:22
Fat beer badger has a point, the long bar is one tap after another, amazing sight! However, it was still all taps last night, lager and nitro brew except one. Belhaven IPA... Isn't that the same as GK IPA? I thought GK bought Belhaven to get there stinking feet into Scotland...
Apart from that, good pub, lots of seating areas spread about, TVs with sport on but they were not intrusive and the staff totally on the ball, even to this Englishman.
30 Jan 2013 14:16
Went in here at last minute as the booking at our original pub of choice wasn't available (Pub was closed!) anyway, squeezed us in, 3 real ales, excellent dinner and no complaints whatsoever. After I placed my order of steak I saw one of the biggest fish in a serving of fish and chips I've seen for a very long while! Instantly wished I'd had that instead, although when my order did arrive it was excellent.
This place has never served us a bad dinner.
22 Jan 2013 10:40
Went here last night 21 Jan, table booked - going on a recommendation. Arrived and everything was locked up, lights on, fire on, games machine on but no staff, no sign to say they were not opening for any reason, no phone call to say they were not opening for any reason (Possibly the snow although we'd travelled 15 miles to get there) so wont be rushing back - even without snow.
Shame as the garden looked good for the Summer, pub itself looked inviting - through the window. But if the management can't be bothered - nor can I as a customer.
Dinner in the Fox & Hounds down the road was excellent and so was the beer. Woodfordes Nog, Barely Best and another that I cant remember.
22 Jan 2013 10:35
Additional - did not appreciate the cat sitting on bar stools, chairs and then looking for food from punters once it started to be served.
24 Dec 2012 10:27
York Terrier (I think) plus GK IPA as its a GK pub and it was OK. New looking floor boards and a bit of a strange atmosphere, great zebra burger and chips! Well it was advertised as zebra anyway... Bar staff polite but 3 cats? Yuk!!!
24 Dec 2012 10:17
Not been here before but as its won the North Herts beard association award, I thought I'd come and see what the fuss was all about. Had a pint and all was good, there was a selection of 4 or 5 as I recall. Food was stunning! Basic stuff in the main but done to a very high standard - parsnip soup was superb - no pun intended. Real fire was excellent also - always a big plus in my book.
However, how they won the CAMRA award I'll never know (Apart from CAMRA being CAMRA if you get my drift). There were dirty light fittings on the ceiling caked in dust and without bulbs, the bar staff were OK but not up to some standards such as OMF in Stevenage or the Lordship in Benington and the general decor was from 1963 - in reasonably good condition but still from 1963!
Good pub overall but not an award winning one in my view - unless you know people in CAMRA of course, in which case Joe publics view is irrelevant.
24 Dec 2012 09:58
Decent beer, bar staff always offer a taster if you're unsure, decent cider selection also. Back garden a bit of a higgledy piggledy mess for smokers. Not sure what the food is like but its defo the best pub in the area.
24 Dec 2012 09:27
The Kings Arms Royal Hotel, Godalming
Atmosphere is none, beer is poor at best and when booking a double room I was given a twin. When showing the confirmation to the girl on the front desk, she said there was nothing she could do - no manager available to talk to. Later on I complained to the firm through which I made the reservation, they agreed with me but the one and only email received from the hotel said I had not booked a double and a refund was not possible - NEVER STAYED HERE SINCE. The Manor hotel 10 mins up the road is a so much better in everyway, there is not enough space here to detail it.
As long as I need to stay in the Godalming area, I will not step foot in this building again.
24 Dec 2012 09:16
Food is served in the evenings between 530 and 830 I believe and lunchtimes between 12 and 2pm. There are usually varying specials depending on day of the week, the weather etc. Next beer fest is end of October as far as I know. Yes the gents do need sorting!
13 Aug 2012 14:40
The Bear and Staff, Leicester Square
This used to be such a great pub, always rammed with punters. Went in there last weekend after the Golden Saturday Olympics, about 5pm and it was dead! When I was eventually served, I realised why, having to repeat myself as to which beer I wanted (Much more important that the girl behind the bar finished her text messaging), then she served me a half and I wanted a pint. This calls for slamming of the half pint glass on the bar because it was my fault she wasn't listening. At this point I would normally walk out, but because I could see my being "a customer that needs serving" was annoying her, I decided to stay! So when the pint actually arrived, I had to ask how much the round was (2 of us) as she has just held out her hand for me to supply cash like some sort of cashpoint machine. Fury written all over her face! Change arrived and she went straight back to texting.
If the manager reads this I do hope some notice is taken... Welcome to London, enjoy your pint etc etc - I will in one of the selection of outlets in very close proximity...
13 Aug 2012 14:36
Beer was Harveys Sussex and Sharps Doom Bar, both in decent condition, food was OK (Although minty mushy peas are just wrong). Fairly busy by the time we left about 8pm, possibly due to Olympics on the TV and the weather actually being decent, but not a bad place to go. We ate in the lounge bar sort of area but there is a restaurantry sort of area aswell.
13 Aug 2012 14:26
Two pumps available and having just had a crap pint of London Pride in the Bucks Head I went for the Courage Best. Except it wasn't Courage Best it was Youngs Bitter according to the barmaid. They didn't take the pump clip off just rotated it 90 degrees... ie not all the way round... strange... Anyway the beer was actually OK and I'd have another one except I had to go meet a mate in Worlds End. Bar itself was clean and the service efficient, think they did food aswell. Agree with alezilla, 6/10
13 Jun 2012 10:27
Smart place and the food looked OK although dont know what the prices were as I was only after a beer. However out of three pumps available only one was on so thats what I had. A pint of London Pride - this pint was nothing to be proud of, I have strong doubts it WAS actually LP as it seemed to be very creamflow in texture and didn't taste anything like LP. Stuggled through it as I paid �3.80 for it and left for the Elephants Head up the road...
13 Jun 2012 10:22
Good pub and very long through to a second bar at the rear which is much better than the one at the front end as you enter the place. No real beer though I dont count Speckeled Hen or GK IPA as they are usually nasty in London, just Caffreys, Carling and other dross. Newcastle Brown was available as was Leffe. Toilets were a bit crap, so as a result of that and no ale to speak of the score isn't going to be great. 5/10
13 Jun 2012 10:19
Indeed the regulars seemed to be glued to "their chairs" etc, giving out a certain ambiance as previously described in another review. However the beer was drinkable and not stupid central London prices. Food was available but didn't check it out. Convenient for Alex Palace, not much other reason to visit.
7 Jun 2012 18:25
Been here twice recently and the first time although there were several beers on they were not replaced too quickly and the quality was a bit slack. Second visit the quality was much better, (Jaipur, Proper Job, Doom Bar, Nicholsons Pale Ale, Caledonian Golden Ale and more) bar staff very friendly, food looked good too although no idea what the prices were like as I didn't eat.
7 Jun 2012 18:19
Decent beers, Rev James and other Brains stuff plus Blue Moon. Comfortable sort of gastro pub, wood floors etc and the food looked good. Service a little slow and slightly annoying when the staff dont understand you or make eye contact - sometimes doing you a favour by actually giving you the change from your payment!
7 Jun 2012 18:15
I think there were 5 beers on when I visited, although I only had one as the car was outside. Very cosy, real fire and they opened at 8am for breakfasts! Didnt try the food but the list looked the usual offerings for a West Country pub.
21 May 2012 12:23
Superb pub, 14 beers (All good) and 20 ciders in a bar which has a thatched roof! Food was excellent in choice and quality. Landlord is a great character and they have rooms for B&B which are spotless. Great place and would defo go again - with a room as a couple of beers would never be enough!
21 May 2012 12:20
Been here a couple times recently, beer is always good without fail and a wide selection, although slightly pricey. Never had the food but have been told although its good, its a bit on the spendy side for pub grub. The pub itself is in good condition, clean toilets, friendly barstaff and a car park.
30 Apr 2012 21:28
Went there this weekend and had dinner. Of the 3 pints I had, the 2 Dark Star beers were excellent but the Thwaites Lancaster Bomber was very poor. Food was reasonable, bar staff not welcoming - politeness costs nothing! Good music box on the wall.
30 Apr 2012 21:22
Love this place, decent beer, real fire sometimes, very rustic. Staff are OK but didn't strike me as knowning too much about ale! Small "garden" out the back down some steps for smokers. There is something about this place... Mind your head as you go through the front door!
20 Apr 2012 17:15
So The Hotel Inspector didn't save this dump then... Stayed here a while ago before THI and it was RUBBISH! Beer was drinkable but room was crap (Thats polite), shared bathroom was very crap (Even more polite). Beer was nothing special, I doubt it'll be missed by reasonable folk.
20 Apr 2012 17:12
Since going in here I have had more cider in 6 months than the rest of my life! Really good cider, not the usual stuff from pubs that make a weak attempt at saying "We do real cider" (No you don't - in the main). Bar staff know what they're talking about, cider and wine only, basic snacks with a paved area to the rear for some air or smoke depending on your choice of seat. Even some old arcade games too! Love it!
20 Apr 2012 16:55
Agree with wolvesfan, bar staff are poor although the beer is usually ok and the food always looks good, although never tried it. The place could be heaving with locals AND tourists if they bucked their ideas up by 50% minimum. Landlord - get a grip and pull it together for its maximum potential.
20 Apr 2012 16:48
Good pub, bit too cosy as its small inside with the bar stools etc but beer was excellent and pizza was superb! Didn't expect it to be so good but needed stodge after a few refreshments... Good selection of whiskies and rums from what I remember aswell!
20 Apr 2012 16:40
Finally get to put a quick review on here. Visited this pub twice last year while working in Margate and found it by accident whilst wandering around looking for a reasonable pint as every other pub I went in was a dump. What an oasis! Good beer, good cider and very basic but it works. If this place had any decent competition they'd probably have to make a little more room to maneovre inside but at the moment, if you're after a good pint of ale or cider this is defo the place to go.
20 Apr 2012 16:31
The Crown at Aldbourne, Aldbourne
Located in a quiet village setting, probably why Dr Who was filmed here many years ago - even a waste bin in the shape of a TARDIS. Stayed one night here, room was a bit tired but the beer was fine, 4 ales on (Otter, Doom Bar, Spitfire and a changing guest - RWB when I was there) and the food very good. Would stay here again as it had a great atmosphere and its dog friendly. Better than the Blue Boar on The Green, which surprised me. Breakfast the next morning was fine also.
19 Apr 2012 17:50
A little spendy and not much atmos but still a decent enough pub with reasonable Sheps beer.
28 Mar 2012 18:38
Beer fest, last weekend in April starting on Thursday through to Sunday.
28 Mar 2012 18:29
The Pilot Inn, North Greenwich
All Fullers beers but well kept and the food was good value with a reasonable choice. However due to allegedy being short staffed the wait for food hit an hour and they stopped taking orders unless you were prepared to wait - so we didnt have dessert! Also a good selection of brews in the fridge. Sunken garden sort of affair outside but the lawn was covered in wasps! No idea why but great place next to the river with a few parking spaces aswell. Plus seating at the front of the pub. Would defo go back.
28 Mar 2012 18:08
Good beer, great food (Only had a ploughmans but it was excellent) staff were great - no complaints apart from its not within walking distance of my house.
28 Mar 2012 18:00
Decent enough place whenever I went in there although the landlord (Not the beer) is a bit odd. Good atmosphere when the right people are in there... One or two less favourable characters go in there sometimes.
27 Feb 2012 15:10
A bit rough and ready but the ale was good enough, Cocker Hoop and a couple of others, pool table and a room out the back where bands play sometimes. Gets a bit studenty sometimes but its OK as an ale outlet. Small outside area which is good for Summers days...
27 Feb 2012 15:06
Beer is very mediocre but still drinkable, excellent garden at the back and if you need a room for the night, they are excellent, nothing short of excellent. Breakfast is OK but not blinding. Sports on TV, OK for a Summers day.
27 Feb 2012 15:00
Spent three nights here last Bank Holiday weekend and it was all good apart from one let down at the very end.
Food and beer were excellent, even the cider was good and I dont really drink that stuff. Another excellent touch was to let the residents of the establishment get their evening meal order in with drink before the doors were opened to the public waiting outside - and it is definately a popular place!
Breakfast was an experience; first day was the biggest fry up I've had at a B&B of any sort, well cooked and very tasty. Second day I had a smoked haddock which took quite a while to arrive but was very good when it did. The third and final day we arrived at breakfast for 835 and ordered food straight away with the coffee. My wifes porridge arrived at 925 in a cool stodge condition and after she'd worked her way through it we left, my breakfast of another smoked haddock never arrived. In the time we waited we had toast and two pots of coffee - I dont believe the staff (That there was of them that Monday morning) were not aware of our wait. I had the distinct feeling the full English got priority over all other cooked food.
To the assistant that seemed to be "In charge" - it is not becoming to wander around with an iPod in your ear whilst talking to people at breakfast, not is it to use vulgar language whilst sitting out back near the kitchen thinking customers in the next room cant hear you, finally if you were so good at "supervising" you'd have gone to find the haddock and the porridge before 925!
To the bloke in a skanky T-shirt and jeans half way down your backside - I really dont want to see your pants while waiting for my breakfast (That never arrived) and some politeness has never injured anyone! Again, vulgar language is not appreciated - customers have ears too, speak English and it does you no favours to speak in that way within earshot of the breakfast rooms.
This place would have got a 10 - but for the last morning...
2 Sep 2011 12:19
Main reason I have logged in is to express my feelings about this place and what do you know? They are similar to everyone elses!
Went there this weekend with some friends on a stag do (Yes there were a few of us and we were a bit loud at first) but on arrival the landlord ("No, I'm the owner!!!") told us to remove some glasses from the side of one of the outside pool tables (Yes there were signs to this effect) but why? There were multiple tables outside so the risk of broken glass was not increased, spill beer on the pool tables (I hear you say) well they were certainly not world championship standard tables. One had ripped cloth down one side under the cushion as it had shrunk so much in the weather and the other (L-shaped table - nice) was partially collapsing in the middle as the frame appeared to be rotting!
Then we had food and were told to "go to the far room" and just after ordering (And taking our money of course) the landlord (sorry THE OWNER!) came out and accused us of swearing as he'd had 2 complaints so far (In uder 15 minutes) and if we didnt quiten down we'd have to leave. We pointed out we had not been swearing as we realised it was clearly a family area, but being the big man that he was, refused to entertain our side of the story. Shortly after an unknown chap went over to him (Not with our group, totally unprompted), said he'd been sitting on the next table having dinner with his family and he'd heard no swearig at all. At this point the landlord (THE OWNER!!!) said someone must have been lying but we still needed to turn it down, which we did. After this we all met in the bar, joined in with the locals and the evenings music (Couple of blokes on keyboards & guitar) and hopefully made the landlord (OWNER!!! How many more times?) look like he was - rather stupid to put it very politely. It all went so well, the best man even played a couple of songs on one of the musicians guitar to everyones delight as he is a damn good singer/player.
During the course of this evening of singing and dancing with the locals and families it was pointed out to the landlord (Yes... I know...) by many people, none in our group, that we were not here to "kick off" as he put it, but to have a good time. 1130pm we all went back to the boat to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening.
Dear landlord, dont judge us all the same with your miserable, self centred, I'm in charge, cock sure, and equally pathetic atitude. You might score more highly on here then... Although I doubt your highly inflated ego could appreciate it.
Dear everybody else that was in the pub that night (You know who you are), thanks for a great evening, you will be mentioned in the wedding speeches!
Food was fine and the beer equally so.
23 Aug 2011 20:22
Superb pub, excellent music and the live band were great. Probably had a couple too many but the atmosphere was infectious! Chip shop over the road aswell!
30 Jun 2011 13:54
Good pub, if a little quiet. Landlord very welcoming and beer kept well.
30 Jun 2011 13:51
Beer festival, the last weekend in July. Always an excellent selection and a good time to be had!
30 Jun 2011 13:46
Excellent pub, with good outdoor seating area - for the Summer! Get a bit packed just inside the front door at the bar though. Still, beer is good.
3 Feb 2011 20:10
Next beer festival weekend commencing Friday 4 February, these never fail to be superb.
3 Feb 2011 20:03
Now that was a great beer fest! Well and truly a "Proper Job"
1 Nov 2010 15:16
Bar snacks (Rolls etc) on the go and Hammys hot dogs during the England games. Plus 20p off a pint for every England goal during the match.
23 Jun 2010 22:01
Not bad, decent environment, full of builders etc so clearly a watering hole which is a regular for many, sport on the TVs aswell. No serious ale though.
8 Jun 2010 21:45
The Bull and Gate, Kentish Town
Dubious interior, bar staff brusque but generally efficient. Drank Newcastle Brown as the previous pub (Assembly Rooms) 10 minutes earlier had beer so shockingly awful I couldn't bring myself to try the Bass they had on offer here. Not the greatest, but it doesn't need to be with the aforementioned dump in close proximity.
8 Jun 2010 21:36
The Assembly House, Kentish Town
Went in here on my way to The Forum to see a band and wished I hadn't. The one miserable girl behind the bar was doing me a favour by serving me and when the Abbot ran out at one pump (After pulling the dregs through into my glass) she wandered round the front bar and continued filling it there. Surprise, surprise, it tasted like s***. I gave it back and told her it wasn't drinkable to which she replied "Uh... it must be off then"...Silence.... So when I asked for another pint of IPA, otherwise she'd have just stood there like a dummy forever, it was served and just about drinkable.
I've been here before but it was never this bad.
THIS IS BAR FAR AND AWAY THE WORST PUB I'VE VISITED IN LONDON. I'd give up drinking, rather than go in here again.
8 Jun 2010 21:30
Three Kings, Fornham All Saints
Went last night and the three beers were GK IPA, Speckled Hen and Brains Rev James. Had the Rev James which was fine (Several of them), not outstanding but OK. Also had a bottle Strong Suffolk which was enjoyable. Food was good value, decent size plate full and tastey enough - great selection for an out of the way pub. However the chef (Think he's the owner also) was far too full of his own self importance - loud, abraisive and obnoxious. Bar staff not the fastest but generally polite enough, when they got to you. The Landlord and somewhat vague bar staff hold the review score down.
19 May 2010 22:26
Apparently, food has started with rolls at lunchtime, watch this space for more soon. I understand there will be further snacks coming shortly such as lasagne, chilli and curry. Will update further when I hear more.
17 May 2010 19:52
The Old House at Home, Chichester
Had dinner here once and the beer was superb also. Four beers on the go and of the 3 I tried they were all good (Black Sheep, Triple F and another which I cant remember), didnt try London Pride as I can get that almost anywhere in London. Had liver & bacon for dinner which was excellent also.
Pub was rammed when we arrived but cleared as the night went on and finished the evening talking to the landlord over a few single malts. Nice!
5 Apr 2010 17:31
Visited twice this weekend, first time there was Sharps Coastal, Cottage Ex-Mayor, Black Sheep and T.E.A. The TEA was OK but the Cottage was best a mile. Food excellent (Venison) although the room was somewhat nippy sitting by the back door which kids seemed to enjoy playing with as its an old ship door. Second visit the Cottage was replaced with Sharps Doom Bar, hence I had the TEA but this was definately on the way out! Also had a Ploughmans and it was great!
5 Apr 2010 17:27
Went here last night, 3 real ales on; Castle Rock Harvest Pale, Black Sheep Bitter and Adnams Broadside. Only tried the Castle Rock as it was so good! Menu was small and all easy to "cook" type stuff but the fish & chips I had was actually very, very good. There was also a carvery and apparently its great, certainly cant argue with �4.50 for a fill your plate dinner then go back and have another go! TV screen and crap lager also available but real beer was excellent. The bar staff were good, surprised me as Im not a local and I was expecting a total slappers dump hole judging from the external approach as I walked down the road towards it, but all was decent inside.
Only downer was the thumping cack music from the private party in the function room next door - had to leave as it was giving me a headache and I dont think I was alone.
28 Mar 2010 19:28
Not bad, barman was chatty enough. Have been here before and will probably go there again on another crawl...
21 Mar 2010 22:03
Found this almost my accident and what a find! Tribute was superb, shame the bar staff were somewhat brusque.
21 Mar 2010 21:55
What a dump, Tribute was fine but the place itself was a pit. Bogs were filthy and there was even an inspector of some sort there when I had my pint.
21 Mar 2010 21:48
Went here last week and the Bragget and Special were both excellent, fire was going also - nice. Always try to go in here when in Helston, great place.
21 Mar 2010 21:44
Agree with some of the previous commments about the service. I went in there every night last week and Monday the service was shocking, the rest of the week the waitresses seemed more intent on swapping local gossip AT FULL VOLUME instead of actually serving. The food was good when it eventually arrived and the beer excellent; Tinners, Tribute, HSD and a monthly special of Cockle Roaster which was the best beer I've had in months, totally fantastic. The reason I went there every night was the Cockle Roaster!
21 Mar 2010 21:39
Not quite what it used to be as they only had Doom Bar and Courage Best but the food was still good when visiting lasdt week. Its worth going just to sit and have a pint in the fantastic surroundings though.
21 Mar 2010 21:27
Not the greatest pub in London for sure, beer was OK but nothing special, if the quality was as high as the price I wouldn't feel so negative towards this hole which is trying to be aloof from what it really is.
21 Feb 2010 13:12
Better beer in here than The Cambridge we were in earlier and the bar staff were friendlier. Nethergate Azzaparrot was tasty, the TT was excellent but the Black Beauty - I think thats what it was called, had no condition and lacked any flavour whatsoever.
21 Feb 2010 13:07
Six real ales which were OK although the Berry Beer was on its last legs at best. The Erdinger weiss went off juding by the face on the landlord when testing it too. Food looked OK although the menu and quality are fairly standard for a Nicholsons pub. Had several pints and they were all better than the first pint of Berry Beer. Barman was a bit slack and didnt always listen to what was asked for then poured a wrong pint - more than once!
21 Feb 2010 13:02
The Lamb and Flag, Covent Garden
Went here last Thurasday and as usual it was rammed! Good pub with good beer, the Porter was excellent but as mentioned in another review the toilets are gross, they alleyway outside is probably cleaner and theres more space!
14 Feb 2010 12:21
Went here yesterday, they had Youngs Bitter, Old Speckled Hen and one other on tap. Had the Youngs and it was in decent condition also had some food in the restauranty bit and this was very good, although the area was a little chilly. Probably good if theres a crowd of you, would recommend.
14 Feb 2010 12:16
The Salisbury, Leicester Square
Went here last Thursday 11 Feb. Took about 15 mins to get served as the staff only looked directly ahead of them and when its busy, such as Thursday night, this makes it difficult... When I did eventually get my pint, thanks to a bloke who pointed out I'd been waiting for a while, there was no apology for the wait - even though they knew I'd been standing there for some time and when I was given my change it was slapped into my hand as if I should be grateful for the barmaids attention. Our group had one more drink and my ffiend had a similar experience so we commented appropriately and left. There is no excuse for this crap service. Beer itself was OK, not stonking, but drinkable, although there was an excellent selcetion. 6/10 at best due to bar staff.
BAR STAFF - LEARN SOME MANNERS!
14 Feb 2010 12:12
Excellent pub, very cosy, locals friendly and food was stonkingly good - best fish & chips I've had in YEARS!
Beers were Trubute, HSD and Skinners Lager, all well kept and very moreish... Best pub I've been to in a long time apart from the Mutual Friend in Stevenage and definately one of the best ever in Cornwall and SW.
29 Mar 2009 22:49
Good pub with good beer, choice of 4 (St Austell and Otter). Food was tastey and the accomodation decent quality, all staff very polite and it was easy to see why they do so much business!
29 Mar 2009 22:43
Good beer, (Tribute, Proper Job, HSD), locals were much more friendly in here than the Fountain round the corner. Stayed over night and would liked to have had more of a session with the locals and landlady (She was mad, dancing round and round the pub to one song, over an dover again!) but they were not getting up early and driving, whereas I was - shame!
29 Mar 2009 22:41
Good beer, choice of three fairly well kept, but watch your head on the beams - and watch the screw on the saloon bar entrance door as you go in - caught my finger on it and had blood running down my finger immediately!
Bar maid a bit dull as I was clearly not a local!
29 Mar 2009 22:37
Superb range of beers today, not a bad one amongst them and all new as the Oxford FC supporters drank the previous lot right out before yesterdays game!
29 Mar 2009 22:33
Beer festival last weekend was fantastic, never seen the place so packed on Friday night. Did most of the beers on Thursday, did the whole lot on Friday including the bar and Saturday was wind down. The place just gets better and better... Its beer heaven!
29 Jan 2009 22:42
Went here 13 Feb right before Valentinesn night, food was good, not packed because of the pub atmosphere probably. Food was very good as was the HSB, Tribute passable at best. Bar tender dizzy and not with it - not the be all and end all but staff with their head screwed on is always a plus point (It should be standard but it isnt!)
16 Feb 2008 23:05
Packed out last night, full of many loser types that think the Coors Light on draught is a premium quality ale...the Adnams Broadside was good however, GK IPA also available. The buffet provided during the function I attended was excellent, really top notch, surprising as the place was so busy with 2 functions going on and a pub full of drinkers.
Pub itself large and clean, worth a visit for the food at least.
25 Feb 2007 17:43
Went for first time in over a year this week and apart from the landlord the bar staff are still fairly miserable and self centered. The beer is OK, but not fantastic considering the name of the place and the superb interior decor, and still better than most places in the area. Old Peculiar was good, Black Pearl bland and flat,but February Ale very good and flavoursome for a 3.8% Always go back for the beer but not the food - its rubbish.
9 Feb 2007 21:41
Beer fest last weekend, did an all day session on Friday, tried all of them and it was great! Loads of variety on the beer front and the cider was excellent too. Saturday evening it was nearly all gone, shame as jazz band was excellent, even though my Motorhead shirt shocked the barman... Do a Summer fest too!!!
22 Jan 2007 22:27
Food was good but a little tight with the chips!!! Bar staff incredibly slow, partly due to not enough of them. Black Sheep ran out, London Pride, Abbots and Speckled Hen also available. Hoegaarden was good. Worth a visit for sure but dont go miles out of your way to experience it.
15 Oct 2006 20:47
The Devonshire Arms, Kensington
Youngs Bitter was good, Pride OK and Bombadier was off. However the lifeless barman didnt agree so left it on for others to pay cash for vinegary beer. As others have mentioned the barstaff are dour, miserable, sulky verging on rude and not wanting to serve. The food was very good everytime I went there this week except for the long wait for it to arrive. The amount of waiting time was not proportional to the number of people ordering food either. Will probably go back but only because its round the corner from where Im working at the moment. For a beer trip to London there are MANY places leagues above here... The fairly large garden area is very good for warm Summers evening, the pub interior is somewhat grubby.
9 Sep 2006 10:39
The Fox and Hound, Mayfield Heights
"English Pub" - More like a cross between English Pub and American sports bar. Good selection of beers, lots of room, pool tables, bar stools and food. Food is good and atmosphere lively, but bar staff were somewhat slack compared to anywhere such as Applebees.
30 Apr 2006 19:50
Went in twice this weekend, excellent selection of beers - every single one flippin lovely!
2 Apr 2006 18:23
Three Horseshoes, Watton at Stone
Very good food and not too expensive, lots of room for personal space round the tables and very polite staff. Main drawback was only 2 ales and they were both McMullens - which I still dislike no matter how many times I try them.
2 Apr 2006 18:19
Went in during weekday lunchtime, good beer selection, food very reasonable in quality and price. Bar staff probably the most miserable I've met this year, not rude just expressionless, no please/thank you. GET A GRIP!
24 Mar 2006 21:19
Interesting from EmmaG, I went in on New Years Day and the beer was fine. However, smokey is an understatement, due to its small size I guess, the fire is superb until it gets really going then its too much for the small room! Our Mutual Friend is much better in my view and only a 5 minute walk away.
12 Mar 2006 17:40
The Waggon and Horses, Watton At Stone
Went in on a Sunday afernoon, FULL of smoke and Wayne/Waynetta types. Only pump beer they had was GKing IPA, which was also rather thin in flavour. Didnt try the food.
12 Mar 2006 17:33
Other reviews are correct with half pub/half restaurant scenario, but if you want to be away from the food area just sit at the bar or away from the dinner tables. Its not rocket science! We visited on Valentines night looking for some decent food - not a sloppy/fuzzy eyed romantic dinner and a straight forward meal is what we had, good value for home cooked food and very tasty - couldn't fault the beer either which was my main area of interest! Will go back if I'm staying in Truro again - the food and good beer would definately be a strong enough aspect to pull me away from the Real Ale House, even though the RAH has a wider selection of real ale.
19 Feb 2006 21:15
Great pub, with a great selection of well kept ale. Bar staff polite with warm atmosphere.
12 Dec 2005 21:23
The Dragonfly, Newport
Doom Bar, yawn and yawn again, Rev James... was OK and Tribute coming soon. Food OK, but nothing more than OK. Do they count the chips? Yes I think so.... staff, OK and only ok. Please and thank you dont seem to be used here, at all.... so I followed suit..... could be SO MUCH BETTER, but apathy seems to be king here.
13 Aug 2019 18:59