BITE user comments - Dylanwing
Comments by Dylanwing
Loved it, the hot dog was good - Needs to be added to the JDW menu, and the beer was excellent, particularly the Scottish stout. Plenty of bar staff, so no complaints at all.
6 Oct 2012 23:16
Good pub, well worth finding. 8 real aleas, I tried 4, and all were in good condition. Food was mainly pizza, and I am told they were good. I stuck with the rolls and they were good value at �1.75. Overall, a very pleasant lunch-time, pity about the football afterwards!
6 Oct 2012 23:14
Hard to believe, but excellent service in a Wetherspoons. Brilliant bar staff, excellent beer (Skinners Hunny Bunnty was amazing), and usual JDW food. Could not fault it.
30 Apr 2012 22:37
4 beers from Tintagel Brewery, tried 3 and all were excellent, Staff were fantastic, good service and very pleasant, food was excellent. A very positive experience.
30 Apr 2012 22:35
No complaints, beer was good, food was decent and good value.
28 Oct 2011 22:45
The Rose and Crown, Huish Episcopi
Fantastic, pub of great character, excellent beer, excellent cider and really good food. Hard to fault really.
30 Sep 2011 20:49
Friendly enough pub, although there only ever seemed to be one person behind the bar at any one time, so get stuck behing a large order and you could have a bit of a wait. Luckily I was in no hurry, so just waited patiently, and the beer was dedfinitely woth the few minutes wait. Nice location, it was nice sitting in the garden, and I could not fault the beer. Definitely worth a visit.
25 Jun 2011 18:59
I was a bit dubious with it being a JDW, and on the first visit it did seem short of staff. However, we used it many times, and could not find fault with it. Beer range was excellent with 5 ever-changing guests, �1.49 a pint Monday - Wednesday, you could have a guest with the meal deals (�6 for a mixed grill and a pint of Caledonian blonde - Bargain!) and the staff were absolutely excellent, always polite and friendly, no matter how busy it was.
25 Jun 2011 18:54
The Phoenix Inn / Morgans Bar, Inverness
No idea on the food, but it looked good and well-priced. In terms of beer, 4 or 5 ever changing real ales, and every one I tried was in good condition. Having a cardboard star with "Lamb Chop" on it did not really tempt on that beer, but I was curious enough to try it and it was fine. Staff were very friendly and provided good service. Check out the 'gentlemans product dispensing machine' in the gents toilet, let's just say that it offers a far greater range of products than normal!!!!
25 Jun 2011 18:50
Nice pub, a 'real' one with real people, and excellent real ales. We did not hang around for the Celidh, but I heard from others that it is very good. We only tried the beers, and no complaints in terms of quality or choice.
25 Jun 2011 18:45
A truly great pub, 6 ever-changing Scottish real ales, all served to perfection, good food, very helpful staff, a great atmosphere and generally just a brilliant all-round pub. It can get busy, but as customers are called to the restaurant this soon eases. I just could not fault this place in any way, and if the staff are reading this, thanks for all of your great service.
25 Jun 2011 18:43
Simple reason is that people have different ideas of a good pub. I have been to the Crown a few times, and you cannot fault the building, the beer, the service etd. However, if you are looking for loud music and crap beer, you won't like it. Most people just ignore the marks and read the comments, if not you might find yourself in a pub that scores highly based on 'Fit barmaid and great Fosters', on the fit barmaids day off!
So, if you like a great choice of well-kept, high-quality beers, with the range continually changing, the Crown is a great choice.
29 Apr 2011 08:10
25 beers, everything we tried was absolutely excellent, quite busy but service was excellent, rolls for 60p, honey beer superb, two stouts, great choice of beers, lovely people... In brief, the perfect pub!
16 Mar 2011 22:24
Standard Wetherspoons. Beer was good, staff were friendly and helpful, so no complaints. There are two parts to the pub, we only found the lower bit when we had breakfast. One of many good pubs visited.
16 Mar 2011 22:22
Good range of beers, all of the ones we tried were served in excellent condition. Service was really quick, bar staff and locals very friendly, and the wall displays interesting. Not too far from Carrow Road, then again, not too far from Primark, the castle, Poundland or the bus station! Worth a visit.
16 Mar 2011 22:16
Kings of the Belgians, Huntingdon
Excellent pub, we called in on a Monday lunchtime and it wa surprisingly busy. Locals were friendly, and the staff were really helpful. Lunch menu was quite imaginitive and reasonably priced, we all opted for toad in the hole and dis not regret it. The beer was 'Hunny Bunny' and really good, London Pride was also on offer and an Oakham beer was being pulled through as we left. Great place, highly recommended
16 Mar 2011 22:12
OK, it's standard Wetherspoons formula, but the beer was excellent, a decent mixed grill and coffee for �5.99 and very friendly and helpful bar staff - They must be doing something right. Despite it being busy for a Watford game, no problems at all getting served. Unlike Gann, we had real glasses to drink out of!
23 Feb 2011 15:46
Loved it, plenty of Hoskins beers on, all that we tried were tasty and well-served, the HOB standing out as excellent. A proper pub, with good beer, and an incredibly friendly barmaid, could not fault the place. I had heard of the landlady's reputation, but was disappointed, I smiled and was friendly, and she responded in kind.
Thanks to all at the pub, had a great time before the football, and will definitely return subject to relegation/ promotion.
19 Feb 2011 21:51
The Mad Bishop and Bear, Paddington
Most of the Fullers beers on tap, and the Discovery was not as chilled as in many bars, making it a whole lot nicer. The staff are pretty good, and whilst it's not exactly full of character, you can't really moan about a decent real ale bar on a station, with the departure screens on display. One small gripe, if the guest beer (Tribute) is off, is it really that difficult to turn the pump clip around?
23 Jan 2011 23:11
Pleasant pub with an excellent choice of 4 beers from small breweries. I tried them all and they were in excellent condition. Staff were really welcoming and service was excellent.
Food was nice if a tad pricy, but the one gripe was that the "OLd Spot Sausage sandwich" should either be re-branded to include the word "mustard", or said mustard should be offered as an option on the side. Some swapping of mustard/ non-mustard bread helped resolve the problem, but there was still a lingering mustard taste ruining an otherwise excellent sandwich.
I will be back next time in Leeds, but much more 'mustard-aware'.
13 Nov 2010 23:27
Beer festival time, so Wetherspoons made was added to the itinerary. Some cracking beers, especially the SriLankan stout and I also really liked the perry. A really friendly pub and special thanks to the barman who was really helpful and allowed a few small samplers for the less brave member of our group.
31 Oct 2010 20:40
The Quaker Coffee House, Darlington
The carrot crunchers return, very happy with 3 points off the Boro. It really is a great pub, we tried most of the beerrs, and we did not have a bad one, the stout and porter being particularly good. Very friendly staff and customers - Just about the perfect pub.
31 Oct 2010 20:38
A small wetherspoons pub, beer was pretty good, with a choice of 5 real ales. Food was absolutely fine, and the staff were really helpful and very friendly. Handy for Cosham station, which makes a good P&R for Fratton Park.
29 Sep 2010 20:30
Nice pub with friendly staff and customers. A choice of 8 beers, and all the ones we tried were good, although as others have mentioned, a couple were slightly cold. The football specials were really good, baps are �3.50 now, and to top the day, first win of the season.
12 Sep 2010 17:00
Not my cup of tea at all. No real ales, so I endured that awful 'smooth' stuff. Not overly impressed with the 'gourmet burgers', although the chips were pretty good. Service was not too bad. Thankfully, prices were reasonable.
24 Jul 2010 18:50
Only been their once, not my type of pub, but I definitely won't go a second time. The owner has been influential in trying to scupper the Bristol Stadium plan, so if you want to see World Cup football in Bristol, or have any support for City, please give this place a miss.
If not, feel free to make up your own mind. I have not rated this place as that would be an abuse of the marking system.
22 Jul 2010 23:22
Klasterni Pivovar Strahov, Prague
I visited there again back in June, Budvar was off, but the home-brewed beers are still as good as ever. If Lee has confused you, just find Strahov Monastery on a map, and it is right by it. A must-visit pub in Prague for beer hunters.
15 Jul 2010 18:14
Staff were OK, not much more. A smile is nice, but I can cope without as long as there is not a long wait! And there wasn't Pub is OK, a very nice courtyard, and it's pretty spacious. It was the last stop on our crawl (Maybe that's why we did not get a smile!), so memories are a bit hazy, bit I do remember that the geren Sign of Spring was on good form. As with so many Oxford pubs, beer was good, and no real complaints. It really is a great place for a beer crawl.
9 Jul 2010 22:37
I really liked this pub, really friendly bar staff and customers and excellent beer, with a decent selection. Definitely worth a visit.
9 Jul 2010 22:31
Typical Wetherspoons, good beer choice, cheap, above average beer quality. The only downside was the long wait to get served as somebody was paying in vouchers, judging by the number tendered, each one worth about 5p!
9 Jul 2010 22:29
Visits to Oxford are rare, but I first went there about 25 years ago, and it has been consistently good. Beer quality & choice is excellent, staff are really friendly, service is good, and it's a great place for a beer or three. Clientele is a mix of tourists, beer drinkers, scantily clad students etc.
9 Jul 2010 22:25
Beer is absolutely excellent, staff are really helpful, prices are good, it is just a great pub. Maybe not a place for a romantic date, but ideal if you want great beer, cider or perry. Hard to fault.
9 Jul 2010 22:20
Box steam ales, all in good condition, lovely setting, nice sunny day, it should have been a great experience. However, a long queue for service, and only 1 person behind the bar meant that we had one drink and left, as we could not face the 20 minute queue again.
23 May 2010 14:20
Went to the punk and cider festival last night. An absolutely brilliant night, great perries and ciders (Loved the fruit ones), the usual good choice of beers and great music. Not forgetting the usual cheery bar staff. I am so lucky, living near this great pub.
16 May 2010 12:30
High standards continue in this excellent pub. A good place for a pre-match beer, the guest ales are usually pretty good, the staff are absolutely brilliant, even when it gets busy, and the bacon and brie sandwiches are top-notch. Thanks all, see you again in August.
24 Apr 2010 19:44
The Watering Hole, Perranporth
Great, lovely setting, nice beer, but what has happened to the Heligan Honey?????
19 Apr 2010 21:55
The The Upper Deck, Perranporth
Bizarre. A young-looking pub full of the local oldies enjoying the cheap beer. The Sharps Doom Bar and Deck were both good, and cheap at �2.50 a pint. Music was for the oldies, but a tad loud.
19 Apr 2010 21:53
Excellent bar, 12 real ales, all of the ones we had were in excellent condition, handy for Peterboroughs ground, and really great bar staff. It was not overly busy on match day and getting served was not a problem. Home and away fans mixed well, and there was a really good atmosphere. My friends tried the match-day curries and were not overly impressed, I stuck to a balanced diet, a pint in each hand!
Anyone know why the Oakham special beer (Was it Inferno?) was more than 60p dearer than other beers, it was only 5.7%.
28 Mar 2010 16:54
Metallic, pretentious and soul-less, yes. Nice pizzas, and the mango beer is less fizzy, back to how it used to be. Delicious. A few degrees to cold though, so you have to let it warm up a bit! Apparently the black lager was also very good.
21 Mar 2010 18:10
Absolutely cracking pub, really friendly, great selection of real ales, and brilliant staff. By far the best part of the day, then again, the way Bristol City 'played', that is no great achievement. Thanks to all the great staff, and hope to see you again next season.
13 Mar 2010 20:48
Pretty good Wetherspoons, the pub is spread over a number of levels, and has a very large beer garden - February was not the Month for sitting outside. Standard Wetherspoons fayre, a good choice of beers, with the Oakham Smoked Porter being the outstanding choice, and pretty good service.
28 Feb 2010 16:34
Close to Windsor Castle, right by the crooked house. An excellent pub, a good choice of beers, I think it was 6 handpumps, the Brewdog Blonde was particularly tasty. The food looked really good, particularly the pies, and the �5 menu was impressive, not what you would expect to find so near a major tourist attraction. Really nice interior, smart, but still a 'proper pub', and the staff were really friendly and welcoming.
28 Feb 2010 16:30
Absolutely top pub. 9 handpumps in operation, and about 6 beers out the back served straight from the cask, plus real cider and Westons Perry. A beer-lovers dream. All of the beers that we tried were very well-kept, and he staff and customers were really friendly. A spacious pub, and the food was pretty good. About a 20 minute walk from Portman Road, but well worth the effort.
28 Feb 2010 16:27
Some good beers, well served, yet again, and the breakfasts were excellent. One big plus with this Wetherspoons is the service, there always seems to be enough staff on duty, and they are really friendly and helpful.
28 Feb 2010 16:24
Another disappointing visit to Bramall Lane, another enjoyable visit to this pub. The beers are just great, I loved the White Swan and Jaipur, had tasters of the others, and all were good. The staff there were absolutely brilliant, and made us 'strangers' feel very welcome. Highly recommended, and hope to re-visit next season, subject to avoiding relegation.
13 Feb 2010 21:56
The Quaker Coffee House, Darlington
Called the Quakerhouse, and located just off the Market Square, up a little alley, near Greggs. An absolute gem of a pub, I just can't praise it too highly. Four 'carrot crunchers' made to feel very welcome by customers and staff, the staff could not have been more helpful, and the beer quality was just first class.
We tried a good selection of beers, and all were served in excellent condition - Just a great pub, and well worth making the effort to find. No food is served, but the staff suggest you go to Greggs or the other bakers and eat it in the pub. Thanks to all for making us feel so welcome, and if the Smoggies don't go up, see you next season.
31 Jan 2010 20:50
Number 22 Alehouse and Canteen, Darlington
Nice pub, friendly customers and staff, good selection of beers. Five from the Village brewery and about seven guests. Pretty much as described in previous reviews, and well worth a visit.
31 Jan 2010 20:46
The Waggon and Horses, Halesowen
A choice of 14 beers, plus some Belgian ones, plus real cider and perry - Heaven! We spent a very happy lunch-time there, the beer & perry were fantastic, the cobs were excellent value, and the staff were really friendly and helpful. Toilets (gents at least) were perfectly adequate, not sure what there is to complain about.
22 Nov 2009 00:00
With 3 Wetherspoons and a beer festival, Swindon seemed a good place to take the wife shopping. The other 2 had a lame selection, but the Savoy was superb, with about 15 Festival ales and the perry. All of the beers were in good condition, and the third-pint tasting meant I could try a large number of the ales, whilst still having pints of my favourites. Service was good, and the manageress always got extra staff serving when a queue built up, a good example that other JDW bars would do well to follow.
15 Nov 2009 14:04
The Vat and Fiddle, Nottingham
Cracking pub. The beer was excellent, and a bonus 6 beers by way of a mini beer-festival, so spoilt for choice. All that we tried were excellent, the service was good, staff and customers very friendly, and the lunch-time baps were very tasty. The 8-ball scheme reduces the cost nicely.
25 matches v Forest since 1974 without a win - At least this pub prepares you for the inevitable disappointment!
10 Nov 2009 21:50
Beer was very good, and once I finally got served, the staff member was very friendly and polite. However, as others have said, the staff did not have a clue about who had been waiting longest, and when a third member of staff arrived, he was not directed towards those of us who had been waiting ages, and served some people who had only just arrived.
23 Oct 2009 15:20
The Royal George Inn, West Coker
Not bad. A pleasant enough pub, friendly and efficient staff, and the full Palmers range in good condition. Focus is on locals and food, quite rightly so, as that is where they make their money. Extra mark for having a chef who supports Bristol City!
23 Oct 2009 15:08
Nice enough pub, very historic, friendly staff, and reasonable beer. Not too packed on a Saturday evening, which was a relief.
4 Oct 2009 17:19
As described below, not too great if packed, but definitely worth a visit. 5 real ales, we tried two and both were well served - One was a b it bland, but I think that was the brew! Great service, and loved the ild fashioned record player. Ornate, interesting and a must-visit pub.
4 Oct 2009 17:16
A proper pub with proper beer. Loved it, great patio, friendly and efficient staff, the beer was top notch and a choice of 8 beers. A good place to drink before football, handy for the station, not too far from the ground, but not overly packed.
4 Oct 2009 17:13
After last years complaint about Courage Best, they decided to make amends by holding the beer festival on the same weekend as Bristol City played Coventry. The beer festival was in the outdoor area at the rear, with about 12 beers, plus a few more inside. Between us we tried 7, and all were good. Nice to find proper perry (Pear cider for the uninitiated), and of the beers, the Snake Oil was my favourite. A great setting, friendly helpful staff, in fact perfect. My friends praised the food, but I was a bit too busy sampling to order any!
I hope the rest of the festival went well.
13 Sep 2009 15:11
The Swan With Two Nicks, Worcester
Loved it, 4 decent real ales, all well served, friendly staff, and the food looked good.. We had a takeaway from the Hog Roast shop a few doors down, delicious. A strange pub, Olde Worlde at the front, a trendy bar serving rubbish at the back and a bizarre lounge upstairs. Best of all, real ale was �1.55 a pint, bargain. Highly recommended.
5 Sep 2009 17:55
The Black Horse Hotel, Preston
we intended just a quick pint here en route to another pub. Well, it was so good that we stayed on and forgot about the other place (By all accounts, we made a good choice). Great pub. fantastic interior, the staff were absolutely brilliant, really friendly and helpful, and a well-timed moment of sarcasm. The beer was absolutely first class, especially the Dizzy Blonde. A real pub.
9 Aug 2009 21:51
3 good real ales, all well served. Nice interior, very friendly staff and customers. No food, but you can take your own as long as you clear up. Loved it, a very good choice of pre-match pub.
9 Aug 2009 21:47
Standard Wetherspoons, Lloyds Number 1 version, so you get crap music and less choice of real ale. Being the designated driver was not a problem!
29 Jul 2009 21:18
16 real ales, every one that I tried was in good condition, screens to list the beers and coded according to colour (A for light, E for dark). No food served, but if you take your own, cutlery, plates and condiments are provided. Lovely staff, very friendly and efficient service. A good mix of people in there. To be honest, I just don't know what more you could want from a pub. Handy for all 3 of Birminghams stations - and a great place to relax if you wish to avoid the Birmingham shopping 'experience'.
20 Jul 2009 14:57
The King and Castle, Kidderminster
Great pub, great beer, friendly staff, good atmosphere. A proper pub, handy for both SVR and 'normal' railway - No faults at all.
20 Jul 2009 14:50
The Railwaymans Arms, Bridgnorth
Great place to while away the time between trains. A fantastic selection of beer, all well served, and the staff were very efficient and helpful. Just one slight moan, the 'regulars' did not seem to like you if you sat in the wrong place, and would rather invade your space (Especially if you went to the toilet, or to look at an engine) than sit at the next table. Or maybe we were just unlucky! Great to see real perry as well, and called perry, not pear cider. Marketing guys note - Cider is made with apples, perry with pears!
20 Jul 2009 14:48
The Great Western, Wolverhampton
First time I have been there when not going to football, and it really is a fantastic place. Great beer (Bathams, Holdens and Enville were all on top form), great service, railway momento's on the walls - It is a proper pub. Even the 50th birthday party in the garden, blasting out cheesy music could not spoil my visit.
20 Jul 2009 14:42
Moon Under Water, Wolverhampton
I went for breakfast just after 9am on a Sunday. Usual mix of early drinkers and early breakfasters. It was even too early for me to have a beer, but the range was very good, obviously cannot comment on the quality. The one thing that really stood out was the very friendly service, not always evident in Wetherspoons bars.
20 Jul 2009 14:38
Not bad at all. service was really good, the staff very friendly, and the beer range was pretty good, as long as you like Skinners. The Blond and Ginger Tosser were excellent (That's beers, not a badly matched couple). At least it was not just Doom Bar or Tribute as offered in so many of the local pubs.
30 Jun 2009 22:33
Great pub, great selection of beer, very helpful staff, and a lovely pub.
30 Jun 2009 22:30
I didn't eat there - Food looked nice, but it was a 45 minute wait. Very popular pub in a nice location, the Tribute was excellent, and the staff were welcoming even though we were not eating. Full marks to the nice blond waitress who was rushed off her feet, and yet dealt with all requests/ demands in a professional and polite manner.
27 Jun 2009 22:49
Rating has been reduced - Only the two Brains beers (SA & Rev James) this time, and the sandwiches are now french stick, and definitely not as good as last year. It's still not bad, but I was in Bodmin for the steam railway, and made a lengthy detour (on foot) to go there - Without the sandwiches or guest ale, it was disappointing after that walk.
27 Jun 2009 22:44
At last, somewhere near Padstow that ventures beyong the usual Tribute/ Doom Bar. Not too far to walk from the 555 bus stop if you don't want to drive. A great pub, very good beer (FFF Alton, Summer Lightening), great service, very friendly, and drinkers are made to feel welcome despite the summer emphasis being on food.
27 Jun 2009 22:35
The Watering Hole, Perranporth
This place just gets better, Heligan Honey, Tribute, and two house beers, one by Skinners, one by Sharps. Good choice of tasty foreign lagers, but with Fosters for the Hard of Tasting. �3.10 a pint is a bit dear, but worth it for the ambience, view and great beer.
27 Jun 2009 22:31
Busy, full of graduates in capes and mortar boards.. And a guy dressed as a turkey. I love this pub, great atmosphere, great beer (Loved the Village Idiot), good service. If its good enough for Morse......
14 Jun 2009 15:32
It was OK, the beer was not bad, but not an inspiring range. Not the worst pub in Oxford, and I will try it again, as it may have just been a bad day.
14 Jun 2009 15:29
Far From the Madding Crowd, Oxford
Loved it - Great range of beer, very friendly and helpful bar staff and good food. Orkney Dark Island at under �2 was a nice bonus.
14 Jun 2009 15:28
Since my last post, I have been back a couple of times, and I am pleased to report that service has improved. The main improvement is that the Manager is a real ale enthusiast, and the beer quality and range is definitely improving, with Butcombe and Bath Ales featuring regularly, at the expense of Courage Dishwater and Pedigree. Fingers crossed that the improvement is maintained.
7 Jun 2009 15:58
A great range of local beers, all well served, a historic pub with cozy bars, it really should be one of my favourite pubs. However, I just can't warm to the place, it just seems to lack the friendly banter of places like the Star, and the regulars can (on occasions - not all the time) block the bar area making it difficult to get served/ collect your drinks. Oh yes, and blocking the way to the toilets - Careful after you have been to the loo, the doors open into the bar and I have seen many drinks spilled as an unwary customer gets hit by the door!
16 May 2009 16:26
I had not been there for about 10 years, so decided to give it a go. Very friendly, great staff behind the bar, and the intimate atmosphere meant that we got chatting to a number of the other customers. The beer was pretty good as well, and this is definitely worth a visit.
16 May 2009 16:13
Plastic pub with plastic customers. Fine if you like over-priced Contintal Lagers and dislike atmosphere.
16 May 2009 16:10
The Crystal Palace Tavern, Bath
First visit for a long time, and I was pleasantly surprised. The Bellringer & Oxford Gold were excellent, and unlike other posters, I found the service very good. The food was expensive, but thats no problem as it's only a short walk to Schwarz Brothers. Pub is a bit bland, but the garden is OK (Despite the May weather!), and in all honesty, what else would you expect from a Pub right by the Abbey. Beer is a bit pricy (�2.90), but that's hardly unusual in Bath.
16 May 2009 16:09
Klasterni Pivovar Strahov, Prague
Great pub, great location. Head up the vernicular, walk through the park, and it's a great stop before getting to the castle. Loved the two home-brew beers, strong, very tasty, and slightly pricy by Prague standards. Budvar is available if you fancy a more mainstream beer. Staff were very helpful, service was excellent. I did not try the food.
14 May 2009 22:46
The dark beer was OK, but not as good as I had been led to believe, the place itself is OK. Thats the good side. The staff are persistent with the schnapps, I went there at lunch-time, and despite only having half a dozen 'anorak' customers, the accordian player appeared, and we were charged for the privelege. Cheap by UK standards, dear by Prague standards, glad I've tried it, but I won't be rushing back.
14 May 2009 22:40
Fantastic pub. The home-brew beers are excellent, I particularly liked the wheat beer, but the light, dark and 'mix' are also reaklly good. Not as strong as other brew-pubs in Prague, which is a good thing. Not so sure on the speciality beers, a small taster was more than adequate! The food was reasonable and well-priced. It gets very busy of an evening, so it's best to arrive early, or try it at lunch time. Definitely one of my favourite Prague pubs.
14 May 2009 22:36
Top pub, very handily placed for Turf Moor. It was packed, but service was good, the choice of beers and quality was excellent. The Burnley fans were very friendly, and I would definitely recommend this place. I have deducted a mark for the stupid pub name!
4 May 2009 17:28
Back in May, I posted about improved service, sadly that is no longer the case yet again. How difficult is it to keep staff behind the bar? Often, there are just 1/2 people serving, and help does not arrive until the queue is about 2 deep. If they are going to offer cocktails or coffeees that take time to make, then staff the bar appropriately! On the rare occasions that the queue goes, staff immediately vanish so that it builds up yet again.
I have used many JDW Pubs, and never found one that is so sparsely staffed behind the bar. I have written and complained, but any improvement is only ever temporary. Maybe a cheap pub in an expensive tourist area breeds complacency? Whatever the reason, the Management of this Pub needs a massive kick up the arse!
19 Apr 2009 12:02
On the negative side, only serving 3 of the Festival Ales. On the positive side, it was 3 of the better ones. Staff were friendly, service was unusually quick for JDW. Usual JDW food, atmosphere and clientele.
If a pub is going to participate in a beer festival, it should do it properly, as the festival beers were very popular and selling well.
19 Apr 2009 11:48
The Vat and Fiddle, Nottingham
Great beer, 8 to choose from, the Black Gold and Harvest Pale were exceptional. Very friendly staff, efficient service, and the 8 ball scheme reduced the cost of our drinking even further. The cobs were nice and excellent value, overall, a fantastic pub.
12 Apr 2009 18:55
Decent Country Pub, friendly staff and the palmers beer was very well kept. I did not try the food, but it looked very nice. Menu was more restaurant than standard Pub Grub. Very handy place for real ale drinkers to go before a Yeovil Town game as it is handily placed for the ground (Driving rather than walking), and by going through Montacute you avoid the traffic.
2 Apr 2009 23:43
I was pleasantly surprised by my latest visit. A very good choice of real ales, with 5 good guest beers. Unlike rorypatchway, my food was very hot, probably a first in a Wetherspoons! The staff were really friendly and helpful, and this place has definitely improved. Maybe it's the competition from the other 2 Wetherspoons just down the road!
29 Mar 2009 10:07
The Churchill Arms, Kensington
I was quite impressed by this pub. The beer was very good, although not cheap - Or is it that us Country Yokels don't understand London prices. A pity that the Porter was not available on hand pump. My friends tried the Thai food, and were very impressed with quality and value, perhaps I should have had less breakfast! A very friendly pub, and the service was excellent.
23 Mar 2009 18:40
Not great. Only 1 guest beer on offer, and it was bland (Even by JDW standards). Don't think I will go there too often!
14 Mar 2009 16:13
Great multi-roomed pub, great beer, great value, great atmosphere, great service... The many positive reviews are well-deserved. I just wish I had time and capacity to sample all of the beers!
7 Mar 2009 22:09
Yorkshire beer week, and between our group, all available offerings were sampled, and all were excellent. It is hard to fault this pub, very friendly service, great atmosphere (visiting football fans welcomed), excellent beer. I have been there on a few occasions, and found the beer to be of a consistently high quality.
7 Mar 2009 22:04
12 top notch real ales, excellent food (Pies or breakfast), friendly and helpful staff, and a bus to/ from the Madejski from the pub. Pubs don't get much better than this, and we hope that Bristol City and Reading are in the same League next year so that we can visit again. Thanks to all of the staff for making us feel so welcome.
21 Feb 2009 21:27
Excellent JDW pub. Good service (!), excellent choice of beers - no complaints.
21 Feb 2009 21:24
Very friendly pub and handy for the Keepmoat (If you can find a direct footpath rather than walking miles around lakes and man-made hills!) A lot of beers on offer, but a pretty uninspiring range and nothing from any smaller breweries. Having said that, the Tetleys was pretty good, and it was a decent pub with character.
18 Feb 2009 20:20
Used it last year for a quick pint before the train, and it was pretty mediocre. Went this year, and it is transformed, with friendly staff, and some excellent Woodfordes beer. The Nog was outstanding. Highly recommended.
13 Feb 2009 20:17
The beer was fantastic, with good variety, the atmosphere was excellent, and the food was absolutely top notch. Not cheap, but good quality and excellent value. Staff were very friendly and helpful, especially the 'waitress' with the dyed red hair. Will definitely return next year, assuming no unexpected promotion/ relegation.
13 Feb 2009 20:14
The Hamilton Hall, Liverpool Street
A very unusual Wetherspoons, quite ornate, good service, but smelly toilets. Beer quality was excellent, and it was an ideal place to while away an hour waiting for a train. Personally, I don't mind wetherspoons, cheap, good real ale, and if it's full of chavs, I go elsewhere.
13 Feb 2009 20:11
Great beer, great boozer, great atmosphere, great spaniel, in fact a top pub.
18 Jan 2009 20:45
Totally agree about the MacOtter, top quality. A fairly basic pub, good range of beers, the ones tried were well kept, and the staff were very friendly.
18 Jan 2009 20:42
The Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield
I have visited twice now. On both occasions there was a stunning array of quality real ales available, the food was basic and very good value, and the staff were very friendly giving good service. This is a real pub in the traditional sense, and definitely one of my favourites on my football travels.
4 Jan 2009 15:19
Having now visited this Pub on two occasions, I am surprised by the negativity. On my recent visit, the service was once again very good, and the real ales were well-served, albeit in plastic glasses. Not over-busy considering it was a match day with not too many other pubs open. Breakfast was the usual good quality and large quantity, and served very quickly. The toilets (Gents at least) are not the best I have ever seen in a Wetherspoons, but I can cope with that.
4 Jan 2009 15:12
Very average beer, very average service. I went there on a busy day before Christmas, and the real ales were not replaced as they ran out, and the one left (No idea what it was) was not good. I have been there a couple of other times recently, and have never found the real ale to be well-kept. Next time I will try and persuade my workmates to use the Pig & Fiddle.
4 Jan 2009 15:06
I had not been there for a few years, and was very impressed on my recent visit. Smart, comfortable, very friendly and a well-served pint of Otter.
4 Jan 2009 15:01
Pretty uninteresting range of beers, the Gem was OK, but nothing special. Sitting in the garden is quite pleasant, but I can't really find anything else much to recommend this place as there are far better Pubs in Bath. Of an evening, it is popular with younger drinkers, so I felt like a real fossil after 8 pm. Sorry, it is just not my type of place!
4 Jan 2009 14:59
Not a bad pub. Most of the beers were from the Irving Brewery, and were drinkable & pleasant, but certainly not outstanding. The Frigate was a bit cloudy, and the Cathedral was pretty lumpy, not sure if it was end of barrel, or if they are always a bit 'raw'. Guest was Tim Taylors Landlord, which I am told was very well served. The food had more of an emphasis on quality than quantity, but no complaints in terms of value for money. The area that I was very impressed with was the friendliness of the staff, we were made to feel very welcome, and I will definitely try it again next time I visit Pompey. (Next season in the Championship?)
4 Jan 2009 14:55
Handy for the tube station, and inside, it is pretty much the standard Wetherspoons decor. The beer was very well served, and the service was quick and friendly, so no complaints. Having looked in a few other local pubs, there did not seem to be much real ale, so a decent range of ber at a good price was very welcome.
23 Nov 2008 22:39
The Great Western, Wolverhampton
Great pub. A real pub, with top quality real beer, and railway memorabelia. If looking for a drink near Wolverhampton station, you won't find better.
28 Sep 2008 21:13
The Guest beer was excellent (Sharps Doom Bar), and the Indian barbecue was just perfect. I tried the normal chicken tikka and the methi tikka (Yes, I am greedy!), both were outstanding. Traditional pub, great beer, top rate Indian food - Life does not get better than that!
28 Sep 2008 21:10
Nice pub, great location, and reasonably handy for the Ricoh. The beers (Tiger and Highgate Mild) was excellent, although having Courage Directors as a guest seems a waste of a pump. Sandwiches and baguettes were excellent for quality and value. It was very pleasant sat in the water-side garden on a (rare) warm day for a pre-match beer, and a 3-0 win made the day even better. One small gripe, what is the point of banning smoking on a paved patio?
24 Aug 2008 13:25
Not the greatest Wetherspoons, with limited real ale, although that perhaps reflects the clientele who seem more lager orientated. Beer was OK and cheap, but nothing special.
4 Aug 2008 19:57
The Chainlocker and Shipwrights, Falmouth
Good real ales, including the excellent Skinners Heligan Honey. A pleasant pub to sit outside, and they turned a blind eye to our munching a pasty in contravention of the rules. Steep stairs to the toilet in the Chain & locker though!
4 Aug 2008 19:49
The Watering Hole, Perranporth
Pricy, full of surfers, but what a gem of a pub. Superb location, and the Heligan Honey beer is superb. Great bar staff, very helpful and friendly (And attractive!). Sea, sun, sand, surf and Skinners, life can't get better.
4 Aug 2008 19:47
Loved it. Princetown Jail Ale (Excellent pint) and 2 Brains beers being served, and absolutely fantastic doorstep sandwiches. They might seem over-priced at �4.25, but were worth every penny. Terrific service, very friendly, and a great place to start/ end a visit to the jail.
4 Aug 2008 19:43
The Old Custom House Hotel, Padstow
Pub is a bit bland, but beer was good and very good service.
4 Aug 2008 19:40
A locals pub that tolerates tourists. Clean, pleasant and decent real ale.
4 Aug 2008 19:37
Visited recently, Pub is OK, nice garden, friendly, good service and a nice pint of Doom Bar.
4 Aug 2008 19:36
Very standard Wetherspoons, cheap beer and decent food. Not one of the better ones for real ale choice, although the quality is OK.
8 Jun 2008 15:18
Standard Wetherspoons Pub with cheap food and a lack of atmosphere. The real ale was particularly good here, with a good choice, and all in top condition. Service was surprisingly good, especially as I was competing for attention with a number of under-dressed teenagers one evening!
8 Jun 2008 15:14
Absolutely great pub, a real gem and a refreshing change from the local 'chain' pubs. Hop Back/ Downton beers are fantastic, always well-served, and in good condition. Staff are friendly and great sandwiches. If watching your team at swindon, this is a good place to go to avoid the crowds and get a decent beer.
8 Jun 2008 15:10
The real ales were well served and at �2.80, not expensive by London standards. A good selection of Lagers for those who are that way inclined. A mixed clientele, very friendly staff, excellent service, and very handy as a Pre-Wembley Pub (Close to Baker Street, but hidden away sufficiently so that it won't be found by the masses). Only slight complaint is that food is a bit pricy, but hardly an unusual complaint for a London Pub. The friendly customers cheered us up after a disappointing result, especially the really attractive and very pleasant Leicester supporter.
25 May 2008 15:28
A second visit, and it was even better, excellent beer, quick service and very friendly staff. However, the Manager might need a Geography lesson - We had plastic glasses as they expected a large number of football fans on the basis that Bristol City fans used it on the way to Palace 2 weeks previous and Portsmouth fans on the way to Wembley the week before. However, Hull and Bristol City fans going to Wembley were never really likely to be at Victoria in great numbers!
25 May 2008 15:18
This used to be a great place with decent beer quality, and very handy for Temple Meads. Sadly, my last few visits have been very disappointing as the beer range has been uninspiring, and the beer quality has been consistently poor. Come on JDW, sort it out!
11 May 2008 23:33
As another season ends, I have nothing but praise for this Pub. As City have had a great season it has been very busy at times, but the service has remained excellent, and the beer quality just keeps on improving. A very friendly atmosphere with visiting supporters being made welcome. A big thank you to all of the staff there.
11 May 2008 23:23
Very ornate, and not as bland as most JDW's. Beer choice and quality was absolutely excellent, the usual good quality breakfast, and very friendly service. A good quality pub.
11 May 2008 23:18
Since my post of July 2007, I would add that the service has improved considerably. Sadly, the real ale quality can still be a bit iffy on occasions, but credit where it is due, during the recent International Beer Festival the beer was very well served.
11 May 2008 23:08
Pretty much a standard Wetherspoons pub, but in London, that's not necessarily a bad thing. With a 12.15 kick off at Palace, this was ideal, and we enjoyed the Farmhouse Breakfast and a couple of pints of quality real ales. The beer was so good that we returned after the game for a couple of celebratory drinks. All of the beers that we tried were in excellent condition, with the Otter Bright being exceptional. So, we had decent food, top notch beer at �2.29 a pint, and the service was good. For those of you who don't like football fans, on this occasion it was mostly middle-aged real ale drinkers, and all were impeccably behaved.
11 May 2008 22:56
I visit this Pub regularly, and love the place. There are now about 6/7 beers on at a time, and I find the quality comments strange, as I have not had a bad pint in a long time. Some that are not to my taste, but not gone off. On the negative side, it is barren, the colour scheme is too brown, it gets cold in winter and the toilets are not great (Gents is all too visible from the bar!). I love it, but I can understand why it may not appeal to all - Maybe it is now time to move forward and broaden the client base, without compromising on the beer range and quality of course.
1 May 2008 23:19
The beer is excellent, the cider and perries make a welcome change from the usual fizz, and I really liked the place. It is a place that caters for the locals, whilst accepting the tourist trade, and I thought that they had the balance right. The garden was really nice, and the staff very friendly. Not too impressed by the curry, but it was not expensive, and it soaked up the beer and cider nicely. A real pub!
1 May 2008 23:00
Bankes Arms Hotel and Country Inn, Studland
I went in August 2007 for the beer festival. The location was fantastic, and as the weather was good we were able to sit in the garden - By going mid-afternoon we avoided the crowds. Food was a barbecue, and quality and price were OK. They offered a mere 80 beers, and whilst I only tried about 8, all were excellent. Bar staff were East European, and despite the negative reviews here, I found them very friendly and they gave excellent service. Overall a very positive experience, but I was glad it wasd quiet so that I could use the inside loos. The trailer-Toilets brought for the festival were rank!
1 May 2008 22:50
An excellent Pub right by Sheffield FC's ground. On our visit, 5 Thornbridge beers were available, with 3 over 5%, when lighter beers would have been preferred. We did try them all, and all were excellent and very tasty. We did not try the food as it was 'gastro' rather than proper pub food. Full marks to the young, blond girl behind the bar, her knowledge of the beers and enthusiasm was brilliant.
27 Apr 2008 11:30
Great Pub, and on a par with the Bierhalle in terms of beer. Loved the Pils and wheat beers, didn't try the ginger as I don't like them, the stout was nice, but was served warm, and that's warm by English real ale standards! Inside was a restaurant area, so we sat in the enclosed terrace, a great place to watch the World and students go by. Service was a bit slow, but not unacceptably so, and the staff were very friendly. A pleasant way to pass an afternoon.
9 Oct 2007 20:39
Large German style bier halle (The clue is in the name really!). 3 brews available, Pils, Dark and Wheat, all were excellent, but the dark was a bit sweet for me. I did try and give it another go, but first time I ordered it I got the bill, next time a wheat beer. Waitress was not great with English, but tried hard and was a real cutie, so easily forgiven. Good service, excellent food, unintrusive Sport screens, and fantastic beer. What more could you want. Beer was 7Zlt for 0.4 Ltr on the Sunday, but reduced to 5Zlt on Monday - No idea why! If in Warsaw and looking for a break from mass-produced fizz, worth finding.
9 Oct 2007 20:31
Modern, trendy bar serving home-brewed beer. Music is loud enough to be intrusive, but not loud enough to listen to. As ithers have commented, the mute TV's are very irritating. Beer quality is good, particularly the mango. Unlike others, I have always found the service to be very good.
21 Jul 2007 13:12
Great pre-football pub. Exceptional beer quality, an adventurous choice of guest beers and very friendly staff.
21 Jul 2007 13:09
Blanmd, even by JDW standards, and the speed of service really is poor. If the queue goes, so do the staff, only to return once things are out of hand. On the plus side, the beer is normally good and it is cheap.
21 Jul 2007 13:05
A gem of a pub. Friendly landlord, great beer, Bass from the barrel and regular Cornish beer festivals. A welcome change from the bland, modern, plastic pubs that keep opening in Bath.
21 Jul 2007 13:02
Very much with haggisbasher, decent beer, nice garden, but lacks atmosphere. Good half-way stop between the Royal oak and the Centre.
21 Jul 2007 12:53
The best beer choice in Bath, the perry (When on) is excellent, and a great atmosphere. If you are looking for a real ale crawl of Bath, its proximity to Oldfield Park station makes it an ideal place to start/ end.
21 Jul 2007 12:50
Isaac Merritt, Paignton
Very impressed, good selection of beers, pumps changed quickly if a beer runs out, every pint I tried was in good condition, excellent range of beers, food was standard JDW but perfectly edible, and every pint was under �2. Not much to find fault with
6 Oct 2012 23:18