BITE user comments - LennyBanter
Comments by LennyBanter
Well worth a visit, if only for the chance to drink in a really old pub. Didn't have any food but there was a nice selection of ales. They even have their own brew which is pretty good. A bit over priced but it is the centre of London I suppose.
23 Feb 2013 12:56
The Old Market Tavern, Bristol
A very nice pub which felt a little out of place on a main drag in Bristol. The beer garden is very nice and quiet that I was unaware of any traffic. The bar staff were friendly and helpful. Overall, a good drinking experience.
19 Feb 2013 10:43
As Spoons pubs go, this is not too bad. The food is the usual prepared off site microwaved fare, but the staff were friendly and helpful. When I asked if they had a bottle beer that wasn’t in the fridge, instead of telling me they had sold out, the barmaid went out the back to fetch some. Useful for those travelling from Temple Meads, even though it was mostly full of suits having lunch when I was there.
19 Feb 2013 10:42
Went in for cheeky one or two and was served a couple of nice ales I had never seen anyway else. The music was great, if a little loud. I had come in for a conversation, not a shouting match with my drinking companion. Didn’t brave the toilets mind but the bar staff were pleasant enough
19 Feb 2013 10:42
Bishop Out Of Residence, Kingston Upon Thames
Went in about 8pm on a Saturday night and half of the beer tabs were covered over. What sort of pub has not got enough beer to cover a Saturday night. The place is also very expensive. Nearly five quid for a pint. This is Kingston folks, not the centre of London. One of my companions was charge nearly ten quid for a glass of wine. Avoid this pub, it is dire.
10 Feb 2013 10:43
Went in on a rugby day and had a really atmosphere. Not too many rugby fans to make it annoying but enough to make it worth while staying. Best drop of Doom Bar I have ever had as well.
3 Feb 2013 17:29
The Waldegrave Arms, Teddington
Popped in for the first time since it has reopened and was met by a very friendly barmaid who was very helpful and chatty. There were a couple of big TV's showing the rugby and three ales ready for tasting. They even had a Meredian beer on tap so not just the usual lagers that you would expect in a pub either. Food available aswell. They have even knocked the bar down in size to make more room. Shame the beer garden has gone though.
20 Jan 2013 21:29
Pretty standard Fullers pub. Sells and looks like what you would expect but the bar staff are friendly and the atmosphere is quite nice. There was a band but it was next to impossible to hear them. Something to do with an annoying neighbour. Well worth checking out though if you cannot get a seat at the nearby Sussex Arms. It does have a Thai restaurant on the premises but have yet to try it but it does smell great.
3 Jan 2013 20:32
The Duchess of Cambridge, Stamford Brook
The sister pub to the Bree Louise in Euston, it sells the same nice food and has a great selection of beers which seem to be on constant rotation. The very helpful bar staff told me that it is quite rare for the pub to take delivery of more than one barrel of a beer so there are plenty to choose from. It isn’t only the ales that are worth trying as they have some pretty tidy lagers to boot. Not a cider fan but there was a good selection of those as well. Well worth a visit and discounts on beers for CAMRA members.
3 Jan 2013 20:30
If I had not been directed to this pub by a friend, I would never have known it was there. Within walking distance of Isleworth station but down a side road, this is a nice CAMRA friendly pub for the discerning ale drinker. Live music seems to be a regular thing and on both occasions, it has been pretty good. A nice atmosphere and welcoming patrons. Well worth a visit.
3 Jan 2013 20:29
I have not been in the Sussex Arms much since my student heyday in the mid 90’s, but on my most recent visit over Christmas, I surprised to find that the pub was totally different from the ghost town it once was. It is now a fantastic pub for ales, cider and a nice atmosphere. The bar is packed with seats and the back room is not taken up with a pool table, even if the toilets were a little smelly. There was some live music which was loud enough to hear but not loud enough so you had to shout at the person next to you just to be heard. Highly recommended and well worth a visit.
3 Jan 2013 20:28
The Manor Bar & Grill, Tooting
A bit lacking in atmos but did have a nice vibe. Not a massive selection of either lagers or ales but the bar staff were very friendly. The food was also excellent and the portions were massive. Lots of theme nights going on during the week. Well worht a visit.
21 Oct 2012 09:05
The Hare and Hounds, East Sheen
A massive pub with an even bigger beer garden for familes. The garden was so big that it even had a section just for adults. The service was friendly and helpful. The food (well the Veneson burger anyway) was very nice and there was the usual selection of Youngs beers. I really liked the big leather chairs and the general atmosphere of the place.
28 Aug 2012 12:45
The White Horse, Parsons Green
Really friendly service and a wide selection of beers. They had a beer festival on when I went and the bar man produced a menu giving tasting notes and when the berd would be available over the bank holiday weekend. The food smelled lovely and there was a BBQ on the patio which kept on cooking all afternoon. Well worth a visit if you are in the Parsons Green area.
28 Aug 2012 12:32
What you would expect froma Spoons pub. Went in for a breakfast (which was very nice) at 10am to find the locals already finsihing up their pints. It looked like they would be not leaving the pub for the remainder of the day. The floor infront of the bar was sticky. There are much better pubs (like The Bootlegger) to go to whilst in Wycombe. Interesting member of staff who walked around looking like a Mexican bandit though.
12 Aug 2012 22:12
An amazing selection of beers from all over the world as well as some local brews on tap. A really nice atmosphere, especially with the Olympics on in the background and a DJ playing at a level you could enjoy the music without having to shout at the person next to you. They don't sell food but if you have a take away from somewhere else, you can eat it in the pub and they will supplt the knife and fork. All in all, a great little pub and well worth a visit, especially as it is opposite High Wycome station.
12 Aug 2012 22:08
The Town Hall Tavern, Chertsey
Went along to this pub because of the good reviews it had received on this website. Annoyingly, when I arrived the pub was closed as it does not open until 4pm on a Saturday afternoon. Luckily I was still in the area after that time so I was able to pop in and what a lovely pub it was. Loads of ale on tap and the tables had pub games on each. A lovely family atmosphere and the d�cor made it light and welcoming. Was well worth waiting until opening time. No wonder this has received the highest score of any pub in Chertsey. Make sure you pay a visit if you are in the area.
7 Aug 2012 22:39
Bar staff were friendly and it seemed to be a haven for staff from the nearby Crown Hotel. The d�cor looked as though someone down the years had tried to tart it up, but it was not a very good job. Too much in the way of bright yellow. The Pride was not of the highest quality but I suspect that the normal cliental do not drink a good deal of ale. It had the feel of a lager/football pub to me. Food menu consisted of high fat foods and I think I made a wise choice in avoiding it. Not the worst pub I have even been in, but it was far from being the best.
7 Aug 2012 22:35
The Coach and Horses, Chertsey
A real locals pub this one with patrons who support their local football team which just happens to be around the corner. A nice atmosphere with some old style wall decorations and even a snug hidden behind the bar. Good pint of Pride and clean toilets that do not smell; always a bonus. The only downside being that they did not sell food on a Saturday.
7 Aug 2012 22:30
A good selection of not only ales, but lagers to boot. Reasonably priced cooked breakfast for a fiver. Friendly staff and pleasant atmosphere.
3 Aug 2012 18:36
The Lord Moon Of The Mall, Whitehall
Visited this 'spoons pub after being in Horseguards Parade and the chap you served me was a step up from the normal service. Asked for a dark ale and was recommended one that wasn't actually dark at all. Instead of palming it off on me, he poured it away and served me one that was not only what I had asked for but was really nice. Other than this, it was what I expected from this chain of pubs
3 Aug 2012 18:33
Claims to be the oldest pub in Putney but the inside is most definitely not old and does make it feel a bit soulless. However, the seats are very comfortable and they had a very nice guest ale on. The background music was just that so you could have a conversation with the person next to you without having to shout. Not far from Putney high street either but did not have any of the rough element that seems to frequent near the station. Overall, a nice experience.
29 Apr 2012 11:32
On a road where once there were three pubs to choose from, the Shaftsbury is the last one standing. Gone is the sticky carpet floor and the weathered looked replaced by something brand spanking new but lacking atmosphere. It seems to be more a restaurant with a bar in it than a pub. The guy who served me was enthusiastic about the place (I think he was the manager) and there was good selection of ales. It just left me a bit cold and out of pocket as the beers were a bit pricey. It is getting harder to find old fashioned boozers these days. Shame.
29 Apr 2012 11:18
Just because a pub is in Windsor does not mean that everyone who will come through the door is a foreign tourist with masses amounts of cash to blow on one pint. It was at least nice to see a local brew on sale which had been kept well. The d�cor tried to look old but it was obvious that it had been done up in the recent past which did lead to a bit of a sterile atmosphere punctuated by the laughs of the hooray Henry�s who populated one whole room. Could have been so much better.
29 Apr 2012 11:11
It says a lot about a place when the only pub that was showing the Six Nations in York that I could find that wasn�t a complete dive with this Wetherspoons pub. In fact, I had to ask for it to be put on but the bar man was more than obliging, especially as it was advertised on the outside window. Other than that, a much of a muchness Wetherspoons. The bar staff were more helpful than I expected though, the food was acceptable and there was a good selection of ales. However, watching the Six Nations without sound in a pub without any atmosphere was a bit of a let-down. Supposedly, they do not have sound on TV's in Wetherpoons pubs as company policy. A shame but at least I was able to have a conversation with the handful of other people who were there to watch the game without having to shout.
14 Mar 2012 18:01
Quite a nice pub this one. A warm homely feel to the place and a selection of local ales on offer. It does have a quite a large area offset for food, but with a Premier Inn outside the door which only sells breakfast, they have the market cornered. I was surprised when the bar rang time at eleven though. It has been quite a long time since I have been in a pub that closed at that time.
14 Mar 2012 17:53
I went along to the Tower Tavern to watch a friend play a gig and was very impressed by the beer selection. It would seem that they have a regular bands night were a selection of musicians play 30 minute sets and then someone else comes on. These are always a bit hit and miss but the talent on show last night were quite good (Fiver on the door to get in mind). The gig was spoilt by the fact that there was an inconvenient pillar in the way of the stage so you would never be able to see all of the band or whoever was playing. The staff were friendly and helpful. All in all, a good time was had by all.
29 Jan 2012 10:48
The Crown and Sceptre, Fitzrovia
I didn�t see any of the problems listed by others on the site and quite enjoyed my visit to this pub. The selection of beers to try was excellent and the barman who served us was friendly and chatty. He also had an excellent moustache. It was obvious that the d�cor had been updated but it did look good and the seats were comfy. Recommended but it would seem that it is not to everyone�s taste.
29 Jan 2012 10:47
This pub was a bit of a revelation. It had a really good selection of ales and for those who like that sort of thing, cider (even though one of the offerings did look like urine mixed with nuclear waste.). There was also a good selection of lager as well. Quite a gentle atmosphere but the seats and d�cor did look as though they had been left over from the 70�s so could do with a bit of sprucing up. However, these are only minor quibbles. Being a CAMRA member meant there was money off all of the ales as well as the food. We essentially bought three meals and got one free. The food was very nice as well which made this even more of a bargain. A very pleasant pub experience and well worth a visit. They have a sister pub near Hammersmith so I will be checking that our next.
25 Dec 2011 12:59
The Ham and Blackbird, Farnborough
Not sure what this pub was trying to be. It had loads of football posters on the wall but few screens to show any sport on. A few pool tables and an Xbox with Kinnect attached. Was not turned on though. Only one ale was available (if you can call Boddingtons draft flow and ale) and the only atmosphere was from very young children crying a lot. The biggest disappointment for me was that none of the memorabilia on the wall was for the local football teams. I was in the area to watch Farnborough FC but the walls were filled with Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool etc. What has a pub in Farnborough got to do with those clubs. No wonder local football is struggling when the local community doesn�t support it. The best thing about the visit though was the burger. It was really nice, especially the burger relish that came with it. Won�t be rushing to come back though.
27 Nov 2011 11:47
The Two Chairmen, Trafalgar Square
A lovely exterior lead into a relatively thin pub with a pleasant atmosphere. The decor was light wood giving it a bright look even though the lights were low when I went in late on a Friday night. The bar staff were friendly and very helpful. Good selection of drinks and a couple of real ales. Pride and TT Landlord are not that original a selection, but nice to see them on sale. It seemed that the local Chinese community had come in for a spot of Gambe but it only added to the charm. Well worth a vist.
17 Sep 2011 18:33
Like all Nicholson pubs, it has that old world charm without looking tacky. A fantastic selection of ales was present and the sevice was excellent. A well recommended stop off, especially if you are contemplating one of the Nicholson ale trails.
30 Aug 2011 20:14
Excellent and friendly service. The ale selection was not fantastic but the food was really nice and well worth a vist if you like the old world feel of a pub in London.
30 Aug 2011 20:11
A lovely pub smack bang in the middle of the tourist hell that is Soho/Carnaby Street. The d�cor is lively and there is a lovely atmosphere about the place. A good selection of ales which the friendly staff were more than happy to let me have a taste of to decide which one I wanted. The food is very good and the portions are very generous. The prices are also reasonable. Two meals and two drinks for less than �20. Well worth a visit if you are in town.
17 Aug 2011 20:38
The William Web Ellis, Twickenham
I went into this pub years ago when it was known as the Sorting Office and it was a shocking pub. Therefore, it took a lot of persuading to get me to go back in now that it had changed its name. The experience was not as grating as it had been as the clientele was at least of drinking age. Being a Weatherspoons, there was a good ale selection. One of my party order some food which turned up cold and to rectify it, they just put it in the microwave which was poor. However, the biggest problem was the lack of atmosphere. It was a bit like being in a hotel bar. I will not be going back here in a hurry.
17 Aug 2011 20:34
I have not been in this pub for many a moon so I was interesting to go in and have a look round since its name change. The d�cor is completely different and it has obviously had a bit of money spent on it so it looks quite good. However, when I walked in at nine o�clock on a Saturday night, I found only four people at the bar. The atmosphere was somewhat lacking. There was also a lack of real ale as they had all gone off and this was very disappointing. The upstairs room is now given over to a function room, having been full of pool tables the last time I entered. This is where I spent most of the evening as I had been invited to a function there. The bloke behind the bar was not the most cheerful of chaps and seemed to disappear more often than not meaning that punters had to wait quite a while to be served. This place is normally rammed on a rugby day but I will not be looking to come back in a hurry.
24 Jul 2011 16:51
Good food, if a little poncy on the menu front. Pubs should really leave the fancy food to restaurants. However, a great selection of beers (including some local ones) and a nice atmosphere. Pub staff were friendly and helpful. It is not my first choice of pubs to go to in Richmond, but it is still well worth a visit.
5 Jun 2011 12:57
The Express Tavern, Kew Bridge
Having driven past this pub for years without actually going in, it was quite nice to find out how much of a hidden gem it was. The d�cor is real throw back to pubs of yore with two separate bar areas. I really like to potted history of pub as well as the rules for Sunday drinking from 1888. This does show how times have changed. A great selection of ale and a very nice garden area. Considering how close it is to a busy road, you could hardly hear the traffic. A really good find and highly recommended.
5 Jun 2011 12:54
The Old Queens Head, Islington
Very busy when I went in there on a Friday night and the atmosphere seemed cordial. However, there wasn�t a bouncer when I went in. He turned up later. The food seemed good (even though I was not eating) and the furnishings were comfortable. However, if you like real ale and good conversation, this will not be the pub for you. There was only one choice of ale, even though there were loads of lagers and spirits available. You also had to shout at the person next to you to be heard as the music was very loud. This pub also work on the idea that when the clock strikes ten, the volume of the music has to go up. Do people who run pubs not realise that people might like to talk in the pub, not shout at one another? Enter with caution.
5 Jun 2011 12:49
Choose this pub solely on the recomendations from Beer in the Evening and I was not disappointed. The bar staff were friendly and there was a nice selection of real ales. The atmosphere was plesent and the decor is amazing. I have never seen that many water jugs, even at a beer fesitval. A real find and if in the area next season, I will be paying this pub a visit.
17 Oct 2010 17:16
The Hamilton Hall, Liverpool Street
This is the best looking Witherspoons pub I have been in but apart from the decor, it adds nothing that you could not get from any other Spoons pub in the country. Beer offers a plenty and the food is just about palatable. Worth a visit if you cannot be bothered to walk to one of the other pubs just outside of the station.
3 Aug 2010 23:44
It is great to see an old fashioned London boozer in amongst the trendyness that surronds it. Well worth a visit. Great atmosphere and the bar stff have been really great on each of my visits.
3 Aug 2010 23:39
I use to go into this pub quite a bit when I was a student because no one else seemed to go in there and the pool table was always free. It was a bit dark and dingy then and imagine my surprise when I walked in nearly fifteen years later to find nothing had changed. The toilets still stank of stale urine, the pool table was in exactly the same place and the pub still looked as though it was time warped in from the 1800�s. Normally I would like pubs like this for the reasons listed above (except the urine smell) but on this occasion it just left me cold. The fact that none of the ale selection was available and the cliental of old men who seemed to have nothing better to do with their lives than spend their time down the pub drinking their lives away. I am amazed this pub is still open in this day and age but it is best avoided.
19 Jul 2010 20:59
A typical Sam Smiths pub. The beers are all brewed by the brewer so you know what you get as soon as you order. The atmosphere was pretty good even though there was bizarre barrier between the two parts of the bar. The gap was only big enough for a dwarf to walk through but it did add to the quirky nature of the place. I could not see that much to do with the great man whom the pub is named after but it is a good water hole in an area populated by trendy bars.
30 Apr 2010 22:27
The Phoenix, Sunbury on Thames
I don�t think this pub could make up mind what to be. A nice little traditional looking English village boozer at the front and a trendy wine bar at the back. A few real ales on and the general atmosphere of the place is pretty good. This the first place I have ever been to where there is a minimum payment on a credit card but if you go under that, they give you change from the till. Nice but nothing special.
12 Apr 2010 10:12
Nice traditional boozer with a small but excellent menu, a nice selection of ales and a welcoming atmosphere. Bar staff were very friendly and accommodating. Other reviewers have commented about the price of the beer but it needs to be remembered that this is a pub in London and therefore the beer is going to be a little pricey. Recommended to anyone going to the Union Chapel for a gig as it is in the next street along. A great little find and well worth a visit.
12 Apr 2010 10:02
I really like this pub and have been in it many a time before actually writing this review. It sells beers that other pubs don't which means it is a pleasure trying something different. The atmosphere is good as well as it always seems to be very busy. However, I do have two minor gripes. 1) It closes at strange times on rugby days stating that it has something to do with the police, but other pubs around it are still open. 2) It needs to make sure it stays open to the times it lists on the outside. It says that it should close at midnight on a Thursday but the bell rang at 11pm last night. Gutted. Anyway, still a cracking pub and well worth a visit
25 Dec 2009 13:40
The Round Table, Leicester Square
Tidy pint of Pride and the food was nice. If you want to pig out, have the fish and chips. The fish was huge and the chips spilled out onto the table. It took three of us to finish them off. Did have a couple of lovies in it but don't let that put you off. I can see that others have not had the best of times in this pub but I enjoyed my visit
7 Dec 2009 20:41
The Bear and Staff, Leicester Square
Considering this is just off Leicester Square, it was not that packed when I walked in on Friday night. A great selection of Ales and a nice atmosphere.
The only down side and this is a problem in London pubs such as these as that it is very hard to get a seat. Only a minor gripe. Recommended
7 Dec 2009 20:39
The Green Man, Great Portland Street
I suspect that once upon a time, this was a nice old fashioned boozer. Not anymore. It was another trying to look old but isn't type pub. There was absolutely no atmosphere in the place as most people seemed to be standing out on the pavement having a smoke. The bar staff were shoddy (over charging for a round) and rude (finish your beers now or I will take them away) at closing time. Even with an interesting selection of ales, this is one to avoid.
27 Sep 2009 16:33
The Albany, Great Portland Street
Did not go into the pub proper, but to the downstairs bar. A good atmosphere and a couple of interesting bands playing about half an hour each. An enjoyable night let down by a lack of ales.
27 Sep 2009 16:29
Went here for a live band and found the experience positive on the whole. It was a bit weird when going to the upstairs toilets because there was no light to tell you which door was what. Luckily, there was a figure sitting in the darkness to literally point out (no talking allowed by the looks of it) which door I should go through. The selection of ales was poor (Boddingtons and Pride in bottles) and the lager choice was uninspired. The fact that they ran out of lager did not bode well either. Not as bad as had been made out by other reviewers but I would think twice about going here on a non gig night. The band were good though (The Hot Rats for the record).
27 Aug 2009 17:28
Very small pub and there did seem to be more people on the pavement than inside. It also seems to be the pub of choice for cyclists as there was an ever increasing number of things pilled up next to the toilets. The barman on the night was very friendly and the choice of ales may have been small, but there was a monster amount of foreign lagers to taste. The Czech lager advertised on the window is well worth a go. A bit of a step back in time but a nice find none the less.
27 Aug 2009 17:24
This is a football pub and therefore there was only one ale to be had. I didn�t know what it was either because the friendly barmaid could only tell me that it was called �Bob�. It was very nice though. There are multiple screens for footie watching and a pool table out the back. I would like to come back on a match day to sample the atmosphere.
31 Jul 2009 15:44
A good selection ale barrels was prominently displayed behind the bar as soon as I walked in, which I thought boded well. However, the one pint I did not taste very nice and decided to leave before having another one. My companion who had been to this pub before had said that they were well known for not keeping their ales too well which is a shame. If they could store the ales properly, this would be a good pub to visit. The atmosphere is nice and relaxed and I did like some of the massive chairs that were available to sit in. This pub did seem to be the hangout of the local youth as well.
31 Jul 2009 15:40
A very nice old style pub. A small selection of ales but they were well kept and the bar staff were very friendly. Pool table out back and some interesting wall decorations. Well worth a visit. Recommended.
31 Jul 2009 15:35
The Fountain Inn and Boxers Restaurant, Wells
Very busy for Monday night, but it was more of a restaurant than a pub. The bar is tiny and not designed for people to stand or sit neat it. The ales selection was minimal but tasted good showing that they know how to store it properly. The food looked great even though I did not have any myself. Would be interested to pay a return visit to have some of the food, but this was not a great pub experience.
31 Jul 2009 15:33
A typical small town pub. Lovely looking and there is a good selection of ale but no atmosphere. I have seen more life in a morgue. There is also nothing to do. Tried playing one of the games left on a table but with some of the pieces were missing, it was fruitless. Left after one beer.
31 Jul 2009 15:29
A couple of ales on display but I did get the impression that this was more of a restaurant than a pub. The food did look good and even though I did not eat any of it myself, I did have a look at their quite extensive menu. The atmosphere was pretty non existent (which is what I what have expected from a restaurant style pub) even though it was reasonably busy, especially for a Tuesday night. Go if you cannot be bothered to walk into Mere town centre for one of the other pubs in the area.
31 Jul 2009 15:25
Not the widest selection of ales but what they did have had been well kept. The staff were all nice and helpful and the memorabilia on the wall from Hot Fuzz was subtle. I expected more and suspect that if this was a London pub, it would have been not so tastefully managed. The food was pleasant but overpriced for what it was. The atmosphere was pleasant but I did pay my visit during the day so have no idea what it would be like at night.
30 Jul 2009 22:16
This should have been a pub I came out with the feeling that I cannot wait for my next visit. Even though there was a fantastic selection of ales, none of them tasted as though they had been stored properly. The London Pride was so bad I had to send the first pint back and was tempted to send the second back as well. The pub itself is a real throw back to days of yore: all dark wood, large bar, lots of staff (who were all friendly and helpful, nice atmosphere etc. The toilets were also a real throwback as they stank of stale urine. I have not been in a pub where the toilets stank so badly in a long time. I will no doubt pay this pub a visit in future, but I will not be making that visit too soon. Shame.
30 Jul 2009 22:10
The Betsey Trotwood, Clerkenwell
I have visited the Betsey on a couple of times and on both occasions; it has been a great experience. It is nice to see a good selection on ales but the real highlight for me is Asahi on tap. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the bar staff are always friendly. The live entertainment is always worth checking out and the cellar might be a little dingy, but it just adds to the atmosphere. The food is also excellent but get in quick because they do run out of the more popular choices. Looking forward to my next visit already.
23 Jul 2009 12:38
Considering this pub was full of business types having a few cheeky beers after work, I was quite surprised that I liked this pub. I didn�t have much of an atmosphere (except from the fumes wafting in from the Marylebone Road), but the ale selection was good (if uninspired), the food was value for money and the toilets clean. The only downside on the food front was that it take a considerably long time to arrive. The bar service was a little slow and I would have expected more staff on at just after 5pm. It would be interesting to see what this pub is like at a less busy time. One to try again me thinks.
1 Jul 2009 22:38
Tries far too hard to have a traditional look about it, but has clearly had a good deal of money spent on it to look that way. I suspect that in the not to distant past, it did look like a traditional pub without having to think about it. The food was very nice (if a little over priced. Just because it is Eton is still not an excuse to over charge for things) and there were a couple of nice ales for sale. The staff were also friendly and helpful but there was just not enough here to make me think that I would make an effort to visit here again.
26 Jun 2009 18:26
There is nothing particularly bad about this pub but on the other hand, there is nothing that really sets it apart from the crowd either. The midweek food offers are good if you can get them as they do seem to run out by the early evening. There is a rotating ale section but the lagers are much of a muchness. There never seems to be enough staff on at any time of day, but that those that are there tend to be helpful. It does everything you would expect from a pub but not much more.
26 Jun 2009 18:18
Even though I have driven past this pub many times over the years, it has taken me this long to actually go in and I was not disappointed. It had an old fashioned look about the place (without looking old) and a friendly atmosphere (helped by a friendly bar staff). I was there to check out its real ale festival and this was also excellent. A great many ales had been brought in especially for the weekend and it was good to see that they had a selection of ales on tap for when the festival finished. Even though I did not sample any of the food, that also looked very nice. I also liked the map of the pub that was stuck to the wall of the gents toilets just in case you have trouble finding your way back to the bar. Recommended.
26 Apr 2009 14:37
The White Horse, Milford on Sea
After trying out the Chav friendly Smugglers, it was nice to go to the White Horse. The d�cor is old fashioned but that does add to the charm. The food is very nice (even if the puddings are seriously overpriced for what you actually get) and there is a great selection of beers. The pub is also a bit like the Tardis as there always seems to have another section lurking around the corner to be discovered. I have been reliably informed that the beer garden is also massive, but as this is a very cold December, I will wait until the summer to check that out. Recommended.
31 Dec 2008 17:19
The Teddington Arms, Teddington
This pub does not seem to know what it is; a gastro pub, a traditional boozer, trendy war bar or dedicated for private parties (seats always seem to be reserved at the back of the pub, with no one sitting on them). I have given this pub a couple of visits now but it just doesn�t cut the mustard. It might help if it made up its mind what type of pub it is. Also, why do pubs (such as this one) insist on playing music that is too loud for people to have a conversation without shouting at one another, and then at about ten, the bar staff turn the volume up. On the plus side, it does do a nice line in real ale but if you want to go out for a quiet beer with some friends, this is not the place for you.
27 Dec 2008 16:18
I used to go into this pub regularly when I was a student in Twickenham in the mid 90�s and it had a lovely atmosphere and an oldie worldie pub feel which made it a great drinking experience. How times have changed. I would expect a pub located on a high street to be rammed on Christmas Eve but I was falling over the tumble weed as I walked in. The place has also had a make over since my last visit and it now looks like any other corporate pub (e.g. All Bar One) and it would seem that with the make over, the soul has been ripped out of the place. This was a shame because it had a nice selection of beers and what looked like an interesting food menu. I wish Fullers would stop decorating their pubs in this manner as it is spoiling the atmosphere of what were nice local pubs. No wonder people have stopped going to pubs as much as they use to.
27 Dec 2008 16:12
I have not been in the Nelson for a while (because it was a bit of a scummy pub for scummy people) but as it was open late on Christmas Eve, I though I would give it a go. Even though they have made a bit of an effort tarting the place up, it seemed to be full of the same clientele as it was before the face lift and therefore not a pleasant drinking experience. A shame really.
27 Dec 2008 16:02
The South Western was the worst pub in the Whitton area, even out doing the Admiral Nelson (which is some feat). It wasn�t in need of renovation, just blowing up and being replaced with something, in fact anything else. Imagine my surprise when I saw that it was been turned into �Blue Ginger Bar� with the sort of neon sign you only find on an establishment in Soho. However, the bar is exactly the same. The only difference is that it now sells Indian cuisine. It is always a shame to see a pub close down, but in this case, a block of flats would be preferably.
1 Sep 2008 12:49
I have never had anything but a good time in this pub, but be warned, if you don�t like rugby, this is not the place for you. On a rugby international day, the place is rammed from morning until night and the atmosphere is always superb. It is also possible to see the odd ex international playing stumbling about. A nice drop of Pride to boot. The only down side is getting served because the bar is incredibly small compared to the size of the pub itself.
1 Sep 2008 12:42
The Marquis Of Cornwallis, Bethnal Green
This pub was full of more �Cockney� stereotypes than a Guy Richie movie, but not in a good way. All of the older gents walk around with their shirts undone, but without the medallion. The rest of the clientele are wearing tracksuits. All very odd. There is still a distinct lack of real ale and I really did not like the atmosphere, which came across as a bit of �who are these people we don�t know walking into our pub�. I really cannot think of a reason why I would ever want to go to this pub again. Not recommended.
1 Sep 2008 12:33
I am not sure what to make of this pub, because I don�t think it can make up its mind about what type of establishment it wants to be. A pub, a family restaurant or a hotel, God knows. Anyway, the bar staff who served me was very friendly and the one real ale on sale was pleasant enough, and reasonably priced. I cannot comment on the price of the lager though. Nothing in this place made me feel that I should visit it again in a hurry.
31 Aug 2008 12:31
I watched the Rugby World Cup Final of 2003 in this pub and it was odd because there was not an Aussie in sight, not even behind the bar. Having not been in there for five years, it was like I had never been away. The place was exactly the same, except for the lack of smoke in the air. The bar staff on the night showed some knowledge of how to keep real ale (a novelty in these days of pubs with no real ale at all) and the atmosphere was pleasant enough. I would not recommend this over the Cambridge or Albert, but it is considerably better than the Nelson, but then again, that is not difficult. I am surprised that they have not sold off the massive beer garden to build flats or the like, especially as it would not have had the most use during this rather wet summer.
31 Aug 2008 12:27
Nestled on Richmond Green, the Princes Head is an oasis in a sea of trendy pubs. It really is an old fashioned boozer, benefiting from seller Fullers quality ales and the atmosphere is very relaxed. The food is not too bad either. Possibly the best pub in Richmond by a country mile.
17 Aug 2008 19:58
A bit of a weird pub this one. Look up and it has all the markings of a nice good old fashioned boozer. Look down and the d�cor seems to have been taken from a trending London wine bar. The two do not mix. This and the fact that my pint was served to me in a plastic glass (due to some bizarre licensing law that weekend) put me off the place. According to some of the more discerning local drinkers, this is the pub to go to if you want to have a fight of a weekend. Didn�t try the food so can�t comment on that and the ale selection was limited.
13 Jul 2008 14:54
Like most, I had to visit the Nutshell just because of its reputation as the smallest pub in the country. Once you get past the novelty of opening the door to find yourself standing at the bar, it is not too dissimilar from any other pub. It sells beer, you may or may not get a seat and there is a particular smell about the place that I just could not put my finger on. Interesting for the novelty, but not much else.
12 May 2008 19:52
The Duke of Cambridge, Twickenham
This might look and feel like someones front room, but I have enjoyed this pub every time I have visited it. It does not even get that busy on match days but they do have a policy of different prices for locals and non locals which can be really annoying, especially when you only live up the road. Most probably the best pub in the Whitton area (even though it is listed as Twickenham on this website)
3 May 2008 11:06
I did like the section of beers and the general atmosphere of the place. It was nice to go into a pub on a Friday night and not have to shout a people becuase the music had been turned up to a ear bleed level. A nice selection of real ales and the staff who served me were all very helpful. The food was nice but I was left wondering what I had actually paid for as the portions were tiny in comparison to the price paid. A nice experience but it did feel as though something was missing.
17 Apr 2008 17:34
Being a bit on the tall side means I always have to watch my step in the Harrow, and have actually knocked myself out walking in (sober) because the door frame is so low. Apart from this, the Harrow is lovely pub and has a real charm about it. The garden is a fair size and always seems to have a fair selection of punters in it when the weather is nice. Recommended
11 Mar 2008 18:52
Loads of pool tables, a great selection of beers (by that, I mean real ale), plenty of sport on the TV and best of all, a massive pizza for �5. Top notch and the classic Life on Mars decor only adds to the charm. Long may it stay this way.
11 Mar 2008 18:48
A very nice pub that now seems a little out of place in its location (lots of new developments dwarfing a very old style building). A good selection of ale and a welcoming atmosphere. Considering that it is an historically imprtant pub (Thomas Clarkson anyone), the information on the walls is very low key and the toilets do not smell.
17 Jan 2008 10:55
The lovely old style pub that has not deemed it necessary to update its decor to appeal to the modern drinker. A nice selection of guest ales (which seemed to be updated on a daily basis), friendly staff and a nice atmosphere made this a lovely pub to spend some time in. Recommended.
24 Nov 2007 16:23
Very nice pub with friendly staff. The decor of the pub is a bit old fashioned but this only adds to the feel of the place and long may it continue. There is nice turn around of guest ales and their Sunday carvery is recommended. Shame about the jazz night though.
11 Nov 2007 15:55
A slightly old fashioned but in that it has seperate saloon and public bar areas but this is a lovely pub with a friendly atmosphere. A slim selection of ales but the Butcombe is very nice. The bar staff are very friendly and the landlord can be seen having the odd drinkie with the punters.
10 Nov 2007 10:29
A very nice locals pub with a very chilled out atmosphere and the landlady seems to be partial to the odd game of darts with the customers. Not the biggest selection of ales but the ones they do sell are very nice. It still has two distinct areas. One with carpet and the other with a comedy floor that is not the smoothest and can be a bit tricky with your stability if you�ve had a couple too many.
7 Oct 2007 23:09
Before the smoking ban, it was possible to pick up lung cancer from just walking in the door. With the clean air, the charms of this old fashioned style boozer have come to the fore and it is a really nice place to go for a quiet pint, especially during the week. It has live Irish music on a Thursday which only adds to the ambiance and on all of my visits, the staff have been very friendly
30 Aug 2007 22:54
I went to this pub a few times in the past as it was nice to have a real boozer to go to in the middle of what seems to be an area of pastel wall coloured soulless pubs. Imagine my surprise to find that after refurbishment, it has now become like every other pub on Putney high street. It might look pleasant, but the atmosphere has gone and I will not be visiting this pub again.
30 Aug 2007 22:21
The Duke Of Wellington, Hackney
Nice old fashioned style pub with friendly, informative , helpful staff. Good selection of ales and great burgers. Well worth a visit.
20 Aug 2013 14:31