BITE user comments - Steve45
Comments by Steve45
The ale is excellent here, my favourite being Ram Tam. Has been in the GBG for years and rightly so. Mixed clientele but a great friendly atmosphere every time I've visited. Recommended.
18 Apr 2010 14:57
Have been to better Wetherspoons. As mentioned it's in the station complex so gets very busy. Be prepared to wait to be served. After eventually being served I found my pint to be very much the bottom of the barrel. This should have been obvious when it was poured as resembled ditch water with bits floating in it. However, it was exchanged without complaint when I took it back. Not a great choice of beers either, only 2 guests when I visited.
18 Apr 2010 14:54
The Chandlers Arms, Lutterworth
To update my previous review and rating, following a few more visits I would stick my neck out and say this pub probably serves the best quality real ale in Leicestershire. Every pint I've had has been excellent, even from breweries that are not my favourite. I believe the quality is down to quick beer turnover (the landlord believes in going for quality not quantity) and the excellent cellar management.
The Chandlers has won awards from Camra and rightly so. Shame more pubs can't keep beer so well and deliver such high quality.
1 Jan 2010 15:40
The Betjeman Arms, St Pancras International Station
Had a very insipid pint of Hardy & Hanson (Greene King) Rocking Rudolph at an eye watering �3.40 here the other day. The Sharps Betjeman was of a better quality and price at �3.00.
Service is hit and miss, but generally ok. Staff are mostly Eastern European from what I could gather.
Clientelle vary from lads tanking up on lager prior to taking the Eurostar to families having a snack.
Only worth visiting if you've time to kill waiting for a train in my opinion.
1 Jan 2010 15:29
The Hole In The Wall, Waterloo
Visited again recently for the first time in over 20 years! Beer is good, but not a very inspiring choice these days. Is advertised as opening at 11 am, but didn't on the day I visited
1 Jan 2010 15:20
The Chicago Brewing Co. and Cigar Lounge, Las Vegas
Was in here last year and whilst the service was friendly and beer ok, even though I was playing the video poker, didn't get any free drinks! The pizzas are good
20 Oct 2009 19:52
Jury's out for me on "The Pub" so far, but it's early days. It is a bit waiting room like and whilst there may be 15 handpumps, only 7 or 8 beers are on, of generally good standard to be fair. Always found the landlord fine. He wasn't around when I last visited, but his staff were continuing to serve drinks to a group of guys who were obviously seriously drunk which was concerning.
18 Oct 2009 15:13
Beer is generally ok, food overpriced. Be prepared to wait some time to be served when busy. The bar staff, mostly young ladies are ok, but have a tendancy to ask "who's next" when there is more than 2 people waiting to be served, when they either do know or like any good bar staff, certainly should!
18 Oct 2009 15:07
Now re-opened and a shadow of its former self. Real ale choice is now limited to the likes of Fullers London Pride etc. Locals were stood at the bar blocking access to the disinterested bar staff while their children ran riot in the pub, so I turned around and left!
18 Oct 2009 15:03
The Chandlers Arms, Lutterworth
Had an excellent pint and Sunday dinner here recently. Landlord seemed fine, will certainly return
18 Oct 2009 14:59
Good to see the comments by the landlord below and would agree that the popularity of the place is such that they are having to work hard to ensure the quality of beer is kept to a high standard.
Last time I was in the first pint I sampled was warm and flat, but not quite bad enough to be returned, but certainly not Good Beer Guide standard. The second was vinegar and obviously the end of the barrel. This was returned and replaced without hassle, for a beer of excellent quality.
I will stick with the Criterion as I like the pub and the team running it. It would be a shame if they lost their place in the GBG over beer quality and I'm sure they're doing their best to ensure that quality is improved.
18 Oct 2009 14:56
Interesting comments below. Called in again recently and there was a pleasant young lady service. Clientele seem to be mostly regulars and the place very much reminds me of what a proper 60s pub probably was.
Ale was excellent as ever, in fact the best pint I had in Leicester that evening!
18 Oct 2009 14:42
Nice pub and you wouldn't know you were close to Leicester city centre. Beer in excellent condition, but only 1 "guest" on the day I visited.
9 Aug 2009 19:43
Not bad. Beer (Everards) is usually in very good condition and can be better than many GBG listed pubs. Food is good though a little pricey. Barstaff generally good and the welcome is always friendly.
9 Aug 2009 19:41
Good choice of ales, but varied service. Seems on occasions to be understaffed although the young barmaid is excellent and knows her beers!
The locals do seem to get priority and on a recent visit a group were allowed to use the most offensive and foulest possible language describing as loud as possible their exploits in Ibiza in earshot of a mixed company lounge without censure by the staff.
Extremely busy on home rugby and football days.
9 Aug 2009 19:37
Best choice of real ale and best quality of ale to be found in Leicester. Landlord is an ale fan and it shows. Very much a rugby themed pub, appears that opposition fans are welcomed as much as the home.
Limited, if any food (rolls are on sale sometimes) but if you like your real ale this is the place for you for choice and consistant quality.
9 Aug 2009 19:28
One of the best pubs in Leicester. Good barstaff, lovely pizzas and excellent jukebox! Great choice of beers although I've had one or two issues with quality, particularly at opening time, although always replaced on request without quibble.
Regular beer festivals are held and excellent range of foreign bottled beers.
Not that easy to find, but well worth the effort!
9 Aug 2009 19:22
Not a bad city centre pub to be fair, handy for the station. Ale is usually good although limited, if any, guests on tap. Mixed clientelle, but I've never experienced any problems.
9 Aug 2009 19:15
Excellent choice of ale and in good condition. The pub, to be fair is a bit of a "barn" and service accurately described as "surly"
Roof was leaking during a heavy rainshower last time I was in!
9 Aug 2009 19:12
The Hillgrove Porter Stores, Bristol
Friendly welcome and excellent beer in both choice and quality. Recommended!
7 Jul 2008 10:48
Excellent beer and friendly welcome. 4 Bath Ales were on offer plus Butcombe Gold all in great condition. The food is OK too if slightly more expensive than elsewhere.
Overall, recommended.
25 May 2008 18:02
Agree with the previous reviewer. Much improved. Always a minimum of 8 real ales available, all in excellent condition. Locals tend to congregate in the "Tap Room" while in the larger "Lounge" regulars and strangers alike receive a friendly welcome.
This is a beer lovers pub where you can have an excellent pint and conversation.
Live music is on at certain weekends.
The best pub in the area in my opinion!
13 May 2008 23:21
Have been to worse Spoons pubs. Much as you'd expect here, cheap food and ale with a couple of acceptable quality guest ales available.
As per most Wetherspoons establishments it can take a while to get served, but the service here was friendly.
It took 35 minutes for our meal to arrive. OK if you're not in a rush and the food quality was good.
10 May 2008 17:49
Excellent choice of European beer, no British real ale. Service is ok, though fairly slow when busy. Good point is that you don't have to pay for every beer and meal before you receive it, but downside is the size of the bill when you do get it. Very expensive, even for Central London. Also they add 12% "voluntary" gratuity to the total, so beware!!
23 Apr 2008 20:53
Visited recently and the pub was actually quite warm with a good fire (albeit artificial!) blazing away.
Didn't try the food, though the beer was good.
Was one of the first pubs I used to visit 30 years or so ago when I lived in the area when it was a Tetley's house. Now M&B owned like many others and has been refurbished extensively over the years. Staff were friendly on the last visit. Overall not a bad experience to be fair.
11 Feb 2008 22:22
Superb ales, friendly welcome, relaxed atmosphere, just what a pub should be, well worth a visit
5 Feb 2008 21:57
Coopers Bar and Brasserie, Guiseley
Doesn't get much better than this- excellent, well kept selection of real ales, good selection of foreign beers, friendly service. Just wish I lived closer!
5 Feb 2008 21:55
Following our disappointing experience in December we were invited back to the Vic to sample the food now that they have employed a new chef. The service, beer and food were all superb! Thanks to Lou and all at the Vic for taking the trouble to put things right.
5 Feb 2008 21:48
The Check Inn, North Wroughton
I'm afraid I have to agree with SW6. Post renovation, the Check Inn has lost a lot of its charm. There is a real fire which is welcome, but the one large bar concept with low tables and sofas does not work in this pub in my (and many other's opinion)
The new owners are trying hard, but the beer quality has reduced (while prices have increased) and the pub is not in the 2008 GBG after many years of being included. As for the food, the chef has changed recently, but is still overpriced for a pub. I heard many comments about food quality not matching the prices charged previously, in particular about the food being served cold. The previous chef left before Christmas so SW6's comments do not bode well.
Finally there are many more children roaming around the pub these days which does seem to annoy some customers!
I will persevere with the Check Inn and see if things improve, but I've noticed many of their old regulars seem to prefer the Carters these days!
6 Jan 2008 15:12
Excellent beer. Can be a bit cliquey, but the welcome is friendly enough.
2 Dec 2007 15:55
Visited recently after some months, very disappointed. I have used The Vic regularly when passing through Leeds for years and it was excellent, not so on my last visit I'm afraid.
It was fairly obvious on arrival that only 2 barstaff on a busy Saturday afternoon meant that the pub was seriously understaffed. After queing for 10 mins for a drink and requesting Mild I was told it was "off" though the clip was still showing. I selected an alternative and we managed to find a free table loaded with dirty crockery from the last diners (most were) After my partner returned her glass as it was covered with lipstick from the previous user we ordered food. Even though the pub was becoming quieter, 35 to 40 minutes later our food was delivered, the dirty crockery still not cleared from our table. Both meals were cold and the gravy on my partner's meal congealed! Both meals were rejected and a full refund given though without apology or offer of any restitution.
Very sad state of affairs, doubt I'll be back.
2 Dec 2007 14:37
Great beer, good music and attentive bar staff. One of the best in Bristol 9/10
7 Oct 2007 16:50
Not a bad Wetherspoons. Good menu for kids as per dgs9000's comments and they are given an activity pack while awaiting the food. Service pretty good although it was very busy.
7 Oct 2007 16:47
The Sailors Return, East Chaldon
We visited twice whilst we were on holiday in Weymouth during August Bank Holiday week. The first visit was on the Bank Holiday Sunday and whilst it was very busy a table was found for us and the food whilst average arrived quickly. On our second visit we were served by a very disinterested member of staff who rolled her eyes if we asked for anything that was even slightly outside the meal descriptions (i.e. beans instead of peas!) Also I was served a very cloudy and sour pint of real ale even though this pub is in the Good Beer Guide. On requesting a change I wasn't offered an apology and they did not even take the offending beer off sale!
Overall, could do better. Lovely location though.
7 Oct 2007 16:39
I was shocked at how this pub had declined since my last visit 9 months or so ago. I can beat moclips2002 in that when I visited there were 12 handpumps, but only 3 very average beers available. This pub is in the 2007 CAMRA Good Beer Guide, but I'd be surprised if its in next year!
The smokers congregate in the courtyard, inside is very shabby.
On my visit late afternoon some customers were extremely drunk. One guy could hardly stand but was served more alcohol by the young foreign barman (illegal I thought)
Shockingly awful
2 Sep 2007 18:02
The Check Inn, North Wroughton
We've been using this pub for about 5 years and it has changed since Fullers took it over (new signs went up this week) in some ways for the better and in some ways not so.
No longer do you have to queue for ages to get a drink. In part this is due to the lower volume of customers as many have deserted for the Carters, but in the main the present bar staff are more efficient.
The beer choice has reduced in quality and quantity, however they still have up to 4 guest ales available in good condition. The food is much the same, good but a little pricey.
The pub is closing for the first 2 weeks in Oct 07 for renovation, just hope the character is maintained.
At the moment I'd still give the Check Inn 8/10
1 Sep 2007 12:12
We visited this pub as it is the only pub in Portland in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Don't know why as both beers we tried were very cloudy and certainly not up to GBG standard. The first one we drank as it tasted ok, but the second had to be replaced it was so bad. The food was poor too I'm afraid.
31 Aug 2007 10:52
The North Bar, Leeds
Good bar, similar in style to a bar you'd find in Holland or Belgium, certainly nothing like a traditional British pub. However, 4 good quality reals ales were on when I visited along with an excellent selection of foreign beers on draft and bottle, mainly Belgium. Only downside are the prices, about �3 a pint for real ale and �5+ per pint in the main for the foreign beers. I tried the "Belgium platter" which is 5 x third of a pint samplers for �11, nice but the prices are more what you'd expect in the tourist traps in London such as the Lowlander in Covent Garden than a bar in Leeds!
18 Apr 2010 15:04