BITE user comments - StevetheBeermeister
Comments by StevetheBeermeister
Visited with my brother following a few miles walk, nice bright airy pub selling the local brewer, Long Man's ales. 2 on sale, the 4% Best Bitter, and the 4.2% Copper Hop, which we drank, it was in good form and was a very nice deep amber bitter!
As we had a packed lunch, we didn't eat here, though the food looked to be pretty good!
13 Aug 2014 10:07
The Windsor Castle, Clapham Junction
Certainly changed! Now called THE JUNCTION!!
This is a Spirit Pub Company pub, something to do with Taylor Walker, but happy to be informed more about them.
The Junction has been turned into one room, and knocking through certainly has improved on the front bar which was always a bit dodgy and not that friendly to enter, particularly for women. Consequently, unsurprised that quite a few groups of women, or women in groups with men, or just couples there last night.
6 real ales on offer, 4 of the same old same old, which you are likely to see regularly here, and in all their pubs, I'd imagine: ie London Pride, Ghost Ship, Cumberland Ale and Tribute.
2 guest ales that were more interesting though, Goddards 'Wight Squirrel', not bad, but an impressive 6% IPA from London Fields Brewery called 'Shoreditch Triangle', very good indeed!
Not sure the bar staff know much about the ales, which should be looked at, but whoever looks after the cellar looks to be doing their job, so I shall return!
17 Jul 2014 10:16
I was very disappointed with the effects of the refurbishment ale-wise, certainly, and this pub has looked very good in recent years, but pandering to food has messed up the bar towards the rear of the pub, and means less real ales now!
They used to have up to 20 real ales on at any one time, now there are just a maximum of 16 handpumps, and 8 of those weren't being used last night, and 2 of those being used were for cider, so just 6 ales on offer! Bit of a comedown...
I do have to say that the Purity 'Ubu' was in good nick though, so at least quality doesn't appear to have been effected yet...
Very sad, as a youngster I would never come in here, too rough and full of old men, now I'm an older man I'm not as happy with the place as I was over the last few years,bad decision Nicholsons, I shall be letting you know direct.
17 Jul 2014 10:03
Visited the Watermans Arms for the first time since last year, and this remains an excellent place to rest your feet, sup a crackin' pint, and/or eat authentic Thai food!
We had already eaten a packed lunch on this visit, yesterday, but it was difficult to ignore the gorgeous aroma wafting across to us of Lemon Grass, Galangal, Lime Leaves, and fresh Coriander, a wonderful concoction or twenty!
However, what we did taste was the always reliable, it seems, certainly at the Watermans, Twickenham 'Naked Ladies' (4.4%), very pale, dry and bitter, I love this stuff!
There was also the 3.7% Sundancer from Twickenham, and, being a Youngs pub, the Special and 'Ordinary' bitters. We always used to drink the Special here, a few years ago, before the Naked Ladies were introduced, since, though, I have never been able to ignore Naked Ladies!
I love this little oasis, saved from despoliation, I presume, by the landlord of 12 years... I worry what will happen to the Watermans when he decides to retire, I doubt I shall want to keep returning when that happens, but, in the meantime, I'd recommend people visit as often as possible. our favourite pub in Richmond, and there are quite a few good 'uns!
17 Jul 2014 09:50
Revisited, now that the new licencees, Sue and Hazel (from the Hastings Arms in Hastings) have had some time to settle in, and my brother and I were undertaking a 25 mile walk, so needed a drink!
Great stuff, the pub is now open from 12-11pm Wednesdays to Saturdays, and 12-10.30 (ish) Sundays to Tuesdays. Food is served 12-4 and 6-9pm every day.
4 ales now on, though there is room for expansion with another handpump already in situ, with Sharp's Doom Bar (4%) as a permanent ale, Harveys Sussex Best (4%) as a semi-permanent ale, Youngs Bitter (called "Ordinary" to someone like me brought up in Wandsworth) at 3.7%, soon to be replaced by Youngs Special (4.5%) though, and the 3.6% Otter Bitter that I drank, pretty good it was too, and needed!
Cheers m'dears!
12 Jul 2013 15:06
I visited The Plough early afternoon, so pretty quiet, but had a good chat to the landlord, Sean.
The Plough is the only pub serving Hastings West Hill these days, and this was my first visit, though I do know a few lads who frequent the pub, and I was pleasantly surprised.
It's a big airy room with the one bar, and, important to me, 2 real ales on, the fairly local and ubiquitous Harveys Sussex Best, and Fullers London Pride at £3.20 a pint, competitively priced for Hastings, and in good form, my preferred drink of the two, nice one. I'll be back, cheers!
24 Nov 2012 12:22
An excellent family-run freehouse in Hastings old Town, opposite the Fishermen's net huts at the Stade. Sells 6 real ales, 3 regulars, Dark Star 'Hophead', Harveys 'Sussex Best', and Young's 'Special' (which has replaced the Directors). A seasonal ale is a semi-regular, Dark Star 'American Pale Ale', being the current seasonal ale, but soon to be replaced for the colder months by Harveys 'Old Ale'. 2 other guest ales too, on my last visit a few days ago, they were Harveys 'Bonfire Boy' and Isfield Brewing 'Toad in the Ale'.
Ales here are consistently in good condition, well-kept by the landlord in an increasingly real ale dominated pub.
They sell decent food at lunchtimes too, and have a special evening on Mondays, with a fish 'special' that includes a pint or glass of wine in the price, for �7.95, much enjoyed by me (the fish coming direct from the fishermen's beach opposite, though sometimes from nearby Rye).
Friendly, warm pub, and a real fire was lit when I was here too, the winter's drawing in, enjoy a visit, cheers!
31 Oct 2012 13:30
Been to the Smuggler again yesterday, still good food and ales, 3 ales regularly now, including London Pride and Sussex Best and a guest ale. Now the breakfasts from 09.30 are not provided, as there was insufficient interest from the public, sad, but still a great pub to use for lunch or evening meal, or as a stopover when walking. We were here at 11.00 and enjoyed a pint of Pride.
16 May 2012 10:12
The General Havelock, not just the Havelock anymore, reopened today (Friday 20th April) and has started with 2 real ales, the ubiquitous, in these parts, Harveys Sussex Best, and the better (in my opinion), Youngs Special Bitter. Another 2 handpumps will be added gradually. It will be open from 11 to midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and close earlier other days, again, seeing how it goes. Food will be started up in about a month. Good luck to Jamie and his colleagues, and his venture, worth visiting for the tiles alone!
21 Apr 2012 00:14
Love this pub, and another 2 good pubs close by too, well worth the visit to Pett Village and Pett Level. Decent food, excellently served ales from 4 handpumps, last Tuesday they had Sussex Old Ale, Sussex Best, Firtyniner, and Dark Star American Pale Ale, which is one of my favourites, and which I really enjoyed! We walked here from Hastings, but there is an hourly bus service which stops right outside this pub :-)
16 Jan 2012 10:02
A sensitively reconstructed interior, good ale, friendly staff, nice seating area. Had the ubiquitous Sussex Best on, and also Rother Valley Level Best, which I really enjoyed. Worth the wee pub crawl in Pett Village and Pett Level.
16 Jan 2012 09:57
Cracking pub looking over the sea down at Pett Level. Sells up to 6 ales, I've had Fortyniner there before, but when my brother and I visited last Tuesday, they just had London Pride and Sussex Best on. Both in good condition. The food here is pretty good, and they start breakfast at 09.30 every day, and it is a very good breakfast!
16 Jan 2012 09:52
I talked to James, who is the new manager at the Havelock, yesterday. The place is being refurbished, should be open in March as a real ale pub, probably open days and just Thursday to Saturday in the evenings. Chavs will not be the order of the day when it reopens, James keeps a good house and cellar and already has staff ready to work there. It is an Enterprise Inn, but James has had a big say in the refurbishment. Looking forward to the reopening!
7 Jan 2012 12:19
Back to StevetheBeermeister's profile
The Eight Bells, Jevington
Over 300 years old, a crackin' pub, that my brother and I visited having already walked nearly 10 miles, so were looking forward to a good pint, and that is what we got!
We sat outside in the large 'garden with a view' to enjoy the ale, which was the local brewer, Long Man's 3.8% Long Blonde, very refreshing and in excellent condition, and friendly service, cheers!
They also had Long Man Copper Hop (4.2%), another excellent ale, and Adnams Broadside, and the ubiquitous, for East Sussex, Harveys Sussex Best.
13 Aug 2014 10:35