BITE user comments - dromdick
Comments by dromdick
Sadly, white van man has made a comeback in this pub. Avoid unless you want to hear the "f" word and the "c" word being bellowed in your lugs.
7 Dec 2012 22:32
Closed at the weekend, with sign up saying "Being renovated". Lots of people wandering around outside with paint brushes &c.
13 Nov 2012 18:24
Any more news about this pub? I **think** I went past it last week, and if I have the right building it looked very dead. Couldn't tell if it was empty or just a little unkempt.
6 Nov 2012 12:03
The Travellers Rest, Caversham
Stupidly, I was persuaded by some friends to go into this pub again. I regretted it instantly - some very chav looking customers and the staff weren't much better. London Pride cheap but not in the best of nick. Drinkable but not a patch on the pint served by the Flowing Spring which we went on to.
Yer pays yer money, yer takes yer choice.
1 Nov 2012 13:46
I only pop into this boozer once in a while but would be very sad indeed to see it close. Surely a few of the well-heeled locals could club together and make the Pubco an offer for the lease/freehold?
31 Jul 2012 14:04
Continues to offer far and away the cheapest beer in Caversham (�1.99 a pt, at the time of writing, for "normal" beers). Still has all the charm of a dentist's waiting room but hey, at that price we can live with it. A couple of the staff border on ESN but as long as they can pull a pint and don't shortchange me that's OK.
12 Jul 2012 20:23
Has a stonking great "To Let" sign outside. Looks like the current tenants/managers have had enough after just a few months :-(
12 Jul 2012 20:17
My first visit here, although I've driven past the pub countless times. Could only have 1 pt of weakish bitter but it was pleasant enough. Choice of food seemed excellent, and although I initially thought it looked pricey you do get your money's worth! One of my party opted for "large" fish & chips and my God, was it ever a whopper!
Only criticism is the the waitress (otherwise very competent and polite) kept referring to us (81, 58 & 56) as "guys". A little more decorum would not go amiss.
Will visit again for a special meal but a wee bit too dear for everyday noshing.
2 May 2012 21:48
Gets better & better. Always a good selection of interesting real ales on offer. Friendly bar staff who always happy to offer you a "sample" before you buy. And the pub is nice and warm these days!
Arguably the best pub in Caversham now (unless you are a trendy who prefers a bland clinical venue).
23 Jan 2012 11:04
Attractive pub, good beer, friendly landlord. Let down badly on my last visit by the bar maid - thinks much too much of herself. It's not rocket science love - pour the beer. That's all you have to do.
12 Jan 2012 11:47
Totally gone to pot. When it first opened it was like a breath of fresh air but GOK how it stays open these days.
18 Nov 2011 22:18
Boarded up again. Surely someone can take this pub on and make a go of it? Nice old building, quite big inside, could have a smashing garden and even has a bit of parking at the front.
What a waste.
18 Nov 2011 22:15
Continues to improve. Almost always 5 real ales on offer, if not 6 (but sadly no Two Bridges). Not quite so many lager-swilling white van men - think they must have gravitated to their natural home (Wetherspoons & The Travellers' Rest). Well worth watching - this could well become the best little boozer in Caversham (if it isn't already).
18 Nov 2011 22:11
On the whole this pub continues to improve. I pop in 2 or 3 times a week and there are always at least 4 real ales on offer - often more. Yes, the TV can be a bit loud, and yes ditto the juke box, but it is a good old-fashioned boozer, not some trendy fly-by-night venue. The landlord is intending to move his brewery on to the site in the coming months so with a bit of luck "Two Bridges" will appear more frequently.
I am keeping the faith and sticking with this pub, at least for the time being.
18 Oct 2011 18:59
Hard to tell for sure, but appears to be closed (again). Curtains drawn, but some signs of life inside. This boozer should be a licence to print money but the locals are a very scary bunch indeed. I suspect it will re-open for a few months, then close, ad nauseum.
24 Aug 2011 09:35
The Travellers Rest, Caversham
I think I paid my last visit the other night. Despite there being plenty of punters waiting to be served the entire barstaff consisted of one spotty herbert (nice tattoos BTW). OK, the poor lad was trying to do his best but they needed 2 if not 3 people behind the bar because a lot of food was being ordered.
I gave up after 5 minutes as I could see I wasn't going to be served any time soon. Several of the staff appeared to be on their break, filling their faces with greasy burgers. I understand that staff need time to eat and sit down for 15 minutes but surely it is possible to stagger the breaks?
Sorry TR - you could have a lot going for you but not with the present management. Take a visit down to the local Spoons and see how they cope in busy periods.
11 Aug 2011 10:36
Been in a couple of times now under the new regime and the place is vastly improved (although that wouldn't be hard). Beer in very good nick although plenty of lager was being guzzled by the less discerning punters. My main observation is that once the initial novelty has worn off will the real ale fraternity go back to the local Wetherspoons (nearly a pound a pint cheaper)?
The new landlord deserves to succeed but market forces will dictate what happens in the months to come.
9 Aug 2011 12:30
The Shoulder of Mutton, Playhatch
Nice little boozer - just one big problem: the landlady. She seems to have forgotten her station in life. If you like being spoken down to you'll like it here.
9 Jul 2011 11:38
Latest rumour is that the new Landlord/brewer is taking over on the 1st of July. I look forward to visiting the place soon after if this is the case. Not a great fan of Two Bridges on the few occasions I've tried it, but I'm well up for giving it another try!
25 Jun 2011 09:21
One of the better pubs in town for an old git like me :-) Never had a duff pint there which is more than can be said for many places. Staff, on the whole, are friendly and efficient although sometimes I wish there were a few more of them seving behind the bar. Food is absolutely the same as every other Wethers pub - nothing to write home about but it fills your rumbling gut and generally appears pretty quickly.
Got to say the place always looks very clean. OK, I tend not to be there at closing time on a weekend night but "early doors" it always look neat and tidy.
Definitely worth a visit and you won't come away thinking "what a hole".
5 Jun 2011 11:07
Visited this pub on a weekday lunchtime to meet up with some old friends. Lucky that it was a glorious spring day as I'm not sure the pub would have held all the customers! Place was packed on a Monday (must be a good sign).
Only had one pint as i was driving but Hobgoblin was very drinkable. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Thought the food was good value for money - salad stuff was really fresh and crisp.
All in all a pleasant couple of hours and will certainly return (if I can find it again).
12 Apr 2011 14:35
Beer always good - sometimes the barman/waiter will bring your pint to your table! Worth a visit (have been told the food is good too).
27 Mar 2011 09:27
Now boarded up and looking very sad for itself. Another pub gone forever :-(
15 Mar 2011 11:06
A young couple called Nick & Hazel run the place now. It was early Saturday evening when I went in so not surprisingly there were few customers. Three Fullers beers on offer and I opted for the Pride. Very drinkable, but my word - what a price! �3.30 a pint!
It continues to be a pleasant country pub and I'm sure will be popular in the summer months. However, the new owners will have to offer something very special in terms of food, entertainment or atmosphere if they really want to make a success of it. I wish them well but I'm not holding my breath.
23 Jan 2011 08:29
Decent enough pub but locals are none too friendly. Beer can be a bit variable although if there is a problem the staff will always offer an alternative without quibbling.
22 Jan 2011 15:00
Jack George Phillips, Godalming
Was in Godalming last week and popped in for a pint and a bite to eat. Food took a fair time to arrive, but it was a Friday lunchtime and at the busiest time too. Typical Wetherspoon fare but none the worse for that.
Service at the bar was excellent! I could only try one pint but that was in tip-top condition.
Pity about the bloke on the table next to me - he was taking advantage of the wi-fi to have a long LOUD conversation via Skype to somewhere very distant. HE HAD TO SHOUT A LOT :-)
22 Jan 2011 14:49
The Travellers Rest, Caversham
This pub seems to be selling its own "in-house" bitter right now - EPA. On special offer at the moment (�1.99) and a pleasant enough drink (especially at that price).
Be warned though: not all the staff seem to know it is on promotion at the moment, and they have tried to charge me �2.40!
22 Jan 2011 14:43
I tend to go in here late afternoon/early evening. Never had a duff pint yet - but then again never wanted to order a 2nd (or 3rd) one from the same pump.
Bit dear but not outrageous.
As other people have pointed out the Victorian theme just about works! Normally I'd avoid this sort of thing like the plague but here it is almost convincing.
19 Dec 2010 19:45
Great place on a warm summer's evening but you have to sit inside with a lot of surly locals the rest of the year. Very dear for what it is. Probably, on balance, one to avoid.
19 Dec 2010 19:39
The Travellers Rest, Caversham
I continue to go here once or twice a month (to meet up with mates) and it really is becoming a pub of two halves. The good half is the beer is always more than passable. The staff seem to know, on the whole, what's what when it comes to "real ale".
But the food - dear oh dear.They must be using the very cheapest of ingredients and none too skilfully assembled. Best avoided unless you are absolutely starving.
Bit torn as to what score to allocate. 9 or even 10 for the drinks side, barely 2 for food.
19 Dec 2010 19:34
The Elephant and Castle, Whistley Green
Nice slightly old-fashioned "proper" pub (I mean this in a good way). Beer adequate if not spectacular. Despite having a power cut when I was there they managed to provide a filling warm lunchtime snack!
All in all a pleasant place and worth a visit.
19 Dec 2010 13:06
Jack George Phillips, Godalming
For a Wetherspoons boozer it's OK. Nothing to write home about but passing fair. Not for anyone suffering from agrophobia!
Phillips was the radio operator on the Titanic and went down with the ship (cf "A night to remember").
31 May 2010 12:33
Over priced and so far up its own a**e that no one can possibly enjoy a visit there. Avoid.
31 May 2010 12:25
Two Bridges IS on offer, but usually only one sort at a time. Despite a few teething problems the beer is always in good nick - always drinkable, sometimes excellent. Good price too: currently less than 2 quid a pint!!!!
27 Mar 2010 13:19
New landlord a few weeks before Xmas. No real ale, and no immediate plans to get any :-(
27 Dec 2009 19:25
Only ever been in the Public bar (although don't think it is labelled as such). Decent honest boozer - what you see is what you get. Beer has always been in good nick - sound rather than spectacular.
Wish there were more pubs like this - a place to drink in unpretentious (but clean) surroundings.
22 Nov 2009 10:23
What can I say? If this was my local I'd be in there FAR too much. Beer is always in good nick, although service can be a bit hit-and-miss.
A local pub for local (exceedingly rich) people?
15 Nov 2009 15:15
Last time I went in there within 2 mins some old drunk accosted me (this was 19.00). He told me a string of vile racist "jokes" which the lad serving behind the bar thought hilarious.
Evidence of much inbreeding in Farncombe?
I'll be giving the place a wide berth from now on :-(
15 Nov 2009 15:12
Got to agree with Fat beer Badger - the barmaids are VERY easy on the eye! Pub is really geared up to selling fizzy eurolager - and some very exotic cocktails. I suspect they make half of the latter up as they go.
Not eaten there but the portions look IMMENSE. Don't go there if you are looking for a light snack. Ditto if you are in a hurry - they make & cook food properly so 30 - 45 mins wait is not unknown.
Zywiec is now sold by the pint. Asking the staff to top up your glass will cause a raised eyebrow but they'll do it with a smile. And anyway, with barmaids like that who's going to quibble about a missing sip of beer.
I hope the owners make a go of it. With the demise of the Polish club in Reading it is the natural spot for Poles to gravitate towards. Plenty of other E. Europeans as well though, and bizarrely a strong Brazilian contingent.
Na zdrovya! Do dupe!
15 Nov 2009 15:06
Always (well nearly always) a good selections of real ales available. That's the good news. The place has all the atmosphere of a dentist's waiting room and late at night you wonder "is it going to kick off in a minute?". Food is OK if you want something to fill your belly but 5* (or even 1*) cuisine it ain't.
OK for a pint or two with your mates but you wouldn't use it as your local.
15 Nov 2009 14:56
Pub reopened late summer 09 after being closed for 6 months. Good start - nice and clean inside (although the toilet is a bit iffy). New manager had a couple of real ales on and they were quite passable. However things have gone downhill in the last few months (end 09). Real ale is barely drinkable and not cheap. Some quite scarey people get in there from time to time and i wonder if the place is going to go downhill fast :-(
One to watch - it could improve but who can say.
15 Nov 2009 09:29
The Travellers Rest, Caversham
Bit of a soulless place, but on the upside I have never had a duff pint there. Staff are friendly enough and eager to serve. Garden at rear is a total shambles - wonky benches, fag-ends lying everywhere and the grass on the lawn(?) looks like it gave up the unequal struggle years ago. Quite pleasant sitting out the front on a summer's evening though.
Practice your secret handshakes if you want to get into the building at the back!
15 Nov 2009 09:17
The Back of Beyond, Reading
Spent an evening in here last week. I stuck to the tried and tested Pride, which was adequate but not great. Still good value for money. But have noticed the BoB is starting to get a bit tatty. Some of the furniture needs replacing, or at the very least a deep clean (seats and backs).
A decent enough boozer but there is room for improvement.
31 Dec 2012 23:09