BITE user comments - firsttimewalker
Comments by firsttimewalker
The Earl of Lonsdale, Notting Hill
Nice enough pub and can't complain about the beer, however, when I asked for my pint to be filled to the line I was told that "this is the way we serve beer here" - I pointed out that the bottom of the head of my pint was well below the line and was again told that was how they served beer here. A request to speak to the manager was met with "He's in the kitchen" so a further request to ask him to come to the bar had to be made. The manager was possibly the rudest person I've had the misfortune to meet in a pub to date - he tipped my glass so that the bottom of the head was on the line and said there you go it's on the line - I told him that was unacceptable and that at the least the bottom of the head should be on the line when the glass is flat at which point he snatched the glass from me added the smallest extra splash of beer, slammed the glass back down and walked off. Obviously in this neck of the woods bar staff are under the impression that the number of tourists which frequent their pub mean that they can act like ignorant morons to anyone who questions them and not loose custom - and I'm sure the fact that I will never again darken their door will matter not one iota to them but I wanted to leave this comment as a warning to anyone contemplating visiting here.
6 May 2010 13:36
Found this gem of a pub just over 3 years ago and can't get enough of it. The Harvey's beer is lovely particularly the Old Ale and all very well kept. Nice treat to find the Christmas Ale on hand pump in December and in bottles to stash at home! The food is also very good. Big portions of locally sourced, home cooked grub, massive ploughmans, game pie and the seasonal Sunday roast boasts grouse, partridge, duck, rabbit you name it, and all for very reasonable prices. The clientele are generally quiet folk who enjoy a good pint and the bar staff are always helpful. Generally doesn't get too busy as it's tucked away off the main thoroughfare.
28 Jan 2010 14:30
This used to be one of my favourite bars in the area with a good selection of belgian beers and excellent food. However, I visited in November and, maybe they were just having an off night, but it seems to have gone downhill. Despite having to leave a �10 deposit just so one of our party to drink his Kwak from an authentic glass (apparently people walk off with them!), the food which was coming out looked like standard pub grub with none of the usual rag-rolled suet puddings, moules or waterzooi to be seen anywhere on the menu. Alot of the beers that we wished to try from their extensive list weren't available and the usually knowledgeable bar staff didn't seem to have much of a clue about the beers that they did have. Very disappointing, I hope it was an off night.
28 Jan 2010 14:22
Definitely one of the better pubs in this area - not sure how it has escaped my notice for so many years. Good selction of beers on including a couple of dark ones - all well kept and some fantastic food smells wafting through the pub made me wish we didn't have alternative eating plans. Really nice little building with pleasant helpful staff - well worth a visit
28 Jan 2010 14:12
Went here last night to partake in their Beers from t'dark side festival. Lots of very well kept dark beers on hand pump and a huge selection more in the cellar which the staff were happy to serve and at �3.30 a pint pretty good for this part of London. Only problem was the food which was quite pricey and when it arrived was cold. To give the staff their dues, once they were made aware of this we got fresh food delivered and an apology from the bar staff and manager. Having said that the food itself was akin to that found in a Little Chef and not particularly generous in size. So definitely worth a visit for the beer but eat elsewhere
28 Jan 2010 14:07
My partner and I checked in here during a recent visit to the Peaks as we had to check out of our original B&B due to the noise. We were not disappointed! The room was lovely and quiet and the breakfast was well cooked and filling. The beer selection down in the bar was good with some local ales on tap and the hand made hoi sin duck pizza was a triumph.
17 Jun 2008 16:25
My boyfriend and his dad love this pub so when we went walking in the peaks together for the first time we decided to stay here. I will certainly commend them on their beer, the food was big and tasty and the crowd seemed friendly enough. However, the pub has a late license on Friday and Saturday nights until 1am and our room (the Dungeon) was directly over the noisy end of the bar meaning that after a full day of conquering nearby hills we were unable to sleep. We also didn't have hot water when we needed it. Although we ended up getting a refund for our final night's stay after we found it necessary to check out early, the apparent "man in charge" wasn't in the least bit apologetic for the problems we had experienced and passed the buck to the owner who wasn't around until later in the day. This left us not knowing whether to book into somewhere else in case we didn't get a refund and left a rather sour taste in the mouth whilst trying to enjoy our day walking in this beautiful part of the world.
Would recommend for food and drink but think twice before staying here if you value a good night's sleep and a nice hot shower after a day of activity. Alternatively make sure you find out where your room is in relation to the bar when you book.
17 Jun 2008 15:40
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The William IV, Leyton
A wonderful find on a drizzly Saturday afternoon. Home of the Brodie's brewery and all their own label pints are an absolute bargain at �1.99. The football was on in the front room but could hardly be heard in the comfy back room. The staff know about beer and the choice of ales on offer really does cater for all tastes. Didn't try the food but from plates coming out for others the portion sizes looked generous and were not too pricey. Definitely worth a visit if only to confirm that it is still possible to get a decent, well kept ale in London for under �2 a pint
6 May 2010 13:47