please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Great location overlooking the river, with a handful of tables outside on the towpath where one can spend a pleasant hour or so enjoying a pint and watching the swans swim by. But the river will come up over the towpath when there is a high tide, so be careful not to get your feet wet! Clean and comfortable inside with seating on two levels, including a largish sofa. Nothing special in the way of ales – Pride, Adnam’s and GKIPA. All in all a pretty decent pub, but for me not the best pub along the Strand.
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Seems a bit grubby and tired. Friendly staff though!!
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An allright pub.
By the way - why does BITE have continual pop ups now? Cut it out lads
TheGP - 29 Apr 2008 22:07 |
Decent enough pub in a good location but looking a bit tired and, as the previous poster said, it could do with a sensitive overhaul (emphasis on sensitive - doesn't need tearing apart and turning into something it isn't).
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The least of the pubs in Strand on the Green, which is a shame because it could be a real corker. Really needs a sensitive overhaul, a bit of care and some enthusiasm from the staff.
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A completely average pub, in a location that you just have to visit.
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I have visited this pub over the last few weeks whilst the landlady i understand was on holiday and found the pub very friendly, good food, John from the bell in east molsey was running this pub and talking to the regulars, they told me he had made a vast improvment including sorting the tvs out so the customers can watch the sports while having a drink.
John done a real good job and it needs to be noticed, he should be there fultime.
xx
anonymous - 5 Oct 2007 17:09 |
Have I got anything to say about this pub, YES I HAVE. The Car park had a disabled parking bay outside and seeing that, I assumed that the pub was wheelchair friendly. WRONG, there was a 4" step to get into the main bar and entrance into the bar hindered by tables and chairs. To make things worse I was in need to go to the loo, yes you quessed it the toilets were small an inpossible to use. To add insult to injury I noticed a concrete ramp leading to a door I presume was used for loading barrels of beer, I cannot understand the logic, why haven't they put a ramp at the entrance of the bar to enable wheelchair access? As for the staff, the service,the food, and the ambience, i would give it 1 out of 10. My advice to those hungry and desperate to drink, give this a miss.
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I popped in here for the first time last night. I recognised the landlady who has just arrived - she uised to run the Grenadier in Belgravia years back (which was great then). I had a good pint at a reasonable cost from a friendly bar person. So hopefully the comments I read below are out of date. I plan to go back.
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I agree with the last few comments about this place. I used to be fond of this pub, lovely location, good beer, good crowd of visitors and a nice mix of people. Now it is the opposite apart from location. The staff are terrible and you are made to feel that you are disturbing them when you require service! and when they do they are slow, unfreindly and unhelpful. The food is not to bad but the chef is the one that waits and clears the tables in his whites!! but I have to add he is the most professional and friendly person working there. The brewery need to visit this pub because it could make a lot more money based on the staff if they where changed rather than just cashing in on the over flow from other pubs along the river. Being a lisencee myself I know what potential it has but at the moment it is not well run pub. I wouldn't recomend it to anyone anymore.
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What a pity. I have to agree with the review posted on Nov 4 '06. I have never been made to feel less welcome in a pub which used to be so good, and unfortunately it's the staff (especially management) are to blame. Quite why they decided to 'gastrocise' one of the areas' oldest most beautiful pubs is beyond me. The previously quaint, cosy downstairs bar is now a mix match of ikea style coffee tables which are ugly and totally out of context. The dart board has been replaced by a shiny plasma screen which is useless as they don't show any sport???
A classic case of brewery money being spent by someone who hasn't bothered to visit the pub.
If you do decide to go to this pub the best service you'll get is from the chef, who also waits on all the tables. He was the most polite friendly guy I met there all day. I say stay away til the DEADWOOD behind the bar leaves.
anonymous - 9 Apr 2007 22:55 |
For some strange reason my department at my firm always go here for the Christmas party. We always end up in the downstairs bar with the dart board and quiz machine. The food that we end up with has been exactly the same for the past 4 years, it is good but unimaginative.
I can’t grumble about the service as I have always found it polite, but it can get a little annoying having to ring the bell in the lower bar to get a member of staff to come down when they know that 30 people are coming for a party.
Unfortunately for the City Barge, even though the lager and cider is very good, I would have to walk past the Bell and Crown to get to it and that isn’t going to happen.
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Last summer the car park was newly tarmact and a new layout reducing its carpark cappacity from about 15 vehicles to 8 including 1 disabled space.Every time i go there the managers huge 4 wheel drive is parked in the disabled space,a old capri also belonging to the manager maybe for their Sunday drives,but the managment do also have a Harley Davidson so its good to see they are doing their little something for the enviroment.
This pub will always do good trade becouse of its location but of the 3 pubs along SOTG the Bell and Crown is best for beer and feeling like your one of the locals.The Bulls Head for good food and quaint rambleing rooms,and the City Barge for the Basil Faulty managment experiance.Its even the Thames least favorite as its the only one of the 3 it floods.
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always loved this pub and have spent many nice evenings there, but have to agree with previous review that says that the assistant manager is rude. Screaming at staff and customers (!) is not the way to run a happy pub. That aside, it's a nice cosy place to enjoy a drink.
anonymous - 19 Nov 2006 11:48 |
I like this place. Location is excellent providing some nice seating on the riverside pathway, front bar very cosy, back bar totally different, bags of room, dining area for kids etc.
Beers were London Pride, Broadside and Hobgoblin. Some of our group had the Broadside and it seemed in good condition. Hobgoblin was sublime.
anonymous - 6 Nov 2006 11:38 |
I have been using the Barge on and off for about 30 years and I have to agree that the service and atmosphere has declined rapidly of late.
There are those of us who are now on the lookout for an establishment with friendlier staff and a warmer atmosphere.
I would like to point out that not all the staff look like they are chewing a wasps nest, most of the staff are very friendly and efficient, but the good ones rarely stay there long, which is never a good sign!
A great shame, as the Barge had it all at one time, friendly staff, good beer, good food and a warm welcome.
anonymous - 4 Nov 2006 15:43 |
this is a fantastic pub in a great location by the river. Only downside is the rather rude way in which the assistant manager talks to both customers and staff. Her manner is impolite and her insistance in telling off staff in front of customers is most unprofessional.Slightly ruins an otherwise fine drinking establishment.
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Great position by the river and the london Pride quality. But the service...soooo slow gave up in the end and went to the Bell and Crown along the towpath. Far, far better.......
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I like it here. Tucked in by the river there is something quie nice about having a pint in the Summer by the Thames. Cosy in the Winter. One you will remember as opposed to the generic chains that pop up on the High Road. Go on give it a go!
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Very pleasant sitting outside last Sunday enjoying the warm Spring sunshine, but I am afraid that the pub left quite a poor impression.
Service was very slow and there were dirty plates and glasses piling up on the outside tables, with a result that new customers were put off from sitting there.
Definitely understaffed and could do much better - come on Mr Manager, get it sorted out !
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Locals definately do drink here - good atmosphere all year round - and fantastic to sit by the river on a sunny summer afternoon.
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Pleasant riverside pub with seating on the towpath. Gets busy in the summer. Food OK but not great. The best thing about this pub is the jazz night every Thursday.
Robbie - 18 Jan 2005 12:42 |
Christopher Townsend lives at 23 Ardaven Pl. London Canada. To those who know him he would love hear from you
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Yes my grandfather would be very unhappy to think his former pub had poor service.
I guess I will have to fix it as his Grandson.
Still those the service is poor but the place and it's local customers are rich.
Nicholas Townsend
comments are welcome.
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Great location, staff friendly as long as it is not busy. Food is not great but edible - for your Caesar salad must admit that you should take a leaf (excuse the pun) out of The Pilot. Also don't think there is any need for the open fire on a warm June afternoon!!
Otherwise good atmosphere and very nice wine and beer!
Susan Revell - 18 Jun 2004 15:22 |
This is the best pub ever, the service is good, although people tend to complain because it is so busy. Whoever said that locals don't drink there is wrong. We do, and we love it!
LJE - 6 Jun 2004 17:47 |
When you have 500 year old pub by the river it's difficult to go wrong. But my god they suceed in doing just that. Half the time half the pub is shut down. It appears to run by a phantom Basil Fawlty and the barmaid does a very good impression of Sybil. Avoid the food unless you are very very hungry. Big give-away - no locals drink there. Someone must have money to burn to run a pub like this down into the ground! All that said, a beer by the Thames is a treat, when the tide is out...
hector - 21 May 2004 17:49 |
The pubs along the river can't go wrong really.
Good for: Hot summer nights
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er.... alistair.... theyve always served crisps & nuts at the barge - i think your thinking of the bulls head next door, they dont serve these snacks!
millym - 26 Jul 2003 20:45 |
grear location. can be mobbed when the suns out. staff work & try hard! food - brilliant sometimes shite others. bring munchies for ducks( they like crisps) can be overrun outside by very posh loud obnoxious kids & their equally posh loud & obnoxious parents/grandparents esp on sunday lunchtimes
millym - 26 Jul 2003 20:43 |
great location on a sunny day. have been there many times(local) & always found staff (esp manageress)friendly & efficient even when the place is mobbed although some of the barmen are a bit vague at times. food varies - have had some great feeds there & some not so good. bring some bread to feed the ducks(although i think theyre addicted to pringles)can be overrun with posh screaming sprogs occasionally but otherwise good!
sue main - 25 Jul 2003 20:35 |
Nice pub and location for when weather is good, food was actually really nice when I had some last week!
Tove - 13 Jun 2003 15:02 |
Went there once and they had ran out of food, so I can't tell you if it was bad or not. Wouldn't have minded if it was late in the evening but it was 12 noon!!!
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I was there just recently. It is true that some of the staff are a bit terse but my food was excellent and I found the whole place nice to be in. My only serious criticism is that they don't serve crisps or peanuts and look down their noses at you if you ask for them.
Alistair - 21 May 2003 08:22 |
Poor service and diabolical food - its catering is about ten years out of date. Roast pork swimming is gravy, veg hard. Didn't come with potatoes, when they did they were deep fried (a quick-fix)and bullet-hard. Absolutely no excuse in this day and age for this quality of food. It relies on its location not on quality.
Tony Shields - 5 May 2003 22:09 |
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