Cranbrook, Ilfordback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Closed down in October.
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This venue had now reopened under the chain heading Potion after an extensive re-decoration.
Having visited the bar yesterday I have to say the interior is impressive if a little cold and empty. Its ambience matched with its prices however, suggests it should be in a different location to Ilford. Lager (Carlsberg and Fosters) as well as John Smiths sells at �3.00 per pint, whilst Perroni and Magners rolls in at a staggering �3.90. Couple that with a bowl of chips at �3.00 and cheap it ain't.
I'm wondering exactly how much homework the management did on the surrounding area. These prices are very much out of step and will do nothing to encourage residents and old regulars of the Cranbrook back (although publicans elsewhere in Ilford must be rubbing their hands together). If it's aimed at youngsters, it's in the wrong location and should have been in Ilford town centre or Gants Hill near to Faces nightclub.
All in all, I wondered if this was some stunt from the latest series of The Apprentice and the task was to put an up market bar in a typical suburban setting to see if the locals could be robbed blind.
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Since I last commented on this pub, there's been a couple of changes in management neither of which has been able to completely turn things around.
It's now my sad duty to report that the Cranbrook (along with several other outlets owned by the brewery) has been closed and put up for sale. We can only hope another chain or independent takes it over, but given the current state of the pub game I suspect this will be the next housing development in Ilford.
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This is very much a regulars pub (friendly atmosphere, decent prices etc.) and I've been using it for quite a few years now. It's my sad duty therefore to warn people that there was a change in management around November 2006 and the current incumbent is less than satisfactory; in fact I'd go as far as to say that she sees customers as little more than a nuisance (Closing all day on New Years day for no apparent reason as well as increasing the beer prices from �2 to �2.50 per pint after midnight on New Years eve spring to mind). The current "bouncers" (and I use that term very loosely) don't help the situation either. If you're still in the pub around closing time you'll see what I mean.
Entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays has also been dispensed with so that's another nail in the coffin.
All in all, I shan't be using the place again until matters change...........
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I visited this pub during the World cup, to watch England Vs Sweden with two friends. Although the food and drink is cheap and ok value, I wanted to complain about the service I received. Although the waiting staff were quick to serve, I found one of the security staff members to be absolutely dispicable. This individual has such a disgusting callous manner, and I believe his boss is too afraid to speak up to him which is the reason he is still employed.
He harrassed me and my friends, asking us to 'buy more drinks or I'll chuck you out'. It was his demeanour that put me off (he leant over our table, and directed all his comments at me), and the fact that he was accusing us of lodging, when we'd spent well over �20 on food and drink before the start of his shift! He did this twice, before saying he was going to 'get the manager on us'. I walked up to her before he could get there, as she had served us before he arrived. She seemed more afraid of him than we did, and offered a sheepish apology, and was more intent on trying to calm me down. What a disgusting employee (medium height, fairly muscular, dread locked man). I would never ever return to this place.
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Very decent indeed. Always seems a happy place and, importantly, cheap to boot.
Looks bad from the outside, but pleasant and homely inside.
Best pub in Ilford.
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Great Pub atmosphere in here, everybody seems to know each other. Entertainment on fridays, saturdays and sundays. Friendly staff. And a new pool table without the tilt. Good Food too.
anonymous - 5 Apr 2005 00:46 |
On the plus side this Pub has some great bar staff, gets a good crowd, cheap Beer, Big screen TV and usually good food.
On the Downside the Pool table is useless having at least a 1 in 10 slope even with the multitude of beer mats under the legs to correct it, even so it is usually crowded.
anonymous - 5 Jan 2005 13:24 |
One of the Best pubs in Ilford,Excellent staff,Trouble -free atmosphere and all draught beers only �1.50 per pint until 7.00 p.m.
There is also a newly installed Digital Jukebox.
Patrick A Banks - 9 Dec 2004 18:25 |
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