please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Previous posts about the disgraceful attitude of the staff and management are not over exaggerated. I have been in there only 3 times and on each occasion the service was surly, uninterested, and slow. And so much for the 20 minutes of drinking up time that us punters are legally allowed!! The rudeness as soon as time is called is something to be seen!
A pub can be made by great service. This has the potential to be a great pub. But I will never ever go back until attitudes of staff and management radically change. Oi! You are in the service industry! Act like it!!
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the concept of service in the pub has died - i think the staff would rather cut their wrists than pour a pint or simply acknowledge you with a smile. Are they are all manic depressives or is it simply inertia - the management - they must hate their customers as they simply seem to want rid of them
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I had been a fan of the White Hart until very recently - it used to have a great atmospere - helped by regular quiz nights and live music. However, things have gone down hill during my recent visits - in my view, mainly down to the staff. The staff who are there (and at the weekend this only seemed to be 2 visible - and only one serving) are badly trained - the wine list has disappeared and the staff had no idea what wines they served and they could not even pour a pint properly. The food also took over an hour to arrive - and when if did it ws cold. Poor show indeed - what a shame.
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Was in last night, and the bar staff were fine, friendly even.
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This is a great bar- well it started off great, but I would have to agree with previous comments, the bar staff aren't up to much.
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I am sure the bar staff ignore customers on purpose, I dont think they can cope with new faces, who wants to go somewhere to be served by such a stroppy lot of misery's. Management sort it out!
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If you want to have a row with somebody, go to the White Hart in Crystal Palace. I promise you the staff will give you plenty of chances to have one. I can’t believe this pub is still in business. I couldn’t agree more with the previous review about the attitude the management seem to have. I also live near by and I like the décor of the pub and it looks cosy. I’ve been there a few times, but the last time I learnt the lesson and will definitely not return. They simply hate you for being there making them busy. They seem to forget that the money that keeps them in business actually comes from the customers!
The past times I went I had also decided not to return as the attitude my friend and I were given by the male behind the bar was outrageous. For his luck I’m not a violent person and I have a great control of my temper, because he really puts himself at great risk of a physical attack. A friend told me he’s not working there anymore, so I decided to go back with my girlfriend because I like the pub. We ordered a meal consisting of 4 platters. When the waitress arrived with 2 plates I asked if we were going to have the other 2, just to ensure our order was correct. She said: “I’ve only got 2 hands” and walked away. How on earth does a waitress think that is the way to talk to a customer who’s having a romantic evening meal with his girlfriend? What’s wrong with a simple: “the rest is on its way” or something similar? What’s the need of giving out that attitude??
Avoid. Life is too short for getting frustrated over people like the staff at the White Hart
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I like the way the White Hart looks and I live locally, so I gave them the benefit of a second chance a few times but now I’ve had enough and won’t go back because of the attitude problem the management seem to have. They need an intensive training on basic standards of customer service and learn how to raise the level of tolerance for pressure, if they want to run a pub. At the moment they make the customers feel guilty because they are busy. It’s sort of intimidating approaching them. I’m talking about the management, the rest of the staff seem nice. Also, I had the most tasteless steak I’ve ever tried.
There’s a male that serves behind the bar and normally wears very filthy tracksuit pants as if he has been wiping his hands on them for the whole day. He taps his fingers on the bar while you are trying to decide on what to order. That is so rude. Once I said to him my wine seemed corked. With an obvious annoyed look on his face he grabbed my glass and poured the wine in the sink, then made a pathetic attempt to sound professional and said: “What would you like instead, sir?” I was surprised so I asked him if he didn’t want to check the wine. He said these words: “If I check it I will probably tell you there’s nothing wrong with it.” I don’t think training would help him. He shouldn’t be doing any job that involves customer service, as simple as that. The blond Aussy or Kiwi woman seems she has potential, but she has a lot of work to do on her attitude as at the moment it’s unacceptable. She should understand that her stress is not a customer’s problem.
I have managed a few restaurant and bars in London for a few years working on a hands-on style. I know what being under pressure means, but if any of my staff ever dared only once to speak to any customer like I was spoken to at the White Hart I would have a serious chat with them and probably ask them to leave.
anonymous - 18 Oct 2007 17:40 |
A magnificent transformation from a very dingy O'Neills to a vibrant urbane alehouse. The formerly dilapidated backyard is now an imaginative and spacious outdoor area and there's a top quiz on Monday nights. Could do with a few more buzzing DJ nights maybe?
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An interesting place. How can three people behind the bar take ten minutes to get around to serving three people on my side of the bar? Busy doing nothing?
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Yeah aspirational clientele ("Isn't Carling Black Label just so 1983 Godfrey?") who think reading the Guardian makes them less tedious.
Not a bad pub but self-important clientele do spoil things a little.
Service is not always the best and it's not the kind of pub where they know your name or what you drink... but Jasper and his life-partner don't mind...
But these people need somewhere to go. Otherwise they'll start mugging the elderly and the vulnerable.
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A nice pub if you are the so-called young professional type who wears Che Guevara t-shirts (even though you don't know what country he was from), jeans half way down the back of your ar$e (as you think it is a "cool, urban, look"), £25.00 flip flops, wear Buddy Holly glasses and have a girlfriend called Jennifer who has only let you out for an hour as Penny dropped by at the flat on the brink of tears, asking to discuss her current relationship troubles.
The beer's ok, though, the landlord seems like a decent fella. Just some of the clientele wind me up.
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I've been using the WH as my local for about a year now (I live across the road). 12 Months ago I couldn't believe my luck, that I had such a cool local with such a varied range of beers and wines and a decent food menu. Since then I've seen the standards drop to the point where I would probably wander off somewhere else along the Triangle for a pint now than spend my hard earned cash here. Firstly, the service has deteriorated considerably. The current manager can often be seen sitting around chatting with mates while the staff, with sullen expressions and little charisma, attend to one task at a time with little ability to multi-task or remember an order larger than three drinks. The beers I used to love are more often than not off the menu and the wine has become over-priced for such average fare. The food menu changed recently which was a blessing... the current menu is OK but you'd get a better Sunday Roast in the Albert for less. The entertainment is amatuerish.. the pub quiz is so badly run it's open to serious cheating and with cash at stake that's quite frustrating. The bands on Weds are good but the general background music is clearly the staff's choice and consists of some obscure CD's of average Aussie soft-rock combos. I suppose what's most frustrating, si that after a year as a reasonably regular vistor I'm still a stranger to the staff... After two visits to the Alma the bar staff knew my name... The venue has style and enormous potential as a great place to hang out but currently with staff who clearly see their work as an onerous task, over-pricing and average entertainment it's less appealing than it could be. Perhaps CP current popularity and success has made the management and staff complacent, and I'm sure they will always make money, but with minor tweaks and smiley faces they could be the most successful food/drink establishment in SE19.
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Was here last night and really liked it. Staff were really friendly, nice selection of beers, and a good mixed crowd - all ages were there.
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It’s a very nice place to go. I like the relaxed atmosphere of the clientele. Food is good but not great, I think they may do it with a little bit of revamp. The wedges and the home made tortillas were both savagely burnt and I struggled to eat them.
I like the variety of the beer and positively surprised by the fruity beers, not my cup of tea but it was worth trying it and it makes a change.
It’s a bit of hit and miss with the service, I had very slow responses in the past but recently they have been extremely good and friendly. This is certainly a plus.
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Obviously, ‘Pinballwizard’ is someone with lots of money and ‘arty’
If you think these prices are ok the obviously you drink in Kensington.
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great pub, great range of beer, good staff. please to here someone with the login name chavsum (posted comment 23rd nov)doesn't want to drink in here
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Fantastic pub. Went here for a quiet drink on a Wednesday night and it was packed! Filled up even more about 9pm when a jazz duo came on. Love the decor, the range of beers and the food in here. Only downer is the surly staff. Can't agree with people who say this place is pretentious - it's like unless it has a toothless barmaid and sawdust on the floor it's not worthy. What's wrong with something a bit different?!
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Dreadful. 7 quid for a sandwich? yeah right. Went in there with my wife and she could not believe the prices!
Big range of beers which is ok if you apply for a second mortgage on the way in.
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Quirky, great food, slightly patchy service, welcoming staff, fun quizzes, good live music, very cute beer garden and and and....just love it!
HillBilly - 8 Aug 2006 16:24 |
An improvement on the declining and poorly run O'Neill's that pre-dated it and peaked in 1998.
You cannot fault the breadth of beer on offer here.
However the smugness and aspirational nature of the place is not to everyone's taste. It feels a bit like a refuge for birkenstock wearing dads having a naughty Belgian beer while the au pair takes the kids to piano lessons.
It does seem to be making some kind of effort which is laudable but it somehow manages to conform and become sterile.
Bizarre policy in here on football shirts as well.
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Realise I may be a bit out of date with this comment now, but regarding the anonymous dude who posted a review a few months ago by Fancyapint which claimed this place was basically a sh*thole. It's quite clear that there are two White Harts in the Norwood area.(Put Norwood into location search and see for yourself.)One is on Norwood Rd (where the unfortunately accurate review comes from)the other (THIS one)is on Church Rd. Great research.
This place is cool though - and the beer selection is amazing. Give it a go.
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To be honest, this pub is a bit pretentious.
Its quite lush inside, but goes to the point in feeling a bit un-pub like. Im not saying its not worth a visit, but id prefer popping in for a quiet hour than visiting for a whole evening.
In a nutshell, its an okay pub but I don't think its worth the 'roll out the red carpet' points its generated
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Agreed this is definitely the best pub in the area. In fact I travel quite a few miles to make this one of my regular haunts. It has a buzz to it at the moment which is unlikely to last, but the varied age range in the punters is quite promising.
Any place in South London that serves good Yorkshire beer like TT's Landlord gets my vote; together with the draught lagers (proper ones not pseudo-Aussie pish) this pub has one of the best draught beer ranges around without going to a Belgian-type beerbar.
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Obviously the best pub in Palace....it's bound to get a few naff reviews 'cos there are so many dozy sods frequenting the area. They work hard at this bar, serve very interesting and tasty beer, and yes, the food could be improved but the general ambience is spot on. If you want a pint of lame beer then there are loads of other rubbish pubs in the area to choose from. Gets my vote - 8/10. Cheers chaps and chill-blains!
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A very nice pub, fitted out with a bit of flair and imagination by owners who are clearly very enthusiastic about what they're doing. A bit trendy for my personal taste, clearly pitched at the young professional/postgraduate crowd and a bit pricey, though not excessively so for what you get. Three real ales at a time from a varying range, no fewer than 14 decent draught lagers and fruit beers with no Fosters/Carling/Guinness/creamflow-type rubbish. I didn't order any food but that looked good too, and generous portions.
My pint of Landlord was very tasty and served in a dimple pint pot. Twenty years ago you'd get served ale in these as a matter of course and I didn't like them - you had to ask if you wanted a straight glass - now it's the other way round and I quite enjoy the novelty.
It's clear that our anonymous contributor further down is either (a) an idiot or (b) has a personal grudge against someone who works here.
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If you want accurate and up-to-date comments I suggest you're most likely to get them from SarahG (who nominated the White Hart for inclusion on BITE in December 2005) and other comments since then by people who actually put their names to what they have to say instead of posting anonymously.
As I said yesterday, I haven't been in since it reopened but I live locally and it certainly didn't open in it's present guise until shortly before Christmas 2005. Therefore comments posted on other websites two years ago are somewhat irrelevant.
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sigh - see for yourself
http://www.fancyapint.com/main_site/thepubs/pub2278.html
the review is clearly of the pub as it is now. for your information the old o'neills became the white hart in January 2004 - two months before this ACCURATE REVIEW
anonymous - 20 Apr 2006 14:01 |
With reference to the comment immediately below, it was posted on fancyapint.com in MARCH 2004 - i.e. when this place was O'Neills. I haven't checked out the White Hart yet, but I like the sound of it and will do soon as I live near enough.
It would help if people get thier facts right before posting misleading crap like that. Also, why do people have to post anonymously instead of under their user name?
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"A shabby and rather melancholy dive, the place was virtually empty on our visit. The only clientele were a few older locals and a father who was apparently using up his access time by watching his son play the fruit machines. Given its size it was easy enough to get a seat but the big screen showing Eastenders (rather than the more obviously punter-friendly Arsenal v Manchester United game) meant that it lacked even the tranquility we might have hoped for."
That's what fancyapint says
anonymous - 19 Apr 2006 10:22 |
Great pub. Even better when Nathalie is working. Great @rse!
anonymous - 18 Apr 2006 15:55 |
This place has the best range of beers in London, i do believe.
From Star to Leffe, via Paulaner and some amazing fruit beers... Belle Vue & Fruilli.
Served by great staff in a great atmosphere.
This is the type of place that will change your opinion about pubs... go and have a look!
anonymous - 11 Apr 2006 12:39 |
'An improvement on the old O'neills'... could that BE any more of an understatement.
Sweet jesus, this pub has around 20 beers on draught, where in south london (even London) are you going to get that selection tell me???
There can be no pleasing a stella drinker!
I think the seating thing is probably down to how busy a pub is, which is a good thing to me.
Maybe spending too much time alone is not a good thing.
For me, this pub is the best thing about crystal palace.
And that includes most of the people!
anonymous - 10 Apr 2006 02:35 |
Definitely an improvement on the old O'Neills. Good real ales and quality lagers (Kirin, Amstel, Staropramen)and some interesting Belgian numbers. Can be difficult to get a seat sometimes, and not a great deal of space to stand at the bar because of its proximity to the window seats. Haven't eaten there yet but it looks good.
A thoroughly decent effort, if a little pricey.
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I thoroughly enjoyed monday night at white hart. The pub just seems to get better and better. The Quiz last night was a great success, with a funky but very friendly atmosphere. The staff are great, the place is comfy and cool and the beers are very special. And the quiz master was a hoot. (fit too.) Now i'll be in there every monday evening...
anonymous - 4 Apr 2006 14:29 |
God Save The Quiz.
I haven't had so much fun on a monday night for absolutely ages... great, electric atmosphere, amazing selection of beers, good food and a quiz that beats all other competition into the ground.
The staff are fab, friendly and fit, well managed and really looked like they were having fun.
The Quiz, on a monday night started slightly later than the advertised 8pm, but nobody really cared.
I still have a smile on my face, if a slightly sore head. Everyone in White Hart last night looked like they were having fun... it was like a well organised party, not a monday night.
I urge people to go to The Quiz.
(But, get there a bit earlier to bag yourself a table... i will be!)
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Sheez, the toad in the hole is big, hearty and tasty. There's more class beers than you can wave a Belgian stick at, and the staff here really seem to be bothered that you get a good deal. Even if you only go to enlarge your knowledge of beer, it's worth the effort. Only drawback is there is not a pub like it in Sydenham.
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I agree with what everyone else has said; this pub is very impressive. There are 18 beers on draught (including some quite obscure continental ones), plus three real ale taps which I was told get changed every week. Well worth calling in.
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Very excited about this place. As already mentioned, exactly what this area needs. I visited last night for the first time and was impressed with pretty much everything. It has a great atmosphere; predominantly full of young professionals (there are loads of us living around here) and those wishing to sit in a warm, lively atmosphere. Some great wines available and loved a sip or two one of my favourite lagers on draught..Staropramen. Seating is well thought out; there are some comfy window seats, the eating area is cleverly segregated and the general seating is varied throughout the pub; loved all the little nooks. The ambience was perfect and the interior decor just fabulous. Loved the soup of the day cauldren on the bar and the olives were great too. Also noticed a heated outside area. Staff are very friendly and great at giving you suggestions and alternatives. I know I'm going to be spending lots of time here...
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We had a lovely evening at this new venue. The no smoking section actually works and there were a lot of people drinking, eating, chatting and generally having a good time. Good beers, reasonable wine list, sweet staff and very good bar snacks are a definite plus; too loud music the only minus but the bar staff are willing to turn it down if asked. We shall go again and I have a feeling it may become our local!
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Been in there a couple of times now. A vast improvement on O'Neills. The food's pretty good and they have proper old fashioned pint glasses. It is a bit pricey but if you want cheap then go round the corner to the Wetherspoons.
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Sarahg is spot on - this place has re-openned and is no longer an O'Neills. It was stunning. Visited last night. Great atmosphere, friendly staff. the design is brilliant, really interesting and they have managed to get an open kitchen into the place with the grooviest leather frontage! The furniture is eclectic and eye catching and the whole place has the feel of a true independent pub. The best thing has to be the beer though - I saw Paulaner, Star, Becks, Kirin, Franziskaner Wheat, Leffe, Fruli Strawberry, Belle Vue, and loads more - ALL ON DRAUGHT! and for ale drinkers there were also the old fashioned pint jugs. Think I might just move in there!
anonymous - 20 Dec 2005 15:28 |
Hi all, Just to let you know I was walking past this place the other night - it used to be an O'Neills - and they have really done it out nicely. It looks much better. It's called the White Hart now and looks like we're finally going to get a decent pub in the area. I popped my head round the door (they're still putting the finishing touches to it) and had a quick chat with one of the blokes there and it's opening tonight (7th Dec). Also they're going to be offering loads of tap beers and lagers so I've got high hopes for a decent pint as well as proper pub environment. I'm going to check it out properly tonight and suggest anyone else around does too!
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