please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
GREAT NEW MANAGERS TOOK OVER THIS PLACE RECENTLY - GREAT PEOPLE WITH REALLY POSITIVE ATTITUDES. ATMOSPHERE IS GREAT, YOU ALWAYS GET A SMILE WHEN YOU WALK IN.
|
This pub has had a lot of improvements and it has become one of my favorites since the new managers took over .They do now excellent traditional food and the atmosphere is unique.!!I hope they will just get better and better. Well done!!!
|
Another few rounds of Samuel Smiths and the delicious bacon baguettes set us up nicely for the cup final. Landlord was cheerful and all in all a good boozer.
|
This pub opened up early for us on the day of the FA Cup semi-final and proved to be a cracking little pub. Samuel smith's on at £1.86 a pint (yes , in London!) and fantastic bacon baguettes. Friendly service and a cheery landlord. I'm almost sorry we beat West Ham three days later as well!
|
The pub itself isn't so bad, but the barmaid last night was the rudest barmaid I've ever seen. Grumpy the entire evening and gave incorrect change. Will never go there again.
|
Another solid Sam Smith's pub. Didn't find the staff to be overly friendly but they were polite, knew their beer and could tot up resonably large rounds in their heads without tapping away at the till for hours ... always a sign of a good place.
Haven't tried the food yet though I've heard good things. The old brewery bitter is pleasant, inoffensive but unremarkable but makes for a welcome pint (as does alpine for lager drinkers) for the thirsty student with only loose change to spare.
|
A wonderful pub that is often overlooked in the Sam Smith's portfolio. The main bar has a working fireplace, and is a great place to waste away a Saturday or Sunday winter's afternoon playing darts. The upstairs resembles a Victorian study, and is a very relaxing place to sit around with the paper or a book. The place can occassionally resemble a flash mob scene when it's overrun by walking tours or escapees from weddings at the neighbouring Priory Church (of 4 Weddings fame), but they're usually brief blips in an otherwise enjoyable place.
|
Visited a couple of weeks ago with a colleague and were served a good pint of OBB by pleasant staff. A nice little pub in a slightly out of the way location that's well worth a visit.
|
Yawn.
The purpose of this site, as I understand it, is to give constructive comments? Banging on about the landlord you fell out with/barred you is well and good if it refects the true mood of the pub.
The "rude" Australian left over a year and a half ago - GET OVER IT! He turned it around from a losers hole that neede a damn good scrub into a pleasant little place to drink, play darts, do the quiz - proved by the rise in customers and profit alike.
Sadly, many of those barred for anti-social and theatening behaviour have now returned.
Whilst I still hold a fondness for this little place, there are many other good pubs in Smithfield to tempt the thirsty punter.
|
Great little pub, on entry great atmosphere, we went to the upstairs bar (friday night,02/02/07), good on the lay out,soft leather seating (great), i had old brewery bitter, partner had, pint pure brew, bitter is drawn from a hand pump, from an old wooden cask i was told by the barman,which later i found out to be the NEW manager (kev), i told him how much it had changed and became more frieldly in here now, and the drinks had improved, he was very polite and friendly, unlike the australian that WAS in charge before.we noticed they still do food but it stopped at 8pm,(good menu and cheap)i did ask if i was to late to order as it was 9pm (thought i would try)but to my surprise i was told by kev (manager)not a problem what would you like,EVERYONE must try the homemade STEAK & ALE PIE it is lovely, we left about 10.30pm. This is a MUST try pub if ever in smithfield.
anonymous - 4 Feb 2007 19:33 |
Great little pub, tucked away off west smithfield. Very historic in the shadow of St Barts - the oldest church in the city. Sam smith's so cheap.
|
Not a bad little place looks-wise, we popped in for a quick half but the stock was pretty depleted. Being a Sam Smith's too boot meant it was time to move on.
The barmaid was very good, and I guess for the area it's a decent choice.
|
This is a great little pub, hidden away beside St. Bartholomew the Great. It's small, but does good food and cider at very reasonable prices (especially compared to other pubs nearby such as the Butcher's Hook or Bishop's Finger).
Well worth a visit if you fancy a pint in Smithfield.
anonymous - 20 Jul 2006 15:55 |
Its improved if only because the rude Australian landlord is no longer there.
Fairly basic pub with the usual limited range of a Sam Smith's house - fine if you like there range of course.
It was a better pub 10-15 years ago but that's probably more a reflection of the brewery's strange ways than of the current licensees.
anonymous - 9 Jul 2006 15:39 |
I love this pub! It's my favourite in the area. Open all weekend, great cider and choice of Sam Smith's lagers (and not too pricey), cosy seating, and they let you borrow the books!
|
Good. They didn't have any of their bottled beers though.
|
Went here last night for the first time and was very pleased. A nice interior, just grotty enough to have a really good pub atmosphere, but confortable and welcoming nonetheless. The front (or back depending on which way you approach) bar is used for darts playing, so sit at the back. There is a nice green leather banquette filling the back bar accompanied by two large refectory tables. Then you have a few nice round tables with chess boards inlaid.
The draught Pure Brewed Lager was great. I am normally an ale man but fancied something a bit fresher and was not disappointed. Would go as far as to say it was the finest English lager I have ever tasted (not saying much I know, but it was good!). They do have cask Old Brewery Bitter on hand pump, unlike many Sam Smith's pubs. You've also got the own brand wheat beer, cider and stout in kegs so drinks wise you can't go wrong if you like SS's own.
Didn't eat here and no one else was eating around us(arrived at 10pm) but the food menu looked cheap and fairly standard.
I will definitely come back soon, particularly as this is open 7 days a week unlike almost any other pub round here.
Agree with posters before that this has a very "locals' ambience" - but in this area, that's rather refreshing. And yes, the landlord seems to be constantly engaged in a game of darts. Again, a plus not a minus. The bar staff are friendly enough.
anonymous - 3 Feb 2006 10:16 |
This was greeeeeat on a saturday night, very quiet but greaat. I enjoyed the pumped ale. Yes I did.
|
Had an enjoyable time here on a Sunday afternoon. Sits right next to St Barts the Great. Staff was nothing to write home about but a nice enough place. The barkeep was playing darts with his mates but was helpful.
|
What can i say....friendly bar staff...fun place to be.Always open when others around it close. Recommended....
|
We really enjoyed this pub. Friendly host and customers, nice fire on a cold night, and excellent value. Draft cider, good beer, no complaints. Not at all "grotty" or unfriendly.
|
just found this site a few weeks ago so decided to see for myself as i live in farringdon and actually found the place quite nice and friendly, the staff made me feel rather welcome and the food was wonderful, If you enjoy good beer and dont wish to pay more than £2 i strongly recommend this pub.....p.s. order chicken caeser salad
geoffrey thomas - 3 Sep 2004 02:51 |
Below average for a Sam Smith pub I'd say. Rather grotty inside and I agree with previous posters there's a bit of a local's ambience and a slightly unfriendly attitude. Plenty of better pubs nearby.
Grecian - 18 Aug 2004 15:08 |
Great pub, beer was good and everyone was very friendly. The landlord made us feel very welcome and the bar staff were very efficient and helpful. I had a really good evening so I dont know what the problem is.
Tony - 13 Aug 2004 17:25 |
To Seb: Please don't randomly cast aspersions upon the nature of other posters, I do (and will), not drink in 'cocktail-bars', when drinking it is always in real pubs. I had been to the Rising Sun before my recent visit, about 5 or 6 years ago, and found it quite a pleasant pub. However, it has changed and has changed for the worse, I do lot like to drink in a pub where I'm not made to feel welcome. Only one of the other posters here was with me when I was recently in the Rising Sun so it seems that we are not the only ones to have received poor service in this pub.
Ian - 9 Aug 2004 12:42 |
Alright. Empty on a friday night and the Old Brewery tasted of ear-wax but I'd been on the beer a bit before hand so maybe it was me.
Suprising free of atmosphere considering the location and doesn't compare to other Sam Smith's pubs in London.
|
The last few comments are absolute rot.I had not drunk in this this pub for about a year as I had finished my studies and relocated. Went back in recently for old times sake and had a thoroughly pleasent time with some old friends. The food was delicious, the staff were smilie and friendly, the beer is cheap - as ever - and as for the landlord - he was charming and chatted to us once he realised we used to be regulars. Have been back several times since and received the same warm welcome. He does seem to have dispersed the more unsavoury customers who used to clag up the bar in past times which makes it even more palletable in my book. One of my fave pubs in town and definately top service from all the bar staff. As for the last posters, all from the same drinking party no doubt, get yourselves back to the cocktail-bar and leave the real pubs for the grown-ups!
Seb - 8 Aug 2004 19:53 |
The Last 2 posters are absolutely spot on!! The landlord was unbelievably rude and arrogant. For some strange he didn't like us coming into his pub with our hard earned cash to drink his beer and line his pockets!! My advice is to avoid at all costs and to the landlord, go on a customer service course pal!!
Richard - 2 Aug 2004 12:21 |
Have to agree with the previous poster, when I was last there the landlord seemed to resent having customers in his pub.
Ian - 2 Aug 2004 11:54 |
The landlord seems more interested in playing darts with his mates than caring for the customers. Don't think I'll go there again.
Christian - 27 Jul 2004 14:36 |
Always go in here when down in t'smoke. Strange mix of legal types (near the Inns of Court), designery types and pissed Ozzies from the Youth Hostel down the road. Beer is good too,
Ticey - 13 Aug 2003 14:06 |
skip nav