please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Could not believe how rude the waiter upstairs was - mentioned in previous reviews as a rude little chap. He was rude when we told him we weren't ordering food and said we would be moved If someone that wanted food arrived. Joke. Never heard of a pub that does that. Then my boyfriend went to get a pint and a coffee and as the bar maid was handing him the already made coffee the same waiter came over, yanked the coffee out of her hand and simply said "we don't serve hot drinks to those who don't order food".
Obviously he was lying and just wanted to be a little s**t.
We left. What a dreadful little place.
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I must have caught this pub on a good day!! Cheery barmaid (although after she served me she did spend a lot of time chatting to her mates - but to be fair no customers were kept waiting long). I had a half of a guest beer (sorry forgotten which one it was) but it was OK and it looks like I will have to visit again just to see if I really did miss out on the experiences of other reviewers.
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A truly hideous pub! I’ve just been reading the comments about the short chap who's really rude to people. When we went in, he offered to let us sit in the upstairs seats (marked bar/restaurant) but pointed out we would be shifted at the drop of a hat if people came in to eat. Fair enough. Having looked at the menu, we decided we would actually like to eat after all. We went to get the drinks in, and one friend asked for a glass of dry white wine. What he served her wasn't the house wine, it was something more expensive. She politely queried this and he shouted at her and bullied her into buying the more expensive one. Then he shouted at my heavily pregnant friend for "only" buying a lime & soda and indicated that we should all be putting out change in the 'tips' tray. When it was my turn to be served, he didn't have anything to shout at about, but decided to get stuck into me about the 'outrageous' behaviour of my friends instead. He then misheard my order, gave me one drink instead of the two that I'd asked for and sighed dramatically when I had to repeat that I wanted two pints. Needless to say, we didn't order food. We decided to drink up as quickly as possible, while the staff paced ominously up and down behind us. There were a lot free seats downstairs, but we didn't want to sit there as it smelled of fetid, blocked, rotting toilets – although attempts had been made at masking this with a powerful cinnamon-scented disinfected. It didn’t work. Still poor, clueless tourists and heavily pregnant ladies who just need to sit down anywhere as quickly as possible should keep this unpleasant place afloat.
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Tried to go here for lunch today. A friend had made a reservation by phone. We were told by an extremely unhelpful owner/manager that they don't take reservations on Saturdays, that we must be mistaken, etc. etc. No apologies for the confusion, no attempt to find out which barman had accepted the reservation, no suggestion that we might like to have a drink while we wait for a table to become free, etc., so we left. Clearly this pub has enough tourists and does not need your business, and will treat you accordingly.
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5 beers on yesterday at £3.60 a pint. Pretty busy in the early evening. It's Ok but there are better pubs in the area. Lunchtime food menu looked quite reasonably priced but more expensive in the evenings.
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I was once about to order a pint of bitter here only to watch in horror as the slops' trays were poured into another client's glass.
We left.
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I agree with Kim70. I regularly attend the ROH and meet up/eat/drink here on occassion before/during/after the performance. The food and drink are fine, if a bit pricey (to be expected, I suppose) and the service I and my friends have experienced has, if anything, been above and beyond what could reasonably be expected.
The Anglesey next door is also OK but tends to be a bit packed when trying to find a space/table for 3 or 4 of us plus drinks plus food. Hence our commen preference for the Globe.
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Hello, everybody.......From your reviews, I have a strange feeling that I came across exactly the same kind of rude / polite (it depends on circumstance) manager & staff several years ago in a restaurant in Covent Garden. I wonder do they always work as a team ?? Does anyone have any ideas about their nationalities ?? I am curious !
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We had a private party at the Globe last week. The food and service were excellent, the whole event was organised for us including a cake and flowers, the music and the atmosphere were fantastic, I would highly recommend it for a Christmas party or any other occasion. The staff are all extremely friendly.
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I regularly go the Royal Opera House and always have a drink in The Globe during the interval and afterwards. The manager and the staff are very friendly and efficient, after the opera the musicians are regulars there which adds to the great atmosphere. I have eaten there a few times too and the food is always excellent.
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If the owner is as rude as you say, the pub will not survive for very long. Plenty of competition these days!
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I have never seen anyone create as much of a scene as the manager of this place over something so trivial. We were thrown out for having the temerity to sit down, after asking if it was fine to sit where we wanted. One day that guy (who is not big in any shape or form) will mouth off at the wrong person and get his just desserts. Small man syndrome. Never visit this pub and hopefully he'll go bust and leave these shores! Next door much better in all ways. AVOID THIS PUB.
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WORST STAFF I HAVE EVER SEEN. The manager is unbelievably rude and arrogant. No atmosphere. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PUB AT ALL COSTS
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Went in there last week and there was an amazing band with an old Rastafarian singer singing really great authentic blues, Reggae and Ska and everyone was dancing. Apparently they are there most weekends and for this reason I'd go back again.
Seafarer beer was nice.
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What a shame! The pub is lovely but the owner is appauling. He is an extremely rude and angry little French man who thinks he's running the Ritz instead of a good old fashioned boozer. We have been there twice and both visits have been ruined by his rudness and horribe attitude..! I will never set foot in that place again or give him a penny of my hard earned money! Go back to France-you don't deserve a place in Covent garden! NIGHTMARE!!!!
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Went into this pub last Friday, the first time since it's makeover and I thought the new decor wasn't particularly to my liking - a bit too bright for me.
However, I drank the Seafarers which was very nice indeed. The pub was busy although not packed and bar staff seemed friendly.
Overall a pleasurable experience!
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The photo of the pub gives the impression of a small traditional hostelry however nothing could be further from the truth. The guts have been ripped out of this pub. It is now a single sterile room with three large handeliers above the bar giving it a brightness that was almost painful.
Ales were Pride and Seafarers. If this is a Fuller's pub they should be ashamed of themselves but I suspect it is just a prime example of what happens when pubs fall into the wrong hands.
Avoid like the plague - there is a better pub next door (Marquis of Anglesey) and a much better one three doors down (Coach and Horses). All that is wrong with Covent Garden in one small room.
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Ive visited this pub three times in as many weeks. Under new management with brand new staff, food and drinks this bistro pub is a must if your in the area.
A full house and very busy with food being served on three floors, the staff were jovial and full of smiles.
If any of said barmaids and waitresses happen appon this review, thankyou again for making our night so fabulous!
See you next week!!!
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The rumours are true! Elvis has left the building. New manager and currently under renovation, things seem to be looking good for this pub.
The real fireplace is a deffinate bonus, variaty of ales, beers and spirits and a nice relaxed atmosphere with cande lit tables.
A favourie hangout of the workers and performers from the royal opera house, a must if your in the area before or after a show, with a chance to bump into the performers youve just seen perform live on stage.
I look forward to seing the venue when the renovations are complete.
10/10 !
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I believe your famous, "dirty old man","dysfunctional", "incredibly nasty landlord with an obvious Napoleon's complex", all of which i agree with has hung up his attitude and left. The big question now for the new proprieter is what to do with the paintings?? He is stuck with portraits of Hitchcock, Churchill and Henry VIII that have the previous owner, HR,'s face painted on them. Does he get his own face painted on them? Leave them as they are or get the real ones restored?? Nightmare!!
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I knew this pub many years ago when it used to be a popular watering hole. A rather strange colour scheme with what appears to be a picture of the landlord painted as a famous Henry VIII picture.
Spitfire was fine rather than excellant.
Not a pub I will bother visit again for quite a few more years.
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An incredibly nasty landlord with an obvious Napoleon's complex. Will never visit again. This has to be the most abhorrent demented little man running a `pub` in london. Having worked for pubs in the West-end for a few years now, I can safely say that it is not uncommom for a pub landlord to have a few drinks on duty, but when a `manager` cannot handle his tipple and ends up violently abusing his staff through harassment and physical threats it becomes something that is a major turn-off for the customers.
Someone else commented that the manager is complarable to Hiltler, I would say its closer to Herr Mengele.
Avoid like herpes.
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Glad to note the near-unanimty about the dysfunctional landlord. Anyway, there has been something funny about the cellar at this pub ever since its current incarnation started in December 2007. To begin with, they persistently got the Deuchars and Youngs barrels mixed up, meaning that Deuchars came out of the Youngs pump and vice versa. Staff were not fluent enough in English to understand the mistake when it was pointed out. Then on my most recent visit I was served a pint of Deuchars so unpalatably tart that I had to take it back (though, oddly, it looked completely normal). It was changed without quibble for a Youngs, but the ale was very pale (Deuchars-like, in fact) and tasted nothing like Youngs! For the record, Spitfire is served too but I didn't get round to trying that. Looking forward to the next regime change!
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I have visited this pub twice in recent weeks (to this day i still don't know why i made the second visit).
The pub itself is fine, comfortable and cosy, but the atmosphere is somewhat soured by the little Hitler (little being the operative word) posing as a member of the service industry. I don't think the word 'service' is in this man's vocabularly because as approaching the bar, rather than being welcomed and asked if i could be helped, he just stands there staring at you aggressively as if you're a burden.
On my last visit, and it will be my last, he was too preoccupied by another female customer wearing a skirt that could have passed a belt to pay any attention to the needs of others wanting a drink.
He is, as Harold Steptoe would say, a dirty old man.
Please take my advice and don't waste your time in this establishment, it's not the pub that falls short it's the short manager.
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My wife and I stopped for a pre-theatre drink and dinner around Christmas, and found the climate and owner delightful. He was cordial, knowledgeable about American politics and education, and entertaining. His stock of American whiskey was under-rated so I offered to send a bottle of Kentucky Rye upon my return. The cider was just a sweet as first tasted 36 years ago at my wife's grandmother's house in Brimpton. My taste for English Ale leaves a bit to be desired...but the scotch (provided gratis, he left the bottle on the table) by HR was a perfect ending to a perfect evening. I can't wait to return and sample the Rye.
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Never going to win pub of the year, but has had an interesting referb.
Beer is pricey but it’s a half decent range and well kept.
Although the much maligned landlord can appear quite prickly, especially to his staff, I’ve always found him pleasant enough and his antics can be of some entertainment.
Worth at least a drink as you pass by.
mrse1 - 13 Dec 2008 00:45 |
Is this a covert champagne bar as I didn’t get any bubbly vibes during my recent visit?
By the sounds of it I was fortunate enough not to cross paths with the governor, but the barmaid that served me was nice enough. Deuchars, Spitfire and Youngs Ordinary were available along with San Miguel, Fosters, Kronenburg John Smiths and two ciders, Strongbow and Bulmers.
The pub is small, as you’d expect for the area, but there is a real fire.
The background music was depressing and in the end I was glad that I had only ordered a half as there are much better pubs in the area.
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We met some friends in London at the weekend and on first impressions decided the Globe looked like a nice place to have lunch. We were totally wrong. This has to be the worst pub we could have entered in London. The Manager was a rude obknoxious man who was constantly barking orders and swearing at his staff. The language alone was very strong and unnaceptable. We found the atmosphere quite disturbing and left before we had finished our drinks. We certainly did not order food and will not be returning!
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Awful place. Exceptionally bad service and poorly kept beers. Quite how the manager of this establishment thinks he is an ideal candidate to work in the service industry is beyond me. He is quite possible the rudest ill tempered man to have set foot behind a bar. When not abusing customers who had the audacity to order a drink he is bullying his miserable looking staff to the point where punters felt the need to intervene. I was unfortunate to have witnessed him scream accusations of theft at one of the bar staff who promptly fled in tears. The man is a tyrant. His personality disorder is further illustrated on the paintings on the walls where various portraits of important historical figures (Henry VIII etc) have had their faces replaced with images of the manager. Quite scary really. I left after a few minutes having taken a sip of a rancid pint of bitter. I could not be bothered to complain about the dodgy pint as Stalin behind the bar would probably have tried to send me to the Gulag.
Avoid this place at all costs.
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I was a regular at the Globe before it closed, so went along in anticipation now it has re-opened. It was unbelievably bad. I can’t believe the landlord has ever run as pub before; he appears to think that shouting at his staff, thumping the equipment and being rude to the customers is the way to go. We left after one drink, others left before they had even been served, as he was so rude to them. It wasn’t even Basil Fawlty funny, it was just plain nasty. And it wasn’t even a good pint. I can’t see The Globe lasting very long like this.
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I didn't realise this was supposed to be a champagne bar, but it explains why the malevolent dwarf landlord was so angry at being asked for two glasses of lemonade that he slammed them down on the bar hard enough to spill one of them.
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The Globe has now opened up as a self styled champagne bar. I wouldn't bother!! It used to be an alright pub but now its neither. CRAP.
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The Globe has re-opened!
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Rumour has it that the Globe has been purchased by a new owner and shall be opening again soon. Fingers crossed this once fine pub shall return to the scene.
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A real shame - I spent an evening in here a few weeks ago with a mate who wanted to tuck into the French bar manageress. The staff were a good crowd, we went on with them afterwards to a late bar and it was a good night. A shame this is closing - seemed to be a successful pub, packed on the Thursday night we were in.
anonymous - 22 Sep 2006 15:08 |
Now closed for good. One of the many pubs that are being sold off.
anonymous - 22 Sep 2006 13:47 |
A good pub with pleasant atmosphere with the added bonus of Addlestones cider on tap but be warned......do not have the food as the standard is below par and very, very badly cooked and presented.
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Standard Nicholson's pub. Beer's well kept, decent selection. Gets very busy in evenings and hard to get a seat.
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Far too bright.
Jack Knight - 24 Aug 2004 12:06 |
has great lounge chairs upstairs and that always seems to be fairly empty. Small but you can usually get a seat, even if it's not one of the leather lounges. Relaxed also
Sarah - 8 Apr 2004 16:54 |
this pub was used in hitchcocks film frenzy
mark - 1 Jan 2004 19:10 |
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