please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A curious place that doesn't know whether it wants to be a psuedo-trendy eatery or a pub. Still, it's easy access and it's always entertaining to watch the overly camp manager mincing around to keep the trops happy.
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Decent pint of Carlsburg Export served by friendly barstaff. Interior is interesting and might have had a couple more given the state of Saturday's weather - BUT £3.50 a pint!!?? A session in there's going to leave you with a real cash-flow problem.
A pity as everything else was fine
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Visited for lunch recently, and I didn't like it. The interior is interesting and retains a slightly raffish feel perhaps more redolent of pubs out east. I was on the softies, but drinks-wise it looked limited to Theakston's Best - not a bad pint but a bigger range would be nice in an area where real ale is fairly readily available. For lunch, it was a choice between a hot buffet (unusually for a pub - the table containing it rather dominates the front room of the pub) or choosing from a menu. My ploughmans was distinctly average. I wouldn't go here over nearby pubs like the vastly superior Old Bell, or even the Crown and Sugarloaf next door.
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I really liked it but it certainly was expensive. The atmosphere was good considering the number of lawyers and financiers in there.
A good but limited choice of beer - in fact quite a small selection of drink generally. However, I loved the decor, the open fire, the charming staff and the slightly strange features like the bowls of popcorn and Bombay mix on the tables.
I'll definitely go back - and I have passed this place in the morning when it does a great-looking breakfast buffet. Maybe les of a pub than a bistro, but that is OK by me.
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Fighteningly overpriced, an interesting interior, but not at this cost
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I love this place and take my kids there regularly - the waiting staff are very friendly and the hot buffet means you can be in and out within 30 mins if you need to have a quick business lunch.
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Held my wedding reception here last month. The interest and care they put into the planning was amazing, and the appearance/service on the day was excellent. I'd highly recommend hiring this pub out for any function. It's also a nice pub for a drink in its own right, with a working fireplace, attractive decor, and plenty of seating. As Rex mentioned they don't have a lot of different beers, but the ones they do have are well kept. Will definitely be spending a lot more time in there.
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Pretty cool little place, I like to see old pubs so it appealed to me inside! Had some nice food, they go to a bit of effort for a pub meal, was very busy so hard to get quick service but service was still good, nice night out! Beers went down well after a rough day (hehe)
anonymous - 19 Jun 2007 16:32 |
Not so impressed as recent reviewers. Definitely not impressed by below par Timothy Taylor Landlord at £3.20 a pint! Seemed more like a French bistro than a pub; there were quite a few people in on a weekday late lunchtime but no atmosphere to speak of. Mirrors round the walls were fair enough as a decoration but I thought the adverts for this and that written on them were very much out of place - for a pub, but perhaps not for a bistro! Won't be returning, but gets a 4 for the tilework in the hallway.
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Super decor and friendly staff. Only been there once but got the feeling that they were having a party and that I was invited. Downside, poor choice and quality of beer (only Landlord and Guiness, although a reasonable choice of lagers) and those people averse to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers may want to give it a miss, as they're played loudly... a lot.
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What a great find. I have been in a few times and always had a warm welcome from the guys behind the bar. The food is great. The buffet is a fairly original idea and the I thought the burger was very tasty. All together a great spot for a few lunchtime or afterwork beers. I'll certainly be going back.
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I read some of the recent reviews for this place and because I work in the City, thought I'd check it out one lunchtime. I thought it was great. As has been mentioned the decor is somewhat unusual and well worth a visit alone. But I was also quietly impressed with both the staff, who were very friendly, and their style of buffet which, despite having worked in the area for six years, I have never seen attempted before. Whilst I can't comment on the price of the beer as I didn't try any, I will say that the wine list was excellent as well as being extremely good value. I shall be returning.
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BIG & STRANGE........
Only T Taylor on tap when visited ,£3.15 a pint too!
Building is a gr8 bizarre looking place and well worth a visit. Just strange things like the granite slab on the bar with cakes and flapjacks on, and a stack of plates on a table at the door of the pub...
My Rating 8/10(mainly 4 the building!)
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Got taken here with friend, got to say I was unimpressed. It felt a bit soulless, no atmosphere, but strangly it wasn't like it was empty. Spent a while trying to decide what to drink, as I didn’t fancy the ales ended up with a pint of larger with a good inch of head.
Luckily friends agreed, it wasn't all that much (has great reviews outside) so won’t be returning.
anonymous - 1 Feb 2006 17:22 |
Expensive, food was slow and average quality, this place might be trying to be a gastropub, but seems to have stopped trying after a few good reviews.
anonymous - 20 Jan 2006 11:45 |
Only real ale on last night was Timothy Taylor's Landlord - at a whopping £ 3.10 per pint. As previous contributors have correctly noted, this is no longer a pub anymore, but probably still worth a flying visit for curiousity sake - then head for one of the many splendid pubs nearby
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Oh what have they done. .. This used to be a fantastic pub full of characters and interest. Now it's hideous. They've cut the place in two (it's half the size it was) and it's a mess. And what bright spark thought it was a good idea to include a bloody fish tank in the middle of the room! And the ersatz "bric-a-brac" does nothing to improve the cheap, tawdry shadow of a former great self. Avoid!
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When I worked in Blackfriars, this was the place I would head for first for a liquid lunch. Went to meet a mate there for lunch the other day and its lacking that old atmosphere, had a drink and headed for Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese opposite.
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This used to be one of the classic Fleet Street drinking dens, but not now. It is now run by an Indian management team who are focussing on food. Not really a drinkers pub any more - beer range seems to have been reduced, only Timothy Taylors Landlord on at £ 2.80 p per pint last night. Has also gone female - friendly somewhat, although in fairness the impressive tiling in the front entrance and the glasswork inside seems intact. Try the Old Bell, a few doors down Fleet Street instead, or Ye Olde
Cheshire Cheese, which is also close by. Also The Tipperary is still worth visiting, and, of course, The Blackfriar by the tube station
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Having recently moved offices to the Fleet Street area I have become a great fan of what the guys at the Punch are doing. When you walk in even on a busy night the management will come out and greet you and try and organise you a seat - unheard of in most pubs! The atmosphere is friendly and cool, the food is healthy and very tasty - I can even take it back to my office. Free popcorn and bombay mix on the tables is nice gesture.
anonymous - 9 Dec 2004 14:22 |
Fantastic food, wine, beers and staff. Classy & fun all round in one.
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Birthplace of the magazine of the same name.
anonymous - 14 Jan 2004 18:35 |
