please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
On a recent trip to Liverpool we thought we'd eat in the newly-refurbished restaurant upstairs. On enqiring, we were politely informed that the eating rooms upstairs were only available at weekends. Mystified, we stood with pint in hand and a glass of mulled cider wondering what to do. Then the waiter informed us that meals were being served downstairs so we took up the offer and we were very glad we did. My fish and chips with mushy peas was just the ticket and my wife's haddock with herbs was sensational. Eating in such surroundings was wonderfuland; the service couldn't have been bettered or like my fish, battered.
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Sorry, but as a piece of architecture / interior design - excellent; as a pub - overated.
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Five ales available yesterday afternoon and added bonus of very few customers. This allowed me to wander around and have a good look at the marvellous interior.
I had a couple of pints of Brains SA Gold which was well kept.
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Gorgeous interior, as everyone says...it should be visited if you're within 20 miles. Perhaps a bit intimidating (and full of beer tourists) to be cosy?
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The Phil is currently closed for a refurb. Go along and check out the improvements when it reopens. The much loved Phil finally gets a revamp. Looking forward to seeing the changes!!!
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Absolutely staggering interior within a magnificent piece of street corner architecture. But as a pub going experience...!? A beer festival type event was advertised just outside of the doorway but I found only half a dozen cask ale options of which I opted for the quite common Bitter 'n' Twisted to the accompaniment of a curl of a lip by the barman as I'd only ordered half. I'm sorry I took up his precious time by trying to pace myself at the beginning of a crawl. After being dismissed from the bar I found a place to sit and quickly felt as though I was drinking in a museum or the drawing room of a listed tourist attraction. I drank up quickly and left, enriched on one level by my visit to one of the most beautifully designed and conceived pubs but not connecting to the over reverential atmosphere which made me feel rather uncomfortable. Would agree though that this is an essential visit for any self respecting connoisseur.
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All drinkers must be mandated to visit this pub at some time in their life, an abslutely unique interior. Even surpasses my other favourite - The Black Friar in London. Beer was OK, but rather secondary.
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Realalebum likes to go to the GOOD real ale pubs in the Hardman Street area at their busiest times.... Any GOOD pub at peak times will have a LOT of people in it. The best pints come to those that have the sense to know that you can only pour a pint SO fast. I think you'll find the best pints are let to settle ( no matter how busy it is!!).The verbal reviews of FILL lately haven't been great by the way!!
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I think you'll find it has had the same Manager for some time. The ciders were part of their seasonal selections over a year a go. Things have moved on in the world!
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Apparently the Philharmonic has changed hands, and in my opinion it has changed for the worse. The interior is still splendid, and appears to have been spruced up a little. The beer selection is still good - Wickwar Rite Flanker, Orkney Dark Island, Everards Beacon, a Celt Experience beer (don't remember the name), Adnams Old Ale, Titanic Tomahawk, Fullers London Pride, Cains Bitter and Sharps Cornish Coaster were all on yesterday lunchtime. However, there are no longer any real ciders where there used to be a few. The Phil was still busy and I still enjoy a drink here. But it has gone down slightly in my estimation.
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This architectural gem suffers slightly from being part of the Nicholsons chain, with its standardised point-of-sale material, menus, etc. but that cannot take too much away from the imposing exterior and richly ornate interior. The service area is a reasonable size, but rather inconveniently placed with respect to the drinking areas and main corridor when the place is busy (meaning that getting served can be a bit of a challenge). However, with a pint in hand you could spend ages looking around and noticing all the different features (followed by the obligatory visit to view the gents toilets...). I counted eight handpumps (usual suspects plus seasonal ales from the M&B booklet such as RCH Pitchfork at £2.75), but there may have been others hidden round the other side of the bar. A 'must' for any pub lover visiting Liverpool.
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@ mattbeer. i go to many places in town that you get served quickly no matter how busy it is. the staff in here just seem like they cant be arsed and arent trained in the aspect of look up an see who comes to the bar rather than just serve the next person who is standing next to the person you just served.
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@ realalebum - you went on a friday? Let me guess, late afternoon, early evening? No wonder it took "a lifetime to get served"!
Go during the week from lunchtime to late afternoon and you'll get served straightaway.
I've been impressed the last few times I've been here with the service, the beer, the prices and the surroundings.
Yes, it can get very very busy in here in the evening - especially Friday and Saturday - which is when all the sheep come here!
Anyway - The Philharmonic is getting refurbished in September this year and will be closed for 10 days.
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was here last friday and took a lifetime to get served. pint was substandard. will probably return in a few months to see if things have changed but i feel the only thing that makes people go to this pub is the toilets and the name.
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God bless my colleagues in the Fire Service as they worked very hard to stop the fire at The Korova (adjacent) from spreading into the Phil`. It would have been a monumental disaster had this building been damaged / destroyed.
Thankfully, all is well and the "new look" Philharmonic is a vast improvement on what used to be.
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This pub has improved immeasurably in recent times.
Visually it is and always has been spectacular. However, staff were often slow and/or rude. There were times when despite having 8/10 pumps, there wasn't a single real ale available. Furthermore, beer was often in poor condition. Nevertheless, the staff would on occasion refuse to change a pint, feeling (wrongly) that it tasted fine.
Anyway...These days it's all change. Staff are attentive and friendly. Beer tends to be in good condition, and there are always loads available. Prices, considering the nature of the pub and its location, are reasonable. There is an excellent quiz machine near the bar and a gambling machine, but for those who aren't interested in that there are two little private rooms (Brahms and Lizst!) and a large back room.
An excellent pub.
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Spectacularly furnished historic pub. I am rather puzzled by the low rating on BITE. Didn't want to take my shoes off to count the number of ales on pump, but there were at least 12 downstairs including Tournament, Cain's Best, Ffiagra, Thornbridge and Ubu. Upstairs is primarily a restaurant. The main bar is partially compartmentalised with rooms given names like 'Brahms' and 'Liszt'. Coldplay were on when I entered, in direct lineage from both I don't doubt. I chose the Brahms room as I dislike showy pianists. The room was dim but comfortably furnished. I sat in a leather armchair facing the main bar. Lots of people around looking very hung over from St Patrick's Day wearing 'Kiss me I'm Irish' tee-shirts and the like. This was rarely tempting. The only downside came with a visit to the Gentleman's Urinary Facility. The dryer was in a corner between the condom machine and the door. This makes it impossible to dry your hands without getting battered into a prophylactic dispenser by another's entrance.
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It's frustrating but not entirely surprising to see a few comments re service and average food here. Surely that's not the point when you're talking about a pub like this? Forget these minor grumbles, this place should be at the top of your list if you're heading to Liverpool. It's beautiful, has a real wow factor and does some good ale. Need I say more?
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I'd previously given the Philharmonic a wide birth over the past few years thanks to poor ale and equally poor service.
However, I got dragged in the other day quite unwillingly and was a little taken back. I'd heard rumours of improvement but never really hold much faith. I'm going to assume that the pub is under new management and thank God is all I can say.
The pub itself was noticably cleaner with a much better atmosphere than previous years. Took me a short while to get served but it's no surprise given how busy it was. From what I could see, everyone was getting served in turn and the staff were working very hard, and looking slightly out of breath.
When it was my turn I asked the lad about the ales available that day, he was probably only in his early twenties and didn't strike me as an ale drinker but I was pleasantly shocked he knew a lot about the beer and recommended Neathergate Azzaparrot as his personal preference. A very good choice, and a quality beer. Also nice to see somewhere reviving the old style handle mugs for fussy old men like myself.
The whole exerpience was just how the Philhamonic should be, lets just hope they keep it up. Credit where credit due and I commend the manager on their much improved efforts.
The Phil will be added back to my regular crawl
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Had a big argument with the missus in this place but a few hours and very pleasant pints later we were ok with each other again. I think the beautiful decor helped.
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Went in for a meal on Friday. One girl serving in a full restaurant, waited 15 minutes for a drink and 40 minutes for the meal, which was pretty ordinary and had clearly been sitting on a hot plate waiting to be taken to our table. Then went sownstairs and it took about 10 minutes to get servied at the bar. Won't be returning.
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Probably the most ornate pub in the country - solid marble urinals in the gents twin rooms called Brahms and Liszt - I'm a sure lots of others have given a far greater detailed description. Had the Cains and one from that small brewery where the blokes who own it are on the labels/pumpclips with a red nose on. Beer was an improvement on the past but still not quite top notch. It is however another one of those must visit establishments
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Went in on a Saturday lunchtime which seems to be the best time to go, busy enough but not crowded, and got served straight away. Jennings Cumberland Ale and Shepherd Neame Late Red, both well kept and well served. The fabulously ornate interior of this pub just has to be seen to be believed, it really does feel like an old gentlemens club, with its wood panelling, stained glass, mosiac floor and leather chairs etc. Upstairs the elegant restaurant serves some of the best pie and mash I have ever had, and service is generally quick and friendly throughout.
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Yes it's a fantastic looking pub but you just can't get served. It wasn't that busy on Saturday but we still couldn't get beer after a five minute wait. THere were 4 staff on but 3 of them seemed to be collecting glasses! How can the staff here be so crap when after walking 100 yards to the Fly, which was much busier, you get acknowledged as soon as you go to the bar and are served in double quick time. Call in to have a look at Brahms, Liszt and the toilets but don't try and buy beer.
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Spectacular interior as people have said, but the feel is slightly corporate and the beer while reasonably good (Cain's in this case) is not cheap. Worth going to at least to say you've been.
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Very touristy and got extremely busy on a Saturday night, approx 30 mins to get served. Real ale is decent but you feel like you are going more for the building than anything else, which is okay but won't be going out of my way for a second visit.
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The Philharmonic or the Philharmonic Dining Rooms to give it its full title. What has been left unsaid about what is probably Britain’s most ornate pub or at least in the top 5? In a city with an outstanding collection of exuberant edwardian and victorian pubs the Philly stands out. Five different drinking areas including the main bar, a Grande Lounge and two rooms called Brahms and Liszt, all decorated with mosaic floors, stained glass, brass plaques and a mass of dark carved wood. But architecture aside what is the beer like, after all it is a pub not just a popular tourist destination… isn’t it? The beers are usually major names, Fullers, Marstons, Deuchars etc, always of acceptable or better quality and there will be a choice of four or five most of the time. The staff are courteous and generally attentive which is just as well given a customer base of curious tourists and occasional Liverpudlians, however this means there is little in the way of atmosphere, it can feel more a privilege than a pleasure to drink here; perhaps this also betrays its gentleman’s club origins. I have a Liverpudlian friend who says the only thing worth going there for is the gent’s bogs.
anonymous - 8 Jun 2009 12:52 |
An imposing corner pub from the outside with an ornate interior. We sat in a small room just away from the main bar area. Apparently I missed the main room and the gents toilets, which are supposed to be worth a visit. I'll have to visit again! Wood panelling is the order of the day here and it's here in abundance. There's a good selection of beers - Morrissey Fox Proud of Pubs, Cains Bitter, Taylor Landlord, Cairngorm Monster Mash, Greene King IPA, Black Sheep Bitter, Deuchars IPA and Shepherd Neame Spitfire. There's also a couple of real ciders from the Westons range. However this is a Nicholson's pub and definitely not a free house. I also found it, perhaps unsurprisingly, a little touristy. If you're in the area, make sure you pay a visit.
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There's some more racked!!!
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It's back - sweet sweet Raspberry Fool!
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Raspberry Fool should be back this week!!!
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Bring back the Raspberry fool, it was bloody lovely
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Best visited when it is quiet so that you can relax & enjoy the ornate interior. Limited choice of real ales on my recent visit but the Deuchars IPA was on good form.
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A victim of its' own success. I couldn't get in recently due to it being so crowded!
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awesome building, must see if you haven't been, but agreed it is perhaps resting on it's laurels and a bit complacent.
mps77 - 20 Jan 2009 15:05 |
A must-visit pub for reasons that are well-documented, but you do have to wonder if they're getting complacent- the toilets are very smelly and the beer range is often very limited. That said, if these minor gripes can be resolved this will resume its place as one of the finest pubs in the country. Service efficient, food good and reasonably priced and quality of beer good. Go!
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Relaxing in daytime ,plenty people in the evening,good food.
A, must see for tourists.
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Found it impossible to get served at 8pm on Friday evening. Gave up after three people jumped the queue. Perhaps I did not barge my way through or shout loud enough, not my idea of a good time.
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Part of M&B's Nicholsons chain, The pub may look good but beneath lurks the typical m&B / brakes frozon food offer. more ales off than on when we visited last week, not the best in liverpool by a long shot...
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A majestic establishment..! Always a regular on our Liverpool pub-crawls for all the reasons mentioned below. Generally, a good selection of ales available and have yet to be disappointed. A comfortable place to enjoy a drink and company. We're usually here early doors, so catch the Friday night offices turning out and they're always a good crack..! Off now to another pub with 'rooms off', but on a slightly reduced scale..! The Roscoe Head...
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Whenever I have been here it's been crowded and it takes ages to get served. Several real ales at reasonable prices but be prepared to stand!
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a must visit, when on tour to lverpool, simply for the interior.
havnt tried the food, but beer was nice enough.
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beer's not as good as the Loaf but what an interior - easily the grandest pub I've ever been in. Take that Wetherspoons! Even with the after-work crowd in attendance there was plenty of space, I would reccommend coming here just for the spectacular decor!
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Beautiful pub, but dodgy clientele (a drunk at the bar barely able to stand let alone speak asked me if I was German when I couldn't understand what he was saying to me), lack of atmosphere, bad music blaring out for no reason, only two real ales on (Cains and Roosters, all the rest off). It should be a great great pub, but isn't.
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Generally accepted as the most ornate pub in Britain, this well-known pub is a must visit place for strangers to the City. Listed in CAMRA's National Inventory of Unspoilt Interiors.
It was built by the same architect as The Vines on Lime Street, another pub you should try and get to.
The room at the far end, entitled the Grande Lounge, used to be a billiards room and retains something of the atmosphere of a gentlemans club.
Note the splendid copper friezes and ornate plasterwork and the iron gates outside by the pub entrance.
In contrast to previous reviewers postings, there were half a dozen or so real ales on - I went for the Everards Sly Fox, a reasonably enjoyable pint.
However, it goes without saying that the beer is not the main reason that visitors to Liverpool make the short pilgrimage here.
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OK, so this is a great looking pub with remarkable gents' toilets, but what has it really got going for it other than that? The beer has been substandard every time I've been there, the food is disappointing, and the bar staff seem to find customers an annoyance. It's a shame.
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We met some friends in the 'Brahms' room late Friday afernoon and the six of us stayed for a meal which we had upstairs. The food was fantastic (quality & value) and ALL the beers were on! We were spolied for choice! Service was quick & efficient. My first time there, will not be my last
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A really impressive interior and friendly enough place, though, as seems to be the case from other reviews, most beers were off. Slightly disappointing beer wise.
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Great looking place with plenty of space - I used to have a biot of a love/hate relationship with the place because it was one of the smokiest pubs I knew, and though there were one or two non-smoking areas they were always so over-crowded that it was ridiculous. That's not an issue anymore though, obviously. Beer range is limited but there are usually a few real ales on.
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Another pub I remember from a significant time: it was here that we went to drown our sorrows when the news of the Hillsborough tragedy came in, on a Saturday afternoon in 1989. In those days there was something worth drinking in the place: it was either a Higson's pub or at least a free house with various local real ales. Last year when I went in there it was impossible to find anything worth drinking. The atmosphere was good. But there again, what pub in Liverpool doesn't have atmosphere? Give us the decent beer back....!
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Fascinating building, beer was OK...nothing special sadly. It was just so busy but we did arrive at the same time the Phil Hall kicked out which wasn't good planning!!
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On a are trip to Liverpool, we were really keen to visit the Phil, not having been there for many years.
It was a big let-down though. Firstly, there were no Merseyside real ales available. The barmaid said they'd just run out and were waiting for another delivery (why don't pubs ever seem to run out of bloody Foster's or Carling???)
The once-beautiful decor looked quite dusty, shabby and neglected - and with notices telling patrons what they could and couldn't do tacked all around it felt more like a Sunday School than a welcoming pub. The huge slot machine in the middle of the bar area was incongruous to say the least.
A reek of chips and vinegar pervaded the place.
Ladies' toilets were grotty. In the famous gents' the hand drier wasn't working - just confirming our overall impression of a lack of TLC.
anonymous - 17 Sep 2007 23:28 |
This is one of the most beautiful pubs I have ever been in, it feels more being in a palace than a pub!
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The Phil is a palace.There is no pub like it anywhere.
I have just spent a week in a remote part of Scotland where the two locals have no atmosphere at all. (Like a lot of Scottish pubs. Sorry Scotland). Bored to death with village life I made a beeline for the Phil almost as soon as I could. Sumptuous!Especially the dining room,formerly the Cocktail lounge.As for it being touristy so what, tourists are welcome as far as I am concerned and are part of living in a cosmpolitan city.
One small grouse though.If there must be piped music in the big room it should be classical piano not pop!
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What an experience, BRILLIANT, there's not another "pub" like it! it really is that special!!! the beer is good and the decor amazing! You have to see it to understand!! Don't miss it!
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Obviously one of the country's great pubs with gorgeous doorways and the best toilets around in terms of decor. This is an essential stop off on any visit to the city. Therein lies the sole caveat - this place is well touristed.
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The beer was ok & the rooms are a bit cavernous, but who cares, just go to marvel at the interiors, as this must be the best Victorian Pub left intact anywhere in UK.
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Three or four ales from various breweries. Beer was adequate enough. The pub itself is stunning; feels like an old fashioned gentlemen's club sitting in one of the smaller rooms in a leather armchair during a quiet session.
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Looks awful outside the pub right now. Surrounded by scaffolding and very unwelcoming. Met unfriendly bar staff there Saturday lunchtime. Won't go back there again. Beer has always been unreliable here.
anonymous - 20 Jul 2006 19:31 |
Bad experience at The Philharmonic.
I normally go there for a drink after the concerts at the Philharmonic Hall. Last time, I asked for a bitter and they gave me a pint which tasted very strange both to me and a few of my friends who tried it. Naturally, I asked for a new pint but they refused to give me one because they didn't believe that there was anything wrong with it. Of course, I didn't drink that horrible pint and I said to the barmaid she should trust her customers more, especially regular ones, like me.
0/10
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Wow, you just have to do this one !
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One of the worlds greatest pubs
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Apart from the architecture which everybody comments on - I've been in many worse pubs and have never had a bad pint in here. The food at lunchtime is excellent and will fill you up for the day. It may be a bit dusty but I would hate to be the cleaner here with all those carvings statues etc..............
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Awful beer(as I`v learnt in the past)-so stick to something they can`t ruin....The pub itself is one of the best you`ll visit-the main room looks like its come straight from a 'members club,somewhere in London'...The gents is ornately tiled-it makes you want to drink lots more -thats if there was anything worth drinking(brewery take note)!!
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A popular place with theatre goers from the adjacent Everyman, however as said by the sensible people below, this place badly needs a tidy up! It is one of the most famous buildings in our city and is getting left to pot! Managers, brewery - listen to your customers and spend some cash.
Saying that, the gents are still the most spectacular toilets in the country!
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A beautiful building, such a shame it's been left so dirty. The brewery must spend some money to save the stunning architecture from becoming ruined beyond repair.
anonymous - 3 Jun 2005 16:19 |
Despite looking rarther impressive I'm afraid it is a thumbs down for The Phil'
Following a vile pint of Black Sheep last night I've been sick as a dog all day. Similarly my colleague who had a pint of London Pride was also struck down with a stomach complaint. Thanks for that Phil'.
Clean your pipes out, get your cellar sorted and whilst you are at it give the place a clean, it looks and feels tired and unclean.
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the wonderful ornate entrance has been left to go to ruin, its dirty and such a shame to be left like that
anonymous - 14 Dec 2004 00:43 |
A must-see for the architecture and decor. Once you get over that however it's a pretty average pub. Beer is OK and the seats are comfy but it's more of a 'have one and then move on' sort of place.
Den - 4 Nov 2004 11:57 |
brill pub to go to on the way down the hill into town
h - 20 Oct 2004 15:09 |
Excellent beers,Friendly staff. a beautiful pub with a wonderful atmosphere.
jakob - 4 Aug 2004 19:08 |
This pub is a must if you've never been before. Must be one of the most ornate pubs in the country - and always has been a pub unlike the often splendid bank conversions. Became a bit pricey and touristy a few years ago but has evened out and back on my list of regular places to go to. Ladies are allowed to view the famous gents toilets with permission, although my female friends walk straight in - but they're not ladies!
palmwinedrinkard - 14 Apr 2004 17:31 |
Fanmous gents urinal (grade 2 listed), great interior,some decent beer, not my favourite though, maybe as it is not near enough the centre where I normally stay?
Acid Sorceror - 18 Feb 2004 10:03 |
The best pub I've ever been to. Awesome!
Geir - 7 Feb 2004 16:04 |
Beatifully ornate and highly recommended.
anonymous - 14 Jan 2004 19:36 |
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