please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Visited for the first time last night, and was surprised to find you could get a seat on a Friday evening despite it not being that big inside.
Probably helps it's tucked down an alley and most people just go to the Wetherspoon, The George or The White Hart.
Three ales on - Doombar, Landlord and Long Kiss Goodnight - all in reasonable nick and �3.70 a pint.
Staff were pretty efficient, with not too long to wait at the bar and tables cleared of empties fairly regularly.
Food advertised but didn't try it.
Music in the background was fairly loud but you could still mannage a conversation across the table.
Reasonably clean toilets downstairs - although think I would probably have taken a tumble down the stairs had I had a few more ales.
White Hart has a better beer selection and the Wetherspoon is cheaper, but a good alternative.
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A lunchtime visit to find London Pride and Everard's Tiger available on handpump - the latter was in pretty good form.
A relatively small sized palce, clearly geared up to serve food (at least at lunchtime) but we did not sample the menu.
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When I first came into the Bull aroud 18 years ago it was a spartan fairly nondescript place. It is one of a number of pubs (Magpie, King Stores, Williams) located in small side streets off Bishopsgate near Liverpool St station. It has been transformed over the years into somewhere rather pleasanter than its former self.
It is a single room ,wider than it is deep, with well upholstered booths along the walls and a number of chairs and tables at the front. Although it was lunchtime the fact that all the tables were laid with cutlery AND wine glasses suggests they are more interested in what you want to eat rather than drink.
Two pumps at the bar one dispensing Pride and the other - supposedly for a guest ale - without a clip. A few premium lagers also on offer. I had a pint of Peroni which unusually for London was less than �4.
There is quite a nice ambience to the Bull but it was hard to escape the feeling this was more of a diner than a pub. There are lots of superior establishments nearby but this could be a good place for lunch.
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The Pint of London Pride I had was OK.
Even managed to find myself a seat which is never easy in the City around Christmas.
Very popular with people standing outside.
Staff seemed friendly enough.
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They must be doing something right, judging by the hoards of drinkers that pack the street outside of a Thursday and Friday night. Either that or it shows the shallowness of the City Boys laughing into their Peronis and squeezing the last couple of pints out of their expense accounts before they get taken away.
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i agree with the other reviews ...went there last week with a group of mates. They used to sell lots of different brews now you are limited to Peroni which i think has something to do with a connection to the italian pizza place across the way.....the owners may be the same.....shame ..decor is better than before and the shitter is a major improvement but its too plastic and the range of beers is a let down ....used to be a good pub for a couple of beers on the way home.
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no redeeming features at all - it's a hole in the wall that sells booze. Atmosphere free.
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Many City pubs make an effort with real ale, but unfortunately this isn't one of them... It did sell an OK pint of Pride, but that's it apart from numerous fancy dispensers of no doubt hyper-expensive imported lagers.
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One of the most perlexing lunchtimes ever 'spent' in the City. The service was virtually none existent - the food was average, my colleagues burger was cold...
When the bill arrived they had added the service charge, a side plate of chips (�3) and another �4 for a menu item that wasn't even on the menu (nearly 20 notes over our guestimate).
Don't be fooled by the pouty self exonerated female members of the bar staff either...
Great if you like Peroni on tap - oh yes they had run out of that as well.
Overall - Walk a bit further to Subway for your food and then hot foot it to any other watering hole in the immediate area.
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OK, I'll elaborate. Although the refurb is fairly well done on the face of it, they have completely destroyed everything that was good about The Bull. There is only one ale on tap now, Pride, which is inevitably off. Ice cold and tasteless Amstel is 3 quid a pint. The Victorian khazi has been ripped out. Loud music/pop videos. And Grumpy Gay Barman has gone.
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Reopened just over a week ago all tarted up. But it's still The Bull, which is something to be thankful for I suppose. Not a bad little refurb, in fact.
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Walking past here yesterday, it seems that it is being renovated, lots of work being done inside, but crucially the bar and signs outside remain in place.
anonymous - 23 Nov 2006 11:32 |
You�re right Dave it closed down about four weeks ago and the rumours are that it is not going to be a pub anymore - perhaps another Starbucks, we need more of them don't we??? When Punch took over the Spirit Group and immediately announced the closure of 300 odd pubs this was one of them.
Bit of a shame as things were looking up, the new guvnor Charlie was getting a few thing done and some good bar staff arrived. Dougie is I think looking for another bar job nearby and Emma is working at the Orangery in Cutlers Gardens.
There has been a Bull Inn in Devonshire Row from the early 16th Century and now for the sake of a few quid Punch have sold out - shame on them
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Arranged to meet some old friends there last night, I arrived to find that it has closed down! No indication whether it'll be re-opening as a pub or not.
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Regrettably this place has gone massively downhill over the past 4-5 weeks. The gents toilets have been blocked for ages with the only action that seems to have been taken being the provision of a plunger for customers use. The C4 reception on the TV is so poor that one wonders how they had the front to advertise that they were showing the Ashes.
Suzanne has now left and, despite being told he will not be taking over, Dean has been left to hold the fort until a new Manager is appointed. Very worrying I saw GGB in there lunchtime, thankfully he wasn�t behind the bar but if he reappears we�ll certainly be changing our local.
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Nice one Millay. Your last post is spot on as usual. We knew the last barman as 'GGB' - Grumpy Gay Barman. As you say, the ale is well kept and word gets around so it's best to drink there early in the week. I'm a bit of a pub-khazi-connoisseur and, although I agree with your comments, I think that The Red Lion on Eldon Street can rival The Bull for smell! Had a smashing pie in here recently. The pub, I mean, not the khazi.
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Much better than it used to be after they got rid of that miserable little git behind the bar. Quality of ale is now good and there is a regular guest. Only problem is if they have a busy week everything runs out on a Thursday/Friday and they refuse to put another barrel on as they don't open weekends. Worst smelling gents toilet in the City.
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Busy but good beers and a great alternative to Hamilton Hall (JD Weth) at Liverpool St. Hold your tongue with the city boys after a couple of Prides though!
Dan - 6 Sep 2004 12:14 |
A smashing little boozer with decent real ale on offer. You can get one of the best London Prides around in here and there's often some Guests as well. Does a nice plate of food if you're that way inclined. Nicely tucked away off Bishopsgate away from the hordes of thirsty City workers.
PieFace - 14 Apr 2004 13:43 |
