please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Nothing appears to have improved since the last post. Useless service USP seems to be a large corner plot where you can stand outside and marvel at Great Titchfield Street.
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Near home and I give it a try from time to time and always regret it. They have 3 real ale pumps - including TT Landlord, but yet again this Tuesday none of them were available so had a rare G&T instead. I think they are mainly looking to appeal to the media crew (as noted below) and probably more of a ladies, or guys on the pull, kind of place.
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It's like the Tardis, this place. Walked past it so many times and never walked in, but it's massive inside! However, that's as impressive as it gets.
The minute you walk in you can sense people looking you up and down as if assessing whether or not you're worth talking to, or if indeed you're even good enough to be there. One quick look around the pub confirms earlier comments that this is full of "media types" (for want of a more abrasive description).
Service was good, beer was fine, seating was... bizarre, to say the least. They seem to have lots of live music, and it's always buzzing, but it's buzzing with the kind of people who can't have a conversation about anything of substance. It's as if they're just there to be seen.
Won't be going back.
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A great pub but awful staff and way too busy... therefore you spend a very, very long time waiting to be served and never get a seat at busy times.
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Used to be a good boozer, now full of media types.......
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Rubbish pub. Didn’t used to be.
I hadn’t been in here for a couple of years when, in need of somewhere showing the football, I noticed they had it on a small TV in the corner. The place had changed since I was last there; the designer leather sofas and wine lists have moved in. Always a bad start.
There were two members of bar-staff serving two customers when I got to the bar. One of them, having served a woman, then just walked off leaving me waiting for the other member of staff to complete a big order. Once I’d been served, I started watching the game, as were a few others despite the sound being turned off in favour of non-descript ‘funky-house’ music (fair enough, it’s not a football pub, I suppose). Ten minutes after kick-off, one of the staff walked up to the TV and switched it off, with no apology or consultation with customers. Regardless of your opinions on football and sport in pubs, this is just rude. I walked out without finishing my drink. I won't return.
For those so inclined, they do seem to have a good selection of continental lagers though. And it does get very busy on Friday evenings. However, don't expect character or good service in here.
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An extremely popular pub frequented by many BBC types including the odd name. Seems to get refurbished regularly. Always overflows into the street during the summer.
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Well i needed a place to meet my friends to celebrate my recent birthday and as a few of them work near this pub the desicion was made and a time set. On entering this pub i noticed to my dismay that it was packed to the rafters with the type of friday evening post office media company punters that usually make me spin round and head straight back out the door. As i was early and meeting people i coulndnt do this. Luckily my Lovely girlfriend was waiting with a pint of cooking lager for me. The place was so full we were standing up near some idiots talking about media and trying hard to impress each other with thier sickening faces and stupid scruffy but expensive and fashionable clothes. It always amazes me what people will wear if they think its fashionable. anyway back to the pub review. the beer was ok and the barmaids were friendly and atractive. The decor is typical for this king of clientel sruffy but fashionable and expensive and a bit boring. there is a nice pub underneath the crapulence hopefully someone, oneday, will show it off.
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A great place to try some continental fayre (with Budvar Dark on tap, mmmmm...) at VERY reasonable prices for the area. Only one handpump (Tim Taylor's Landlord) though, but it tasted fine. Friendly barman as well.
Inside has some nice touches (the Deco doorway for instance), though I was less sure about the stuffed goat that reminded me of Alanis Morrissette.
Well worth popping in, and also a great place for ale drinkers to take their bubble-drinking friends without offending their own palette!
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Beer selection is unusual, but certainly not amazing. They favour lagers, fruit and wheat beers over bitter, and to be fair, the pricing is reasonable considered to what other places may charge. There were 12 beers on tap yesterday; not sure about the bottles.
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Food is good. Interior large, spacious and airy with lots of seating and non-smoking section. Beer selection is frankly amazing. The younger beer lover's paradise
anonymous - 30 Jul 2006 14:49 |
its SO dingy looking that nobody goes inside apart from the poor person whose round it is
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Bit trendy for my liking - odd mix of chairs and tables, but some original features have been retained, note particularly the curved entrance by the front door. Yes, I'll come again, but I do prefer The King and Queen, which is more traditional and suits "old gits" like me a bit more
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When of the better pubs in the area. As per the photo on warm summer evenings you can expect to have vast mobs of people congregating on the pavements outside with their beers. Good assortment of beers available and not to pricey. This place gets a thumbs up from me.
Selly - 11 May 2006 14:26 |
get the baggy jeans on and get yourself a silly haircut and you'll fit right in here - just dont forget to bring the latest edition of Face. However a good place in the summer for a lunchtime pint on the pavement, catching a few rays and checking out the trim. Not known for its cask ales, more of a continental lager joint (staropramen, leffe etc), clearly to service the media kids. If hoxton fins arent your bag - try the yorkshire grey up the road - less pretentious.
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Certainly not a bland gastropub - more emphasis on beer than food. Although the food is excellent - have eaten here three times and always enjoyed it immensely.
Darloinexile - bottled beer is a good thing if the bottled beer in question is the likes of Chimay (blue and red), Herold Black Lager and Erdinger Dunkel.
As a real ale pub it is lacking but does, as you state, have two pumps in constant use - TT Landlord and Charles Wells Bombardier if I recall correctly.
Nothing wrong with Guardian readers either, per se. Although I think the clientele here are more likely to read Q magazine than a broadsheet.
anonymous - 18 Apr 2006 11:54 |
Recently filmed scenes for an upcoming movie here and it was closed for a few days. It's a hipsters haunt and if that ain't you then don't go as you're bound to feel out of place. Geek Chic is the dress code.
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Nice summer-Friday-lunchtime-boozer. But. It does take forever to get served on a sunny evening or lunchtime - usually-generous friends are suddenly reluctant to get the next one in. That said it's one of only a handful of pubs in the area where you can get a bit of a pavement tan in the summer - the crowd must approach 100 heads at peak times. It's pretty spacious inside, and not a bad spot to be for a few if find yourself in the area at the weekend.
anonymous - 18 Mar 2006 18:14 |
A pub I keep going to but don't really enjoy that much.
It has some over-funky decor and a weird array of chairs. Lunchtimes, avoid the rush before 1pm for great Fish Finger Sarnies and chunky chips. Evenings, probably best to avoid. If you don't have a seat you'll always find yourself in someone's way. Too few bar staff. Last summer it took forever to be served. I do like the drinks selection - some great cloudy cider and Koelsch on tap. Interesting note - the pub features in the "Easy Now" press ad for Red Stripe Lager.
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Great pub, not for old folks mind. I suspect some of the comments on here are from people who were perhaps expecting something slightly different.
First class selection of great beers from around the world. I haven't tried their real ales as nothing they have on grabs me, and I suspect they won't be as well kept as in a more trad pub. However the Kuppers Kolsch is fantastic and should not be missed, likewise you have the palatable Sleemans from Canada to try and the old standby Leffe is a winner. Fruli for the lady. Nice.
I like the staff and have eaten here twice and found it above average for quality and value on the grub front. Everyone I have introduced to this pub really likes it.
anonymous - 14 Dec 2005 14:12 |
Odd pub, beer hit adn miss, though they did let me drink in here until 7am one new years eve/day, was 1991 mind!
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Large high-ceilinged single room pub with a horse-shoe bar thrusting urgently through the centre. Large windows and corner location give a light, airy and modern feel despite the many remaining Victorian features such as the heavy patterned ceiling (unhelpfully painted in dark 1970's green). Discrete touches such as the mixed seating, plant-life and (maybe not so discrete) jazzy world music attract the media trendy. The Victorian wrought-iron public convenience converted into an artist's studio adds to the general media-tastic feel. It's cool. It's OK.
Black Sheep & Spitfire were the cask offerings. I opted for the Beer Of The Week - Sleeman's Honey Brown Lager on tap. This is a lager with honey. The honey did lift an otherwise ordinary fizz driven glass of stale lager into something drinkable if not totally endearing.
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For what it is - an alright pub in the summer when standing outside, and nice interior. Decent grub. You get a few 'blazers, ironic tshirts and jeans' nobs pretending to be public school, but they're easily ignored.
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Fantastic! I visited the The Crown & Sceptre two years ago only to be disappointed by its dank interior and miserable staff. However, since being refurbished in March the pub has been transformed. Careful to retain its old Victorian charm, the place has been tastefully restored with subtle modern touches. The pub’s cast iron railings and giant outside lanterns are simply magnificent, while the Crown & Sceptre’s prominent position within an array of restaurants, cafes and delis lends it a relaxed European air. The high-ceilinged interior – complete with two magnificent pillars - is dominated by the central bar area, decked in sparkling fairy lights. In keeping with the traditional design of the pub, the furniture is a mixture of dark wood tables and chairs set against rich green walls. 1970s-style orange bubble lights, retro chandeliers, funky spotlights and candles bring to life the pub’s wonderful features, including the ornate, engraved ceiling design. Large windows at the front of the Crown & Sceptre create a bright and airy space, while the array of window seating is perfect for a spot of people-watching. Towards the back of the pub – on the right-hand side – is a ‘lounge’ area resplendent with dark panelled walls, comfy upholstered chairs and luxury leather sofas to sink into. Retro wooden dressers and standard lamps, as well as an impressive fire-place, enhance the lounge vibe and this cosy space is great for quiet conversation or a romantic rendezvous. Finally, the staff were great – both attentive and friendly.
Rhys Hurd - 20 May 2004 15:31 |
Food service slow beyond belief - staff service poor often unable to speak English - forget about ordering food as staff are likely to forget about your order!
Rob Wilson - 30 Oct 2003 15:19 |
Don't know why exactly. I've never been able to put my finger on it. But I really don't like this pub very much. I actually find the bar staff unfriendly, it's too busy and I'm not too keen on the other punters. Seeing someone from last year's Big Brother in there finished it off.
I still go though. My colleagues really like it for some reason, so I'm obliged to. Or sit in The George on my own.
Greg - 16 Jun 2003 16:52 |
Lovely pub, lively / friendly, Many 19th century features remain, mixed crowd, staff are tolerant of a little ribaldry.
Control/Command centre of the international "Gas Station Pub Crusade"
chris - 25 Apr 2003 11:36 |
