BITE user comments - ChrissG
Comments by ChrissG
Now 5 cask beers and 2 ciders with a wider and inexpensive range of food. Music every night,ranging from rock to bluegrass, even a ukulele night! Special events have included a Star Wars theme day, beer festival with music this weekend,1st and 2nd June. A real community pub, a credit to the family who run it.
28 May 2013 15:08
Much improved following re-furb by new owner. Good range of cask beers, reasonably-priced food and regular music nights. Clearly on the up.
31 Aug 2012 17:42
Shadow of its former self. Beer range diminished, probably 'cos nobody seems to go there.
21 Aug 2010 12:17
In a semi-rural location between Billinge and Carr Mill, this pub is well worth a visit. Pleasant yet quirky interior, with a pronounced rugby league feel, it has benches to the front and a reasonably- sized beer garden at the back, overlooking fields. 5 real ales from lesser-known breweries, served in good condition.One to seek out, it's just off the beaten track.
6 Jun 2010 13:37
Now four beers, and TimTaylor Landlord appears to be a fixture. Restaurant remains very popular. By amile the best pub in Rainford.
17 Dec 2009 20:43
Beechams Bar and Brewery, St Helens
Sadly now closed, don't know why. A great shame.
This now leaves the Turks Head as just about the only decent outlet for cask ale in or near St Helens centre...unless I've missed something.
10 Apr 2009 17:13
Can state food is really good, although not cheap. 4/5 cask beers, sounds churlish but choice could be more varied? Good quiz Wednesday.
6 Sep 2008 23:40
Outdoor area now improved, and beer range seems wider. Does lunchtime food, and also has started a Thursday quiz. On the up maybe?
6 Sep 2008 23:38
Best bar for real ales in Chester, food petty good too. Lovely surroundings, even better if it could secure a canal-side drinking area.
6 Sep 2008 23:35
Sadly not what it was, although beer range is still exceptional. Harkers down the canal has more and better choice these days.
6 Sep 2008 23:32
Beer not of expected Sam Smiths quality, service not what it was, and although it looks to have been refurbished seems to have lost its character,hardly evn a beer mat to be seen on tables. Hope I'm wrong as this was a good Chester pub.
6 Sep 2008 23:27
Now a highly popular pub-restaurant,recently extended and with an improved beer-garden.
Three cask beers now available.
4 Mar 2008 15:02
Not only CAMRA Merseyside pub of the year 2007 but also the Regional winner. Beers are unusual but served in excellent condition at reasonable prices.Recent Halloween beer festival was a great success, 35+ beers and ciders.Amanda hopes to have an XMAS festival with all the festive dark beers, should be well worth a trip.
23 Nov 2007 17:43
Stanley Gate Inn, Bickerstaffe
Can't understand this pub. Nice outdoor area,pleasantly furnished and what appears to be a reasonable menu. However only Tetleys cask available in spite of three beers advertised on handpump. When I returned for a 2nd pint, even that had run out.Profuse apologies from the staff, but as usual no manager to be seen. Disgraceful from what should be a flagship pub in the area.
28 Jul 2007 18:40
Completely agree with the last review. Drunken loudmouths as early as 7 o'clock, overpriced beer and in need of some customer service.
10 Jul 2007 10:52
Still best in Wigan TC,but little competition bar Wetherspsons. Beer garden needs attention, however.
7 Jul 2007 21:58
Meets a need for some, but total lack of cask beer and Plastic glasses mean it's not for others.
11 Apr 2007 21:38
The Old Joint Stock, Birmingham
Can't believe such a wonderful pub can be spoilt by such unhappy and uncaring staff. Beer decent, however but if I was managing this pub I'd give the staff some training in customer service.
11 Apr 2007 21:34
Nice pub, excellent beer choice, more than pleasant staff.9/10.
11 Apr 2007 21:31
Sadly looking a little jaded, side restaurant appears closed.No guest beer policy now, wonder if it's all gone wrong. A shame if it has.
2 Mar 2007 21:48
Would echo all of what is said below, beer range is first class, atmosphere civilised and staff efficient and helpful.Situation overlooking square also helps.
3 Sep 2006 22:50
Worth a visit for the decor alone, otherwise a typical Wetherspoons, with a decent outside drinking area.
3 Sep 2006 22:44
The Old Bell Tavern, Harrogate
By some way the best pub in Harrogate, with excellent beer choice,(served well), good atmosphere and friendly staff.
3 Sep 2006 22:41
Needs a good manager quite clearly. Great location, wonderful building, but short on bar staff regularly. Called in during beer festival, amazed to see up to a dozen beers available. But no. The first four I asked for were finished, only a handful were on. Quality not great. Shame really, this could be one of the top Wetherspoons.
16 May 2006 21:01
Found this by chance almost, read a review in the CAMRA Mereyside magazine and fell upon it, sadly whilst with the car. Easter beer Festival with 25 real ales(including cider), generally 5 cask ales at weekends and three during the week. Friendly staff and convivial surroundings, curry night at a decent price on a Thursday, this is a potential gem in the St Helen's area.Walking distance from the Abbey and the Gerralds Arms, so not that much off the beaten track.Definetly worth a trip or more.
17 Apr 2006 20:20
Getting a bit frayed at the edges, but beer choice good and served in fine condition.Seems to cater for a mixed age-group.
10 Mar 2006 11:48
The Trawl Boat Inn, Lytham St Annes
Well planned Wetherspoons with good patio area for outside drinking. Better range of beers than the norm,but seemed short of staff even on early mid-week visits.Small plasma TV in side-lounge, SKY Sports News only, Sports 1 and 2 not available.
9 Mar 2006 18:15
Certainly the best proper pub in Ambleside,full of walkers and (mountain) bikers. Good number of real ales, but you'll need to like Robinson's beers to drink here, no guests visible when I called in last week.
26 Feb 2006 17:32
Last review a bit harsh I think. Very clean when we called in on an early Saturday evening.Busy-ish, and compared to the other pubs in Windermere is quite exceptional.Nice TV for football and helpful barstaff.Beer range ok, and served in good condition.
23 Feb 2006 20:12
More of a locals pub than the others in Rainford village. Friendly staff and reasonably priced beers, generally John Smith cask plus a guest are available.Popular when football on SKY.
2 Jan 2006 14:20
Pub in village centre with bowling green attached. Generally Tetleys plus one other cask beer, currently features George Wright beers from the local brewery in Rainford. Popular when rugby and football on SKY.New and seemingly enthusiastic licenceees.Outdoor drinking area would benefit from improvement, however.
2 Jan 2006 14:17
Still better than many, but the guests have gone and the Cains bitter and the IPA bore no resemblance to the quality beers sampled here a year ago. Food still looks good value, and it is still a favoured haunt of football fans post-Liverpool games.And the aspect across St George's hall is worth the visit.
4 Dec 2005 22:44
The Fly in the Loaf, Liverpool
Even better now, with plasma TVs showing the football. And the staff and beer range are as good as ever.
4 Dec 2005 22:38
Next to Rainford Junction station, this pub does have a variety of events based there, but it would benefit from a face-lift.Generally 2 cask beers served in acceptable condition.Only pub in the Junction so has a captive audience.The locals seem to like it.
2 Dec 2005 20:00
The Bottle and Glass, Rainford
Attractive country pub only 100 metres from the busy Rainford by-pass.Well-deserved reputation for good food,also has two guest cask beers, changing regularly and served in top condition by friendly bar staff.Pleasant outside drinking area with views over Billinge Hill.Log-fire and candles on tables provides a delightful ambience.
29 Nov 2005 14:54
As a scouser on business in London, I was more than happy to see the typical Nicholson beers when I walked in. Trouble was only the Landlord was actually available (not in great condition).Why can't London pubs (central ones) turn around the pump clips when a beer has finished?
Otherwise not that bad for a pub so much on the tourist route.
21 Nov 2005 22:57
40 metres from Trafalgar Square and �1.70 a pint,surely beyond belief. But no, a decent Sam Smiths pub with friendly and helpful bar staff and a good atmosphere.Worth a visit for sure.
21 Nov 2005 22:50
Beechams Bar and Brewery, St Helens
Newly-refurbished one room bar in converted factory,this is an oasis in the desert for St Helens, a town centre not renowned for the quality of its pubs. Fine choice of cask beers at competitive prices, food menu looks good value, but served lunch-time only.Would benefit from outside drinking area.
13 Nov 2005 18:32
Excellent and atmospheric Victorian pub, interesting and varied beer choices, served well by friendly staff.Can see why it's so popular.
12 Nov 2005 14:16
Large well-kept Holts outlet with an outside drinking area. Reasonably-priced food, big screen shows sports events, rugby inevitably the most popular.As always with Holts prices are far less than other local pubs.
12 Nov 2005 14:10
Compact pub on road into Rainford village.New landlord seems to have improved both the ambience and the food, reflected in it's increased popularity. (Previous tenant was certainly not "mine host"). Improved outdoor drinking area and a warm welcome, together with the capture of the accomplished chef from the nearby Colliers Arms, should ensure the renaissance of this pleasant hostelry.Two decent cask beers on recent visit, served well, but expensive for area.
16 Oct 2005 20:02
The George and Dragon, Great Budworth
Glutton must visit some exceptional pubs if he finds it grim and dingy! This is a really pleasant pub that serves good cask beer in a delightful village,and is the starting point for many excellent walks.
12 Oct 2005 20:31
A gem of a brewery outlet, but off the tourist route. Good atmosphere with a wide range of clientele, fine Cains beers and also guests, some unusual.Walking distance from Albert Dock. Starting point for the best value brewery tour in the North.
7 Oct 2005 23:42
A friendly and lively pub, even early evening, with reasonable food and a choice of cask beers. Big screen for sports.Friendly and industrious staff.
7 Oct 2005 23:25
Good traditional pub with fine bridge views close to central area. Friendly staff and good choice of cask beers, well served.Only a minute or so from Quayside.
22 Aug 2005 22:15
Excellent pub so near to waverley Station. Friendly atmosphere and good choice of beers.
15 Aug 2005 22:35
Totally agree with banski,lovely place where you could eat and drink for a week without repeating your order. Popular to stay, as on edge of good walking country and handy for Windermere. If you can't get in there's an excellent B and B 200 metres away off the main road.
14 Aug 2005 20:39
Total revamp summer 2005, now all light wood and comfy chairs. Beer range is exceptional by any standard, with good choice of cask,(only one Jennings though), but wide selection of lagers including Belgian and Czech beers. Also first in Britain to serve Budvar Dark. Prices not bad either.
Interesting menu on blackboard.
10 Aug 2005 20:54
Lovely building, but beer varies dramatically in quality, and it can be a long wait to get served. On most recent visit all bar three of the cask beers were shown as unavailable. Handy for station, a good meeting point but looks in need of a firm manager to keep the staff on their toes.Did have big screen to show football, this seems to have fallen by the wayside.
10 Aug 2005 20:47
You'll never find this pub by accident; it's on the banks of the Mersey next to Fiddlers Ferry power station, and you cross the canal and railway to get to it. But worth the search, has good choice of cask beers and numerous whiskies. Used to be renowned for its food, but this stopped suddenly a year or two ago. ( Might have returned, I've not been in that area for a year or so).Outside drinking area with Mersey views.
9 Aug 2005 11:26
Better beer choice than most central pubs, served well by friendly staff.Mixed crowd.
30 Jul 2005 18:37
No-one's mentioned the accommodation, rooms are small but comfortable with Beatrix theme. Good value too by Lakeland standards.Beer is good and varied, and the food is certainly worth a try. Only problem is that there's only one other pub within walking distance, so it's not on a crawl route.
24 Jul 2005 20:40
The Drunken Duck Inn, Barngates
Magnificent setting, good beer, exceptional food, surely one of the best pubs in the lakes. Gone upmarket over the years, but a must for anyone visiting the Ambleside/Hawkshead area.Worth the trip (and it's not easy to find) just for the views.
24 Jul 2005 20:30
Sinclairs Oyster Bar, Manchester
Really good city centre pub with good and very cheap beers and,I'm told, good value food. Pleasant area for outdoor drinking, as long as you can cope with the plastic "glasses".Staff particularly efficient.
So I'm a bit surprised about the current low average rating.
14 Jul 2005 12:36
Good situation and nice lunches, and certainly popular after work. Staff however not wonderful,and it's certainly not a cheap place to drink.
14 Jul 2005 12:30
Great juke box and beer range similarly. Very mixed crowd with friendly atmosphere. Is it just me or have prices spiralled over the last year or two ?
14 Jul 2005 12:12
The Fly in the Loaf, Liverpool
Good pub in busy street, excellent range of Okell, guest and Belgian beers. Friendly staff and good manager. You'll never be bored if you can get a window seat here.
14 Jul 2005 12:07
A decent Wetherspoons with a small beer-garden providing a pleasant outdoor drinking area. Usually a good choice of beers.Handy for station.
14 Jul 2005 11:50
Fairly average Wetherspoons with generally a good range of beers. Staff are friendly enough but the place is desperately in need of refurbishment.
14 Jul 2005 10:50
Stanley Gate Inn, Bickerstaffe
Previously looking a little tired, the Stanley Gate has re-opened under the "Chef and Brewer " banner. Nicely furnished in their house style with pleasant outdor patio area. Staff enthusiastic but beer range limited for a pub of its size.
14 Jul 2005 10:42
Cosy pub just outside village centre with reputation for good food. Usually 3 or more cask ales available.Outdoor drinking area at side and front.
21 Jun 2005 13:21
Compact pub in tiny hamlet of Kings Moss. Generally 3 guest ales, served in good condition. Known locally for quality of the food, (with real chips) so does get busy at weekends.Outdoor drinking area at rear.
21 Jun 2005 13:12
The Junction, Rainford
Now 5 cask beers and 2 ciders with a wider and inexpensive range of food. Music every night,ranging from rock to bluegrass, even a ukulele night! Special events have included a Star Wars theme day, beer festival with music this weekend,1st and 2nd June. A real community pub, a credit to the family who run it.
28 May 2013 15:08