BITE user comments - DannyBoy2010
Comments by DannyBoy2010
Yes it could do with a lick of paint and a clean up. But it depends what you're there for - an excellent pint, or leaving your business card as a decorator. It's not that bad anyway. I could hardly mark it down for this reason!
I am local and try to pop in when I can. The jukebox has decent old school rock and is only 50p for 5 songs. The food is 'ok' but I refuse to get carried away with food in a pub review. If you want amazing food, go to a restaurant! (Even then, its no guarantee of good quality or value) There is a bad culture of this type of distraction from the main event in pub reviews.
The Lion always has regular beers and a good selection of guests. You name it, theyve had it. Great pub, and long may it continue.
6 Aug 2014 14:26
Only been once, just to make a change from the usual on the way to West Ham match. Nobody can say anything other than 10/10 for the beer. Its quite pricey, but they stock beers you dont have a chance of getting to try anywhere near this place. maybe right in town but not Stratford.
The experience is marginally detracted from by the setting - a shopping mall, but well worth a visit.
6 Aug 2014 14:16
The Plough and Sail, Paglesham
5.6 / 10 suggests a boring average pub in suburbia. I was surprised when I read that mark. This is a fantastic old pub in a beautiful part of rural South East Essex. I dont live far away and since I moved to that area, I have been back as often as I can, which isnt often enough.
There is always a good selection of ales and they have Addlestones Cider. I am not normally a Cider drinker in a pub, ever. But I will make an exception of Addlestones. The staff seem friendly enough. It does get busy on a Sunday but the food is great so this is a good thing and a positive. The garden is mostly shaded by mature trees and in the summer, you need that. You will never struggle to park if come by car. Unless youre on foot, you havent got much choice as the buses are too infrequent.
One thing I didnt realise until I got there was that it closes during the week for the afternoon. The other pub in Paglesham, the Punchbowl is the same so I had to get a cab back to the disappointing Royal Oak, Stambridge to continue.
I would say this pub is good for people of all ages and tastes. I dont really get whats not to like.
6 Aug 2014 14:09
8.8 out of 10 from 12 voters so far at the time of writing.
I would suggest that is a trifle over the top. Dont get me wrong, its a nice pub in a pleasant part of East Sussex. They serve decent beer, thats all Im really bothered about. The barmaid / landlady was very friendly and chatty to me and my two mates, all good.
I preferred the Robin Hood, Icklesham and the three of us all agreed on that, without question.
6 Aug 2014 13:53
This pub is a pleasant one mile walk from a campsite I stayed at and I felt right at home straight away on my first visit.
Its every wall and inch of ceiling space is covered in pub related regalia and references to Robin Hood. The staff are friendly and serve a fine array of ale (as well as standard lagers if thats your bag). Plenty of parking, a large beer garden backing onto a rural setting. Pool table is 50p a game.
If I could mark this down I would say that the music on both occasions I came here was utterly dreadful. Obviously, this is down to taste but not many people are into cheap cover versions of Elkie Brooks and Carpenters numbers on seemingly endless loop at a fairly loud volume. The food was adequate but it was very obviously out of the freezer. Perfectly edible, but no attempt was made to dress this fact up.
That said, I am the type of person to not get too carried away with matters away from the beer and the service, for this is what a pub should be assessed on. For that reason, I am giving this pub a high mark.
6 Aug 2014 13:47
Went here early on a Sunday afternoon for a few pints and a meal with my wife. The food was superb and I drank the best Broadside I've ever had. It seemed heartier than previous experiences of this beer in other pubs. Our first visit as we had traveled about 15 miles, and we will be back.
11 Sep 2013 14:51
The Cornucopia, Southend on Sea
Bloody Hell! I wanted to like this pub. I really did. Unfortunately, my open mindedness wasn't rewarded with an enjoyable experience. I got booed by my own mates when I insisted we pop in one Saturday night recently. The terrible, and frankly bizarre, choice of music was played at ear splitting volume enough to smash a World Record and the requisite traffic light disco flashes completed the pretence of an enjoyable evening. I dont wish to comment on the clientele as having not spoken to them I would not wish to make assumptions, but there was something not right about the whole place. Like something was going to happen, and it wasnt going to be very nice. I have been here alone once before on a cold afternoon just to kill some time and it wasnt too bad, but some places just arent Saturday night pubs and I can think of no better an example of such a boozer.
7 Feb 2013 22:40
Went for the first time in a few years recently and it wasnt as good as I remembered it. Still much better than most pubs, but I'm not a fan of Sam Smiths, it just tastes like not much at all. I'm sure they have partitioned the areas off even more now since I last went, so it's a maze just trying to find people you are meeting. Lovely decor of course, but I think I prefer the Ship just down the road.
4 Apr 2011 13:42
Went here a little while back having tried unsuccessfully to buy a drink in nearby Tiger Tiger. The only reason the friends from Croydon I was with suggested TT was half price drinks. I didnt like the place as soon as I walked in and would much rather pay full price for a better pub with proper beer but bit my tongue. Thankfully, we left thirsty and headed for the Royal Standard. Chalk and Cheese! This pub is ace! My eyes bulged at the range of Fuller's and my mate is now a convert from Weisbeers.
I carried 3 pints of ESB in the correct glasses back from the bar, though later on and much worse for wear, I sensibly used a tray!
Highly recommended pub and would definitely return if nearby.
29 Mar 2011 11:50
The Bradley Stoke, Bradley Stoke
A soulless place with as much imagination in its beer selection as its possible to get away with whilst still being able to call your establishment 'a pub'.
3 Oct 2010 20:49
I go here whenever Im down for the West Ham game, which isnt as often as I'd like. And YES I am sure about that!
This is a great pub and I come here because its always got a fair selection of ales and they always hit the spot.
I told my dad (from Stepney) about this place asking if he knew it, and he told me he used to train for boxing upstairs!? There was a little bag room and gym up there. This wouldve been in the early 60s.
22 Sep 2010 22:47
The Railway Hotel, Southend on Sea
Certainly agree with Ciderchap that this is the best pub in Southend by a long stretch.
2 reasons for that. 1.This is a fine boozer, and would be anywhere in the UK. 2. Its not hard for a decent pub to stand out in Southend as 'proper pubs' in this town can be a bit dicey 'agg-wise'. This one isnt tainted by such problems.
Good music blaring out at night from an old jukebox, and by day just a nice quiet place to sip. Very close to train station so out of towners will find very handy. Cheers.
22 Sep 2010 22:36
My brother who lives close by took me here last weekend. I asked if he could suggest somewhere with 'proper beer and a bit of character'.
Look no further! This is a great pub. Shame I had the car. Grrr! The very low bar height adds to the oldy worldy feel, and the main event was very palatable.
Thoroughly recommended.
22 Sep 2010 22:23
The Basketmakers Arms, Brighton
This is my favourite pub bar none. No pun intended. A pub is all about the drinks and the atmosphere and this place, in my opinion, cannot be faulted. Been here a few times now, not often enough as I dont live anywhere near Brighton, and as a bonus the food is also excellent.
Amazing range of malts that would be the envy of many Scottish and Irish pubs Ive been in. Staff who appear happy to be there, no aggro, what mores a man want?
Get there before early to guarantee a seat.
22 Sep 2010 22:13
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Horse and Groom, Rochford
Ive been here in different parties and was catered for as I would hope for each time.
One of the young barmaids working recently couldnt have been less pleased to see me as I popped in as the bell went one night, but on the whole the staff are friendly.
Sandbag is the star in this pub for me. So called after the recent floods that forced a fairly long closure last year. Shame as the pub is set down from a short but significantly steep incline from the road, so they really cop it when theres a prolonged downpour.
Ive always found the landlord to be a thoroughly decent chap, so I cant agree with some of the comments others have made. Well worth a visit in a fairly crowded area of competition - Rochford. To me, this and the Golden Lion are clearly the best pubs in Rochford.
6 Aug 2014 14:35