BITE user comments - GreenwichGraham
Comments by GreenwichGraham
Sad to report that this once great pub is still awful, un-friendly service when you eventually get served, poorly kept beer (if it's on). Another triumph from Frank Dowling and Greenwich Inc. I live in hope that he will either go bust (sadly unlikely given the number of tourists in Greenwich) or that he will get bored in the Town Centre and sell up to concentrate on his bars and restaurants at the O2. If we were really lucky Alastair Hook of Meantime Brewery might buy it.......
1 Oct 2009 16:45
Despite the fact that at first sight this place looks like the OAP's luncheon club it has a great vibe on a Thursday (or Friday) lunchtime IF you like Jazz. Today we were treated to the usual suspects (Brunch Bunch) plus a guest, Cuff Billet on Trumpet, who was excellent, and the place was packed. Food as cheap and as good as before and a nice man called Mark (from Ealing apparently) paid for my Courage Best as it was his birthday (thanks Mark !) If you like live music try it- if you can't make weekdays there is a Jazz all dayer on Saturday 21st November.
1 Oct 2009 16:32
I thought I should give this place another try as others seem to like it, and so I did last Sunday. Jazz band were playing from 4pm onwards ( I think this is a regular feature every last Sunday of the month. Since I last went the place has had a lick of paint (a quite tasteful dark red), they still have Courage Best and Directors (not a bad pint I thought) and there was a free cheese board (very good) The barmaid was friendly although the guy serving looked a bit scary- it reminded me of the days I used to drink in East End pubs ! Much improved and I will be going back.
1 Oct 2009 16:24
The Guildford has been closed for redecoration all of this week and re-opens tonight at 6pm 'under new ownership' Lets hope the standard of the food remains the same as with the previous licensee who was French.
1 Oct 2009 16:17
I have been in here occasionally over the years usually for the Thursday lunchtime jazz or the Saturday jazz all dayers (one tomorrow from midday to 11pm) and have always been made to feel welcome despite not being a regular. It is a little scruffy, and it does attract mostly older customers. However the beer is kept well (draught Courage Best �2.60 a pint) and the fairly basic pub food is excellent value ( I suspect this is what brings the older locals in at lunchtimes) Bar staff are friendly and it is one of the few pubs left in Greenwich that is not part of a chain. Well worth a try if you like a traditional pub- if you don't there is always Wetherspoons over the road.
25 Sep 2009 10:02
Decent beer, nice views over the river if you can get a table by the windows. Some very strange looking S&M types at a private function in the 'restaurant' section the last time I was there only added to the evening. Not bad at all.
13 Sep 2009 13:09
The short lived W Lounge was followed by the even shorter lived Lani Tiki bar- have Greenwich Inc learned nothing. Clearly they have given up on it as it appears to have been shut for months, and their own website has it listed as the W lounge still- the'freshest funkiest club in Greenwich' apparently.
Frank- have you considered revamping this site as The Cricketers ? It was always busy and with it's location could do well with good staff, drinks and food. Maybe even bring the live music back- the place was always rammed when that was on.
13 Sep 2009 12:46
Went there once, nearly ended up in a fight with a drunk at the bar who was clearly a regular, he did have the good grace to apologise as we left . We have never been tempted to return. It could be so good but looks very run down. Try the Ashburnham Arms 5 minutes walk away.
13 Sep 2009 12:28
The Ashburnham Arms, Greenwich
Excellent and well kept Shepherd Neame beer, decent wine list, friendly staff who make everyone feel welcome, and good food (try the Sri Lankan Black Chicken curry) ! The front terrace and garden are ideal if the weather is nice.
The exact opposite of all of the Greenwich pubs run (or should that be ruined) by Greenwich Inc.
13 Sep 2009 11:58
The Crown and Sceptre, Deptford
This pub has been closed for several years and is due to be converted into flats
13 Sep 2009 11:19
The Plume of Feathers, Greenwich
Very good traditional pub, decent food, good beers, friendly atmosphere and staff, slightly off the beaten tourist track. Try it next time you go for a walk in the park.
8 Nov 2006 22:52
Another Greenwich INC disaster. Lucky for them Greenwich is full of tourists and visitors from elsewhere in south east London because if they had to rely on locals they would be in administration by now.
Only good for the River views.
8 Nov 2006 22:48
Probably the best of the Greenwich Inc bars, but that is not saying much. However I gather it keeps local designer LLB in extra large shirt cuffs.
8 Nov 2006 22:43
Another place ruined by the greed of Greenwich Inc. If you want a gay bar, go to the Rose. If you want a drink try any pub up Royal Hill.
The Cricketers was never more than a good old fashioned local, but had decent beer, friendly staff and great music and atmosphere on Sundays. I gather the building was falling apart and needed a lot of work but that does not excuse what they have done to it structurally.
This is almost as bad as the destruction of the Bar du Musee. Avoid.
8 Nov 2006 22:40
Great news- the awful sign above the front door has gone and the new French owner has improved things here no end. Friendly helpful staff(French again) and a decent atmosphere once again after the last false dawn.
The food is great (French chef I gather)- do try it- and once the upstairs restaurant opens some time next year(they are waiting for planning consent), the downstairs bar will be more of a bar than restaurant. Very good wine list and a decent choice of beers (slightly pricy). Very promsing and should get better- give it a try but if you want to eat on Friday or Saturday evening you will need to book as word has got around quickly.
8 Nov 2006 22:18
The Greenwich Union, Greenwich
The Chocolate beer has been given an overhaul for the winter season- its now un-filtered and 6.5% alcohol- and it's wonderful- do try it !
31 Oct 2005 23:24
This pub (The Barley Mow) was a good locals pub when we moved here 11 years ago but then the druggies took it over and you were more like to get offered the white powdered variety of coke than the real thing- and you could play spot the customer as a result- I am amazed it did not close down before it did. Total makeover this year, great, reasonable value food, good wine, decent beer, nice decked garden and friendly helpful staff. Probably the best pub in Greenwich to eat at the moment...if only they would put Timothy Taylor's Landlord on draught it would be perfect !
17 Oct 2005 23:13
Traditional friendly pub, good pint of Guinness, great music on a Sunday evening (Gordon Webber plus guests) Well worth a visit
17 Oct 2005 23:07
Thie was the best and most civilised place in Greenwich until Greenwich Inc got their hands on it, extended it and introduced rude staff who have the attitude of Attila the Hun. The food is dire,the once excellent wine list is now merely average, the service is surly and disinterested....nice building, handy late licence (though every bar in town will have one soon) Avoid unless you want to drink late.
17 Oct 2005 23:00
Not bad but was much better before Greenwich Inc got their hands on it. Caters now for tourists and students......nothing wrong with that but standards have slipped.
17 Oct 2005 22:56
Great Youngs beer, good value basic food, great wine if a bit limited in choice. Lovely sunny garden in summer. A regulars pub where everyone is made to feel welcome. Bar staff can change too frequently, and it was better when Martin was the landlord but still for many of us locals the best traditional pub in Greenwich.
17 Oct 2005 22:53
The Greenwich Union, Greenwich
Great beers (especially the Blonde and Chocolate),good wine( no big glasses though!) good food, and friendly staff. The only downside is it gets too crowded (unlike it's days as The Observatory' when it was dead). One of the best in Greenwich and thankfully not owned by the dreadful Greenwich Inc but by Meantime Brewery. Keep up the good work.
17 Oct 2005 22:49
Pretentious sums this place up (just look at that sign above the door)- shame because under it's previous guise it was truly awful- and it was given a major and welcome makeover.
When it re-opened as 'The Guildford' the food was good, it had a great manager and bar staff but it's been downhill all the way since then. Staff change too frequently, the food is poor, the wine list has been dumbed down and the real ale is often off. It does have a popular quiz on a Thursday night but at other times it's dead. It is still a nice place to have a drink in the garden or on the deck in summer but that's about all. The owners have made no effort at all and despite the fact it's 'my local' I would far rather walk further to the Richard 1st, The Hill or Greenwich Union.
17 Oct 2005 22:43
This used to be a good basic pub, with great music on a Sunday night ( Skazz, Special Delivery) but it's closed. Rumour has it that Greenwich Inc have bought it- so yet another place ruined
17 Oct 2005 22:17
Back to GreenwichGraham's profile
The Guildford, Greenwich
Latest News- Inside restaurant in Greenwich South Street are the new 'owners' here so at least the food here should continue to be good, but it remains to be seen what is happening with the drinks. The original name 'The Guildford Arms' has been re-instated so they have got something right from the start.
2 Oct 2009 11:18