BITE user comments - JonRambo
Comments by JonRambo
Simple, traditional pub tucked away in rural Suffolk. Old fashioned bar, nothing fancy and all the better for it. Three ales on when i visited (Adnams, a GK special and a Green Jack from Lowestoft). The food looked good although I didn't try it. Seemingly Blaxhall has a tradition of local folk music and The Ship is at the heart of it although there was no music on when I visited. Worth a visit if you're in the area.
15 Sep 2019 21:42
Nice, friendly country pub at the foot of the Stiperstones nature reserve...so a great location for hill walking. Hearty, simple food and decent ales. Very nice!
(Tip: check out the nearby lead mining museums at Snailbeach and The Bog. Great local history)
21 Aug 2019 21:25
The Bowling Green Inn, Wells next the Sea
Reasonable, simple pub a short distance away from the centre of Wells, in a quiet location next to the main road. Didn't try the food but looked like simple fayre; Considering the location and lack of sophistication in the venue, the beer was pretty expensive. Almost £4 for a pint of Wherry (August 2019). Can't remember the other ales...one of them was GK though. OK, but nothing particularly memorable.
21 Aug 2019 21:20
The Edinburgh Inn, Wells Next The Sea
Straighforwards, large pub 5 minutes inland from the quay. Nothing fancy, targeted at drinkers...nothing wrong with that! Wherry and Nelsons Revenge on at £3.10 (August 2019) which was considerably cheaper than other pubs in Wells. Good condition. The other ale was GK Abbot. Friendly mix of tourists and locals. Didn't try the food but it seems like there is an adjacent restaurant.
21 Aug 2019 21:16
Right next to the brewery so 6 ales on, all from Wadworths and all in good condition. Staff were all teenagers and a bit gormless. A bit soul-less inside with a large dining area at the back, so it didn't have much of an atmosphere. Other than the ales being good, it didn't stand out.
16 Apr 2018 13:19
This place seems to have been much smartened up since the previous comments. 6 ales on, all from Wadworths and all in good condition. Friendly and efficient staff and friendly atmosphere. Didn't try the food but the menu was the corporate Wadworth's one so I imagine from the deep freeze/microwave.
16 Apr 2018 13:17
Maybe this place has had a recent change in management? There were 3 or 4 ales from Butcombes on...all pale ales and all around 4%. No guest ales. The only draught cider was Butcombe's own. So quite a boring collection of drinks, even though the quality of each pint was reasonable.
Lots of shiny tiles behind the bar, staff wearing smart aprons and white shirts. Felt a bit corporate and soul-less. Didn't feel like a cozy rural pub. Still, it's OK if you're in the area and need a drink.
16 Apr 2018 13:13
Three or four local ales on, in good condition. It's on the high street so seemed busy with tourists and families. Staff were efficient but it didn't feel much like a "local".
Nice enough place, fairly smart, decent food and still fine to have a beer and not eat. (I was on holiday myself so can't comment on how it used to be back in the day!)
21 Feb 2018 13:10
Good pub at the foot of the historic Ypres Tower with an open fire and friendly atmosphere. A decent range of local ales on, good quality and sensible prices. The food was straightforward and good, but it is nice to report that this is a pub not a restaurant. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.
21 Feb 2018 13:06
Good village pub by the main road in Nidderdale. Big stone floored bar with wooden settles, plus a dining room at the back. Local ales in good quality (Tour Du Wot by Theakstons, Bolt Maker by Tim. Taylor, Black Sheep, Tetleys). Food is tasty, and a touch better than normal pub grub. However this is a pub not a restaurant (thankfully). Well worth a visit.
7 Aug 2017 12:43
Good village pub, friendly, straightforward and not touristic or over-traditional. Good range of ales (Tetley, Deuchars, Timothy Taylors, plus another local Yorkshire brewery that I can't remember) at sensible prices (around £3.10). Simple, home made food, healthy portions and good prices. Recommended if you're in the area on walks or visiting the steam railway.
7 Aug 2017 12:28
Pub near the centre of Chichester and handy for the railway station. 3 ales on from Badger in reasonable condition. (no guest ales unfortunately, which would have provided some variety). Friendly service and not poncy: definitely a pub not a restaurant or bar. The front bar is quite smart, and there's a dining room at the rear (didn't try food).
19 Jul 2017 11:30
Friendly village pub in the beautiful Hampshire countryside with a nice beer garden. 3 ales on from Ringwood (no guest ales, which would have made it more exciting) in reasonable nick. Tasty food, from a straightforward menu. Worth a visit if you are in the area.
19 Jul 2017 11:26
3 ales (Butcombe, Doom Bar, St Austell) and Black Rat cider on draught, at around £3 a pint and in good condition. The food is straightforwards, tasty and better than usual pub-grub, and decent value too. A busy, locals venue, but seemed friendly enough to me as a visitor.
4 Jul 2017 20:42
Old school country pub set in some beautiful Peak District countryside. Slightly off the normal tourist route, which is good.
Marston's ales plus on this occasion Nutty Black by Thwaites. Nice to see a mild on tap, and in good nick. No fancy food but good range of bar snacks. Friendly but no nonsense landlord. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.
18 Apr 2017 13:58
Decent pub in a beautiful Dorset village. Nice choice of ales from the local Palmers brewery, with a local draught cider too.
Food is good, freshly cooked and interesting menu at reasonable prices. Good mix of locals and tourists: definitely felt like a pub and not a restaurant (a big plus in my book).
2 Nov 2016 12:43
An OK bar inside a hotel. Simple choice of ales: two from the local Wye Valley brewery and the ubiquitous Doom Bar. Nice architecture with wood panelling. Quiet venue and good for families. Simple bar food, nothing fancy.
Nothing worth going out of the way for, but a decent choice if one is in Presteigne.
2 Nov 2016 12:27
The Barley Mow has changed management recently (2016) and is much better than the old reviews below. Five ales on, all from Hampshire or Sussex breweries. The ones I tried were in good condition.
Friendly service in a pretty location in a quiet village in the South Downs. The menu was also good. Decent portions and interesting home-cooked food without being too poncy. Well worth a visit for hikers, cyclists or anyone fancying a trip out to the countryside.
22 Aug 2016 12:54
In case this helps fellow drinkers, this place has been refurbished and reopened as The Bear and Blacksmith.
I didn't visit it, but there are some reviews on Trip Advisor...
8 Aug 2016 22:59
The Temple Bar Inn, Ewyas Harold
As said below, seems to have been recently refurbished. Friendly management and good food without feeling too Gastro. Seemed popular with both local drinkers and folk exploring the beautiful surrounding Golden Valley.
A free-house with two or three local Herefordshire or Welsh ales on draught. I've been twice and on both occasions those I tried were in good condition.
Great place for both drinkers and diners.
8 Aug 2016 22:53
Quiet, friendly country pub in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside. Nice home cooked food but definitely a proper pub rather than anything gastro.
Ales on offer were from Greene King but don't let that put you off. Seems like a free house with no other GK corporate branding thank God. The choices when I visited were Ruddles, Golden Hen and a summer special the name of which I don't recall. The Ruddles was in good nick.
Well worth your support if you're in the area. It's a great part of the world for walking or cycling.
8 Aug 2016 22:49
Good traditional village pub in the beautiful Peak District. Four ales on, all from the local area. In good condition and served by friendly staff. Prices were reasonable, not super-cheap because of the number of tourists passing by no doubt.
Didn't try the food but it looked like good hearty fayre. Decent mix of local punters and tourists and walkers. Definitely a proper local though.
(be aware: no children under 6 allowed in the pub although there are tables and benches laid out on the front green)
12 Apr 2016 21:55
A great venue: cider pub on an old dutch barge. A range of around 8 or so local ciders on pumps. No draught ales but happy to forgo a beer to drink cider once in a while.
Friendly atmosphere and popular with a young crowd of punters, and reasonable prices given the location. A simple choice of various types of ploughmans to complement the cider.
12 Apr 2016 21:44
Decent choice of local ales and a few ciders: good quality. Friendly community space and cafe, not a pub. I visited in the day time so not sure about evenings or the live music, but the food was home-cooked, tasty and good value.
Interesting mix of punters young and old, relaxed atmosphere and not as full of hipsters as I'd feared.
Well worth a visit for something a bit different.
12 Apr 2016 21:40
The King Street Tavern, Southsea
Attractive, pleasant pub with civilised punters and a community atmosphere. Often quietish so easy to get a seat. The beer is Wadworths plus a guest (Irving's Frigate for me: great stuff). However when I visited last time early on a Friday night there was only pump on, which was bad plannning. The food and bar snacks are a bit strange: all home cooked but the chef's style may not be to your liking.
Still it's definitely worth a visit if you're in Southsea.
2 Mar 2016 07:30
Nothing particularly special: three ales (the ubiquitous Doom Bar, Ringwoods Best, and something else pretty standard).
Interesting building, flagstones and timbers, but a bit scruffy and worn. Seemed like a locals place, ambivalent welcome for others.
OK, but not memorable.
16 Nov 2015 21:19
Traditional old Yorkshire inn with a small beer garden next to the river Cover. As others say below: a nice range (3 or 4) interesting local ales (e.g. no Black Sheep or Theakstons) and two proper farmhouse ciders. All in good condition and reasonable prices. The food was good value, simple, home cooked and hearty: just the job. Definitely a local pub that does food, rather than anything gastro.
The pub looks a little bit rough and ready but friendly and cosy inside (if you can figure out the door handles!). Popular with the no-nonsense locals but friendly enough atmosphere. Well worth a visit if you are an ale drinker or real pub aficionado around Coverdale or Wensleydale.
15 Jun 2015 23:00
The Winchester Gate, Salisbury
Three or four ales, all from local Wessex breweries. An interesting selection. A basic pub, with one bar used for live music. The other bar was pretty simple, but an interesting mix of locals. Definitely a drinkers pub, not a place for food or ambience. Good rock music on the sound system. It seems they do some interesting cider festivals, although there wasn't much/any draft cider on tap during normal days.
Worth a visit for ale drinkers if you're in Winchester. Asides from the beers, it's not a particularly special place.
8 Apr 2015 12:19
Friendly pub in a back street. Popular with locals, and slightly off the Arundel tourist trail.
Quite old fashioned interior (in a 1970s, Artex way), but cosy nooks and crannies, and clean. Lots of board games, beer mats on the wall...that kind of thing. No problem taking in well behaved children.
3 ales on tap: two from local Sussex breweries in good condition. Not a particularly amazing range of either flavours or ABVs, but a good place to visit for the atmosphere and a decent pint. No food although take-aways welcome, and it's actually a nice change to come to a pub that's all about the drink and conversation. Small patio outside.
11 Feb 2015 20:22
Charming pub off the beaten track in Sussex. Nice inglenook fire and rustic interior. Near the Ebernoe Common nature reserve. Many tables laid for dining, but it did not feel like a gastro-pub: still a welcoming place for drinkers and locals. Plenty of pictures of locals enjoying "country pursuits" so I think this place is at the heart of the community.
(didn't try the food but the menu looked hearty).
As discussed by other punters below: Badger range of ales. I think 3 hand pumps: in good condition. So not a huge range, but still a nice offering.
Friendly, unfussy staff. Worth seeking out if you appreciate old fashioned (in the best sense of the world) pubs.
11 Feb 2015 20:04
The Horse And Groom, East Ashling
Country pub near the foot of the south downs, so handy for walkers and cyclists. 5 ales on at sensible prices: £3 a pint in November 2014 for Hophead (in great condition). One of those is a guest ale: Betty Stoggs when I visited (little bit sour, not such good condition).
Anyway, basically good for ales and quite cosy inside with an open fire and popular with the locals. Food was straight forwards but tasty and large portions, although hapily this place is very much a pub and not a restaurant.
I agree with the comments about service below; the younger ladies serving were efficient and polite but the landlady and the SA fella were a bit less welcoming. Still, it didn't really detract and I'd say this place is worth a visit if you are in the area.
21 Nov 2014 09:13
I enjoyed The Pheasant: I came for food with the family which was good British pub food. Nothing pretentious or gastro (thank god) but decent and freshly cooked.
A couple of well kept ales on tap: I had the Butcombe which was great and probably the most local one. I think one of the others was Landlord, although didn't try it since we're 200 miles from Yorkshire. No particularly interesting cider offerings. Friendly staff, and cosy inside. A lot better than the comments below: maybe had a new guvnor in the last few years?
24 Oct 2014 18:08
The Prince of Wales, Kennington
Beautiful location in Cleaver Square: nice backwater a few minutes from Kennington tube. The pub is quite small, and probably caters to (up market) locals although it didn't feel poncy or pretentious.
It's a Shepherd Neame pub but on a Saturday night at 8:30 both the Master Brew and Spitfire were off: the other two ales were fine (one was from the Whistable Brewery). So I don't think this place is targetted at the serious ale connoisseur, and inside felt slightly anonymous. But a pleasant place to visit if you are in the area.
23 Sep 2014 12:42
Spacious London pub: nice and airy interior with clean lines and no "faux bohemian" junk like in some of the other neighbourhood pubs.
Very good range of ales: about 6 or 7 and in good condition and served in dimpled mugs. Prices pretty high: about £3.95 in September 2014 for a session ale. Simple pub-classic food but freshly cooked and tasty. Worth a visit if in the area.
23 Sep 2014 12:37
Charming village freehouse in the beautiful Sussex countryside. Big rambling garden at the back, and a rustic-looking rather bohemian interior. Seemed popular with locals of all ages, but friendly to visitors. It's a free house with 3 or 4 interesting ales on offer. Beer quality seemed good to me.
(Note: check the opening times if planning an afternoon visit. I think it opens for lunchtimes but then shuts until the evenings.)
21 Sep 2014 22:59
Good pub situated in a charming location around the back of Lewes castle. It has a traditional, cosy interior and is off the tourist trail. It is owned by Fullers but don't let that put you off. The place seemed to be run pretty much independently of the brewery: there was a good range of guest ales (apparently chosen from a list prescribed by Fullers). Much less corporate than the normal Fullers experience. The landlady was knowledgeable on ale-related matters and friendly. Worth seeking out.
21 Sep 2014 22:52
Situated just outside the picturesque village of Brig O Turk in the Trossachs, tucked away from the main road.
It's an old building but sympathetically decorated inside in a cosy yet fairly sophisticated way with a few quirky twists like the piles of books for browsing on each table. Two or three ales on tap: well kept but not really sufficiently varied for it to be a true ale drinker's paradise. But pretty good for a rural pub.
Food was very good: the menu may look fairly traditional but the food is freshly cooked with an interesting twist and, given the quality, is good value for money.
Good mix of hill walkers, and folk out for an evening date. Friendly and professional service.
Definitely worth a visit if you are in the Trossachs: much better than you might expect for such an out-of-the way (yet potentially touristic) location.
6 Jul 2014 22:47
Picturesque pub a few miles outside Callander: walk there along the old railway line if you can.
Three draft ales are brewed in their own brewery: nice enough but nothing earth shattering. Food was decent enough: fairly standard pub fayre but freshly cooked and decent portions. Friendly service, and with a big garden for the summer. Decent mix of families and hill walkers.
Worth calling in if in the area, and it looked a lot nicer than the other venues in Callander itself.
6 Jul 2014 22:37
Situated in the beautiful village of Moulin, just outside Pitlochry and at the foot of Ben Vrackie. Nice old building serving ales from their own brewery across the road. These were obviously in good condition but lacked a certain something in taste - they had a touch of the "home brew" about them.
There is bar food: nothing too special but decent enough portions, possibly a bit dear for what it was. Many tourists when I visited in the summer, outnumbering the locals. I believe there is an adjacent restaurant in another part of the building but I didn't visit it.
Pleasant enough place, and probably better than the venues on Pitlochry high street, but not worth travelling from afar.
6 Jul 2014 22:33
This place has reopened, back as The Rainbow. A free house, I expect. That is good news, and worthy of your support.
It's a new incarnation and not the Thai-run venue that it was last year.
Simple place: £3/pint for all ales I think so noticeably cheap for Chichester. Around 2 or 3 local ales, in reasonable condition.
Slightly strange atmosphere: felt like a working mens club. Not a lot of females or couples or yoofs. Friendly enough but not somewhere to linger unless you are in the locals crowd. Live music on some nights, so it seems.
Bar snacks only. No proper food: missing a trick there since there is plenty of space for dining and plenty of punters that will pay for half-decent food.
4 Apr 2014 13:00
The Star and Garter, East Dean
This free house is in a beautiful village off the beaten track in the South Downs. There are three or four ales, gravity fed and local breweries feature strongly (e.g. Arundel Brewery). Good condition beer, and sensibly priced (£3.10 or so for a session ale).
The main room is open plan, and does posh pub food (which is good quality) at meal times: it definitely gets packed with diners when Goodwood racing is on. Drinkers are welcome, but I imagine feel a bit crowded out when dining is in full swing. There have been a good mix of locals, cyclists and walkers when ever I have visited. There is a lovely garden at the back.
The service is friendly and professional: seems like they know what they are doing. No teenagers or students serving. The atmosphere is smart but not at all poncy unlike other "high end" boozers in Sussex.
31 May 2013 14:04
Nice Victorian pub in a secluded location in the beautiful countryside. It's small inside with a relaxing, traditional atmosphere. 3 ales when I visited: Quiver, Swift One (both in good condition) and Betty Stoggs. Simple, home made food: definitely a pub not a restaurant.
Good mix of friendly locals and passing walkers or cyclists.
Polite and efficient service: as noted below I think it's recently changed management.
Well worth designing a walk or bike ride to go past this place.
10 Apr 2013 14:20
Unfortunately The Hope is now boarded up. No signs of any refurbishment going on, so maybe it will get turned into a supermarket after all. Shame.
6 Feb 2013 12:03
Nice pub in attractive countryside. It's next to an A-road but felt a lot more welcoming than most road-side inns. Mixture of locals and passers by. 3 or 4 real ales: the two I tried were in good condition and from small breweries. A mixture of dining and drinking with a cosy atmosphere and friendly service. There was an open fire going when I visited in December.
31 Dec 2012 12:19
Ye Olde Bulls Head, Woodhouse Eaves
Large venue that has been refurbished as a rather soul-less family pub/restaurant. Lots of ubiquitous bare wood, down-lighting, black-shirted staff and brown leather sofas. Had a couple of ales on draught: nothing very exciting but in reasonable condition. Polite and efficient service. I was passing by on a country walk, and it was raining, so I went in. As a pub: it's not worth going out of your way to visit. Might be OK as an inoffensive and unsurprising venue for the family.
31 Dec 2012 12:14
Friendly country pub in a beautiful location in the South Downs. 3 real ales: Landlord, Otter and an ESB from the Havant brewery. All in good condition. Freshly cooked food and bar snacks, although this is not trying to be a gastro-pub and drinkers are definitely welcomed. I visited in winter and there were two log burning stoves and a cosy atmosphere. The landlady was polite and professional, so it seems it is definitely under new management compared to some of the comments from several years back.
4 Dec 2012 18:00
The Hope has reopened (again?) recently (August or September 2012). It had shut and looked like it was going to be turned into a supermarket, but the new landlord has decided to give it another lease of life.
Seems like the business is being built back up slowly having being shut for a while, but on my visit there were two real ales (a Harvey's and Otter, the latter in good condition and reasonably priced for Chichester). Friendly staff, and good to see a local pub being kept open. Worth a visit to show your support.
18 Sep 2012 21:17
Free house in a picturesque village near Chichester Harbour. 4 ales: all from different small breweries in the South. Summer Lightning was the only name I recognised, but they all looked interesting. In good condition, and reasonably priced for the location. Efficient and polite service. On a summer Sunday there were many people eating, but it definitely still felt like a non-poncy pub rather than a gastro-venue.
22 Jul 2012 18:44
Yes now called The Richmond Arms, as mentioned below. Couple of ales: Doom Bar and Hobgoblin. Interesting and relaxing atmosphere on the Saturday afternoon that I visited: reggae sound system and a bohemian (for West Sussex) friendly crowd. Patio and benches at the back next to the canal basin.
Interesting venue and a bit different from the other pubs in Chichester.
22 Jul 2012 10:20
The Spice Island Inn, Portsmouth
Fullers pub in Old Portsmouth, with great views over the water front and across to the Royal Navy dockyard. Unfortunately it seems to trade on its location. The interior is quite sparsely furnished and is not cosy: seems designed to cram in as many tourists as possible. Fish and chips is available on Fridays but seemed quite pricey...not sure I'd trust anything else from the menu either. Four Fullers ales. In good condition but expensive, and no guest ales. Ambivalent service: neither rude nor welcoming. OK if you have the family, otherwise there must surely be better locals near by.
1 Jul 2012 21:24
Good pub opposite the pretty Priory Park. Well kept beers from the Fullers range, maybe with one guest ale too. Clean and well designed interior with a few quirky furnishings but quite tastefully done. Appealing to a wide mix of punters (but excluding chavs or yoofs), and events such as live jazz. Professional service. The discerning man/woman's local in Chichester?
1 Apr 2012 08:24
Good pub with a wide range of local (Sussex/Hampshire) ales. Food includes a selection of O'Hagan sausages...very tasty. Clean and simple lines inside, and professional service. Definitely a pub for drinkers. Maybe the best pub in Chichester for the ale connoisseur.
1 Apr 2012 08:12
Well kept two or three ales that rotate regularly. Friendly and cosy pub near the theatre. Seems to have a good group of locals, welcoming service and not poncy (big plus in this part of the world). There is a dining area, but did not try the food.
1 Apr 2012 08:04
Pub next to Denver Sluice and adjacent to the water's edge. Large inside with most tables set out for dining, but still felt cozy enough with an open fire at one end. Greene King IPA and Adnams Bitter on (Adnams in good condition). Food was of the typical "pub grub" variety in decent portions and at decent prices. Friendly service. Nice place to call in if exploring this part of the Fens.
25 Jan 2012 17:11
Nice village pub in a pretty Cambridgeshire location, next to the two churches of Swaffham Prior. Nice view of the towers from the beer garden.
Three Bateman's beers in good condition. No guest ales.
Friendly landlord, nice and cosy interior. Didn't try the food but it looked like home cooked pub grub and decent prices.
Verdict: good village pub worthy of support.
30 Dec 2011 15:33
4 ales on: I had the Nethergate Growler which was in OK conditions, and local to Suffolk. Other 3 were more common: Bass or Spitfire or the like.
Called in here on a weekday lunch time. Few locals proping up the bar but otherwise quiet. Bar maid friendly enough.
Bit gloomy inside. Wood burning fire that had just about gone out. Banner draped over the outside of the window prevented any sort of a view. Could be a lot better with a small amount of TLC and attention. I didn't go into the lounge side of the pub...maybe this is where they have the food, and it could be more cosy there?
On the basis of having 4 handpumps this is an OK option if you're passing by but not worth a detour.
30 Dec 2011 15:30
Nice place set back from the main route to Craster. Made a big show about how it's under new management. About 4 real ales, all from local breweries and in good condition. Food was very good: freshly cooked, lots of seafood and imaginative specials. Definitely a cut above normal pub food: restaurant quality and at a decent price.
Friendly mix of locals and tourists.
Modern building, which doesn't look so great from the car park side, but the bar area is quite homely. A large dining room which didn't look such fun.
In short: definitely worth visiting if in the area. Both good beers and good ales.
15 Sep 2011 12:56
The Argyll Arms, Oxford Circus
Nice old traditional London pub with the glass snob screens. Potentially a good range of ales (from the Nicholson's menu) but the Nethergate IPA I tried was like vinegar...I'm not that familiar with that ale so it wasn't quite bad enough to send back but definitely not good enough to order an extra pint. Rammed with tourists, and really noisy. Prices were OK given the location but beer quality was inexcusable....whether or not I was just unlucky I don't know.
I went in on a Friday evening in August so maybe didn't see this place in it's best light.
30 Aug 2011 14:24
The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe
Great views from the back terrace looking over the salt marshes and distant sea. More of a bar and restaurant than a pub but still OK to pop in for a pint. Nicely furnished and modern interior with efficient and curteous staff.
Brancaster Best and a few other ales, in good nick.
Food was good quality restaurant standard and definitely not pub grub. Nice but small-ish portions (given the price). Somewhere to go for a nice meal or snack in relaxed surroundings rather than just to stoke the furnace.
22 Aug 2011 23:08
The Jolly Sailors, Brancaster Staithe
Good mixture of traditional country pub, with a side dining room for families. Drinkers and diners both welcome, but definitely still a pub and not trying to be a restaurant (a good sign).
2 beers (brewed on the premises?) from the Brancaster Brewery, Wherry and one other local East Anglian ale (name escapes me). Seemed in good condition. Did not try the food.
Friendly and efficient service, and a good mixture of customers creating a nice atmosphere.
22 Aug 2011 23:01
Freshly decorated and airy venue just outside the town centre. Feels more like a cafe or bar inside rather than a pub, but drinkers are definitely welcome.
4 ales: two Youngs, Bomardier and Black Sheep. In good condition but not cheap (�3.40 for a Youngs).
Food came in large volumes and was nicely presented and better value than the beer. Standard pub fayre, but done well.
19 Aug 2011 17:30
Owned by the hungry horse. Large bouncy castle in the garden with lots of kids running around.
My idea of hell?
But if you can ignore all that then there is a reasonable terrace to sit out on in the summer. Beer is Greene King so uninspiring but cheap. About �2.50 for an IPA in 2011!
Food looked grotty: order from a laminate menu and straight out of a microwave.
So just about OK for a post-work pint in the summer, but definitely not a real pub...more a family restaurant.
15 Aug 2011 23:21
The Canalside Cafe, Birmingham
Small cafe/pub in an old Victorian canal side building. About 3 or 4 local ales on...from small breweries which was nice to see. Ale quality was good, but served at room temperature (a-la beer festivals) rather than slightly cooled from a cellar. Served in a Carling glass....not a particularly classy touch.
Staff was efficient but not particularly welcoming.
Quite cosy/cramped inside but tables outside on the towpath. A fair few drunken lads wandering around on stag parties in the evening, so not to everyone's taste.
Quite a good venue, especially given the fact that there didn't seem anywhere else nearby for ales (I have deliberately excluded the massive 'Spoons nearby on Broad Street). But not worth going out of your way.
15 Aug 2011 22:26
The Ferry Boat Inn, Felixstowe
Nice location near the riverside. The pub is a bit olde world inside, although when I visited on Sunday lunchtime it was well packed out with day trippers dining. The staff were business like but it did not have a particularly friendly atmosphere. About 3 ales on: Wherry and the like. Reasonable condition but expensive.
Food was hit and miss. My plaice was fresh and nicely grilled, but my wife's fish salad had ingredients obviously straight out of a supermarket packet. Neither were particularly cheap.
In short: could be a lot better. Worth popping in if you're walking past but not worth a specific trip.
15 Aug 2011 22:21
Friendly village pub with good local ales from the Steamin' Billy brewery. It's a late Victorian pub, nicely decorated inside whilst retaining period features and some history about the nearby Leicester-Swannington railway (one of the first in the UK, back in 1832). Good pub food but still with plenty of local drinkers.
17 Jul 2011 21:08
Big old coaching inn on the High Street. Quite sprawling inside with lots of rooms, but it still managed to feel cosy.
About 4 ales on..mixture of local beers and a couple of more national ones. In good condition.
Quite a few diners but a few locals propping up the bar too.
Efficient service, but not particularly welcoming.
Food at the bar was tasty, freshly cooked and good value. There's an adjacent restaurant but didn't go in there.
13 May 2011 14:00
Small old stone pub next to the Wye. Really interesting range of local ciders (15 or so) and a couple of local ales too. Simple food but quite tasty and freshly cooked.
Seemed to be a locals/hikers pub (which is fine)...lots of folks getting quite p!ssed on the cider, but with a friendly atmosphere. It's a lot more "worn around the edges" than their website suggests but it was good fun visiting. Definitely go back if I get the chance.
Tip: it's next to an old railway bridge across the Wye so it's possible to walk, but not drive, across the river.
13 May 2011 13:53
Duke of Wellington, Southampton
Great looking pub from the outside in an area of Southampton where some interesting historic buildings remain.
But a disappointment on the inside: they could make a lot more of the interior which was pretty plain. Two rathe uninteresting ales on (local, but pretty standard bitters)...felt like one was getting to the end of the barrel. Service was a bit brusque and unwelcoming.
I can't see where the "this place has turned around" comments below come from...this place needs a turn around in my opinion.
13 May 2011 13:42
The Ancient Shepherds, Fen Ditton
Traditional pub that nowadays must make most of its money from the adjacent restaurant.
There's a very small bar area and a plush adjacent lounge for diners that you can sit in...but I have seen drinkers getting chased out of the lounge by the staff to make space at busy times.
In the centre of a posh Cambridge-suburb village, so always a few locals proping up the bar.
2 or 3 ales from a pretty standard range...e.g. GK IPA, London Pride, Adnams. Acceptable nick but nothing outstanding, average prices for the area. Neither friendly nor unfriendly atmosphere.
In short: worth a pint if walking by but not a drinkers' pub. That's a shame because there are no other decent pubs in the area so if they made more of an effort to accomodate drinkers they'd definitely get more trade.
28 Apr 2011 15:19
Modern interior (glossy wood, leather sofas, downlighters) but characterless. Nice decking outside adjacent to the river though.
Mixture of after work punters but no obvious local character. Staff seemed a bit half-arsed about it all.
GK beers plus two guests. In reasonable condition but not that cheap.
Food straight off the laminated corporate GK menu (and straight out the microwave probably).
Nothing special and not worth going out of your way for.
19 Mar 2011 10:01
Nicholson's pub in central Cambridge. Decent range of unusual ales in reasonable condition. Prices not too bad given the location.
Fairly soul-less inside. Lots of tourists and students, as to be expected. Bar staff efficient but not particularly welcoming.
OK for a non Greene King pint in the town centre, but there are far better places around the Mill Road area.
9 Mar 2011 22:31
As mentioned below, now under totally new management. I agree: it looks like a change for the worst (no home made food, louder music, less attentive staff, worse-kept ales, less punters).
But on balance, it's still a decent place to pop in if in the area, although no longer a destination in its own right. It's still a charming building, so with better management this place could be right up there.
20 Dec 2010 17:19
Quirky pub...lots of "artistic or ironic objects" hanging from the walls and ceiling...interesting at first but some of it verges on tat. Rather gloomy and cold inside, on my visit.
3 real ales, reasonable condition. Efficient staff but not particularly welcoming. OK, but I would expect there must be better nearby.
18 Oct 2010 16:43
Modernised late Victorian or Edwardian pub. Nice clean and airy interior...didn't feel like a boozer, but neither was it pretentious. Good for taking the missus.
5 real ales, well kept. Bit pricey, but probably par for the area.
Friendly and efficient service. Didn't try the food but the menu looked interesting and quite good value.
Definitely worth returning. Especially given the lack of other decent places in the area.
18 Oct 2010 16:38
Watts Russel Arms, Alstonefield
Pretty stone pub just outside Alstonefield. Good for passing hikers or cyclists. Not many locals when I visited.
Inside is cosy, but the garden outside was a bit tatty...
Beer (Landlord and Black Sheep) in reasonable condition, although the Sheep had a rather scummy looking head on it.
Food was a bit disappointing... my order of a black pudding wrap was a bit meagre and basic and so on that basis didn't live up to any pretentions of a "superior food" offering.
Staff were efficient and courteous enough, but didn't feel any kind of genuine welcome.
Should be a great place (and it was when I visited it a few years ago) but needs a bit of TLC.
11 Oct 2010 13:04
Convenient for the Portreath beach.
Obviously a locals place but friendly enough for tourists too.
Skinners and St Austell ales. Well kept and reasonably priced - not trying to rip the tourists off.
Food is good value. Nothing too fancy but freshly cooked pub grub at fair prices.
Not particularly cozy or pretty, but a reasonable place to visit if in the area.
24 Jun 2010 12:41
Pretty village pub. Efficient service. Geared up around eating, but drinkers are also welcome too although note the comments below about many of the tables being marked up as "reserved" for diners.
St Austell beers. Well kept but quite pricey. Obviously marked up for the tourist market...but that's business I suppose.
Food was simple but freshly prepared and well cooked. Prices high for the standard of cooking.
I came in because it was convenient for my holiday, although I would not go out of my way to visit again.
24 Jun 2010 12:38
St. Vincents Arms, Sutton on Derwent
A great example of a friendly village pub. I visited on a Sunday lunch time which was busy, but the welcoming staff did a great job of keeping everyone happy.
Nice range of well kept ales (Fullers, Timothy Taylor). Good food - not fussy or poncy, but a cut above normal pub fayre. Home made, rather than out of a packet.
Separate dining room, so still very much a pub rather than a gastro-establishment.
24 May 2010 12:51
A bar rather than a pub: however don't let that put you off. Very friendly and efficient service, and a good atmosphere from the locals. Definitely no chavs, and good choice of classic rock on the PA system. Seemed quite an intimate venue.
Big range of interesting ales at fair prices. The ales were well kept with one exception: the Bass on special offer was watery. I think that was an unfortunate one-off since the others were much better.
One of the better venues in Hull.
24 May 2010 11:03
Small, old pub with oak panelling and a small outside courtyard garden. Range of well kept ales but not particularly imaginative selection.
The service was efficient, but not particularly welcoming or obliging. Seemed a bit cliquey. OK for ales with the lads, but not good if a cosy or friendly atmosphere is required.
24 May 2010 10:59
Large 1930s mock Tudor drinking house next to a main road. Clean and airy inside, but too many Sky Sports screens/fruit machines/chavy locals to have any real atmosphere. A fair number of science-park types drinking on a Friday evening and give it a more diverse atmosphere.
The range of guest ales is good: normally 4 or 5 that rotate regularly. Quality is pretty good, but the temperature can be on the cold side.
(I think the manager and real ales are a new feature, so some of the "poor beer" comments below may no longer be relevant).
Friendly manager but the rest of the staff are probably minimum-wage kids, so service is efficient but charmless.
Verdict: good if one is in the area, but not worthy of a specific trip.
29 Apr 2010 13:08
The pub has a good range of regularly changing ales (five on my visit). All well kept at reasonable (<�3) prices. It is a proper village local with friendly service. Not particularly fancy or interesting interior but a nice place for a pint.
The adjacent Mexican restaurant in the dining room is smarter. Good quality food and decent portions with good service, and ales from next door's bar. Reasonable prices, given the quality although justifiably dearer than normal "pub fayre". It gets quite busy so worth to make a reservation. Definitely recommended.
On a side note: nice to see a distinct split between dining and drinking areas. The drinkers don't feel that they are second-best, as they do in many "gastro-pubs".
29 Apr 2010 12:59
No ale. Only lager and watery (when I tried it) Guinness
poured with a full Eastern European service culture experience.
Punters were self-perceived hipsters and bohemian types.
Bizarre pseudo surreal interior.
18 Apr 2010 09:21
The White Horse Inn, Westleton
Friendly local pub. Well priced and well kept Adnams ales. Clean and tidy pub, slightly retro look but in a charming way. Lovely beer garden.
Simple food menu, but nicely cooked and fairly priced.
12 Apr 2010 10:45
Nice little picturesque pub tucked away down near the Suffolk marshes. Log fire and friendly service. Lots of locals. Adnams ales (three, couldn't see any guest beers) were in good condition but pricey for the location. �3.30 for a Gun Hill = London prices in rural Suffolk.
Agree with one of the comments below about the kitchen door being wide open. Unneccessary.
Menu looked good and reasonably priced, but didn't try the food so can't comment on the quality.
12 Apr 2010 09:59
Local village pub, tucked away on a back street.
Quite traditional inside - lots of horse brasses and the like, with a nice open fire.
A community feel to the place, and efficient service. Couple of Yorkshire ales on in good condition but rather pricey for the area.
OK for a pint if you are in the area, but not one to seek out.
31 Dec 2009 17:54
The pub consists of two bars: the hikers bar for muddy boots (which was empty and pretty basic and soulless when I went) and the main bar (also empty, but plusher and with an open fire). Teenage bar staff, so not particularly welcoming but efficient enough.
Reasonable range of Yorkshire ales, in decent condition.
Could be OK if there were more customers and more atmosphere. Acceptable for a quick pint but not somewhere to linger.
31 Dec 2009 17:50
Great location for a hard earned pint after some outdoors activity. Nice old stone pub in part of a small hotel, which does give it a slightly corporate feel. Efficient but not particularly warm welcome. Good range of Thwaites ales. Busier and nicer atmosphere than the Buck Inn across the way.
31 Dec 2009 17:45
The Black Horse Hotel, Giggleswick
Cosy local pub with friendly atmosphere and good service. Charming, slightly old-skool interior (lots of horse brasses and the like).
Small but well-kept range of Yorkshire ales (Timothy Taylor and Tetley).
Good food at reasonable prices and with large portions. Large menu but most of it seemed freshly cooked to me.
Down a side street by the church, but well worth seeking out.
31 Dec 2009 17:21
Friendly, compact free-house tucked away down a side street. Clean wooden interior with no "nick-nacks" or other such old-skool pub paraphernalia.
Good range of local Yorkshire bitters, all in tip-top condition. Reasonable prices and a civilised set of punters.
Well worth a visit.
31 Dec 2009 17:16
Bleak but awe-inspiring location next to the Ribblehead Viaduct, and just down from Ribblehead station. The pub is pretty basic inside, but cozy with a wood-burning stove. Good choice of Yorkshire bitters, in OK but not great condition. Not particularly cheap either. Bar staff were efficient enough but not particularly welcoming. As with other comments, the gents is pretty basic, but then again probably acceptable to outdoors-types who must make up the majority of the customers.
Verdict: great place for a few well-earned pints after some hill walking.
31 Dec 2009 17:11
Had a few real ale pumps on display, but both were off. Some lagers were also off, which is a bit worrying.
Mixture of office/shop workers and friends after work, followed by less salubrious types (maybe from the club opposite) later on.
Bar type furniture: small low sofas and tables etc. Not a real pub.
I think this place has a late license.
Verdict: OK for an emergency lager and a sit down, or late at night. Not an ale venue.
25 Nov 2009 11:32
Lovely building with some real charm. Nice beer garden at the back. Sedate atmosphere. Not particularly cosy inside though. Area by the bar populated by old school locals. Corridor-like area at the back populated by young 'uns having a pint after work.
Not particularly welcoming. Landlord seems friendly but some of the barmaids are not - I didn't get a please or thank you during my recent visit.
Ale well kept. Ususal Fullers fare plus a guest when I visited.
Nice place for a quick pint, but not really a place for non-regulars to linger...
30 Oct 2009 13:51
I liked this place. Only visited once, on a Sunday afternoon. Well kept Fuller's ales (no guest beers). Prices seemed OK given the location. Atmospheric inside, and a pub proud of its interesting history.
Busy with mix of tourists and the beautiful young things of Hammersmith. No obvious local geezers in there. Staff were handling the pressure well and seemed friendly enough given how busy they were.
22 Oct 2009 14:32
Beautiful location, with a lovely garden adjacent to an orchard and overlooking fields and the Ness in the distance.
Range of Adnams ales, well kept but rather expensive. Food is tasty, well presented, and healthy portions, and seafood is a speciality. Good value, given the quality. It's nice that the Jolly Sailor is not trying to be a gastro-pub. Rather, it is a nice pub that serves good food. Definitely recommended.
17 Aug 2009 14:27
Called in for a couple of pints. Well kept Young's ales. Prices seemed OK for the neighbourhood. Service was friendly.
The pub area has a nicely updated Victorian (Edwardian?) interior. Not particularly intimate but interesting architecturarlly. Punters are mainly 20 or 30 something professional identikit "beautiful people".
Didn't go in the restaurant bit so can't comment on the food.
27 Jul 2009 13:38
Slightly outside the main village on a main road. I was pleased to stumble across it on a country walk. Large, clean interior with a big adjacent restaurant. Probably more for passing trade than for locals. However the barmaid was very friendly. The three ales were all local brews and well kept so I think it must be a free house. Didn't try the food but presumably good value, no-nonsense cooking.
Lots of country lanes and footpaths nearby so well worth calling in if you're on a walking or cycling trip.
The Bell in nearby Feering is also really good.
21 Jul 2009 22:38
The Olde Bull Inn, Barton Mills
Pub adjacent to the hotel and restaurant. Greene King staples, and no guest ales. Well kept beer and reasonably priced. Competent, courteous service. Looks and feels rather like a hotel bar but with a complement of friendly enough locals/USAF airmen as punters.
Not worth going of your way for, but not bad for a couple of pints of an evening when in Barton Mills/Mildenhall.
21 Jul 2009 22:24
The Queens Head, Bury St Edmunds
Three ales, all non-Greene King which in theory is a plus for a pub in East Anglia. However the two I tried (Wherry and Old Speckled Hen) didn't taste right. Slightly Wetherspoon-ish: not off, but not how they should be either.
One of the bar staff was courteous enough, but the other was very unfriendly and spoilt the visit for me. Clean, sterile, slightly old fashioned (in a 1980s sense) interior. Quiet, on a Sunday mid-afternoon, but the barman and the few lager-quaffing casuals watching the big screen made for a slightly edgy atmosphere. Not worth going out of your way for.
21 Jul 2009 22:16
Old-skool village pub. Charming in its own way. They were playing a Channel 5 film on the big screen when I went in, which was somewhat disconcerting. All the other punters were engrossed in the movie: not a conversation going on until the ad break started. That said, the atmosphere was friendly although I couldn't help feeling a bit out of place.
Much smaller inside than it appears from the street: a reverse Tardis.
Greene King IPA the sole ale offering.
Not really for me, but wish it well as it's obviously has a loyal bunch of regulars from the local community and it's always good to support the village pubs.
21 Jul 2009 22:00
Large Young's pub with their range of ales being well kept. Can't remember about the prices. Don't think there are any guest ales. Friendly service. Neat and tidy interior but not particularly atmospheric. Never too busy so easy to get a seat. Probably a good place to bring the family on a weekend.
Nice, unpretentious, civilised place to pop in to, but not cosy enough to be a proper local (not that I live locally anyway however).
21 Jul 2009 21:49
Nice location by the river so good to call in on a riverside stroll but not worth a trip just for the pub.
Drinks not cheap so not a place to linger. When I visited early on a Friday evening only one of the three ales was on. It was well kept but sad that the others were off. And on a Friday too.
Slightly off-putting service. Reasonably disparate mix of punters: no chavs thankfully. Not a particularly warm, local atmosphere though.
21 Jul 2009 21:41
Really nice small free-house. Always a good range of well kept unusual ales: a mini beer festival. No lager or keg beers.
Nice staff and friendly punters. A chav free place, but not stuck up or stuffy.
One of the best, if not the best, in Cambridge.
21 Jul 2009 21:28
The Pear Tree Inn, Hook Norton
Went in on a summer Saturday afternoon. Nice atmosphere with the Hook Norton brewery dray and shire horses outside. Sampled a couple of the Hook Norton ales: well kept as they should be with the brewery 100 yds down the lane.
Didn't see anything of the dog (see comments below). Barmaid seemed OK.
21 Jul 2009 20:57
Beautiful pub and garden in a beautiful village location.
Normally have two home-made ales (reasonably priced) and a couple of guest ales (Adnams etc).
On busy days most of the tables laid for food, which is over-priced in my opinion. The atmosphere thus becomes more of a restaurant than a pub (shame).
21 Jul 2009 20:47
Good beer - the Greene King staples plus one or two unusual guest ales. All nicely kept.
Good food - cheap and home made. Nothing fancy but top pub grub.
Interesting building - historic, bit shabby but great garden adjacent to the river.
Interesting punters - mixture of science park, wannabe academics, locals, crusties from the boats, and the occasional gypo gathering. Gets busy especially on weekday evenings and Sunday lunch.
I'd say it's one of the more genuine pubs in Cambridge and worth a trip out from the town centre.
15 Sep 2008 18:09
Called in whilst hiking on the Three Churches Walk.
Contemporary decoration in the lounge (nothing too personal or characteristic, very Greene King makeover, but pleasant enough).
One guest ale (well kept) and other Greene King staples.
Simple pub food (scampi, pasta etc). Neither cheap nor dear. Nicely cooked and friendly service.
Summary: pleasant enough, nothing special but handy if you're passing by.
15 Sep 2008 18:04
The Victoria Inn, Colchester
Good, friendly pub on the outskirts of the town centre. Around 5 ales on draught, all interesting from small breweries. There was also a range of bag-in-a-box ciders. There were some interesting looking keg beers but I didn't try them.
The staff and locals were very welcoming. It's a drinkers' venue with no food but my family was made to feel at home. The chip shop opposite is a great place for some after-beer grub.
Well worth seeking out if you're visiting Colchester.
28 Oct 2019 20:47