BITE user comments - MikeTheMechanic
Comments by MikeTheMechanic
Was passing the other evening and glanced in. There were different people behind the bar so I decided to pop in. It appears the previous couple who ran it have retired and a new set have taken over. Have to agree with the comments made by StephenM a few months ago but would urge him to try the Tipperary again. Staff that are genuinely friendly, there were a couple of well kept guest ales and the menu looked better value for money. Keep up the good work!
29 Nov 2010 18:30
The St Brides Tavern, Blackfriars
I discovered this pub recently. A very pleasant change from some of the chav infested haunts nearby. Choice of three real ales besides the usual lagers that pubs have to sell to survive these days. The Greene King IPA is a fixture but there are two guests which change regularly unlike many pubs who have the same guests (usually London Pride and ANO). Beers well kept which is often not the case. There is a traditional bar downstairs and a more trendy one upstairs. I did not try the food but it looked and smelt good. Recommended!
14 Sep 2010 18:35
I came across this pub after picking up a friend at Luton Airport. He was trying to direct me to a pub for a decent pint (they don't sell them in Spain) and a bite to eat before we hit the A1 northbound. The pub is situated in an extremely pleasant village location that feels 100 miles from Luton! They have two McMullens ales on and a guest. I had a pint of Country Bitter and my friend tried all three! All were well kept and presented. They also have a good selection of food. My friend had the home made burger and says it was the best he has had in years. I tried the sausage and mash which was also excellent. Friendly staff as well. They also do afternoon tea so you can take your maiden aunt along as well.
14 Sep 2010 18:25
The Betjeman Arms, St Pancras International Station
Sorry the same old moan. Can the owners please arrange some training for their staff. The main issues are that a pint should contain a pint, and a drink or a round should be the same price second time around. Recently when I was there with a small group the ladies had wine and each glass was filled to a different level. And please also serve customers in the order they arrive and not because you fancy them. Grrr!
2 Sep 2010 19:23
The Oast House, London Bridge Station
Have to up my rating for this station pub. Friendly with quick service, correct measures (both beer and wine) and the cost of the drinks added up correctly. The staff of Betjemans at St Ppancras should pay a visit - it would be educational for them. I agree with the previous posters I sincerely hope the Oast House survives the rebuild. Whist waiting for a train I have met some interesting people passing through!
18 Aug 2010 18:23
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street
Not sure why this fantastic pub that is full of character and sells an interesting range of beers at low prices has suddenly slipped down the ratings. I suspect a plot by the landlords of some of the mediocre pubs nearby!
18 Aug 2010 18:09
The Harrow MuckedUp! Frequented by the type of people who think a "Slug and Lettuce" is cool. Maybe I am just mgetting old?
17 Aug 2010 18:13
The nice thing about the long days of summer is that you can explore pubs outside your patch. We drove over to Hook Norton mid-week just before the school holidays. I had an excellent pint (well two) with my steak and my friend was very happy with her liver (done to perfection). She also commented that the Chardonny was far better than that served in many pubs. Unfortuneately a couple of negatives have made me reduce my 9 to 6/7 (still deciding). Firstly last time I visited (four years ago) there was a large choice of fresh fish - please bring it back. Also I have to agree with HolbornBoy about the kids. There were two ladies who lunch with their toddlers. One of them seemed to be in the "terrible twos". Madam it is your child not mine - therefore I do not wish to suffer their screaming fits and tantrums. Your child - your responsibility!
17 Aug 2010 18:03
Thirty years ago the centre of Welwyn Garden City was an extremely pleasant place. Now it is going downhill - fast! Better than O'Neills around the corner but then most places are! Had a decent pint but not really a place you want to stay. Rumour has it Weatherspoons are planning to set up in the post office a few doors away. Ebenezer Howard's pint will be salty from his tears. RIP WGC!
17 Aug 2010 17:44
The Seven Stars, Chancery Lane
Thought I would give it another try a couple of weeks back. Pleasant service with the first pint but when I returned for another a different person was serving and they had their head where the sun does not shine. If I want this level of rudeness and grubbiness it is cheaper to use the Northern Line. Sad if it disappeared but it would be an own goal!
4 Aug 2010 18:52
I found myself in Brighton for the day again and like last time thought it would be nice to have a pint or two before catching a First Capital Unconnected train for the first part of my journey home. After my bad experience with the Queens Head a friend suggested I try the Evening Star around the corner. We went in about 4:00 and ordered our first pint. This was an excellent from the Meantime selection � so good in fact that we forgot about the train and decided to try a few more beers. Although initially quiet the pub soon started to fill up. It was a totally organic mix of people � students, professionals, retires, etc. The atmosphere was very pleasant and it felt more like a village pub than railway station pub! All the beers (did we have five or six?) were well kept � these people take pride in their work. The number of staff seemed to change to suit the number of customers and no one e was kept waiting mote than a minute or two. There was only one beer that I was not to keen on � the Smoked Bock. I suspect it could go well with some meals but not as a session beer. Overall a fantastic pub. Maybe I should retire to Brighton?
19 Mar 2010 18:03
The Seven Stars, Chancery Lane
Visited after a long gap with a friend who was interested in visiting this eccentric pub. Barmaid was quite pleasant when we brought our first drink - rather average Adnams. My friend wanted a second as he wanted to look at the photographs in the lounge(?) bar. It was a trial getting served by the extremely rude arrogant barman with head where the sun does not shine. Needless to say we had the third in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in nearby Fleet Street!
5 Feb 2010 18:05
The Blue Anchor, Chancery Lane
Probably. A William Hammond was the landlord of the Blue Anchor at 35 Chancery Lane in 1839. Pigots lists 22 Blue Anchor pubs in the area as far afield as Limehousr and Borough.
5 Feb 2010 17:53
We went down for Brighton for a day out a few days before Christmas. Where did the last three weeks disappear? After an enjoyable day we decided to have one (or more) for the road. Being conveniently situated near the station it ideal for that last drink. The first thing that struck us when we walked in was that you nearly walked into the bar. It appears that the original bar has been replaced by a central island bar. This seems to serve no useful purpose as the back of the bar is no more than a path to the, rather grubby, toilets. The beer was fine but the choice limited � seems more of a lager pub. There was an offer on shots that a couple of the group went for the Jagermeister. This should be served ice cold but was room temperature! When we came to leave it was hard to get out as the small gap twixt bar and door had a chav blockage! Unless I see that it is under new management/been refitted/etc I think will pass by next time.
17 Jan 2010 13:55
The Betjeman Arms, St Pancras International Station
It's about a year since I reviewed this pub. At that time I commented on the variable prices. Since then I have popped in about every six weeks or so mainly because it is convenient. As many people have commented the prices are all over the place. I have payed anything betwen �2-75 and �3-20 for a pint of Betjemans. And to this the short measures and it can be quite frustrating. When I travel from London Bridge the Oast House is just a station bar but the prices are stable and the measures full! A friend ahas commented that the wine prices do the same. One evening there was a beer festival. My pint was off and they did replace it with something else, but despite other people saying it was off they insisted it was OK! Someone needs to sort this place out. A destination NO just an average station bar!
7 Nov 2009 15:34
Is this a pub? Is this a restaurant? Well it definitely is not a pub! I was recommended by a friend who lives nearby and classifies it as one of his favourite pubs! It is a Chef and Brewer pub/restaurant � similar to a Brewers Fayre if you do not know them. The building is quite old and dates back to when Redbourn was a major staging post in the 19th century � apparently it had dozens of inns then.
I digress. It is a large building with a number of areas � including an outside one for eating in good weather. The menu is reasonable but fairly standard. The food arrived in a timely manner and the portions more than ample � too much actually. It was well cooked but just your average pub/restaurant fayre. I had a pleasant pint of Adnams with the meal. There was another ale but I forget what it was as it did not appeal.
Overall an average restaurant that serves beer rather than a pub that serves meals. Cannot really see myself going again
26 Oct 2009 18:37
The Blue Anchor, Chancery Lane
It is not often you get good news about pubs these days. These days it is usually something like they have closed or become a restaurant with what is left of the bar being little more than a waiting area. Anyway I have just had my second phone call in 24 hours to say a pub has reopened. Nearly four months after it was closed by a fire the Blue Anchor has risen Phoenix like from the ashes. Another friend apparently spotted this last Friday as he was walking down Chancery Lane. He did not visit as the board says �Karaoke Night� on Fridays and did not appeal at all. Not much I can comment on apart from letting you know it has reopened. Obviously the interior will have been redone as when I glanced in back in May it was a soggy sooty mess. Have any of my fellow �beerintheevening� brothers visited?
21 Sep 2009 18:01
I had a phone call from a friend who lives nearby to say it has reopened. The pub and kitchen have apparently undergone a deep clean, and the bars freshened up with a coat of paint. He said initial impressions are favourable but will wait to see how things develop. I am meeting him there in a month or so and will report back. Just felt it would be useful to let people know it is no longer closed.
21 Sep 2009 12:45
The John Bunyan, Coleman Green
I came back here about 10 days ago. This time as the visit was more planned we had time to eat. The choice is quite wide and it is difficult to make a final decision. However it is all of excellent quality (the chips are fantastic) and not that expensive. Beer and wine up to their usual high standard.
Previously I got the impression it was quiet but now I realise that although it does not get that busy the trade is steady. It would be my local if I lived down the road - there are some pleasant properties nearby.I would give it 11 if I could.
7 Sep 2009 18:59
The Punch Tavern, Fleet Street
Decided to pop in after reading the comment by the new owners and the mixed reviews. Conclusion - nothing has changed! Put it out of its misery or put in totally new management and staff who know how to run a decent pub!
15 Aug 2009 13:12
Was passing throught a couple of days ago and thought I would pop in for a pint. A local told me it had been closed for two weeks but felt it was temporary. Another, though, said it was yet another victim of the "credit crunch". Does anybody know? Had an excellent pint at the nearby Carpenters Arms.
15 Aug 2009 13:02
The John Bunyan, Coleman Green
I was visiting friends in the area over the holiday weekend and we decided to pay the John Bunyan a visit. It is a very pleasant pub indeed with a friendly landlord and staff. I had an excellent pint of McMullen�s AK, and that is often not the case in some McMullen�s pubs. For those that prefer wine there was a good choice at reasonable prices. Hopefully next time I will have the time to try the food.
Although it appears very quiet there was, in fact, a steady stream of trade passing through. I could make this my local if I lived nearby. Highly recommended!
27 May 2009 18:11
The Punch Tavern, Fleet Street
This pub has history and a very unusual interior, and therefore should have loads of character. Unfortunately it does not! The grubbiness and inept staff make it about as desirable as the Seven Stars in nearby Carey Street. Beer unimpressive as well. The only reason I can think for visiting this pub is to view the interior if you have never seen it before.
I have docked an extra mark because of the way this pub overflows onto the pavement. Since the smoking ban people have to use an outside area. If there is not a dedicated area they overflow onto the pavement. This is not really a problem if it is kept in hand and I know some pubs in the area have made efforts to stop this annoying people. If it is not raining and a Thursday or Friday evening the pavement outside is overflowing with smokers and their non-smoking friends. Many of the chavs that seem to frequent this pseudo pub seem to think the pavement is for them alone causing passer-bsy to walk in the road. This reflects very badly on the landlord.
Pass by and go to the Olde Cheshire Cheese!
22 May 2009 18:21
The Blue Anchor, Chancery Lane
It is a couple of years since I last visited this pub. On that occasion we had an enjoyable meal but found the pub rather too crowded and noisy. We returned yesterday evening as the barbecue had been recommended to us. Unfortunately no barbecue as the pub is shut as the result of a fire. Hopefully is just a co-incidence that Breams Buildings at the other end of Rolls Passage was gutted by fire about two months ago.
According to the pavement sign in Chancery Lane there is a minibus linking Chancery Lane and their sister pub, the City Pride, between 12:00 and 14:00 and again 17:00 to 19:00 � I was an hour to late. I assume this is the pub in Clerkenwell?
I have based my points on my previous visit as I get the impression there have been no major changes.
14 May 2009 18:09
I spotted this pub when I got off a hot sticky �rail replacement service� from Brighton. The first thing that struck me was the name was at odds with its appearance. The Snooty Fox brings visions of a thatched building in a picturesque village frequented by the �hunting, shooting and fishing� set. This looks more like a modern Weatherspoons. Anyway I crossed the road and went it. It was fairly quiet and the staff (well all one of them) were pleasant enough. I had a couple of pints of ice cold lager in order to cool off and replenish my fluid balance. It does not seem particularly friendly - a bit like a railway station pub in fact. I would pop in here again but I would not go out of my way.
7 May 2009 18:57
I cannot remember if I had ever been here before. The other evening I had met up with some friends who live nearby and we popped in here. It was very quiet and for a change I felt the youngest person in the pub rather than one of the oldest. Anyway the staff and customers were all very pleasant. But the highlight of this pub is the beers! There was quite a selection on tap, many from local breweries. I tried three and all were well kept � the Tring Brewery offering (sorry forget which one) being particularly pleasant.
This is a great pub and I will be back as soon as I can. Hopefully business will pick up a bit for the landlords as the current level of business (for a relatively large pub) must make it borderline in the current climate.
By the way - was there ever an Upper Red Lion?
2 May 2009 13:02
Long Arm and Short Arm, Welwyn Garden City
This is the best pub in the area. Good beer, good food and friendly staff with none of the modern gastro pub nonense. I first visited over 30 years ago (regulary then) and have popped in whenever in the area since. The barman who first served me all those years ago retired last year (he came and went a number of times). Some things, like this pub, stay the same fortuneately.
30 Apr 2009 18:15
It is over three decades since a young slim fresh faced student with flowing locks enrolled at the local polytechnic. When I look into the mirror it all seems very much in the past. At that time I did not visit this pub very much (it was then known as the White Hart) as most of my group got barred in the first term. The reason for this was never that clear.
Anyway I was in the area over Easter and met up with a friend from those faraway days. We decided to visit some old haunts and popped into the Town Inn. The service was friendly and the beer good. Whilst you could describe this pub as grim it is really the product of its surroundings. When I was a student the town centre (of Hatfield) was bland but busy � a typical new town. Now there are numerous boarded up and/or vandalised shops with litter and a few lost souls replacing the hordes of shoppers. Apparently the planned regeneration of the town centre has been put on hold by the local council! A bad decision!
Anyway the pub is not that bad � the staff are trying hard in difficult conditions � so locals need to use it to prevent losing it. The other town centre pub of those days, the Robin Hood, is no longer � or have I lost my sense of direction?
20 Apr 2009 18:16
The Crooked Chimney, Welwyn Garden City
This was a very pleasant pub which over the years has morphed into a below average restaurant with slow service and below par food. If you want a decent pub meal go to the nearby Sun Inn. If you want the best pub in the area go to the 'Long Arm and Short Arm' just past the Sun.
4 Apr 2009 15:43
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street
For some reason it is a few years since I visited this pub. I popped in after being overcharged (in my view) for a pint in a nearby pub. Although the beers are all Sam Smiths� they are none the worse for that and are inexpensive for the area. The service was polite, quick and friendly. There is a maze of rooms so you can always find somewhere the suit. The only negative is the stairs down to the toilets. They are very low and I am very tall! Recommended.
27 Mar 2009 18:38
What an improvement! This pub is now becoming the pub it should have been decades ago. My first experience of it was over 30 years ago when I was a student at Hatfield Polytechnic. A group of us came over to Harpenden�s long gone cinema and after the film decided to have a drink or three. We walked over to the Cross Keys and were greeted to the site of a group of locals drinking from pewter tankards. Whilst not openly hostile the atmosphere was far from welcoming and after one drink we moved on.
Twenty years later I was in the area with friends and saw a sign for food. It was one of the worse pub meals I have ever experienced. And the beer was nothing to write home about.
Three and a half years ago I met up with a friend who lives in the area to go to �Classics on the Common�. Mid-evening we walked up to the Cross Keys and despite it being very busy the service was excellent and the beer well kept. A few months later we visited again. Although near deserted it was welcoming with a genial host and a roaring fire. However the next time we visited the �locals� were in and just stared at us making one feel quite unwelcome. This I think accounts for the previous posts � full or quiet a pleasant pub otherwise not a place to linger.
Last November I was in the area again for the Farmer�s Market and the turning on of the (rather poor) Christmas lights. The pub was packed, pleasant and noticeable had new landlords. A couple of visits since have been very enjoyable. Friendly staff serving well kept beer � it could be variable previously. The food menu is quite basic, at the moment, but it looks good (a bowl of chips were excellent) and my friend assures me it is. All in all the new landlords have turned the pub around. Well done!
3 Mar 2009 18:51
Christmas is a time for meeting up with friends and relatives. So therefore in the run-up to the holiday I arranged to meet an old friend in Cambridge, a mutually convenient place for us both. Usually we go to a restaurant but on the way we walked past the Mitre. The chalk board outside had an appealing selection of food so we went in. The menu described a range of tasty dishes so we ordered our drinks, from a good selection, and food, and sat down. A short time later the food was dumped (I cannot think of a more appropriate term) in front of us. Appealing it was not. We had been expecting freshly cooked food but it was obviously mircowaved. The pies were individual and paler than cadavers! They were also unevenly heated � my friend�s so badly that it still had cold spots! He returned it and it was brought back �nuked� five minutes later. I cannot imagine any of the staff have any idea about the basics of food preparation. Do not eat here!
The beer was fine but I did overhear a comment that most were actually unavailable. Add to this staff that were polite but neither particularly friendly nor welcoming, some very strange customers (we are not talking local characters here) and the overall atmosphere, and I can see no reason to ever return or recommend this pub to anyone
27 Dec 2008 15:32
The Betjeman Arms, St Pancras International Station
Following my first visit this pub about a month ago I was going to write a review but reading through the other comments something did not add up so I decided to wait until I visited again. Last time I was by myself but this time I was in a small group waiting for a connection on a Sunday evening.
The pub seems to have something of an identity crisis being a combination of a pub, a caf� and a restaurant. This leads to a quite unusual layout and I suspect the pub area could be quite cramped at busy times. Finding the loos takes a little while the first time! Onto the drinks. The house ale, named after Betjeman, is a pleasant pint although the staff seem to serve a short measure although they topped it up willingly enough. The wine drinker amongst us said that although it was slightly expensive it made up for this by being of better quality than the usual �by the glass�.
Onto my hesitation about writing a review. On my first visit I thought the pint I brought was horrendously expensive. The reviews suggested otherwise and, indeed, this was the case this weekend. I can only think that I was charged a Euro price in �s!
Overall not unpleasant for a station pub and better than many. I suspect, though, that the man himself would not have been that impressed!
20 Oct 2008 18:35
It is many a long year since I visited the Skew Bridge but recent events lead to two visits during the last month. Despite Harpenden having quite a few pubs it is, in reality, not very good for pubs! First impressions were good the bar staff were friendly and the customers did not stare/glare at you (quite common in the area!). The pub has a good selection of guest ales and those that I tried were well kept. On one occasion I had a meal. It is good honest pub grub and not overpriced. Someone recommended that I come back and try the Sunday lunch as apparently it is a genuine roast (not re-heats) and good value. Recommended!
4 Sep 2008 18:41
I was in the area again earlier this week and with the summery weather fancied a pint of Adnams� bitter. It tastes best on the pier in Southwold but that was not an option. Having decided to boycott Roxy�s other establishment a month ago I thought I would visit the Bountiful Cow. It is not really my sort of pub but I have visited a number of times in the past as it does a decent pint. Despite being themed it has a lack of atmosphere and character.
The service was lightning quick compared to the Seven Stars and the service polite if not especially friendly. The beer was really good � so much so I quickly decided to have another.
I have eaten here a couple of times in the past. Considering the �cow� theme the burger was disappointing - better than the usual burger chains but far inferior to say �Fine Burger�. Expensive as well. On another occasion I had the Welsh Rarebit � this was fantastic but vastly overpriced for what is �cheese on toast�.
Overall worth a visit for a good pint or two but not somewhere to go for the evening.
1 Aug 2008 18:55
This pub relies heavily on passing and transient trade, which seem to have stopped in developing its own identity. However it does have three things going for it; service, beer and price. Dealing with these in order:-
i) Service � The George has some of the best service in the locality. Unlike some pubs were you can spend twenty minutes airing your money on its journey between your wallet and their till you are always served within minutes of arrival. If it becomes busier an extra person always appears. Occasionally a staff member may appear tired or somewhat disinterested but, whatever, service is always good.
ii) Beer - Some pubs claim they are �real ale� pubs when their only offerings are London Pride plus a guest beer, which changes only very occasionally. The George does not make this claim but usually has around half a dozen from all corners of the British Isles. Unusually they are always well kept.
iii) Price � Whilst not as cheap as a Wetherspoons the prices are very competitive for the area often 40 �50p per pint less than some more pretentious pubs.
Whilst it is not really a pub to go out of your way worth it is always worth a visit if you are passing. Some landlords should send their staff around to learn about customer service!
25 Jun 2008 22:20
The Knights Templar, Chancery Lane
Visited here after a disappointing pint in the little pub up the road. Bit noisy for me but the beer was well kept, the service friendly and fast, and the toilets clean. Steak menu looked good value.For these reasons alone 7/10.
22 Jun 2008 20:08
The Seven Stars, Chancery Lane
The Seven Stars used to be one of my favourite London pubs. Whenever I was in the area (usually every four to six weeks) I would pop in. However this year it has plunged down my league table. A couple of years ago I had nothing but praise for it.
This year, though, it has gone downhill rapidly and I have decided my last visit a fortnight ago will be my last! Having visited about half a dozen times it does not appear to be a one off glitch. The staff now seem incredibly sullen and slow. To make matters worse if they see someone they recognise come in after you they tend to serve them first. On a couple of occasions the beer has not seemed 100%. It is also becoming increasingly expensive. When I went in with a group of friends we worked out that one was charged �4-50 for a lukewarm Magners over ice. Considering a number of pubs in the area, such as the �King & Keys� have closed down in recent years the Seven Stars cannot afford to become complacent. For me it is time to move on. I will, though, keep an eye on this entry to see if things start to improve.
22 Jun 2008 19:55
The Oast House, London Bridge Station
I had never been in here until the Bridge Bar closed. The couple of times I have been in there (last time was just before Christmas with the Salvation Army playing outside) I have found the service friendlier and better than the average station pub, and the beer well kept. I suspect there are a few regulars who pop in for a pint or two before the commute home. The lack of toilets is a problem in London Bridge Station in general - hopefully it will improve with the rebuilding going on. If you are going on to Gatwick/Brighton the ones on Platforms 5/6 are grim!
28 Dec 2007 14:45
The Duke of York, Kings Cross station
I use this pub once or twice a year when waiting for a train. As everyone is transient you cannot expect much in the way of atmosphere. The staff are courteous but disinterested and the beer pleasant. I tend to watch the ever changing customers - there are some truly wierd people about! I was there on one of the few really hot days this summer and decided on a Magners over ice as a change. Despite a Magners ice bucket they only sell the less pleasant (in my view) Bulmers. And have the upper windows been cleaned this century?
28 Dec 2007 12:31
The Seven Stars, Chancery Lane
I passed this pub a number of times in the summer and was somewhat intrigued. As there were customers spilling out onto the pavement (their garden) and a set of house rules on a board outside. Anyway a few months passed and as I was passing by there were only two people outside who seemed to be enjoying a smoke and quiet conversation. As there was some room inside I decided to give it a try. Some of the comments on this website could make one wary but I got a warm smile from the landlady and the customers all appeared friendly. They serve Adnams which is not seen so frequently these days. After ordering my pint I found a seat in the �Axminster bedecked� side room and took in m surroundings. It is a small but cosy pub and totally individualistic. The beer was well kept so I stayed for another and then another. Each pint was served in a different glass � evidently a custom in this pub. Yes, I like this pub a lot. I will have to try the food next time � I suspect it will be pretty good. Recommended for those who like individuality.
24 Nov 2006 13:16
The Slug and Lettuce, Harpenden
I think it only survives because it is trendy with people who think they are trendy. The two times I have visited the service has been poor and the prices high. As I am too old to be trendy I pass it by when I am the area.
7 Nov 2006 18:16
Back to MikeTheMechanic's profile
Crown and Sceptre, Hemel Hempstead
I discovered this pub just over a year ago. It does what it says on the box. It is a traditional country pub with a warm welcome. The default beers are Greene King IPA and Abbot ale. A number of guest beers, which have been different each time I visited but always in peak condition, supplement these. The lady tells me the wine selection is extremely good as well (do they do a �real ale� BTEC?). We have eaten there a couple of times (evening meal and a Sunday roast) and each time the food was excellent and not overpriced considering the quality. Highly recommended!
22 Jun 2011 18:50