BITE user comments - Sandman1
Comments by Sandman1
Enjoyed a lovely evening here. Excellent Doom Bar to wash down 3 course meal. (�22.00). Separate eating and drinking areas. Off the beaten track but we thought well worth the effort.
6 Nov 2009 20:20
Agree with Oakman100: the best pint of Deuchars I've ever had was in here last week. Good atmosphere, friendly staff, excellent well kept beer. What more do you want? �6.10 for a pint of Deuchars and one of Discovery is reasonable for around here.
15 Oct 2009 14:50
Friendly local boozer, lovely atmosphere. IPA is always well kept.
10 Sep 2009 18:53
Has undergone a refurb, big garden at the back. Beers included Youngs, Wells Bombardier and B&T. Youngs was passable, if a little on the cold side. Plenty of clients trying the food out.
7 Sep 2009 17:41
Was in here last week. The place was packed to the gunnels so must be doing something right, or maybe it's just small. Nice pint of Bonkers Conkers, but thought the IPA a little on the 'thin' and tasteless side. Somebody agreed with me as saw them take their pint back to be exchanged.
7 Sep 2009 17:27
Enjoyed a lovely couple of pints of St Edmunds beer to help wash down the lunchtime meal. Two parts to the pub-from the front entrance turn right for public bar, mostly locals drinking and bar meals, where they also allow well-behaved dogs and left for the smarter lounge bar, for dining. Burgers sourced from Crumps the village butchers. Good-sized garden. Handy for Ashwell Springs, museum.
17 Aug 2009 12:17
Interesting back street boozer. Plenty of choice of ales, however my 'Lazy Landlord' was not right so I swapped to B&T bitter. Good to see the real landlord, who was definitely no lazy taking such an interest in his beers.
3 Aug 2009 16:52
Lovely back street local and serving an excellent pint of GK Mild. I make a point of coming here for the mild as it's so rare to find. Good mix of locals and cheery staff.
3 Aug 2009 16:33
Decent pint of Mad Dog when visited early doors on a friday and plenty more on. Worth a visit when near the station.
3 Aug 2009 16:31
The Live and Let Live, Cambridge
Jack O'Legs was very refreshing at the end of a steady crawl around the nearby pubs. Easily may favourite boozer of the night, for good beer, welcoming staff and friendly locals.
3 Aug 2009 16:29
Good range of beers when visited, but I'm not sure about this reserving tables mularky. There was nowhere to sit and sup our pints and the staff were helpful but rushed off their feet, collecting plates and glasses from all the tables when there were thirsty punters at the bar. Lovely pint of Summer Lightning.
3 Aug 2009 16:27
lovely pub, great atmosphere-no musak or fruit machines in evidence. 10 beers on tap when visited plus real ciders and excellent range of bottled beer. Top notch.
3 Aug 2009 16:23
If you get the chance and you see the sign between Banbury and Chipping Norton, it's well worth the effort of turning off. Lovely cosy atmosphere, friendly staff, great range of well-kept beers. An absolute cracker!
28 Jul 2009 17:36
The Lamb Tavern, Leadenhall Market
Lovely old fashioned pub in the corner of historic Leadenhall Market. Great pint of Youngs.
28 Jul 2009 17:32
How disappointing to be confronted by yet another restuarant for Hitchin. This is neither a pub nor a bar and certainly not a 'local' in the conventional sense of a local boozer. Not worth leaving the town centre for if you're after a couple of decent pints and the food choice is so much wider in the town anyhow.
28 Jul 2009 17:21
Tribute was very warm, but I can half forgive that as it had been a very hot day and the pint came straight from the cask. Wet towels over the casks behind the bar were insufficient to cool the beer down. Mind you, my partners white wine was also served warm. Didn't get any food as we arrived 1 minute past the 9 O'clock cut-off time and the bar-staff were not for budging.
30 Jun 2009 20:06
Can echo the comment about a decent pint of Doom Bar. There were 3 other real ales on, but because it was a stinking hot day I was more interested in the 3 varieties of decent cider! Stowford Press quenched the thirst. Nice crowd of locals and non-locals mixing together. Food was hearty and quickly served. No complaints here.
30 Jun 2009 20:03
The Hermit of Redcoat, Little Wymondley
Nice clean pint of IPA. Large beer garden and helpful landlord who came to the rescue of our overheating dog with a bowl of cold water, even before we had asked. We and the dog were grateful for our drinks on a hot day.
15 Jun 2009 17:14
Not been here for a long time as always thought too food orientated. Therefore pleasantly surprised by good quality beer and friendly bar staff. Sits on the long distance Hertfordshire Way footpath so useful as a watering hole and a place to rest tired feet.
15 Jun 2009 17:10
The Strathmore Arms, St Pauls Walden
Shame we had missed last week's beer festival, which was much in evidence, by the sheer number of empty barrels outside! Friendly barman, serving decent beer (Buntingford Golden Plover) and a quiet rural setting to boot. Well worth a visit.
15 Jun 2009 17:06
Sunday lunchtime saw a gaggle of locals drinking in the public bar and mainly visitors chomping away in the lounge bar. Locals had the bar surrounded and were not about to give way to us visibly thirsty 'outsiders' !
15 Jun 2009 17:01
The Brocket Arms, Ayot St. Lawrence
went here yesterday (Sunday 14th) lunchtime and there was no food on. Lots of disappointed punters. The Brocket Beer, however, was excellent, as was the sunny beer garden and the place looked all spick and span
15 Jun 2009 16:58
Furthermore, the 'delving' into the whys and wherefores of the owners was started by alcaholic who initially told us of their investment plans and tells us that the owners 'are real nice people'. So we should have nothing to worry about then, should we?
12 Jun 2009 08:55
Agree on judging on service and standards, Hitchinboy1 and agree that some investors can provide a service. You yourself have made a subjective comment on certain multinationals, which I happen to agree with. I think we both agree that investment into the Radcliffe is also welcome, be it from a local, multinational, or even international investor. I would argue that the pub is also there to provide a service to the community, as the Radcliffe's own website suggests that it will. How does this square with the position vis a vis the Avenue neighbourhood? There has been a lot of local interest in this place and it has not been possible to comment on service and standards as the place has taken so long to open. I do hope that the neighbourhood benefits. Most of the information discussed here regarding investment relates to the NHDC website. This contains plenty of detail about the plans/layout of the pub, dining area, which I think gives an insight as to how it will look and feel. Of course you are right that the proof is in the pudding and the place does finally open next week, when comments can at last revert to service, standards etc rather than investment.
12 Jun 2009 08:43
Landlord is trying hard here, with a good range of beers and the locals seem to like it. 2 pool tables and dart board to attract the punters, but get in the way for me. The beers are well kept and is a nice enough place if you are on the way to town from the train station for a couple of pints.
10 Jun 2009 12:10
Decent pint of Spitfire, this pub had its heyday in the early 1990's when it was the place to be on a Friday night. Still frequented by the same locals
10 Jun 2009 12:06
Nice enough boozer that has been run by the same landlord since the year dot. Decor hasn't changed either but do not let that put you off. Friendly staff and decent range of ales. Just make sure that you are away from the place by around 9pm on a Friday and Saturday night when the 'lager boys' and shot-drinking crowd barge their way in for the extended drinking!
10 Jun 2009 12:03
Lovely beer, very friendly landlord and good atmosphere. Local CAMRA pub of the year, holds its own beer festivals, summer BBQs. A must.
10 Jun 2009 11:58
I'm all in favour of the establishment of a 'community' pub but think it odd that some of the 'community' is already estranged! I'm also keen that while investment is welcome, the look of the town is also preserved and am glad that more flats haven't been built. However, at least the occupants of these flats may provide the pub with some business. It is certainly more tasteful than recent developments elsewhere in the town or even modern buildings on the Avenue. From the outside it looks a massive improvement, as already mentioned and hope that it doesn't fall foul of planning regulations. As for the owner's personal life: Benslow said in his post that he had not seen any planning applications and I merely responded that North Herts District Council's website contained an application that set out the details of the Radcliffe's intended development. This publicly available information mentions that he lives locally on the Avenue and agree that local investment is vastly preferable to Punch, Enterprise, Regent Inns etc. Poster Pinehill googled the owner's name and mentioned his profession. I happened to remember his name and mentioned that the owner had posted on the Facebook site Friends of the Radcliffe Arms (as invited to look by the Landlord), which gave an indication of the opening date. Thought that locals might welcome this information.
10 Jun 2009 08:36
No judgment made hitchinboy, just stating facts. I've lived in the area for over 40 years and thought it worthwhile to see if our conservation area and lovely town is in safe hands. Nothing against Americans or people who haven't been 'lifelong residents of the town'. Agree that the pub looks a great improvement on its previous appearance. It did seem odd however, that he has already fallen out with his neighbours from the Avenue before even opening, so he has already judged them.
9 Jun 2009 10:46
The owner, Sam Isaly, who lives in New York says that he hears (hope his information is correct seeing he is the owner!) on the Facebook site 'Fiends of The Radcliffe Arms that the pub will re-open on 15th May.
9 Apr 2009 23:34
apparently many of the owner's neighbours on the Avenue are already barred from the place and it's not even open yet! What's all that about?!
6 Mar 2009 15:00
North Herts District Council website details plans of a rear extension/conservatory to the Radcliffe. Planning application number 08/02789/1. Put in post code SG$ 9ST. Owner, who is stated on the application form as living in the Avenue, plans to take it up-market, catering for diners, with first floor function room.
20 Dec 2008 00:09
The Hollow Bottom, Guiting Power
Friendly staff very welcoming, but some of the locals were a bit 'nobby' for our taste. Obviously well supported locally as the shooting party came by for breakfast and drinks at 9am! Beer kept very well. Horse-racing orientated with TV screens showing racing results and walls covered with racing memorabillia. Agree that the dining area off from nice small bar (lovely open fire) was a bit crowded and perhaps the music a bit too loud.
27 Nov 2008 12:14
The Farmer's Arms, Guiting Power
Lovely home-made food (steak and kidney pie was great), nothing too fancy but a wide choice. Very friendly bar staff and locals and the Donnington's BB was very well kept-as it should be as the brewery is just down the road! Flagstone floor, roaring fire, no musak or noisy fruit machines. Highly recommended.
27 Nov 2008 12:06
Decent pub. Good atmosphere, extensive range of frequently changing real ales plus wide range of wines and ciders. This week's Brains SA was well worth the visit. Unsurprisingly, given its many merits, can get very busy at weekends.
14 Oct 2008 15:49
Will be interested to see how this turns out. Rumours are anything from a lap-dancing joint to a gasto-pub! Odd location for either in this run-down part of town.
5 Oct 2008 09:15
Holly Bush Inn, Priors Marston
Enjoyed a lovely meal yesterday at this gastropub. Decent pint of Shepard Neame Spitfire, also had Hook Norton Bitter on draught. Good choice of food, we had the rack of lamb for mains, from a local butcher and very tasty it was too, washed down with a bottle of smooth Crianza. Quick efficient service, clean surroundings and separate bar and lounge area for those not wishing to dine.
22 Aug 2010 13:47