BITE user comments - Steveexpopes
Comments by Steveexpopes
The Dolphin has reopened (last week) under new management. Hop Back's web site currently says "reopens Thursday 16 May will (sic) new landlord, Colin. Lord Burninbum of the Chalfonts and I dropped in yesterday and had a couple of pints of Crop Circle each. The place seems to be on the up.
19 May 2013 09:47
This pub has been converted to offices for an accountancy (?) firm. It looks like the bean counters always win in the end!
1 May 2013 12:44
I'd arranged to meet some friends down from London in the Dolphin yesterday afternoon (one of them had visited in the days of Dawn & Bob). However when I got there found it closed with a notice up to the effect that the microbrewery was being installed and hoped to reopen in January. Looking forward to it!
As for us - defaulted to t'Wellie (the Wellington Arms) and met up there.
16 Dec 2012 14:31
I really must get around to visiting Croydon again. On my last visit about 2 years ago I went into the Royal Standard in Sheldon St which had regularly been my lunchtime haunt in the 70s. We went in at about 1230 on a Friday and it was empty. Back in the 70s you wouldn't have got through the door for suits and ties. It looks like the no alcohol policy most companies now have is killing lunch time trade.
29 Jun 2011 13:17
Almost a Wetherspoons clone but unlike Wetherspoons the staff are friendly. Also unlike Wetherspoons the food is expensive but like Wetherspoons it's very mediocre. Beer o.k. (I stuck to Tinners) although nothing to write home about. Cliental seem to be mainly holiday makers who couldn't wait to get food down their necks and get back to their B&Bs to take their brains out and be mesmerised by Deadenders or Bore-inaction Street.
17 May 2010 11:57
Visited on a couple of afternoons last week. The only place outside Helston I've come across Spingo. Pub also has Betty Stoggs and Doom Bar. All beers are well kept and the price is on a par with the surrounding pubs.
17 May 2010 11:48
Dropped in on our way back to Penzance at just after 2pm last Monday. Only 1 couple in there who were just finishing their meal. Had a pint of Tribute. When the couple eating had finished their meal, paid and left we were hassled out as they wanted to close, we still had over half a pint each. It was all very polite but definitely hassle.
17 May 2010 11:44
2 of us stayed for 3 nights B&B last week. Comfortable room with views of the sea. A bit steep at �90 per night for the room although the room had a double and a single bed and also a fold away bed so I suppose 4 of you could share the cost. Breakfast reasonable (but no black or white pudding) and evening meals also reasonable in quality, quantity and price. Peter also has the Logan Rock at Treen (which we visited) and the St. Buryan at - guess where? - St Buryan, which we didn't visit. Large centre round table in bar was taken up most evenings by a locals card school. Beers are still Tribute, Proper Job and Bass.
17 May 2010 11:38
Brigantes Bar and Brasserie, York
Great pub backing on to the York Brewery. We only went in there to kill time while wating for a brewery tour but I'm very glad we did. There was a lambic on which I had to try, having heard so much about lambic beers and it was good but nothing out of the ordinary. We had a sandwich which was excellent. Although there were several handpumps available and the "house" lager was a German import I recognised but can't for the life of me remember I opted for a bottled M�rzen for my second beer. On reading the label I found that it had been brewed in the U.S???
While we were there a couple walked in and the chap asked for John Smiff's. Having been told that wasn't available he asked for Tetley Smooth. Not being able to get that he asked for Carlsberg. He was given a taster of the house lager and declaring he didn't like it he left. He obviously didn't like beer you can taste.
When our time for the brewery tour was due the barman (landlord?) let us out the back straight into the brewery yard!
6 May 2010 13:16
The Albert Tavern, South Norwood
Before moving to Weymouth in 2000 t'Bert was my local. I'd been using it since about a year after it reopened in 1966 (I was 16!)and I'd played for one of the two cricket clubs. In the days of Binnie and Don (Binnie now has the Harp in Covent Garden) it was an excellent boozer and I wouldn't hesitate to rate it 9 if not 10. When 11am till 11pm opening came in Binnie said "I'm not shortening my hours for anyone"! Since Binnie left the pub has had many landlords, some good, some bad and some appalling. It has also had many refurbishments.
Since I moved I've been back to South Norwood to visit friends (and, sadly, to attend funerals) and I've dropped in to t'Bert on most visits. The beer (GK IPA and Old Speckled Hen) is reasonable but not exceptional. The staff are friendly and the surroundings comfortable. It must be doing something right when you consider the number of other pubs in the area which have closed since I moved away.
29 Apr 2010 11:14
Friendly family run pub (Husband, wife, 3 daughters and 1 daughter's partner on the "staff"). There's only 1 member of staff who's not "family". even the granddaughters & grandsons (eldest about 10) seem to be being groomed as staff. Currently serving Ringwood's Best and 49er which is always in tip top condition. Due to Marston's delivery policy they only get one delivery a week on a Monday so during busy periods they may run out late in the weekend, the new delivery not being ready till Tuesday at the earliest. Food is good and plentiful. If you're not worried about your waistline and cholesteral try a Wellie Brunch. Probably the best pub on the Melcome Regis side of the harbour and vies with the Boot as best pub in the whole of Weymouth. Pity the grockles have found it.
29 Apr 2010 10:58
I used to drive buses from the garage just around the corner and if I had a mid evening finish I'd drop in for a quick pint or several on my way home. When Bob and Dawn were there the beer was in tip top condition and the atmosphere was good. When they went and it shut down for a while was about the same time as I packed up the bus driving - I didn't fancy another season of grockles. I went in there the first time since then yesterday. The only customers were a young couple and brat who seemed to be in the middle of a domestic, the Gilbert's (GFB) could have been produced by Sarsons and the glass was filthy. As they used to say in the News of the Screws "I made my excuses and left". It's a pity ratings don't go into the minus scale.
28 Apr 2010 22:53
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The Somerset Hotel, Weymouth
Boarding's been removed although when I went past yesterday (I couldn't stop as I was driving) the place didn't appear to be open.
19 May 2013 09:49