BITE user comments - TomAngel
Comments by TomAngel
The Dartmouth Arms, Forest Hill
Its a shame, as this pub is almost amazing. The Chrome cafe furniture outside is a BIG mistake and completely out of keeping with the rest of the pub, easy to stack maybe, but too blinding and transitory for the punter.
Also its TOO concentrated on the food, and its purpose as being the centre of a community is lost as a pub. People drinking (the adittedly decent ales) are sidelined in favour of couples eating alone.
25 Jul 2007 10:39
Terrible. Lovely building. But the bar staff have NO idea who is next. They are inexplicably dressed in matching t-shirts advertising Stella. Why do pubs feel they need uniformed staff, it isn't McDonalds. The choice of lager is Carling, Fosters and the ubiquitous Stella, (how ground breaking!)London Pride is no longer sold. To top it all the bar is pine (in an otherwise oak paneled pub) and there are two security guards at the entrance. Why?
There are no regulars and no sense of community. Compared to the Wheatsheaf of the superb Southwark Tavern it is absolute rubbish. Have a look at the historical building, but avoid paying any money for overpriced distinct lack of choice.
20 Sep 2006 13:42
Great pub which shines even brighter due to close proximity to the overpriced soul-less glitz and supposed LA glamour of all the awful riverside restaurants and bars in the area. The menu appeared to have been written by someone who only had half the ingredients, I barely understood it to be honest, but the food turned out to be lovely. The quiche should be entered into the International quiche awards, if there is one (if there isn't then 'Cat's Back' could do worse than establish it.) Wonderful atmosphere and a reassuring, genuine kookiness.
30 May 2006 10:13
Bloody wonderful. Just when I thought this pub couldn't get any better- it has the atmosphere of a crowded ski cable car jammed between summits with a free bar- having inadvertently found myself in soho while dog-sitting on a saturday afternoon, I asked if I could bring the mutt in. We were greeted with a yes, 'he's likely to be better behaved than most of the customers' and offered a bowl of water (the dog, not me). Bloody good show, particualrly after all the tourist theme pubs on whitehall all did us the favour of not letting us in. Wonderful crowd and the bar staff are diamonds (even wearing their own t-shirts, as opposed to some brewery's). Only drawback- they only serve halves, although I kind of like that kookiness and it shuts at 11:00. Viva France. x
I asked if I could bring in a dog I was dogsitting for the weekend and inadvertently found myself in soho on a saturday afternoon
9 May 2006 16:44
A real find. lovely warm atmosphere, quiet music, fire and plenty of murmuring chat. Sat at the bar and, for the duraton of the two pints of adnams, there was nowhere else I would rather have been.
18 Nov 2005 14:57
Loads of character and a (rare sighting these days) a darts board directly outside the toilets, expect to see people wandering about with darts in their head! It really has got something unique about it, the layout of which appears to encourage mingling and chatting to strangers. Feels like a true freehouse without all the identikit 'chalk' food boards that plight British pubs. Brilliant.
17 Jun 2005 10:20
A pub that rests on its laurels somewhat. The interior is lovely, although the pine bar is a travesty amongst the otherwise stained dark oak of the rest of the pub- I hope the person responsible has been arrested-its these little things. The prices are also a blatant rip off- there are better places to drink in Borough. The bar staff also tend to ask "Who's next?" At the bar. Isn't it their job to know that?
19 May 2005 13:41
Bloody brilliant: on a full night the busy bar looks like you'll wait for ages but then lots of grey haired ladies appear to take your order of London Pride with a quiet efficiency. It's like the wombles cave, with bits of cars, bicycles, diving equipment, skeletons, giraffes and other animals. ALSO has a music licence which is simply wonderful. Think an American road house managed by the Great Uncle Bulgaria.
18 Mar 2005 14:29
Lovely new place in Herne Hill, or is it west Dulwich? Nevermind, the food is well priced and excellent with outstanding service. The place has an intimate feel with excellent photos from a talented photographer on the wall. Go once and you'll come back!
23 Feb 2005 13:03
Wobbly rocks.
Excellent pub if you like the simple things in life, a pint and good conversaton. The choice of bitter suffers from there being no London Pride, but recently have got some IPA which is an improvement from the dreadful creamy northern bitter. Can be a bit smokey and I don't smoke. Recommended.
9 Dec 2004 11:54
Dreadful pub. Owned by a miserable landlord who is an example of a growing breed of people who own pubs for nothing other than money. I'm confident that the other comments on this site are accurate, as I can imagine it was once a pub full of characters, laughter and community. Now there is no character. Money has sold out this soul.
9 Dec 2004 11:00
Decent pub with good ale, and a lovely back bar that has the potential to be snug in front of an open fire, but instead the owners have plonked a massive great 'nautical' barrel in front of the hearth- oh well at least the barrel's warm! A waste.
9 Dec 2004 10:53
The Dulwich Woodhouse, Sydenham
The point of this pub was surely to cater for dog walkers, regulars, dart players and families enjoying Sydenham woods. That they used to provide a dog bowl for dogs (obviously) illustrated their generous and hospitable nature. Now you can't even get into the place - the front door has been locked (one has to wander around the back!), but frankly it's a blessing, as I'd rather be locked in the home furnishings Dept of the HOuse of Frazer - in the late 80's - for the night, than spend longer than 5 seconds in this taste abortion.
This is the perfect pub, for people who prefer restaurants to pubs, yet have never in their lives been to a decent restaurant.
18 Jun 2009 14:21