BITE user comments - Wagstaff
Comments by Wagstaff
Went into this pub a few weeks ago and had a nice pint of Abbots Ale, but two weeks later ordered another pint of this beer and it was sour. This has happened to me in other Sidmouth pubs, and I can't understand why there is no consistency in the standard of real ale served. I wonder whether this is a matter for CAMRA or indeed the brewery supplying the pub.
Waggerstaff
1 Nov 2009 20:17
Served a pint of Otter Ale a few nights ago - could not believe that it was cloudy, because it is usually one of the best kept beers in this part of the county. When I returned it, the staff served me with another cloudy pint - unbelievable !!
For entertainment this is one of the best pubs in Sidmouth. Unfortunately, there appears to be very little proper management on these occasions, and all the customer gets is abuse for complaining about the beer.
What a shame, because this is where a really good pub falls down. I guess that, thanks to this wretched government, and in order to survive, the pub is forced to employ temporary staff that are not properly trained to serve real ale.
23 Aug 2009 23:39
Couldn't believe how small the serving was when I ordered sea bass and risotto - it didn't fill one third of the oval plate on which it was served! �16.00 for a small piece of bass on a tiny mound of rice, with a thin piece of smoked salmon in the middle - scandalous!! It may be a "pub/restaurant", but there's no need to be so mean with the portions. The free glass of wine alleviated the pain, but I was lucky to go on a night when this was on offer. Only recommended to those with money to burn.
11 Dec 2008 08:41
I'm not posh, but I went there the other day and enjoyed a very nice meal. It took a while to arrive, but what they served was really quite good. The prices weren't as high as I expected, and if the food is good you don't mind paying a bit more. A Hall & Woodhouse pub, so I opted for the Tanglefoot, which is usually a good pint, and was on this occasion. Friendly service and clientele, so all in all an enjoyable evening.
15 Apr 2008 21:20
Don't be confused by the address - it's not a Blandford pub!! Had a drink and a meal the other night. Enjoyed a good pint of Butcombe, but the meal wasn't as good as I had hoped. The lamb cutlets came without anything to resemble a potato, although the sauce was quite tasty, and the baked alaska appeared to be a "bought-in" job. The service was reasonable, but I got the impression they couldn't wait for the evening to end. So still room for improvement, especially on the food side. Did enjoy the Trivial Pursuits!!
15 Apr 2008 21:08
So sad to see a very enjoyable country pub fall so far in such a short space of time. I feel so sorry for Trevor and James who between them had built up a really very good pub, only to see it dashed in the hands of idiots. It is extraordinary that Alcatraz should treat the staff so abominably � not speaking to them when they arrived is unbelievable !! Thankfully they have now left � they didn�t even say goodbye, but that was clearly no hardship to the staff who were very glad to be rid of them.
I went there the other day to have a cheese and tomato sandwich, something I�ve enjoyed there over many years, but I was surprised to see it arrive with CHIPS!! This put a �3 sandwich up to �6 � not long ago I could have had a pint and a sandwich there for under a fiver � however, the sandwich was as I remember so I think things are improving.
29 Mar 2008 14:48
This is a very friendly pub, with helpful staff, to which I take my very elderly father-in-law. They accommodate his requests for food, even if they're not on the menu, and will obligingly provide extra cooking of vegetables, when requested. The food is reasonably priced, with plenty on the plate - never had a bad meal yet. Beers include ales from the nearby Branscombe brewery.
All in all a pleasant Sidmouth pub from the Newton stable.
28 Mar 2008 14:49
An interesting pub with a large fireplace and a very pleasant manager. There was another bar next to the main one, but I couldn't see an access to it. The smell of paint indicates that they are still decorating and, judging by the other comments, have made a big improvement to it. Enjoyed a good couple of pints of Ruddles Best. Shame about the piped jukebox music, could be a bit intrusive if you didn't like the songs.
10 Mar 2008 08:53
Went there last night and found a lovely old pub with a glorious fireplace and a roaring fire. Not only was it a delight to be in, but the pub offered local beer from the Hidden Brewery. I tried two of the ales: I think they were called Pint & Quest, but I may be wrong. I also had a pasta meal, which was reasonably priced and well flavoured - although it was a hot dish served on a cold plate!! The staff were very attentive and the chef was on hand to explain the menu. If not on their list, it should be worth a CAMRA visit.
9 Mar 2008 17:52
Rang this pub today. The answer machine said: "This number does not receive incoming calls". Went round there yesterday evening and it looked very abandoned - hence the call.
9 Mar 2008 17:27
Black Horse, Sidmouth
I think bdp is a bit harsh in his criticism of this pub. Yes, I agree the service and attitude of the bar staff is at times appalling, but it is an all-day catering establishment, which provides a useful facility for locals and visitors alike. I haven't tried many of the menu choices, but the all-day 6-item breakfast at �3.99 is good value for your money. And if you visit after 9pm on friday or saturday nights, you'll be entertained by some really good groups - for free !!
Like bpd's old gentleman, I've been ignored by the bar staff, and when that happens I go across the road to the Ship. My main concern is how they keep their real ale, and this is something the breweries should tackle, the Otter brewery especially. There is no excuse for serving a bad pint of real ale.
6 Jul 2010 11:44