BITE user comments - beerbarber
Comments by beerbarber
Visited last night with my wife for the first time since the pub opened. The lady behind the bar was pleasant but the beer was very disappointing. 3 Adnams on offer and 1 Red Fox. I had a Broadside which wasn't good at all and my wife had an Explorer which she hated and said has lost its grapefruit flavour. There was a lack of atmosphere in what is a quite a large pub and a tinny sounding TV playing advert radio on the wall which all in all made the place feel like a social club.
Such a missed opportunity here - we wanted to see tapped barrels on the bar with more local beers. If you�re going to call yourself �The Ale House� your product needs to be the best around�it certainly wasn�t. 5/10.
15 Feb 2012 08:02
Visited here for the first time in years after swearing to never go back in to a Spoons and was very impressed this time. Had a pint of Old Growler which was superb and my wife had a Nethergate Ruby Mild which she was very impressed with too. The service was actually OK for a change and the two pints came in at �4.65. Made me review my attitude to this pub and I will probably return. The mannequin's dotted around the seating area are a little bit freaky though!
31 May 2011 07:37
The Fox and Fiddler, Colchester
Visited yesterday - nothing to make me want to go back. A pint of Mauldons 'something' which was very average. Friendly enough welcome from the bar and toilets very clean though.
31 May 2011 07:34
I visited this pub yesterday for the first time after hearing much praise. I was extremely dissapointed and never actually got to taste the beer. The kid on the bar completely ignored us - didn't even say hello - and there was one ale (Ducks Folley) on tap and no list of any others. 3 apparent regulars at the bar who grunted at us and a complete lack of atmosphere - we just walked out. VERY dissapointed and quite simply will never go back again. The owner needs to teach their staff the very basic rule to at least acknowledge people when it's so quiet; it's just rude to ignore people!
31 May 2011 07:31
Revisted this pub today after my last review almost 3 years ago. Nothing has changed but I fear it's stuck in the past. Only 2 choices of ale, one of which was GK IPA and the other was Courage Directors. The Directors was very average. Still, always a polite welcome from John who I understand is leaving at the end of the month after something like 25 years in the pub. Hopefully the new owners will look at modernisation of the toilets and aim to offer more selection of Real Ale.
31 May 2011 07:26
I walked in to this place a couple of weeks ago - and walked straight back out. There were some gobby morons at the bar clearly tanked up (at 5pm!) and the place was a real mess inside. I instantly recognised one of the people standing at the bar from a recent Crimewatch episode. I couldn't see anything that resembled ale - just the typical English-brewed-Belgian-wifebeater.
The sooner this is turned into flats, the better!
25 Oct 2010 13:48
I've lived in Colchester all my life but for one reason or another never ventured over the Rowhedge for a pint. I was invited along to the Albion last week. What a little gem it is.
There were 4 good ales on tap and the staff were very welcoming. Very traditional interior with some people quietly playing chess in the corner and some piped music at times. There's a beer garden accross the road right on the River Colne with some great views. Well worth a visit.
25 Oct 2010 13:34
I revisted last week for a quick half - still no different and my pint was, well, odd. This isn't a pub - it's a restaurent with a booze licence.
3 Oct 2009 14:10
I thought this pub was going to be great under a new name and landlord...how wrong I was. I've visited twice - last time I was met by an obnoxious little t**t behind the bar. He was rude and full of himself. I asked for a pint of Broadside to be told it wasn't on (turn the clip round then I thought). I then asked for a pint og Black Sheep - it smelt like egg. Shame; the pub has so much potential but I refuse to be treated like I was and will just spend my money elsewhere.
3 Oct 2009 13:20
It's great that Kelvedon finally has a gay scene pub. Me and my boyfriend go their regularly now and we're always treated with respect - and the landlord is such a sweety!
5 Aug 2009 11:30
The pub is fine and does a good roast. Hasn't changed in years. Literally.
24 Sep 2008 20:10
Ate here once - never again. Butchers fly in my mussle starter - no apology and they charged me for it! Very toffee nosed and love to let guests wait over the locals. Naughty.
24 Sep 2008 20:09
I holiday in West Bay and this pub is decent, even if a little clicky.
24 Sep 2008 20:04
Ate here - good food at value and happy to accomodate our young kids. Not overly exciting but certainly no need to avoid.
24 Sep 2008 20:02
It's OK, but that's about it. The setting is what does it. But they hike the prices up in the summer and the staff can be quite rude - and God forbid you should ask for your glass to contain a full pint! �3.10 for a pint of ale in the south west if quite rich.
24 Sep 2008 20:01
The Cadgwith Cove Inn, Cadgwith Cove
This place is fantastic. If you do a coastal walk pop in and try and ale. Great setting. And a shop just down the road that sells fresh crab to order.
24 Sep 2008 19:58
I revisited this pub today with my missus at lunch time and were were very impressed. They had 7 ales on (Adnams Broadside/Explorer/Bitter) and guests including Woodfordes Wherry, Tim Taylors Landlord and Adnams Old Ale. The beer was clear and very well presented and you certainly got the feeling that the landlord has an interest in good ale.
Some real ale drinkers might find the ale too cold, but I like it cool so that was fine for me.
There was a good choice of whiskeys on too and draft/bottled ciders including Aspels.
They have a good value lunctime menu. We will most cetainly be returning and I suggest to anyone looking for a friendly, clean and laid back pub to give it a go.
24 Sep 2008 19:47
The British Grenadier, Colchester
Hello Simon I told you it was me - where are those Christmas Ales???!!!
11 Dec 2007 09:26
Once saw a gut thrown through the window around 1994, so when I started drinking in pubs, never went it!
28 Oct 2007 01:59
Should I try this place? It looks a mess from outside, but locals have told me it serves a meen ale.
28 Oct 2007 01:15
The British Grenadier, Colchester
Yep, great place. Landlord takes an exceptional attitude to good beer - you will never be served a bad pint. THey are keen to get new clients to try new ales, and don;t be afraid to ask for a free taster.
Pubs like this are in decline and it's a real shame. Make sure you visit it - I can personally vouch for the Adnams Broadside. You'll also see Woodfordes Wherry on at regular intervals and many seasonal guest ales.
If it's Stella, Krony, or any other chemical rich lager that you're after, don't bother going here. It's Carlsberg, Bitburger, or ale (oh and a Cornish Cider).
New frills, no idiots, no attitude, just great beer and an friendly atmosphere.
28 Oct 2007 01:06
The Purple Dog, Colchester
Pleasantly surprised. Expected it to be tacky but was warmly welcomed. Broadside, Doom Bar, Brewers Gold and Wherry on tap. The Wherry went as we ordered so two pints of Gold ordered which was crystal clear and spot on with flavour. Nice atmosphere except for a god shite 18 year old in the garden (shame you can�t pick your customers, hey?) but other than that it was good. I can so potential for it getting packed with kids on a weekend which would put me off, but I would go back again on a weeknight or lunchtime on a weekend.
I don�t think the prices were �steep� � beer costs money and so do pubs.
15 Feb 2012 08:09