BITE user comments - coulsdoncrawler
Comments by coulsdoncrawler
Good selection of local beer and tasty food in this very pleasant Northamptonshire pub in the lee of the magnificent Harringworth Viaduct, which dominates both the village and the Welland Valley. Only a stone's throw to the county border with Rutland.
Friendly, efficient service in welcoming surroundings. Well worth a visit!
29 Jun 2009 23:48
Very friendly guv'nor at the helm of this attractive stone built pub in a pretty Northamptonshire village. Popular with walkers and close to the nearby Everdon Stubbs woodland noted for it's bluebells in the spring.
Whilst the beer range is unusual for the area (Bass and Ruddles County), it hardly inspires one and it's such a shame as this is the sort of place crying out for at least one good local ale. The food is simple yet well prepared and reasonably priced. A homely pub with a warm welcome. Worth a try!
29 Jun 2009 23:32
Queen Victoria Inn, Northampton
Comfortable and spacious pub with several drinking and dining areas. Looks like it had been given a Charles Wells "facelift" fairly recently. Went there for Sunday lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the very generous portions for the roasts. 3 real ales would appear to be the norm - 2 from the Wells & Young stable and a guest beer.
Note to any of the B.I.T.E team who may glance at this: Please, please, try to ensure that you list village pubs under the village name and not under the nearest major town or city! This pub and its neighbour the Eykyn Arms are in Gayton, NOT Northampton!
Anyone looking for an entry by location in a county would probably not have found these pubs - and hence very few reviews get posted; which surely defeats the object of this website which is to encourage others to post comments?
29 Jun 2009 00:26
Now re-opened (as of April 23rd). News report gleaned from Northants CAMRA. Not yet reviewed.
10 May 2009 22:29
Sir Pickering Phipps, Northampton
There is such a wide variety of excellent restaurants on the Wellingborough Road - yet not a decent pub to be found!
This is just one of a very bad bunch of downmarket "lads" pubs that blight the Abington area. It was never built as a pub; but whoever was brought in to turn it into one must have suffered from terminal bad taste. Apart from being extraordinarily ugly - with oversize brass fittings and heavy, clunky, dark wooden extrusions, the colour scheme is gloomy and depressing.
The poor man it was named after, Sir Pickering Phipps, the brewing "king" of Northampton, would undoubtedly be spinning if he could see this monstrosity of a "faux" pub. It does, at least, manage to serve one beer (Greene King IPA - on my last visit). Although if you are naming your pub after the person who dominated Northamptonshire's brewing history, wouldn't it have been a nice gesture to, at least, have had the wit to provide one of the excellent local beers that are on offer?
29 Dec 2008 00:44
The Fox and Hounds, Northampton
Firstly this pub is NOT in Northampton, it is in Lower Harlestone village. Once known as the Dusty Fox it was given a make-over a year or so back by M&B, renamed and is almost wholly food oriented. It's a most attractive ironstone building in a very pretty setting (blighted somewhat by the A413 running through the middle). It caters for a more upmarket crowd and this is reflected by the prices charged; cheap, it is not! It is comfortable and quite cosy at the front around the bar and has been furnished in contemporary style - which is not unappealing, however, one could never describe the pub as a village "local". Only one beer (Taylor's Landlord) on sale - a good ale - but hardly a local one and no other choice for the discerning beer drinker.
29 Dec 2008 00:16
Impossible to beat this in anywhere in Northampton. Best pub by a mile (well several actually!). As well as being the "tap" for Great Oakley Brewery's beers the pub also supports many local Micros, including the nearest (real) brewery to the pub, Frog Island. The staff are to be commended for their attentiveness and advice to those novice drinkers who find themselves on ale for the first time! (After 16 years, I finally witnessed my partner succumb to the delights of real beer!) It is also a veritable museum of breweriana and one never ceases to be delighted to discover yet another sign or artifact around a corner, on a shelf, or up a wall. And how to find this heavenly place? Be guided by the "Star"...
28 Dec 2008 23:55
Good little pub tucked away just behind the town centre. Excellent range of beers on offer as well as a real cider. One of the "must do's" on any decent crawl of Rugby.
28 Dec 2008 23:34
Not as bad (on my visit) as some of the reviews I have noticed. Vast cavern of a pub built on the site of the old indoor market. Not much to say really - it's a Wetherspoons and doesn't pretend to be anything else. Beer was ok even though the selection was not particularly adventurous.
28 Dec 2008 23:25
A good example of how not to refurbish a pub. Banks's (now Marstons) got this one badly wrong a few years back and goodness, does it look tacky now! Intended, I'd imagine, to cater for the "young", it is now mostly by-passed by this fickle crowd. A pub (re)named to honour the founder of the eponymous game ought to at least show the town in it's best light. This prominently sited house runs with a very low wattage bulb. Marstons - please take note!
28 Dec 2008 23:17
Great pub to start or finish your crawl of Rugby (if arriving or departing by train - 10 min walk from the station). Comprehensive selection of Atomic Ales, for which they are the main outlet and also an additional range of micro-brewers' beers. I loved the fact that it retains two quite different bars, thus giving it the true feel of an old fashioned public house. An essential visit!
28 Dec 2008 23:08
Tiny - but definitely one to squeeze into on any discerning pub crawl of Rugby. Although seemingly tied to Marston's, they always seem to choose some of their more interesting beers to tempt you. Good pub!
28 Dec 2008 23:01
A great beer drinkers pub and community local as well. A good pint and a nice atmosphere to accompany it too - does one need more? A good example of a Charles Wells Brewery allowing the tenant some leeway to take other brewers' beers to boost trade. Well done!
28 Dec 2008 22:56
Always a good bet for a fine pint. A veritable treasure trove of Breweriana adorns the walls and it's worth a visit alone to browse this museum dedicated to another age of brewing. One of the essential pub visits on any discerning drinker's crawl of Rugby!
28 Dec 2008 22:50
The Duck On The Pond, Long Itchington
Heavily food oriented pub set back behind the village pond. The present owners have retained the "French" themed interior, which, it has to be said, works very well. Lots to keep one interested whilst waiting for the food and the two fireplaces in the main lounge are beautifully tiled in gallic style. The kitchen is apparently very small and it is therefore quite extraordinary how they cope with such an extensive menu and are able to serve the food without delays. And it is good food too. The only down side, in my opinion, is the rather limited beer range - but I believe it is tied to Wells and Young, although not badged as one of their houses.
28 Dec 2008 22:44
Buck and Bell, Long Itchington
Superb job done on modernising a vitually dilapidated old ale house. Tastefully renovated and parts of the building that were long disused have been brought back into use (and life!). Excellent food and good beer - support for local breweries is evident here. Would highly recommend!
28 Dec 2008 22:36
Well run, friendly village local with wide range of "Home Brewed" beers (Nobby's, next door!) and the odd guest. Would definitely revisit. Pub dog rules the roost in the Public Bar!
28 Dec 2008 22:25
Good friendly pub at the top of the Buckby flight of locks. Lots of nooks and crannies to enjoy a pit and some grub. Supports local breweries and in particular Frog Island in Northampton, which is a regular here. Worth the hike out of Long Buckby village, as the local pubs there are decidedly average!
28 Dec 2008 22:14
Excellent boozer's pub in the town centre - catering for a wide variety of tastes and clientele. Regular oulet for Hampshire Brewery beers - must be the only place in the county where they can be drunk. Fairly loud rock music - so don't pop in here for a quiet evening with a good book!
20 Nov 2007 23:32
What a wonderful little rural pub! It's well off the beaten track but fortunately clearly signposted from the Rusper Road coming from the A24.
A superb selection of beers from local Micro Breweries and a real cider as well. Sunday lunch was a tremendous experience with great value roasts (served with an incredible choice of vegetables) and a small selection of proper puddings (no starters though - but the main courses were huge!). I can honetly say (and I speak for the party I was with), that this was the best pub lunch we have ever had.
The service too, was excellent and the landlord and his team were delightful - they all must really enjoy their work. The customers were a decent bunch too and all seemed very friendly. Cannot recommend it highly enough - visit it!
6 Nov 2007 23:35
Never a very inspiring venue from it's early Courage days in the 70's, when it catered almost exclusively for coach parties. Nothing has altered my views on the place much, except that with internal modifications it is now even less characterful than before - unless you happen to like wide open spaces. Unfortunately it would seem that not many do and at 10 pm last Saturday night there were no more than half a dozen souls in the place.
With plenty of shiny chrome handpulls adorning the bar (apparently just for show), I was keen to try a drop of the "Great Beer" as described by our previous correspondent but sadly, none was to be had.
Advertising itself nowadays as a "Free House", this statement is only true insofar as it is quite "free" of any ale worth drinking.
6 Nov 2007 23:02
Oh dear! The poor old Coverdale, as was. Once a thriving town centre pub and hotel, this great barn of a place has now had the heart ripped out of it. No redeeming architectural features remain and inside there is an uncomfortable colour scheme.
Unsurprisingly deserted at 9.00 pm on a Saturday night. There were 2 hand pumps sporting their clips but I was greeted by the words of welcome from the friendly barmaid, "there's no real ales on tonight but they may be on tomorrow...". Sadly I would be far away and unable to chance my luck with them. Great forward planning by the cellar manager to have no ales on tap on a Saturday night.
Lime trees are not indigenous in this part of the world and do not thrive in South Devon. This is possibly the only Lime tree in Paignton and goes to prove my point.
6 Nov 2007 22:34
The "Sizzling Steak House" sign emblazoned on the front would fill most pub goers with dread. However, it's actually not as bad as you'd think. It avoids the ghastly excesses of the "identikit" Steak Houses that most of us have had the misfortune to visit at some stage in our lives. It probably works because it was never built as a pub and so has never had to suffer the ignominy of having its guts ripped out and features removed by big brewery vandals.
It started life as the Grosvenor Hotel and was run in the 50's and 60's by a Scotsman called McGregor. This was a residential hotel and never sold liquor to the public. Bass Charrington acquired it in the 70's turning it into a pub restaurant and it was rechristened the Ship Inn.
Unbelievably, this was a regular entry in the Good Beer Guide until the early 90's. It would be hard pressed to achieve such an accolade nowadays. The beer range and quality is uninspiring. Having said that, there are (unfortunately) many worse places to while away your time in Paignton (or Preston to be entirely accurate). I wonder what the late Mr McGregor would make of it all?
6 Nov 2007 01:31
One of the few traditional pubs left in Paignton. A lively public bar and very sedate saloon. Home long ago to mini beer festivals - the bar back is testimony to this and is decorated with pump clips promoting many long defunct brews such as Higsons Bitter, Castle Eden Ale and Pompey Royal. No trace remains of its former life as a Whitbread tied house and Bass and St Austell, Tribute were the ales on offer. Off the beaten track but worth seeking out.
6 Nov 2007 00:01
Far and away the best hostelry in Paignton - which has sadly seen a steady decline in the quality of its pubs over the past 10 years. Yes, it's a Wetherspoon's and I know they attract a mediocre "press" in these reviews generally - but this is genuinely one of the best ones. Good atmosphere, attentive and welcoming staff and a superb range of beers which seem to be served in prime condition. The pub does excellent trade and leaves the others in the town centre for dead. Quite frankly, the others were "dead" by comparison - which is not surprising when you see what little they have to offer!
5 Nov 2007 23:35
Seems to be the hub of village life and it's fairly easy to see why. Friendly service and good ale in pleasant surroundings. Much more of a pub feel than it's neighbour down the road, the Fleur de Lis.
11 Aug 2007 23:28
The Little Brown Jug, Chiddingstone Causeway
Recently refurbished to a very high standard, with lots of pictures, books, and bric-a-brac to interest most people. Note (and follow!) the vacuum tube from the bar to the kitchen which is used to deliver the food orders. Blessed by a very genial manager who keeps a range of beer from the Greene King "stable" in superb condition. This pub is one of 5 pubs run by the "Whiting & Hammond" group. Well worth a visit!
11 Aug 2007 23:21
Expectations were high, following good write ups in both the Good Beer and East Surrey Pub Guides. The reality was a huge disappointment. Beer range excellent - but the normally reliable Ranmore Ale was below par - and although not bad it was certainly not good. A pretty exterior, the bar is pleasant enough but the dining area is totally lacking in ambience and actually quite a depressing place to sit - not in the least bit cosy or welcoming.
The food was the biggest let down. Our Sunday roasts could not possibly have been carved on the premises (unless they used a bacon slicer on the thinnest setting) Four "wafers" of beef covered in an obviously processed gravy with a ready made Yorkshire placed on top. It was reminiscent of one of those "Fray Bentos" pre-prepared dinners of distant memory. Compared to many other pubs in the vicinity, the food was really second rate. The ghastly spectre of school dinners sprang into mind!
A great shame, I really hope things improve.
13 May 2007 22:19
Advertising itself as the "Plough at Leigh", this is a tricky place to find and deserves its entry in the "Hidden Pubs of Britain" guide! It is in fact situated midway between Hildenborough and Leigh at a place known locally as Powdermill. The pub itself is very old and adjoining it is an enormous structure known as the "Great Barn". This latter building houses the carvery and restaurant. The main pub is quite picturesque with lots of nooks and crannies. Well kept Harvey's beer on my visit - the other two being Adnams and Spitfire. Check for opening hours, as I was told this pub does not remain open all day at weekends (even in Summer). Welcoming staff.
9 Apr 2007 17:22
Situated a short walk from the Spotted Dog, this is another fine Weald pub in an isolated location on Smart's Hill. The pub is open all day, every day and food available throughout - with a very extensive menu. Lovely drop of Larkins Traditional (the other beer on offer was Harveys, Sussex Best). Well worth seeking out.
9 Apr 2007 16:35
A superb hill top establishment with stunning, far reaching views from the back terraces. Only popped in for a drink but was sorely tempted to eat once I saw the food being dished up. Looked very good indeed. Lots of nooks and crannies and other interesting features. Two local Kentish beers on offer and my Larkins Traditional was the best pint of that brew I have ever tasted (the other brew was Westerham's BB). Very impressed - will return!
9 Apr 2007 16:19
Agree with the the previous correspondent's description of the pub. I didn't eat here but enjoyed one of the two Westerham Brewery's beers on offer. The other beers on offer were Shepherd Neame's Master Brew and the ubiquitous London Pride. So all in all a good choice of 3 local and 1 national ales. Found the staff to be very attentive and helpful. Would definitely consider eating here, prices notwithstanding. I think that before you step inside you'd realise this place wouldn't be cheap!
9 Apr 2007 16:07
An excellent pub in all respects. First class service complements the superb food (sourced from local produce) and fine range of W J King beers plus a real cider from Biddenden farm. Comfort, atmosphere and conviviality are all in evidence here.
My only other comment, like the previous correspondent, is that the hours could be a bit more flexible on Saturday and Sunday - especially in the summer months to cater for weary and often thirsty walkers and bike riders.
1 Apr 2007 21:28
A fine community pub catering for all tastes. Good mix of clientele and it is particularly nice to find a pub with two separate bars - a real rarity these days. Very friendly staff and both the real ales and the food were in top form. Cask Mild was available and that's even rarer than finding a pub with more than one bar!
Well deserving of its entry in the Good Beer Guide.
12 Mar 2007 00:10
This quirky and eccentric pub is one that can be a delight to visit - if only to wonder at all the bric-a-brac, militaria, photos, the back bar which is a homage to Rock & Roll and the 50's. As the local CAMRA pub guide states "...the place rivals Caterham's East Surrey Museum". That's true - in fact it's better because you can enjoy a well kept pint here whilst browsing through the artefacts.
Saturday evenings are always worth a visit to see the ageing "Ted's" and Rock and Rollers - or even to take part in the fun yourself!
Beer range recently improved with the addition of the admirable Westerham Brewery's British Bulldog, which was superb on my visit.
25 Feb 2007 18:54
Consistently one of the best pubs in Caterham-on-the-Hill. Very friendly staff and always a pleasant atmosphere, whichever part of the pub you choose to plonk yourself down.
As a previous contributor noted - the less desirable elements that inhabit this town (sadly there are many!) avoid the King & Queen, which makes it one of only two pubs regularly worth visiting on the "Hill" - (the other being the Clifton).
All the Fullers ales (usually 4) are extremely well kept. A well run pub.
25 Feb 2007 18:20
Vastly improved since its summer refurbishment with new leaseholders having taken it over. 4 real ales on tap from Greene King. Excellent, reasonably priced food and the service is genuinely friendly. Nice decor and some interesting photos of the pub under former ownership.
17 Dec 2006 23:03
Hits all the right buttons: Great range of real beers and ciders in the best of nick, good food, welcoming staff. Came on it by chance and made a vow to return. Highly recommended!
25 Sep 2006 00:37
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The Malt Shovel, Northampton
A gem of a pub in a town not particularly renowned for it's traditional boozers. A shrine to the defunct Northampton Brewery Company and Phipps's Breweries and the only remaining pub left displaying the illuminated NBC "star" trade mark outside as a beacon to attract the "faithful".
A drinker's paradise, supporting two local breweries (Great Oakley and Frog Island), which attracts an eclectic and cosmopolitan crowd - all with the following in mind; to enjoy decent beer and good company plus friendly, efficient service.
Enjoy crib, dominoes and other traditional pub games. Marvel at the landlord's incredible collection of enamel signs and other breweriana - especially his twin (working) clocks behind the bar advertising the two local breweries that once stood opposite. Maximum score!
8 Jan 2010 01:06