BITE user comments - duffy
Comments by duffy
This place has always been a bar as far as I can remember. Originally a 'Global Netcafe' around the time a netcafe popped up in every major town in england (ninety-four or ninety-five?), and then about three other things I can't remember the names of.
It's always been one of those 'cafe during the day, music and booze at night' venues and, meaning you could get wasted in there of an evening and then cure the hangover with breakfast in there the next day. They used to do a 'bottomless pot' of tea, which we tested to its supposedly non-existent limit. By the time the staff had realised we'd been there 2 hours, we'd had about fifteen cups each and were so hyper that they didn't dare arguing with us.
The Mango vibe is really good, and apart from consistently bumping into some old 'school chums' it's a bloody good night. It's also the only place in Romford my posh Buckinghamshire wife has enjoyed a night out in. The DJ plays mainly r'n'b and some horrid chart stuff amongst more credible material, and manages to annoy me every time I go there by saying "and a little bit later on we're going into the oldskool", but never actually does. Stays open fairly late so it's a good place to end up. The toilets get very messy though. If there was someone in there asking for tips because he's cleaning up I'd gladly oblige, but instead there's some bloke selling squirts of aftershave, lollypops, and tries charging labour for helping you wash your own hands! The only downside of a quality venue.
10 Feb 2006 15:57
Being out of town (and a listed property, i expect), the Archers has retained it's original character and spirit. A couple of my mates lived directly opposite a while back, in such a position that they could see if the pool table was free from their own living room. We used to spend every Sunday evening down there participating in, and winning a few times, the excellent DJ-run pub quiz.
But then things changed for the worse - the brewery allegedly caught the manager selling his own booze on the side and promptly sacked him. The new bloke that came in to replace him was a wally. to be frank, and, sin of sins, took away the quiz!! We subsequently boycotted the pub (not before we had a good bust-up with him) and told everyone else not to go there. Tragically, a couple of months after this, the poor bloke died of a heart attack! Alas, the pub quiz did not return. Sounds like they didn't get a better manager either.
10 Feb 2006 15:46
Romford's obligatory Firkin used to be a winner thanks to a combination of cheap beer, fusball, pool, jenga, more than sufficient seating and projection-screen telly - it was the multi-purpose watering hole with facilities for every occasion. Much enjoyed was the 'pound a pint' offer on Monday and Tuesday evenings while unemployed. Some people I know may have been responsible for the theft of nigh-on all the four-pint jugs during that period - a vicious irony in that if the beer wasn't so cheap, they may not have done such silly things.
However, while I'm not one to stand in the way of progress, I can never forgive the owners for the tarty, wine bar makeover it was given some years ago; yes it looked lighter, yes it looked more welcoming to outsiders, but to me they had stripped away the heart and the soul of that pub leaving me with nothing but memories to cherish and blurry ones at that. Saying that, this is still the venue of choice for international football matches, which is probably linked to the fact I saw Beckham score that fateful injury-time free kick against Greece that put us into the world cup finals whenever it was.
Too many grungers in there though.
10 Feb 2006 15:41
Hilariously ironic name considering the amount of fights I've seen down there, although that's something of an occupational hazard in Wrongford. Formerly a bank and then purchased by Rank Entertainment in 1998 when it became Jumpin' Jaks. Rank then shot themselves in the foot by opening superclub Time and Envy just across the road. I presume it was sold, becoming Life Bar.
Consistently packed at the weekend, the doormen let so many people in that you'll be packed in like sardines for much of the evening. Lacking in special deals on drinks, you'll come out significantly less well-off than you were when you went in, as is the way with the 'upper class' venues in town. The dual-floored layout works (if you can actually get upstairs), if you're trying to avoid someone or if you don't like the music on the other floor.
Good tunes on the whole (played very loudly) and Life's proximity to the station will always make it a useful early-evening rendezvous. Door policy is fairly strict in terms of how old the patrons are.
10 Feb 2006 15:30
One of my past favourites thanks to its two levels, wicked tunes, seating booths, dancefloor and balcony overlooking the dancefloor (which is ideal if fights and/or cleavage are a personal source of entertainment). I've spent a couple of Christmas Eves in here and have got obscenely drunk there many a time. Unfortunately, this also means I don't remember much about it; it's not the kind of place you go for a 'quiet drink' and if you're in there during the day you're missing the point.
If you're local, there's invariably someone in here you're trying to avoid because it can hold so many people. Thankfully it's easy to escape to one of the secluded booths if you get spotted. You'll often find yourself having to queue to get in on a weekend and, being in England, usually in the rain. Also, if you find yourself parked any less than five metres away from one of the monstrous speakers, you'll come out with a raw throat from shouting at your mates, and ringing ears cos it's so loud. But fair play - you can't play good tunes quietly.
All in all not much bad can be said about Edwards if you're out for a good night. But if you walk in and notice all the blokes have got the same haircut, you're too old. Nothing special, but better than average.
10 Feb 2006 15:24
Spent many of my days here during a period of teenage unemployment (accompanied by similarly jobless mates). But that was The Bull of old featuring �1 per pint on Sundays, a separate 'restaurant' area, and (hang on while I visualise) at least 6 pool tables. It was also an excellent venue for watching the footy, and with its torn seating and sticky floors, The Bull held on to a quality many pubs in Romford have lost: charm.
But it didn't last - it was when we went in there to watch England vs Lichenstein some time in 2003 we got to see for ourselves the rumoured makeover we'd heard about. The Bull had changed into a crap & tacky American-style sports bar. There are now only two pool tables, with contricted space around one of them, requiring use of the comedy short cue. It's heartbreaking to see character stripped from these pubs, especially when the clientele is largely the afterwards as it was before.
It's still good for watching the footy though.
10 Feb 2006 15:15
Originally the 'rising sun' hotel, then 'the morland arms', this was my first spiritual home and the one place me and my mates spent all our time trying to get into before we hit the legal age. Being the only pub in romford town centre with a geniune beer garden (not a 'patio' which is more common) and so close to the station, it's perfect for either a summer rendezvous, a quiet drink in the evening, or a beer-up before going out properly.
The best thing about the goose is its quality service and afforable alcoholic beverages. They also do favourable deals on Sambuca, Aftershock and the like, making it very easy to get very messy. It's a bit of an old-timer's pub, though, and while a bunch of gents approaching their mid-twenties will quite easily blend into the background, a younger group of lads would be, effectively, stared out of the pub. Which is good. The only criticism that must be levelled is the apparent absence of a suitable air-conditioning system, allowing the venue to become somewhat smokey at the best of times (even when no one's smoking it seems), making it a no-go for asthma suggerers and families. It should be observed that were its location different (i.e. not right outside the station), it's quite possible that I'd never set foot in the place.
10 Feb 2006 11:08
The Old Queens Head, Islington
In context, this is an excellent little place. Yes it's popular, and as with most places that have a queue after a certain time you should get there early. It also costs nothing this way, and a member of staff stamps your hand if you're sitting out the front. The outside space is sufficient for a pub in this location, but get seated early to avoid disappointment or loiter with intent.
The club upstairs is a comfortably intimate venue with a good mix of professionals and student types, and a cosmopolitan vibe. bar service is acceptable (smile - don't wave a twenty) as is the choice of music.
Only major complaint is that one of the DJs the night I was there was truly dire and amateurish. I'm just glad I didn't pay to get in. Good venue if you're organised.
12 Jun 2007 20:25