BITE user comments - ferend
Comments by ferend
Been back here a couple of times recently, still a bit cliquish but a warm welcome from the landlord & staff. Hooky Bitter seems to be the standard offering, but pleasantly surprised to find the excellent Hooky Mild on offer at the last visit, however it's a shame that they don't seem to offer the Hooky seasonal ales as well. Food was improved, and we thought good value.
22 Sep 2013 17:53
Disastrous management company couple have gone - the pub is now being run by another (!) management company on behalf of Enterprise.
The couple in place at the moment, Penny & Steve, seem pretty switched on and trade is already picking up, we can only hope for the best....
Three real ales on offer, sadly only Doombar, London Pride & Hooky bitter when we called in recently, but a promise of more variety to come, and food to be available shortly.
22 Sep 2013 17:45
The Carpenters Arms, Middle Barton
Now an Indian restaurant/take-away (again), but at least they are keeping the bar open - evenings only though.
22 Sep 2013 17:37
The New Bulls Head, Stratford Upon Avon
Renamed The New Bulls Head, I made a detour to visit this pub as it is Good Beer Guide listed, big mistake, the Robinsons Dizzy Blonde was undrinkable, asked to change it for a Timmy Taylors Landlord - 'that will be 5p extra please' - really?
The Landlord wasn't much better than the Dizzy Blonde.
A few stale looking cakes were on offer on the bar.
No idea why this pub is GBG listed, presumably it's the local for one of the local CAMRA committee, I certainly won't be returning.
21 Jun 2013 20:55
The Windmill, Stratford Upon Avon
Pleasant pub slightly away from the town centre, low beamed bar and outside drinking/eating area at the back. Good pint of Purity Gold.
21 Jun 2013 20:44
The Golden Bee, Stratford Upon Avon
Pretty standard 'spoons pub, cheap beer and food, no ambience.
Tried a pint of Hooky Gold, sadly it was so cloudy that you couldn't see through it - shame as Gold is one of my favourite beers. It was changed without question but disappointing to see it served in that condition.
21 Jun 2013 20:40
The Dirty Duck, Stratford Upon Avon
A definite thumbs up from me for this pub. Two pleasant 'old fashioned' bars at the front, with an eating/drinking terrace overlooking the river. At the back there is a more modern eating area.
Rather limited choice of beer, only Green King IPA and Morlands Golden Hen on offer when I called in.
I made the mistake of ordering beer from the bar on the right, I'd missed the sign on the bar saying that it was closed and to order from the 'front bar'. However the barman did serve me, and everyone else who arrived later, as 'there's no-one at the other bar at the moment'. Slightly bizarre as he just had to turn round to serve from either bar!
Nevertheless a good pub, not over priced, one to revisit.
21 Jun 2013 20:34
A re-vist to the Bear confirms my opinion that it's one of the best pubs for beer in SoA, 8 real ales on offer, all on good form and not overpriced, unlike some pubs in the town. A well deserved Good Beer Guide listing.
21 Jun 2013 20:16
Looks good from the outside, unfortunately the bar is pretty soulless. There's a small garden out back with benches & tables or you can sit out front and watch the world go by.
Only called in for a beer which was around 20p a pint dearer than other local pubs.
7 Jun 2013 17:16
Pleasant enough pub in a pretty village on the edge of Lyndhurst, but at £2 for a half of 3.8% bitter I didn't hang around...
7 Jun 2013 17:11
I can't better any of the descriptions of this attractive thatched pub, I found it very welcoming. Only stopped for a beer, Ringwood Bitter, which was on good form, so I can't comment on the food.
It is a bit hidden away but worth seeking out as it's not too far from the centre of Lyndhurst. It does have a reasonably good sized car park, unlike a lot of the pubs in the area.
7 Jun 2013 17:05
Nice town centre pub, good atmosphere and a reasonable range of beers, obviously geared up for food but a drinkers pub too - and the beer's cheaper than at the Mailmans down the road...
7 Jun 2013 16:56
As others have stated, this pub is very much food led, and also very popular, it was extremely busy at midday on the Saturday that I called in.
Despite other comments here, they were quite happy to serve me at the bar (I wasn't eating), and it was great to see a good range of beers served straight from the barrel.
It appeared to be very efficiently run and the staff were all very pleasant.
7 Jun 2013 16:52
Been back to the Forest recently and had time to visit a few Lyndhurst pubs.
Called in to The Crown Stirrup again for a quick pint.
No problems with the quality of the beer this time, 49er on good form but sadly no other beers available. Price is now on a par with, or slightly less than other pubs in the area.
7 Jun 2013 16:45
Well, Enterprise Inns greed has forced yet another couple out of this pub.
Called in on passing to find that Tony & Jacqui have gone and there is a management couple in place holding the fort until Enterprise can find someone else to rip off...
19 May 2013 16:02
The Crown and Tuns, Deddington
Been here a couple of times recently, after a gap of many years. The pub has inexplicably acquired the subtitle Puddingface, quite offputting!
This is a Hook Norton tied pub and sells Hooky bitter at £3 which is not bad for the area, however the other beer prices are high, Old Hooky at £3.50, guest bitter at £3.60 and Hook Nortons latest venture, keg Flagship at £3.95! God knows why they have ruined an excellent beer by presenting it in keg form, and at £3.95 I'll bet they don't sell much...
This used to be a local drinkers pub, now it's very much food led, with a few bar stools and the remainder of the two rooms set up with tables for eating. Pleasant enough though.
Food is almost exclusively pies, would be nice to have a bit more choice. Prices are high but the portions are good which is OK if you have a good appetite, but the notice telling you not to ask for an extra plate so that two can share is just bizarre.
19 May 2013 15:54
Call in for a pint during a weekend visit to the Forest, very pleasant pub with a garden directly adjoining the Forest, nice to see a proper log fire too.
Signs outside proclaimed new owners and new menu.
Sadly the beer was expensive and not particularly good. It also seems to be one of those pubs where the price is inflated for 'tourists'.
I wish the new owners well, but they really need to look to the quality of their beer. Having the bar staff tell you that the beer will 'clear in a minute because it's nearly the end of the barrel' does not inspire confidence...
Didn't try the food as we were walking on to another location.
7 Apr 2013 17:34
Discovered this pub whilst staying in the area for a couple of days, which happened to be during their 'Beer & Burger' week.
Amazed to find that the bar has 12 handpumps - with 11 beers available. Heaven :) Sadly I couldn't try all of them, but those I did were on excellent form. They apparently normally have 4 or so beers on an any one time.
Friendly staff with a real interest in the beers, even though it is obviously a very much food-led pub. Popular for food too by the sound of things, I heard several callers being told that their choice of date for a meal was fully booked.
10 Mar 2013 13:00
Hotel/restaurant with large bar/eating area. Was in for an evening meal with a large party, food rather expensive for what you get - unless you go for one of the limited special '2 meals' deals. Only real ale available was Speckled Hen which wasn't in great condition. Rather disappointing.
10 Mar 2013 12:45
Pleasantly surprised to find this tucked away just north of the NEC. Called in for a quick pint late one afternoon when it was quiet, Purity UBU, Sharps Doombar and Harviestoun Old Engine Oil porter available, I'm not a huge fan of Doombar but the other two were on good form. Bar staff were very pleasant, even making sure that my pint was topped up after serving without being asked - always a good sign :)
Didn't eat but the menu looked reasonably priced with specials available before 5pm. It was certainly starting to fill up by around 5.30, I guess from people leaving the NEC and imagine it would be very busy later on.
It's one of the Vintage Inns chain and retains the old beams and exposed brickwork, good to find a real log fire too.
20 Feb 2013 16:01
Called in for Sunday lunch recently, great to be able to sit in comfy leather armchairs by an open log fire while we waited for our table - and after the meal.
Quite varied Sunday menu, but looks like there's a bit more choice in the week judging by the chalkboards. Prices about average for the area (i.e. not cheap!).
Uninspiring choice of beer, only Hooky Bitter and Greene King IPA available, which was disappointing.
11 Feb 2013 11:41
Currently (Feb 2013) closed for a well overdue refurbishment.
11 Feb 2013 11:32
The Carpenters Arms, Middle Barton
A recent visit elicited the fact that it's back to a normal pub again. Only 2 beers on though.
11 Feb 2013 11:24
Open again...
Seems to be back to normal service, good range of beers and great home-cooked food. I see it was nominated as the CAMRA North Oxfordshire Pub of the Year 2012
11 Feb 2013 11:19
The Killingworth Castle Inn, Wootton
Recently (1/12/12) reopened after being closed for about a year, seems to have had a major refurb which has been done well.
Called in for lunch and pleasantly surprised to see a selection of four beers from different local breweries on offer, including Prospect from Shotover Brewery, Isis Pale from Compass, Pride of Oxford from Oxfordshire Ales and Uley Bitter- all on good form. Would have been nice to have had a few different styles though.
The food coming out looked good, the table next to us had impressive looking venison burgers. We had a browse of the menu, looks to be aiming a bit above the 'pub grub' market.
22 Dec 2012 17:37
Visited recently on a Saturday lunchtime, nice welcoming atmosphere, the woodburning stove was very welcome after a cold mornings walk!
We chose from the lunch menu and the food was excellent, can't really describe the portions as ample though...
Drinks quite pricey, �2.20 for a half of coke and �3.30 for a pint of Brakespears Bitter.
Main meals look pricey too, and I suspect that most of the clientele are the more well to do locals, and visitors from Oxford who don't mind paying.
Would have rated higher but for the prices.
3 Nov 2012 16:02
Delightful two room village pub, just like being in someone's front room!
It's a Hook Norton Brewery pub and when we called in recently for an evening meal they had Hooky Bitter and Old Hooky on, drawn directly from the casks behind the bar. Both were on good form but sadly they didn't have the seasonal beer, despite their website stating that they carry it, I was looking forward to a Haymaker.
Good food at reasonable prices and ample portions. A warm welcome and excellent service. Highly recommended.
30 Sep 2012 12:22
The Tarrington Arms, Tarrington
Had the good fortune to arrive during 'happy hour' so enjoyed a couple of pints of Wye Valley Bitter at �2/pint :)
Stayed on for a meal in the evening, usual pub fare available but what we had was nicely presented and ample portions.
Nice looking building but the interior is a bit 'tired'.
29 Aug 2012 18:35
The Carpenters Arms, Middle Barton
On passing recently I see that it now specialises in Indian food...!
9 Nov 2011 12:30
Dropped in for a quick pint on a mid-week lunchtime recently while waiting for the bus. Pleasant enough bar with a few people eating, food looked ok but didn't check the prices.
Sadly the beer was only mediocre - and expensive even for this area...
9 Nov 2011 12:20
Pleasantly surprised to find a selection of 7 real ales on offer, sadly only time for a couple of pints of Purity Mad Goose, which was excellent.
Top marks to the bar staff too, topped up my pint without being prompted, after serving it with an inch of head on it.
The Bear is part of the Swan's Nest Hotel/Bistrot Pierre complex and it would be easy to pass it by if you were just looking for somewhere for a few beers. Thanks to BITE I didn't pass it by, but it really should be listed under Stratford upon Avon!
5 Jun 2011 16:15
Oh dear - it's closed again... When will Enterprise learn that they need to support their landlords, not price them out of business?
7 Feb 2011 17:59
Excellent pub, superb Harveys straight from the cask, good food too. Plus they let us sleep in our camper in the car park. Perfect :)
6 Nov 2010 13:45
This is a fish & chip cafe with a bar, nowhere to sit comfortably with a pint. Beer was ok but overpriced.
Nice big car park though and they let us stay overnight in our camper, always a bonus :)
6 Nov 2010 13:40
We called in and found all the signs out saying it was open, notices in the windows saying it was open, but, although the lights were on, the doors were locked.
According to the locals it's not closed but being run by temporary managers who open when they feel like it.
We gave up and went down the road to the Admiral Rodney :)
19 Aug 2010 21:56
Pleasant enough country pub, looks like it's been recently refurbished in the 'farmhouse' style so lacks a bit of character. Excellent beer, tried the Wye Valley HPA, Shires Summer Classic and Birds Thunderbird and all were in fine condition and well priced. We didn't sample the food but from what we saw the portions looked ample.
19 Aug 2010 21:47
Pleasantly surprised to find that this pub is open all day, very attractive inside with old beams and flagstone floor plus a nice outdoor seating area (sadly right next to the car park!). Friendly attentive staff. Can't comment on the food as I only called in for a quick pint on a weekday afternoon, however if the price of the beer is anything to go by it won't be cheap to eat here... Must be around 20 pence/pint more expensive than other pubs in the area.
11 Jul 2010 19:32
Been here twice recently - both times in the middle of a weekday afternoon. What a bonus to find a village pub open all day! TT Golden Best on top form both times. A typical small village local with a range of OK priced food, judging by the chalk boards. Chatty landlord which is always a good sign.
I suspect that this is the 'working man's' local, with The Red Lion, just up the road, catering for the more affluent punter.
11 Jul 2010 19:20
The Sheaf and Sickle, Long Lawford
Tried this pub for Sunday lunch and were pleasantly surprised, given previous comments here :)
Pub was clean and tidy, staff attentive & friendly. Had a pint of Spitfire and a couple of pints of Black Sheep Bitter, all excellent quality. The Sunday lunch menu although not that exciting, (a couple of roasts, baked salmon, or risotto) was reasonably priced at �7.95 for 2 courses. Portions not huge but perfectly adequate, nicely cooked and served quickly.
14 Jun 2010 15:54
Cracking little pub, great atmosphere and excellent beer. Sit out by the river when it's sunny or inside by the fire when its cold. Can't comment on the food, we sadly only had time for a couple of beers.
13 Apr 2010 21:31
Slightly run down looking and unappealing from the outstide, however a friendly atmosphere and excellent food made this a pub well worth visiting.
13 Apr 2010 21:26
The Highwayman Hotel, Kidlington
A new landlord here has seen a vast improvement, it is now clean and tidy, with good quality pub grub and 4 real ales :)
Had a meal there the other day, good service and ample portions.
The name's changed too, it's now The Highwayman.
22 Dec 2009 12:49
Superb, I'm in agreement with all the positive comments about this pub. Definitely in my top 10, and one to come back to.
25 Oct 2009 12:52
Expensive, for both drink and food.
CS site just behind means it's handy for C&CC members who want to camp near a pub.
Sadly the prices put us off and we won't be back.
25 Oct 2009 12:48
Well, we tried to visit this well known pub to see if it lived up to its reputation, sadly it was closed so we'll never know. What sort of a pub closes 2 days a week?
11 Aug 2009 23:33
I had to double check that we went to the same pub when I read some of the comments here. We found it very pleasant and comfortable, the staff all seemed friendly and efficient, the beer was fine. We didn't try the food but saw some being brought to a nearby table, it looked fine and seemed to be appreciated.
11 Aug 2009 23:27
The Rose and Crown, Hay on Wye
Very busy on a warm Sunday afternoon, with locals spilling out onto the pavement, good friendly atmosphere and an excellent pint.
11 Aug 2009 23:11
A strange pub this one, we visited early in the evening, the small front bar was all but empty, the larger bar at the back seemed to be full of families watching TV or playing pool. We soon discovered that the only real beer was in the front bar. Not very welcoming or friendly, we had a pint and left.
11 Aug 2009 22:51
Large town centre hotel with ground floor bar/restaurant. Called in on a busy Monday evening and were quoted 45 mins delay on food, in fact it arrived in around 20 mins. Reasonably priced menu, friendly staff and a good pint of Brains SA.
11 Aug 2009 22:39
Well, having revisited both the Fox and the Carpenters recently I have to say that, as a beer drinker, my vote goes to the Fox. They usually have at least 4 real ales on offer (sometimes 5) and the ambience is so much more comfortable. The food is on a par with, but a different style to, the Carpenters but why do both pubs only offer a limited Sunday menu?
10 May 2009 16:19
The Carpenters Arms, Middle Barton
I have to say that I agree with Dr Bunsen, the Carps is not a bad local but the recent refurb is not particularly welcoming or cosy. The food's ok but the choice of beer leaves much to be desired. Having visited both this pub and the Fox recently, my personal preference, as a beer drinker (which is what BITE is all about) is the Fox.
As an aside, why do both pubs only offer a limited Sunday menu?
10 May 2009 16:09
Pleasant village pub, catering for the 'well to do' residents... Food good but expensive, beer likewise.
2 Nov 2008 18:03
Things are looking up at The Fox, enthusiastic new licencees have moved in. Four real ales on offer, but sadly no food yet. Apparently they are waiting for Enterprise Inns to carry out promised refurbishments.
4 May 2008 20:19
Went there for Sunday lunch recently, no room to sit in the bar, luckily it was sunny so we sat outside. However the staff seemed to forget all about us and we had to go and ask if our table was ready...
Being a Hooky pub I found it surprising that only Hooky bitter was available.
Food was OK but not cheap and the pub still seems a bit cliquish. Not sure I'd bother going back.
16 Feb 2008 17:00
Horseshoe Inn, Shipston on Stour
Pleasant enough pub, popular with the locals. Good sized bar and separate dining area.
Friendly attentive staff. Reasonably priced food but the quality leaves a bit to be desired. Good pint of Wye Valley HPA and Bath Ales Gem when we visited.
6 Oct 2013 16:28