BITE user comments - gelksy
Comments by gelksy
This pub is run by Hotel du VIn, which is located next door.
We stumbled across it by mistake last year and have been back regularly since. There is a very good selecgtion of beer- on tap and in bottles - much of it local, (proper) lagers and a few ciders. Very knowledgeable staff every time we have visited.
They do excellent pub food with a twiamazing scotch eggs and great fish and chips. Sunday lunches are god too
24 Mar 2012 21:34
We nipped in for lunch a few weeks ago after hearing good reviews. The food was superb and with generous portions. Although a G-King pub there was a nice selection of beers, which were well kept.
Friendly and helpful landlord too
28 Jan 2012 20:57
The Brickmakers Arms, Ridgewood
It feels a bit like deja vous; anyway since my last post on this pub (back in April 09), there have been a few different people running this place.
I nipped in recently to find a new couple, who have taken on the tennancy for three years, so hopefully there will now be stability - and the incentive to invest in the place. Early signs are good; there were two (Hall and Woodhouse) ales on tap - along with a selection of bottled H and W bottled beers. Beer quality was good too.
I overheard them saying that they will be giving the place a lick of (needed) paint in the new year.... early signs are good.
2 Dec 2010 09:16
This place can be fantastic (ads per my previous review), or just about okay.
Though the beer is always excellent, as this is such a small place the staff have a real impact on the atmosphere. Unfortunately on more than one occassion I have been in to be met with two barmaids who see customers as a distraction and find it difficult to take your order, let alone smile. The chap that sometimes works there, however is fantastic; cheerful, knowledgeable about the different beers and seems keen that customers have a good time.
It is such a shame as this place can be fab.
2 Feb 2010 21:23
Wow! This is pub utopia - very good beer (including Dark Star Hophead), pleasant surroundings (narrowboat style to reflect the history), good food and very friendly bar staff / owners.
They often have live music on a Saterday evening, which unfortunately has become something of a rarity in Lewes.
Great place
2 Feb 2010 21:18
We returned to The Alma a few times after my last posting - sadly it consistently lacked atmosphere.
An improved atmosphere was clear when we first walked in (not knowing new landlords had taken over). Harveys was well kept.
Although we didn't eat there, the menu seemed good and those tucking in to food seemed to be enjoying it. Having looked at reviews from the landlords' previous pubs it looks like the food will taste as good as it looks.
Will be returning - as soon as I can.
20 Jul 2009 22:20
We tried this pub quite a few months ago after a (reliable) friend told us about the excellent live music and good beers; though when we wnt we were disappointed on both fronts (bad techno music blasting out).
However, we have been for the last few Saturday nights and they have had some really good live music acts on, which has attracted a mixed and friendly crowd.
A couple of beers very good (Sharps superb). This is now my favourite local (sorry Gardeners).
29 Jun 2009 20:20
The Brickmakers Arms, Ridgewood
This had another set of new people in around the begining of March.
Following my last review on this pub, the couple who ran it let it go a bit - I don't think that they were sure whether they wanted it to be a traditional boozer or cater for groups of youngsters - the result was that the place lost quite a lot of the old regulars.
Anyway, now to the good news; the new managers are catering to regulars who like good beer and a chat with friendly regulars. The managers seem to be friendly and welcoming and already I have seen a return of many of the old regulars and local families. Ideally the place could do with a lick of paint and new carpets but I appreciate that business will need to be built up again before that - which I am sure that it will be.
15 Apr 2009 13:39
I agree with previous reviewers; lots of chavs. I have given this place a try a few times and not been impressed.
It is a shame; this place could be a really nice pub in the centre of town, particularly as it is opposite the increasingly busy station. There are a couple of pubs catering to the younger (chavvy???) drinker in Uckfield, a decent pub, serving good drinks/food would do well.
The staff have always been friendly but it will take more than that to make me go back.
3 Feb 2009 12:34
The Brickmakers Arms, Ridgewood
I have visited a few times since it has been taken over - the new staff seem very friendly and appear keen to make an effort (which is excellent news after the 'care'-taker manager).
9 Aug 2008 18:10
I used to look forward to calling in here halfway through a hike along the South Downs. I called in last week with some friends and hadn't realised it had bene taken over and 'gasto-pubbed'. The service behibd the bar was poor (grumpy) and the food (they offer ploughmans - perhaps because of the previous reviewer's comments!) was nowhere near as good as the good quality hearty fayre served previously. They serve Harveys, which given this can be obtaned everywhere in these parts is a bit of a shame.
7 Jun 2008 20:37
We (and friends) found that this place was a little lacking in character as it was very large. However, we found the food (standard pub food) to be of a good standard.
However, we found that the clientele (locals in there no doubt late teens/early twentys) to be rather rowdy when stood outside smoking and drinking.
Given the location and scarcity of pubs serving good food in the town this place could be exzceptional (and busy), though it is let down by the lack of atmosphere and rowdiness.
30 May 2008 14:38
We found this to be a horrendous place; dirty - no filthy toilets, sticky floors and unfriendly service - and that was on a Saturday afternoon!
It is a shame, if this venture was done well, it would be well used - the Fat Cats chain have shown that (although not to everyone's taste) you can combine good quality food and service for day time customers with a primarily young customer base in the evenings. It is a shame that the JSCB seems to be interested only in cramming lager swilling youngsters in in the evening.
29 Mar 2008 08:56
We found that this pub was very clean and freshly decorated. The (Harveys) bitter was very good indeed; which is saying something as it is not my favourite tipple.
The pub was very quite (though that may be unfair given that we visited on a Sunday)and seemed to be a little lacking in character. I have, herad from others, however that the pub has regular events such as music nights so perhaps we just chose the wrong evening.
We will certainly be returning to check it out again; hopefully it will have a few more people in and have a bit more character next time.
13 Feb 2008 15:50
Been to this pub twice (weekend afternoons) and have been impressed at the quality of the beer and the friendliness of the staff. I will certainly look to return!
8 Jan 2008 15:47
I really like this pub.; the food is excellent and the beer is almost always very well kept (on the one occassion when I had to return the pint they replaced it without question). It is very clean and well decorated. It is, in my opinion the best pub in Croydon.
However, though I have never suffered from rude service as described, it has often been indifferent and nowhere near as friendly as that in The Builders.
22 Nov 2007 14:00
The best pub that I (and many friends from outside of the area) have ever been to. The chaps that run this place have created what i think to be the ideal pub.
There is a vast array of real ale (including many local brewers such as Titanic) two or three real ciders plus they host good live bands most Saturdays. consequently you get a real mixture of (friendly) folk ranging from farmers to old to young people out for a good night out.
Keep up the good work!
15 Oct 2007 10:53
The best pub that I (and many friends from outside of the area) have ever been to. The chaps that run this place have created what i think to be the ideal pub.
There is a vast array of real ale (including many local brewerys such as Titanic) two or three real ciders plus they host good live bands most Saturdays. consequently you get a real mixture of (friendly) folk ranging from farmers to old to young people out for a good night out.
Keep up the good work!
15 Oct 2007 10:52
The Brickmakers Arms, Ridgewood
I ahev been here three times and have a mixed impression; first time we had excellent service and found the pub to have a great friendly atmosphere.
On the second occassion (mid afternoon to be fair) the barmaid was not too friendly. Third occassion whilt rugby was on - a very loud (understandable) crowd with lots of swearing though excellent service / beer.
We will return and try again.
15 Oct 2007 10:48
This place used to be superb; I used to travel from London to this pub regularly because of the excellent food and fabulous atmosphere.
My move to the area coincided with the refurbishment, which as others have said, has left the place somewhat characterless (why the use of orange paint on the walls?).
The food remains good; though why on my latest visit the chips were dire (they seemed like frozen chips reheated - why can't the LF make soem nice home made chips?)and they have a selection of well kept real ales (including a non Greene King.)
15 Oct 2007 10:40
The Black Horse Inn, Lewes
We visited at the weekend and were impressed at the number, range and quality of the beers (there were 7 or 8 real ales and a couple of real ciders). The pub has clearly been refurbished recently - the pub was exceptionally clean and tidy. Staff and other punters were fiendly.
The food was, as others have said, competetively priced. However, we were slightly disappointed at the quality (tough steak and overcooked scampi) and quantity when compared to other places locally (e.g The Snowdrop in Lewes and The Green Man in Ringmer) , indeed we would have preferred to have paid another few � to have had more generous and better cooked food.
We will definitely return as this is an excellent place to drink, though probably won't be eating there again.
9 Jul 2012 21:38