BITE user comments - juux
Comments by juux
Harte and Magpies Pub, Coleshill
We've now moved to Coleshill, one of the benefits of which is we've had the pleasure of visiting the Harte & Magpies on many occasions now.
The Cotswold Lagers have been perfect every time, the staff friendly and the general atmosphere has been relaxed and welcoming, with locals and visitors often engaged in conversation - a sign of a good pub I reckon.
The food is good and the portions are generous. Not the cheapest, but certainly not over the top considering the local going rate.
If you don't like dogs or are allergic to them then this probably isn't the place for you as they are pro-actively 'dog friendly' and this means you will inevitably share your visit with some enthusiastic canines.
While neither a hater nor a lover of dogs, this is probably the least attractive thing about the H&M to me - I'm always worried one of the kids steps in a 'surprise' outside - but fair play to them for promoting themselves in a novel way, and of course many will consider this a plus point.
My one improvement suggestion? Move the pub about � mile closer to the village so it isn't such a walk!
12 Apr 2012 10:40
The Elephant and Castle, Amersham
Great little pub, nice mix of client�le and a good atmosphere.
6 Mar 2012 12:29
Harte and Magpies Pub, Coleshill
We stopped in at the Harte & Magpies not long after moving to the area. The beer was fine - can't recall what I picked and as I'm not really a bitter person (yet) I can't really comment on it. It was very pleasant though, certainly not mistreated.
The food was plentiful and good and the general atmospere relaxed and friendly. The kids loved running around in the garden area and overall we enjoyed a very pleasant time there.
One of the better places in the Amersham area. Will definitely be back.
p.s. I rated higher than I would normally to try and offset bitterboy's vitriol. What an apt name!
2 Nov 2011 16:34
The Old Post Office, Linlithgow
Linlithgow needed an Orocco Pier or Brel, instead it got a Wetherspoons.
Such a wasted opportunity this place, a chain pub by numbers. Too similar in target market and execution to almost every other pub in the town. Instead of expanding the range of venues offered and creating a genuine destination for folk from Edinburgh, Falkirk etc. to visit, all the Old Post Office has done is steal trade from the established pubs, attracting client�le on the strength of novelty, space and slightly less sticky carpets alone. The town is truly worse off for the opening of this pub, as a quick jaunt round the rest of the town's eerily empty pubs on a Saturday night will confirm.
Given that this is the first new pub in the town for nearly 20 years and likely to be the only one for another 20, it's such a shame that the brewery & management could not see past the clich�s to create a place for Linlithgow to be proud of.
Their branding must've been done by a 6 year old:
A pub in a characterful old Post Office building you say? Let's call it 'The Old Post Office'!
Bzzzt! Every converted bank/post office/railway station in the country seems saddled with a oblique or not so oblique reference to their former role, but rarely is one named so literally or without wit.
Well then, as an old Post Office I wonder how we should decorate the place? I know, pictures of post boxes!
Bzzzt! Imagination factor 0/10, guys. You can give a nod to the building's history without having to spell it out like a Janet & John book.
Bog-standard High Street beer range? Yup.
Copy+paste Greene King/Belhaven promo templates? Yup.
Lacklustre high fat/low imagination pub grub menu, executed with all the flair of a motorway slip road? Yup.
Wasted opportunity to create a space for occasional live performances? Yup.
Lack of true child-friendly facilities? Yup.
Dismal, or as it is put nowadays: EPIC FAIL.
For all the lack of vision in the execution, I don't actually blame the brewery the most for what we've ended up with. No, that responsibility must fall squarely on the shoulders of West Lothian Council licensing board who, for reasons only known to themselves, failed to stipulate that any new pub had to cater for a market which was not currently being served in the town (this would keep trade in the town, rather than leeching it to Falkirk, Edinburgh, Stirling & Glasgow etc.), and be of an exceptionally high standard. What happened to Linlithgow being the jewel in the crown of West Lothian?
Well, I guess we shouldn't be too surprised; this is the same council who is happy to see the High Street filled with identikit hairdressers and tea rooms...
I feel for the other licensees in Linlithgow; what they've got is direct competition for their own narrow market, funded (again) by Greene King/Belhaven.
I feel for those disenfranchised by the pubs in Linlithgow , folk who feel that they have to go further afield to find pubs that offer a little bit more than a McPub. All that trade is simply not catered for in Linlithgow, which is not after all a run-down backwater.
I feel for those visiting the town, drawn by its unarguable historical interest, only to find that the town cannot offer much more than a few mediocre pubs in a similar vein. To those used to the more cosmopolitan variety of establishments offered in most larger towns & cities, this is a bit of a shock.
You'll notice I've hardly mentioned the beer, that's because it is almost completely unimportant in The Old Post Office. You could probably guess 90% of the brands on offer, and from the sampling I've done it is a fair bet that they're not going to win awards for their draughts.
Blindfold someone and take them into The Old Post Office and ask then to tell you where they are - they could be in any chain pub in any town in the land.
Linlithgow deserved better.
15 Mar 2010 22:13
The Ship Inn occupies a good location in this tucked-away-from-civilisation village on the Fife coast.
The decor is standard issue maritime fare with ships' wheels and brass portholes everywhere, but none the worse for that. We visited during the day and the lighting inside was a bit OTT - too many halogen spots made it feel like a canteen rather than a cosy seaside pub. The seats and tables were a bit small aswell and we were shifting a bit all the time to get comfy.
A small range of real ales are on tap and the bitter I tried was pleasant enough and seemed reasonably well cared for. Probably not a place to go for cocktails though, it failed my wife's 'lime for G&T' test!
Food was reasonable enough but nothing spectacular; as The Ship Inn plays on the seafaring theme so much we both went for fish-based dishes but probably wouldn't the next time - cash & carry frozen prawns don't really do it for me and seemed out of place with the (assumed fresh) langoustines on special.
19 Nov 2007 21:26
It's a Wetherspoons. In a shopping mall. I'm sure you can picture it. OK to meet up with friends or for a quick pint after some retail therapy, but avoid the food (terrible) and if your in on a weekend, get out before the neds turn up in their outlet-store Aquascutum & Burberry to enjoy the "target rich environment".
p.s. Skyboy, I pity you if you consider this a good pub!
15 Oct 2006 16:59
The Auld Hole in the Wall, Linlithgow
Awful, awful place. Frequented by the worst kind of mouth-breathers and has the kind of atmosphere that probably feels fine if you are the kind of person who wears too much cheap gold jewellry and has a girlfriend who is rather too fond of the sunbeds, but for mosty normal folk it just feels stale, or downright distasteful if you catch it on a bad Friday/Saturday night.
15 Oct 2006 16:54
I like Platform 3 as it has a special charm, probably due in part to its tiny size, but the staff/service can be variable. Some are great, but on more than one occasion I've been served something that tasted like dishwater and was told rather uncermoniously that "we've been pouring all night and not had any complaints" - not exactly what you'd expect of a pub with "Cask Marque" certification.
15 Oct 2006 16:50
Excellent pub with a well maintained selection of cask ales, friendly owners (Ian & Eve) and some excellent staff. Proper 'old pub' style but it can be busy at times and the clientele can be a bit introverted. A great place to go for an afternoon pint and a natter with friends though.
Food is pub fare, but generally good. Prices are reasonable too. You'll probably want to book most evenings and at lunch/dinner times at the weekend. Babies/prams etc. have to go through the back into the dining area 'proper' and there are no changing facilities, but the staff are accomodating if you have youngsters.
Twice-yearly beer festivals are popular, you'll find 20-22 cask ales on tap and a t-shirt is up for grabs if you can sample the lot, over the two days if necessary. I've tried 5 or 6 times but never managed it...yet!
15 Oct 2006 16:44
The Squirrel, Amersham
Good pub. Recently refurbished and with a new covered deck and log burner, there is a lot more space inside and out to enjoy, whatever the weather.
Always friendly enough and their focus on being kid friendly shows though in most aspects of the pub (play equipment, menus, colouring in etc.) which is a boon to many but may not be as attractive to others. There is always the Hit or Miss around the corner (same owners, I believe) for any that need to get away from the roaming kids!
4 or 5 ales available, the two I tried (Side Pocket and another I've forgotten) were in decent condition and very drinkable.
Food is good too, not too expensive and the burgers in particular are well priced.
Can get busy sometimes on sunny days (that kid friendly appeal!) and they do have a few functions on which only exacerbates the problem. Get the feeling that the new layout is aimed at mitigating this somewhat as there is a bit more bar area now, including an outside bar.
Annual beer & cider festival weekend one of the best in the local area - gets very busy, although they do open another bar across the courtyard.
30 Apr 2013 16:42