BITE user comments - kaktus
Comments by kaktus
I visited this pub this last weekend. It was very busy and the restaurant nearly full, therefore ate in the bar area. The pub has had a makeover since the last visit - as have the prices!! Vey gastro pub - felt we were paying for the d�cor, new look, etc. I ordered my meal and found it sadly wanting in portion. Very poor. I complained to the management and was offered a cup of coffee to compensate (a larger meal would have been more acceptable). I didn�t take up the offer. I will not eat there again � prices are a rip-off. Staff, however, were efficient and pleasant, albeit embarrassed about �value for money�.
25 May 2009 18:28
Any watering hole must be appealing after a long, exhaustive walk from Brookwood station. No - the Fox is not too bad but it is no great shake. You will not be highly delighted or deeply disappointed � it is one of these places. Not much character � especially in the soulless restaurant. Service was very friendly but food and drink definitely over-priced for this area. Buy a drink and enjoy your own sandwiches outside!!
8 Apr 2009 20:38
It has closed but looks as if it will re-open, albeit "tarted" up - it certainly needed to be.
27 Mar 2009 15:13
Some of the reports posted for many pubs are obviously the work of sad stooges: probably fed with a half-pint of watered beer from a grateful landlord. But on this occasion I could never disagree with the superlatives that have been mentioned. This is a real pub. Sadly not too many left. A tegestologist's delight � try counting the beer mats in one evening. Fantastic character to this place. Where could you find a four piece (dysfunctional) jazz band practising in a room for only about eight customers? As mentioned by Alph there is a real chance of demolition. Please, Stokies, unite to resist this wanton destruction.
27 Mar 2009 15:11
This place is now closed. Hopefully it will re-open some time in the future but with a complete overhaul of staff, food, service etc. The setting is superb so it deserves another chance.
25 Feb 2009 17:37
As we are in the pantomime season - which is the uglier sister? Woodstock or Beverely? Both. They are ugly beyond belief.
9 Dec 2008 18:32
The Jerusalem Tavern, Clerkenwell
This place was in the top ten pubs in a London Guide Book. Having been to the other nine - well, you gotta do it. Certainly has atmosphere and they told me they served food but I think that is a gimmick. Very nice pint of St. Peters best. Very crowded, mostly with types I thought had died out in the sixties. Recommend? Yes. Tourists who have only tried Weatherspoons or Beefeaters will rave over this place. And I must admit it has some character.
20 Nov 2008 22:19
The Sir John Oldcastle, Farringdon
Visited with friends. Large, carnivorous place linked to the usual non- atmosphere of a Weatherspoons pub (couldn't find another as the area is plagued with trendy wine bars). Very promising set of beers on offer with others to be featured in the forthcoming weeks. But this is a place where you have a drink - full stop. No atmosphere whatsoever. Why can't Weatherspoons create a range of small, cosy type pubs. Food - well it was edible.
20 Nov 2008 22:11
Two distinct halves. One half is the public bar. I would prefer to use the term "hard men" rather than chavs. They may look menacing but are generally friendly although I would not fancy picking a fight with most. The other half is the restaurant which, although an extension of the bar, is quite separate.
The menu is quite extensive and the service is friendly. Price of drinks and food is very low. Real value for money. Paid just over �20.00 for two pints, two large glasses of wine and two main meals. Now that is good value. Nothing fancy about this pub but I certainly do not feel threatened - and I have been a few times over the past years.
23 Oct 2008 15:46
The King William IV, Mickleham
Well, what can kaktus add after reading through the comments? Unusual approach - those with dicky hearts please turn away. Real fire! Prices are quite high for a pub. Service slow. But very welcoming. Friendly clientele.
23 Oct 2008 15:36
This pub is unique - there are more chavs standing outside smoking their guts out than there are inside. Morden is a sleepy town and does not deserve a pub of such notoriety. One visit was more than enough. Very large premises in need of instant closure. Will hopefully follow the Crown and Lady St Helier into oblivion. Leave well alone unless you enjoy the company of a rather dubious crowd.
9 Oct 2008 22:36
If you think that arty looking tiles are worth a visit then go there to have a peep. But leave it off your list if you are interested in authentic pub life. A number of individual rooms makes up this pub. Did not have a meal because the grossly overdone chips put me off. Expensive but the gormless, semi Sloane type punters looked as if they were happy to be ripped off. Pretty bland - best troupe to the Swan around the corner. One of Young's worst efforts.
9 Oct 2008 22:27
Initial impressions provided by an inhabitant trying, unsuccessfully, to bring up his innards outside the pub. No doubt the ciggies will soon complete the task and that will be one less regular. Then inside. The place is dingy but it would not benefit from a makeover � the character would be spoiled. Very much a local of low life and low life somewhat unsuccessfully trying to pose as high life. Lovers of peanuts will adore this place. Bowls of nuts on every table. As a one off it is much preferable to the offensive fare that masquerades as pubs round Paddington station. Only about five minutes walk from the station so it is worth a visit as it is a true local. Guest beers on tap every week or so.
9 Oct 2008 22:15
Used to frequent this place for a pint and a meal. The place went downhill so quickly that I stopped coming. Food was very poor - at one time the chef always came out to enquire whether punters were happy with their meal. Staff didn't seem to care either so unless I read some decent reviews I will not be back.
4 Oct 2008 19:26
Last visit two weeks ago but have been here many times. Not a "stand-at-the-bar" place so to all purposes it is a restaurant. Staff are always friendly although you do tend to see new faces on almost every occasion. Food is average but prices are not too high. Chavs and likewise low life would not be welcome here. Place is almost empty by 9.30 with the old locals home to their beds!! One thing I do really appreciate. Open a tab and they will not take your card but operate on trust. Says a lot for the management but the type of regular is not liable to run away without paying. Definitely worth a visit.
4 Oct 2008 19:21
The Chequers, Walton On The Hill
Have been here three times since re-opening. First two occasions were very quiet but trade had picked up the last time. Landlord is very efficient and keeps staff on their toes so service is first class. Very full pint! Youngs Bitter in tip-top condition. Prices a bit to the high side but otherwise a pub you can definitely recommend.
4 Oct 2008 19:08
Went there in August. Landlord intent on proving that he is not the friendliest tool in the box. Food very tasty, especially the home made pie. Beer in good condition. But the place has got a bit of a hangover feel. Not your lively, chatty local. About six people left at half-nine on a Friday - is this the norm? This pub does NOT accept plastic but will accept cheques!!
13 Sep 2008 18:18
Have been here four times over the past year. Last visit on 12th September (despite Paul insisting it was 13th - assured me that the Irish were always one day out!!) I can only endorse the positive comments made previously. Spotlessly clean, good range of beers and great food. They don't "do" fast food so you may have to wait some time but it is worth it. I find Paul good company, always ready for a chat if they are not too busy. Pity the pub is out of the way otherwise I am sure it would attract more punters. Try it. A worthwhile journey for you.
13 Sep 2008 18:07
The Royal Exchange, Paddington
Visited last Thursday. Read beerintheevening reviews but expected something better (come on chaps - let's have some quality assessment). Good range of spirits but the barman (landlord?) quite miserable. Maybe the lack of regulars caused him to observe a steep profit decline, hence the sad attire. So, no, I would not rate this place too highly BUT it is in Paddington and has not too much competition. So, yes, if you are looking for a reasonable pub before catching the train this could be the one for you.
8 Sep 2008 17:02
The Fountains Abbey, Paddington
Visited this pub at 11.00pm as others had closed their doors (maybe they saw us coming!!). Very busy and the pub had a good atmosphere. If you wish to romance your sweetheart and desire a quiet place then, chaps, this one is not for you. Some wonderful tiling at the side of this bar. Service was okay.
8 Sep 2008 16:56
This pub is akin to the current Scottish football team - going nowhere. It purports to sport a Scottish theme but much of the memorabilia (like this pub) look seriously ancient and well past their sell-by date. Dalglish is quite correct with his/her comments. I have seen more life in a graveyard at 2.00am in the morning than existed in this pub at 10.00pm the other evening.
8 Sep 2008 16:44
This is posted by mistake. It is a fish and chip shop - not a pub.
22 Aug 2008 18:00
I cannot speak too "lowly" about this hovel - I refrain from calling it a pub. Best place for this building and 90% of the regulars would be in the cemetry across the road. But consider the "permanent inhabitants" - let them rest in peace. I endorse surreyblueboy's comment - "Chavs in their natural environment". The petrol station across the road has closed. Please allow the Beverley to follow suit and boost the whole area.
Dear readers, you don't believe Kaktus. Visit the Beverley one evening. You may agree with my comments upon leaving hopital three weeks later. So don't enter this place unless you are a very seriously depraved chav. Even the picture misleads as green algae pouring from the gutter has defaced the frontage.
22 Aug 2008 17:55
It is a Beefeater so you are warned right away. Food presented in the normal Beefeater manner - shovelled on to the plate any old manner. Prices a bit high for the quality which is not the highest. The boss has been here for centuries and is a truly jovial Irish character as are the rest of the family. Okay if you want to go for something to eat but keep out of the public bar. It is inhabited by two types of earthlings. The first are parties waiting to go into the restaurant. They are sane but the look on their faces tells you what they are thinking - how could such depraved chavs be let out into society? The second are those self-same chavs. True South London born and bred. Foul language, uncouth manners and in general a blight on the human race. But I suppose they must have some watering hole to which they can migrate. Unfortunately for this pub this is the one they chose. You have been warned.
2 Aug 2008 23:28
Trafalgar Freehouse, South Wimbledon
This is just the best. I can say that with a straight face as I have been there a few times. The range of real beers is fantastic for the size of the pub (it must be the smallest in London). The staff are so friendly and you cannot be in here for longer than five minutes before you are in conversation with the locals. I just cannot believe that this pub can survive on the very small number of punters that could (but are not)crammed in. Try this pub. You will want to come back again...and again. It justifiably won the CAMRA South West London pub of the year. For me it is THE pub in London. I completeley endorse all the positive raves that other correspondents have posted on to this site.
2 Aug 2008 23:13
Visited there on 25th July. I cannot believe the trash which others have written about this pub. It is stuck in a trading estate and that says enough for starters. Surely a pub next to a pretty canal deserves better than this. Chaves to the right, chaves to the left and chavs in the middle. Poor Addlestone. How did it deserve such a run-down place? There are far better pubs just down the road in Weybridge. Try them and see the difference.
25 Jul 2008 23:05
Recently refurbished so don't expect anything even resembling a pub or you will be seriously disappointed. A rather souless restaurant awaits you. Beer quite pricey - Carling is �3.50. Food nothing to write home about and a limited menu. So, yes, I haven't got much positive to say about this place. How many were there? Four. Two left at eightish (maybe they felt it was too crowded!!)so my wife and I had the place to ourselves until ten. No kidding. Even a dead body would have felt a bit lonely. The only recommendation was the bar-maid (didn't get her name but she had black hair!). She was very, very helpful. Top marks to her but very low marks for anything else. No atmosphere although I was informed that it does get quite busy during the rest of the week. Could't get any quieter - that's for sure.
25 Jul 2008 22:55
Went here on 18th July. First visit but not the last. Lovely pint of Youngs. Just like the pint you used to drink in pubs near the old brewery in Wandsworth. Variety of nationalities behind the bar but all tried hard to please. Even Zara came across to see if everything was okay - and she is the landlord's labrador! Chips were first class (unlike the soggy mess the Anchor served up further down river)- It was worth going to the pub for the chips alone. To be honest I did not check on the prices as I used a tab but the overall bill was reasonable. Great beer garden - when the weather is hotter! And, no. I have no connection with this pub!!
20 Jul 2008 17:17
Visited there on 11th July. Food was good value for money - but remember it is an Ember Inn so don't expect too much. Bar staff very keen to help. Good range of beers. But..the place is far too big for the number of regulars. Bit like a morgue. Punters quite un-chave like which is always a good indication of a decent place.
11 Jul 2008 23:10
Went there with friends 4th July - they had been previous and recommended it. All that has been said in blogs is true. Extensive menu with staff who really wanted to please and serve.
Yes, it was very quiet - maybe the musicians who (tried to) play from 9.30ish drove away the regulars.
Nice pint of Ace of Ales - new beer to me.
7 Jul 2008 11:21
The Crown, Morden
I hear it is becoming a mosque!!
11 Feb 2012 17:37