BITE user comments - lolwood32
Comments by lolwood32
Duke of Edinburgh, Shepherds Bush
Frankly the most unwelcoming, dirtiest, pub I have ever been to. Anywhere. No attempt whatsovever to make you feel welcome. Filthy carpets, no decor, no machines. no armchairs, no curtains, no nothing. Just a filthy carpet, couple of dirty stools, a trellis table and three knackered old chairs. THe landlord was a salt of the earth Irishman, so we stayed for a very swift half and left quickly.
Ghastly place.
25 Mar 2010 16:20
I used to go here when I was a post-grad student in the mid 1990's. Not been there since 1995 therefore but judging by the comments here, nothing has changed. And thank goodness.
The place was legendary - sure, us students packed the place out during term time, but the music was fabulous, the beer affordable, the garden massive and the toilets downright dangerous. In fact, it was the only time of the week I would wear my cowboy boots as they had heels high enough so I did not have to wade throught the piss on the floor and get wet!
Sometimes we even had a pee in the trees in the garden to avoid going in there! Great times.
13 May 2009 16:53
Now renamed to the King's Arms - its original name to mark the event of some King or other stopping here for a sleep and a wench before heading to Westminster.
So been refitted with nice sofas and nice wall paper and some surprisingly nice beers. However....the screens might still be up but "we wont be showing any international rugby", I was told by the excited new barman on opening day.
So that's a nail in its coffin then - anyone who has been here on a rugby saturday (especially when England play/beat Australia) will know how much business can be done.
So, sadly, not a great improvement. The mauve awnings outside and the fact they serve you your change on a dish (damn I HATE that) suggests this is not what it used to be. Shame.
8 Apr 2009 09:14
Stephan Langton Inn, Abinger Common
What better a location than in the lovely hamlet of Friday Street, to ask the barman for a pint of tea! Always makes me smile.
Great place for a beer during a long hike. Restaurant been done up recently and looke dvery Christmassy upon my group visit in early December 08.
22 Dec 2008 11:02
Trendy winey bar full of beautiful people (and they let me in!).
Rather pricy, but a pretty cool place.
17 Dec 2008 12:35
Pretty miserable place. Wandered in there ona crawl last night and was hit by the smell of chips. People eating everywhere. Personally I prefer pubs which have the eating areas segregated. The Kings Arms next door is 100 times more atmospheric and enjoyable....and does not smell of food!
17 Dec 2008 12:34
The Tiroler Hut, Westbourne Grove
There is a public bar with limited seating, so if you are not dining you can still watch all the goings on and join in the singing! All the alpine favourites can be had; Jagermeister, Erdinger, Williams schnapps, and a handy bowl of nuts on the bar for good measure.
17 Dec 2008 12:29
Legendary.
A fabulous place - get there about 3.30pm and start drinking fast. DJ Gerhard appears about 4.00 to a fanfare of The Final Countdown and always waves from his perch upstairs.
Leagues better than the Krazy Kangaruh - fabulous atmosphere, always packed to the rafters, fantastic cheesy oompah-meets-Eurotrash song list - football anthems followed by Kylie Minogue followed by AC/DC!
Dont go to the bar to buy drinks - wait for the lads to come around with those vast trays of beer and schnapps.
And try and remember where you left your skis! Part of the experience is skiing back to the town afterwards...in the dark.
5 Nov 2008 13:01
Very busy later on. Bit grungy. Popular with the Swedish crowd. Platzl next door has more atmosphere and ambience....
5 Nov 2008 12:58
Try the Green Monsters! Got a big kick to them.
Crowd in here tend to be the seasonaire boardy druggy types.
Very few German voices heard in here.
Good place to dip into though on an Anton crawl.
5 Nov 2008 12:56
The Havelock Tavern, Kensington
Had a lovely meal and a pint in here last night (June 24th 08) and no problem with a credit card. Service was not great at the bar though.
25 Jun 2008 11:15
The Queens Arms, South Kensington
A great little mews pub, tucked away from the hordes, popular with maturer students from Imperial over the road.
This pub had a fleeting role in the movie Layer Cake, when we see the future James Bond (Daniel Craig) being cast from his "taxi" in his dressing gown just past the pub up the cobble mews.
7 Aug 2007 15:48
Am so disappointed with the re-fit. They could have made this place a huge success, building on that what it had before.
Went there at 1.30 on Sunday for a roast, was told wait would be 90 minutes minimum (well, it was Sunday lunchtime). No problem with that, but the old bar area overlooking the River is now purely "restaurant". All the drinking punters are shoved to the streetside of the building.
I assume also that the outside "hatch-bar" is now closed too?
So its not a pub that serves food anymore, its a restaurant with a license. Awful.
We left, trudged back over the Bridge and were served a roast in The Temperance within 2 minutes, plenty of seats and great beer.
Will be interesting to see what happens with the Duke's next weekend when the Boat Race comes to town....
27 Mar 2007 13:04
The re-fit has transformed this place into more of a gastro-pub. Was quite taken aback at the price of the food, though there was an impressive sleceted, served throughout the day. I didnt sample any though.
The range of beers is outstanding...if you like the strong urine-coloured stuff from Benelux. My Guinness tasted pretty good too.
Staff were great (this was a Thursday evening) and very helpful.
Asked about big screens for sport (original O'Neills was the best in Fulham for 6N rugby for example) but now they only have small plasmas dotted around upstairs akin to those at the Sports Bar in Haymarket. Pity.
A totally different offerring from the previous two incarnations and I hope they are successful. I wont be rushing back there though.
If only someone would buy Zulus and convert it back to the good old days of a "pub for everyone"...ho hum.
28 Feb 2007 14:24
The Ebury Brasserie and Dining Room, Belgravia
Was in here last night (mid August).
Ordered 4 cocktails (2, twice). Waiting some 15 minutes for the two Aussie lads to make them - a mojito and a margarita. I accept that one lad was clearly having his first "experience" of working a bar and was learning the ropes, but the efforts of his more experienced mate were not very good - ice had melted by the time it was poured.
Second visit to bar saw girl with limited Englsih make a siilar hash of my mojito fruit salad - as it appeared.
Will go again, but will worry how the service will be on a more busy night.
23 Aug 2006 13:38
The Windmill on the Common, Clapham Common
Pros: Location (sit on rug on common drinking from plastic skiffs watching BMF-ers and the sun go down); Decor inside; Furnishings; Ambience; Location.
Cons: Anal barstaff shouting at each other and their "mates" outside. Very arrogant in one case. Seem to serve breasts first. Shame, but sadly a growing trend in London.
27 Jul 2006 14:30
Not much cop.
Downstairs is deafening and RnB.
Plenty other bars to choose in this area. Do so.
26 Jun 2006 10:33
Stayed hee with a group of 25 guys for a stag do - average age of us was probably about 43, so not exactly boisterous. We were the only noticeable guests itn he hotel but the landlord would not serve us drinks after hours, yet all his mates were sitting "locked in" at the next table.
It left most of us with a bitter taste after what had been a good day's hiking and pleasant ambience.
One of the barmaids was most accomodating checking on us in our function room that all was ok, though the two young lads at the bar never really communciated with us Londoners. Strange set up.
Wouldn't rush back there.
26 Jun 2006 10:32
The Fest - Octoberfest Pub, Fulham
Beer out of steins? In Fulham? Served by Aussies in t-shirts with lederhosen painted on? Fabulous!
Come here on a weekend evening with your friends and be prepared to stand up all night....and sit down, and lean to the left and to the right, forwards and backwards, blah blah, etc. Silly Bavarian fun in SW6.
Safety in numbers.
Some aggressive ubiquitous Saffas here one night, should have stayed in Zulus and picked their fights there.
Else, a good fun evening.
20 Jun 2006 14:43
Indeed very busy on a Sunday pm. Attracts Australaians who enjoy nothing better than Colombian line dancing (or was it pro-plus?), sexy wannabee yummy-mummies, and now and then a Premiership Rugby team in dungarees and little else.
Cannot knock it for being popular but gets so so overcrowded. Getting served or relieved downstairs is a mission in elbows-out excuse me's.
Best to order three bottles of wine, find a spot and stay there. Dancing on chairs is permissable, but not on the tables. When I was there, 3 kiwis were on the bar trying to be Coyotes. Failed, but amusing.
Exhausting.
20 Jun 2006 14:37
Lovely little backwater on cobbled Mews. Cheap Sam Smiths and hearty pub grub. Great on a Friday lunchtime. Lot of suits come in here, but only to be expected. Nice to sit outside on "road" and not be run over.
19 Jun 2006 18:07
Drifted in here after walking back from Lord's en route to Notting Hill Gate. Was packed with yankee tourists and dodgy Cameroon business men trying to buy my cricket hat.
Guitarist strumming foly sing-alongs keeping the Eastern Seaboarders in good voice. Good fun actually, good (ish) atmosphere, amusing landlord who looks like Mafia, and a scary huge KGB agent on the door.
Wouldnt go out of my way to come here again, but it didnt cause me any problems.
19 Jun 2006 12:13
Fairly drab, bland and uninviting place this one. Standing outside you run the chance of being chatted to by an ignorant American tourist, or like me, being nearly hit by a London bus intent on mounting the pavement at 40mph.
Would maybe pop in here if I lived locally, but otheriwse wouldnt make the effort.
Cannot comment on the interior as cannot remember what it looked like, was that exciting.
Moving on....
19 Jun 2006 12:10
Popped in here after the England Sri Lanka game at Lord's on Satruday. Seemed a nice enough place, in passing. Lots of be-shorted lads watching the football on screens, whilst foreign student types sat on floppy leather sofas reading books.
Good selection of Benelux poison available if that's your bag.
Wouldnt make an effort to come here again though.
Else, fairly harmless.
19 Jun 2006 12:07
The Boaters Inn, Kingston Upon Thames
Good enough! Came here on foot having had enough of the Anglers up the River in Teddington.
Took our beers and laid out on the decking/moorings.
Not sure on the rules of wandering up the Bank with alcoholic drinks but no one seemed bothered.
Hint: If you do choose to lie in the sun with your drink on the decking by the water, beware of teenage scrotes at the helm of daddy's launch, motoring way too quickly setting up large bow waves. Wandering back to the bar with wet trousers is a trifle embarassing.
2 May 2006 09:11
Came here from the River side on a late Spring Tuesday evening, and was healthily busy. Lovely to sit on the sofas overlooking the water.
Food was prompt and pretty good. Waitress (Brazilan I think) was a tad aggressive and didnt have a clue what an AMEX card was or how to run a tab. Barman sorted it in the end efficiently.
Nice pub though - could imagine it becoming packed on Sunday afternoons.
2 May 2006 09:01
The Corner Store, Covent Garden
Was here on a Tuesday evening for a bottle or two. Was OK.
Jazz band downstairs was a bit weak and deflated.
Nothing special really.
B@1 next door more fun.
15 Mar 2006 17:51
OK I guess.
Food is pretty good though service was not up to scratch on day I was there.
Good mix of punters on the weekend too.
15 Mar 2006 17:43
The Royal George, Charing Cross Road
odd place. couldnt settle in either like previous postings. in an odd location too. probably wont return as much more fun to be haad further south at Cambridge Circus environs
17 Jan 2006 15:15
The Slug and Lettuce, Oxford Circus
Efficient but no atmosphere whatsover, at least when I was in there. No character to these chain bars. Shame.
4 Nov 2005 09:10
The Pitcher and Piano, Mayfair
Same as the rest. No atmosphere, but worth popping in if in a rush.
4 Nov 2005 09:09
Great underground wine bar with plenty of sawdust. Lot of suits in here talking loudly about their wonderful salaries. Bottled beer is good too but not cheap at over 3 quid a bottle.
4 Nov 2005 09:08
Now renamed the Nectar Bar. Lots of fancy colours in there including funky-coloured seats. Still shows the football. Have applied for a late 2am license for weekends otherwise normal closing time. Looks OK but feels a little bit like an All Bar Pitcher and Lettuce for me to go rushing back there.
30 Sep 2005 17:26
Curious pace this with Guinness 10p a pint more than the dreary Agricultural down the road. Good place for a refreshment before heading to a gig up the road but probably wouldnt bother again.
30 Sep 2005 17:24
These guys have got the formula right. Rugby shirts are welcome next to cocktail dresses and dreadlocks alike. No dress code, just get in there and get drinking and enjoy the great unpretentious music too.
So much more atmospheric and fun than all the All Bar Pitcher and Lettuces up the road
30 Aug 2005 21:04
Bar service could be a bit quicker. Beware of strange men in singlets carrying boats across the path outside, and beware of fast peddling bikers hooning past the pub - it is a no-cycling zone in fact despite being part of the Thames Path.
Else, a great place to watch the sunset on Hammy Bridge...
30 Aug 2005 21:01
Took over 15 minutes to get served and there were only 3 customers - it was a Monday evening. Simple rule about bars: you can never have too many bar staff. Problem is, those who were dining were ordering more drinks, so the bar staff had to accommodate them, as well as bar punters like me.
The snug looks like a good area to nestle, but the rest was a bit plain.
They DO have beer - in fact I enjoyed a nice Bombadier. They have IPA too. 1664 Wheat Beer was tasty but �4 a pint. Yikes.
22 Feb 2005 14:21
WAs here last night and a little disappointed. Location good for sure, but food was soggy and clearly just microwaved (chips and gruyere), the barstaff were aggressive eastern Euros, and the place was full of loud Hoorays trying to get served over my shoulder whilst I was at the bar, threatening to fondle the barstaff. Pathetic.
A place for people with very small appendages who talk loudly inrestaurants.
Dont bother, unless you are insecure and wish to make a song and dance about how wonderful your life is. Oh, and ensure you park your Bentley (GT, of course) right outside so everyone can see it and congratulate you on your success. Else you may feel unloved.
12 Jan 2005 14:29
The Chequers Inn, Fingest
Yes indeed, a lovely pub, lovely garden, restaurant and setting.
However, one recent Saturday afternoon, whilst enjoying beautiful walking weather, the barman was rather aggressive with punters about 2.45pm, stressing to us that he was closing at 3pm and didnt want to serve us. We insisted, so he did give us adrink, but was rather unpleasant thereafter.
One punter in the arden made it known to all of us (about a dozen) that "the barman was doing nothing to encourage repeat business".
So why do these popular country village pubs close at 3pm on a sunny Saturday afternoon?
Shame. Otherwise, a lovely place.
19 Apr 2010 11:29