BITE user comments - nogbad
Comments by nogbad
Yikes, bit concerned by the long comment below, but I think it's best ignored. I'm English but I live and work in Edinburgh and I've heard all sorts of voices from posh southerners like me to Antipodeans, French, Germans and even Americans in Cloisters (and other pubs here) and they all seemed to be having a marvellous time. So they should - the beer's great and ever-changing, the staff seem nice (offering beer to taste or uncomplainingly cleaning up a smashed pint of porter amongst the feet of noisy Friday-night office types) and the menu is cheapish and appetising. Go there and see for yourself.
5 Nov 2007 15:36
Just tried again, and the place reminded me of an airport departure lounge, from the three huge flatscreen TVs to the laminated general-purpose menu offering drab food. Zero atmosphere too. This was 4.30pm on a Saturday, so not exactly a dead zone. Friendly but inept Polish barmaid couldn't tell me which pies they had left, or understand much of anything, and of the range of ales (the only reason it scores as high as 4) both the ones we tried, Schiehallion and Peter's Well (I think) were less than spot-on. Left to the sound of a deafening Espresso machine and went to Cloisters at Tollcross on way home - better beer, hand-written menus of appetising grub and busy with folk of all ages drinking and nattering. Goodbye Bert's, you were good once.
5 Nov 2007 15:10
Thudding dance music in the middle of a quiet weekend daytime pint isn't a good thing. But cheap pie meals certainly are. And the beer's okay too. Could easily be better, but junking the TVs and music system would probably hurt the takings on match days. Pity.
2 May 2007 12:36
Yup, would endorse all the good things. Real ale from font taps or high fountains (call them what you will) is lovely, not sure why it's so scarce even in Edinburgh. The only problem with this place is its proximity to Stag and Hen night hell (the Grassmarket) but close your eyes and think beery thoughts and they'll soon bugger off, leaving the pub to get on with being an excellent pub.
2 May 2007 12:30
Was wonderful in 2003/4/5, now sadly fading, possibly because it's too easy to make money with all the new flats piled up outside. I'm not the only one to have had out-of-condition bitter - a mate was so angry at the recent re-furb, brighter lighting (no candles any more?) and louder music, not to mention the solitary handpump serving vinegary Youngs, that he said he'd rather it was demolished than spoilt. I wouldn't go that far, because even half-decent pubs are scarce in this end of London.
2 May 2007 12:18
The Jolly Brewmaster, Cheltenham
Always a nice range of beers, and the big window benches are great for a large group to settle down and work their way across the pumps. Interesting cider over Christmas, too, including some orange stuff that destroyed my memory and made my head throb till after the Queen's Speech. Recommended.
2 May 2007 12:11
The Sheeps Heid Inn, Duddingston
Startled that this place is only averaging 5.4 - it's far better than that and after visiting a few times I'd say that Coldie was seriously unlucky. The bar staff can be a little slow and disorganised, but the only serious fault I'd say is that they stop serving food too early - 7.30pm I think. Good beer in decent condition, food looks tempting. Cluttered interior is indeed cosy with big leather armchairs and they've recently run a good beer festival, though with an awful lot of bottled stuff; nice but not as interesting and quite pricey. On the whole though, a great pub and well worth the trip to Duddingston, a little old village somehow ignoring the rest of Edinburgh, which surrounds it.
2 May 2007 12:02
My local, and that makes me a lucky bloke. The bar on the right is busier and has more stand-up drinkers, while the one on the left has the odd hobbit-holes that you have to bend down to look through (unless you're a hobbit) and exchange money, drinks etc with the relaxed bar staff. You can see over the top if you're 6'7" or more, and there's a bloke who drinks here who is at least that, but the ornate if slightly grimy Victorian ceiling leaves him plenty of headroom. Deuchars IPA is always good and there are always interesting guest beers. Can be a bit noisy and packed when the football's on the telly on Saturday afternoons, but head for the left-hand bar and find a seat. Good for out-of-town visitors who seem to find it amusing that the pub appears to be called the John Leslie. Can't think why.
2 May 2007 11:53
The White Horse, Hascombe
Bit surprised to see how poorly this place rates, but then I only saw it on a weekday lunchtime. Ham, cheese and pickle sandwiches were cut into what I think of as 'hotel triangles', ie a bit too small to pick up without dropping some of the contents, but were fresh and tasty. Chicken Caeser also good. I had a pint of something Cornish, which was lovely, and the friendly and rather fetching barmaid did a good job. The sun was out, we were in a classic car, so we were naturally in a very good mood and the pub did nothing to spoil it.
6 Oct 2008 11:14