BITE user comments - pnorton
Comments by pnorton
This is one of my favourite pubs in London, shame a couple of other people have had bad experiences. I�ve always found the staff very helpful
A great selection of beers on tap and in bottles. True it's not cheap, but if you think that then I'm sure there's a Wetherspoons nearby which has a pint of Fosters with your name on it. Note, I'm not a city type with a 5 figure bonus, I just know what I like and that's unusual specialist beers which you generally won't find elsewhere.
Spent quite a few Friday lunchtimes in the summer there (and a few since), we'd grab some food off one of the stalls and then sit outside on the decking drinking fantastic beer. The ale they have on tap is good, but my personal favourites are the US micro-breweries, Sierra Nevada (on tap) and Anchor Steam or Goose Island in bottles - don't let memories of 10 bottles of p*ss-water bud when you were a teenager let you think that's the standard for US beer.
5 Dec 2007 13:51
Fullers have been turning a few of their pubs into smart, stylish gastro-pubs. Shaws Booksellers in Blackfrairs is another example. It's a nice place with good food and good beer, the ale is well kept. It is a little on the expensive side, but no more so than any other (similar) venue in London. Agree with others that you could compare it to an ABO, but I like the fact it's tucked away a bit so when standing outide in the summer (or sitting by the big windows they open up) you're not breathing in exhaust fumes.
5 Dec 2007 13:50
This place has taken a bit of a slating from previous reviewers, and they do make some good points, but personally I�ve never had a bad experience here. It�s certainly got character and the beers pretty good (not as good as the Porter though). Location and billing as an old coaching inn � isn�t it meant to be the pub that the pilgrims in Chaucer�s Canterbury tales begin their journey in � does mean it gets busy, and popular with the tourists. All in all I�d go back there.
5 Dec 2007 13:24
Fantastic! Walking down the alley to the pub is almost like walking into another world (one that isn't full of bland, faceless chain bars). You could be sitting in a country pub watching the local regulars come in for a quick pint and a chat with the barman.
It is small, but I call it cosy, real fire in the winter and great selection of real ale. Yeah, the food selection is extremely limited beacse they haven't got a kitchen, but toasted sandwichs at �1.50 a pop, or sasuages and pork pies fill the gaps that the beer has left.
5 Dec 2007 12:59
It seems that this pub is like marmite, you either love it or hate it. On the whole I think it's got it's place - it's quite a stylish gastro-pub that has a fair selection of beers on tap and good food. Yes, it is a bit pricey and not one for real ale drinkers, but I think it suits it's city-types clientele.
5 Dec 2007 12:28
Not somewhere I'd stay too long, but a good place to meet for a couple of pints of Youngs beer - which is pretty good. It's over 3 floors, so you'll generally get a seat and (although I agree with womble about staying away from pubs near mainline stations) it's a lot better than the other offerings in the area - i.e. Hamiltons, White Hart, Railway, etc.
8 Mar 2005 11:59
Still a nice pub to go to for a pint, but unfortunately I think the chef has moved on as they no longer do the decent Thai food (just the usual pinged pub grub).
8 Mar 2005 11:47
Good beer, reasonable food (both in price and taste) and quite a good atmosphere. Not bad for watching sport as if you can't see the big screen there's a couple of normal tvs around to watch. In the evenings when there's a DJ it's pretty lively and can be quite a laugh. The last time I stayed there until closing, I had a great time... as far as I can remember.
13 Jan 2005 12:05
A good pub to watch sport in (unless it's really busy), as the big screen is well placed. Does a decent enough pint, and the Thai restaurant upstairs does a good trade, despite the local competition from the Thai Hut next door and the Centre Page that's not to far away.
13 Jan 2005 12:02
It's anice enough, quaint little pub. Pedigree still not up to much, the hound still needs a bath. It's OK for a swift pint at lunchtime, but agree with jarvis, that this is not in the running for best pub in London.
13 Jan 2005 11:57
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street
Really great pub to go to on a cold winetr's day/night. Real ale, Real fires, good pub food - choice of 4 different pies with mash, chips or salad for a �5 is a good deal. The lager on tap is good (especially the white beer) and I'd also recommend the bottled ales Old ale, Nut Brown and Porter.
13 Jan 2005 11:53
The Old Doctor Butler's Head, Moorgate
Nice old-fashioned, with a good selection of beer & ales. Despite being hidden away, it can get very busy, but when it's warmer you can stand outside and as it's off the roads you're not breating in exhaust fumes.
13 Jan 2005 11:48
A great place to go - still good beer & Thai food. Had our dept xmas do in the downstairs area - staff really looked after us, had great food, a great time and it wasn't that expensive (despite getting through 6 bottles of champagne).
13 Jan 2005 11:43
Shaws Booksellers, Blackfriars
A nice bar, with good atmosphere, great Fuller's beers (London Porter in the winter and Honeydew in the summer) and pretty decent pub food.
Other commments have mentioned it's expensive, but no more so than other places around - for example the Evangelist (but excluding the dirt-cheap Goose that's next door).
Can get quite busy on occassions (Friday lunch & after 5), and one time when we went to stand outside, told we couldn't.
13 Jan 2005 11:39
The Market Porter, Borough
This is one of the best pubs in London, in an area rich in good drinking establishments. The food is just plain pub grub, but you don't go there for that. You're there to see if you can stay on your 2 feet as you try to drink each of the massive selection of real ales on tap. The selection changes regularly, so frequent trips allow you to sample various beers.
Spent many an enjoyable lunchtime wandering around the market (where you can buy your lunch) before having a couple of swift pints in the Porter wishing I could stay there rather than head back to the office.
5 Dec 2007 13:57