BITE user comments - popalug
Comments by popalug
Bankes Arms Hotel and Country Inn, Studland
Very busy on a grey November Saturday. Did manage to get a table though. Lots of different beers and really nice food (and massive portions!) If the worst thing is having to get your own ketchup I'd say they're doing well!
4 Nov 2012 16:05
On the website it says opening time for Saturday: Midday - LATE, We just visited at 14.40 on a Saturday to find it locked up tight with the curtains drawn. Either someone has changed the meaning of 'midday' or we have been "inconvenienced by (yet another) extraordinary closing time". These arbitrary closing times are clearly not 'extrordinary' but frequent which is a massive shame.
13 Aug 2011 14:50
I'm surprised by the terrible rating! It does have a lovely garden and depending on what you're drinking it's not any more expensive than anywhere else around there. It's a geronimo pub and the food is the same (hugely expensive) price throughout the chain and of decent quality. Staff seem ok apart from one guy who seems to think he's high champion of the world and has his nose in everything.
16 Jul 2011 16:12
Could be really nice, ruined by the arrogant obnoxious staff. I know a lot of places now don't give a full pint as standard but this place is particularly bad for it. There's also a barman who delights in going round the tables attempting conversation and getting in a strop if people are happier without him hanging about like a bad smell. Often filled with suits during the day
16 Jul 2011 16:04
The Kings Tun, Kingston Upon Thames
As well as the normal walking dead and smell of vinegar you get in most wetherspoons pubs there were also 3 new born babies on my visit. Start them young eh. Stood at the downstairs bar for at least 10 minutes being comletely ignored so went upstairs and had to wait even longer while someone bought about 8 teas and coffees, at least the barmaid upsairs acknowledged our existance though. Very dark and dreary upstairs with barred windows. Depressing.
12 Jul 2011 12:21
Amazing location, polite staff, not cheap but you wouldn't expect it to be. Full of snooty suits at lunchtime. Herb pots on the tables outside was a nice touch (small things!)
Though for a Youngs pub you might expect them to know when a barrel needs changing and not serve a pint of cloudy vinegar... 7/10 purely for the view.
3 Jun 2011 13:36
Mad old hags and toothless Irish gents in flat caps watching the horses, lots of Catholic idols and imagery around and behind the bar, I didn't notice the cleanliness of the tv(?!) but can attest to the overpowering stench of bleach pervading everything. Like stepping back in time but I suppose the price matched. Definition of 'local'.
3 Jun 2011 13:26
Thanks for replying Vauxhallgriffin, I guess we were just unfortunate as it hasn't happened since!
Very friendly staff and reasonably inexpensive for the area. Feels welcoming and comfortable though if you're listening some of the chairs could do with reupholstering!
3 Jun 2011 13:14
Hmm, my last comment seems to have been removed so I'll repeat: It is now a Brazillian restaurant, not a pub.
3 Jun 2011 13:08
The Old Explorer, Oxford Circus
Went in to get something to eat but the general stickyness and the state of the glasses (after already having to get a clean one) put us off. Plenty of better options around there
17 May 2011 17:02
Absolutely dead on a Saturday afternoon. The barmaid/landlady was ok when I took my pint back as the glass stank of sick. Probably a one off. Was too cold to sit in the garden but it did look nice.
11 Dec 2010 17:30
A bit cold inside but the staff were very friendly. Also very cheap for an O'Neills but with the same (good) standard food and beer.
11 Dec 2010 17:27
Be warned, shuts at random times. Nice and friendly, can be packed, at other times absolutely dead.
Nice selection of games if that's what you're into.
11 Dec 2010 17:17
The Castle Inn, Corfe Castle
We went in aiming to have lunch but the 3 empty tables all had 'reserved' signs on them and there was a family with small children spread across the whole front of what is quite a small pub. I hope allowing half the pub to be reserved is worth losing drop in custom. We wont be bothering with returning.
4 Nov 2012 16:10