BITE user comments - puppyfeat
Comments by puppyfeat
I gotta say I don't recognise this pub from the description below - I see it was written by someone calling themselves 'stroppy' so perhaps it's not surprising it's almost totally negative. All I can say is that I've been here tons of times and never felt cold or had to fight my way in past pushchairs and shoppers, and I've never been abused by anyone in there either - in fact the punters and staff are generally pretty decent IME. Believe me if they weren't I wouldn't go in there and it wouldn't be one of my fave pubs in the area.
I like the 'feel' of this place and it's location - it's really handily placed and being on a corner you can sit and watch the world go by (and in this place that can be fun!) as well as gaze upon the beauty of ye olde Sports Direct shoppe over the road. Admittedly it isn't a great place for you real ale enthusiasts, but it's reasonably priced for the area and the beer always seems ok to me.
The tv feed is not appalling at all and they show most live football games (2 screens) - however they don't usually put the sound up, so there's better places around for watching footy if that's your thing. As for the pool table, I was in there the other day and they seem to have got rid of it, which is a good thing as it wasn't a very good one and took up too much space. Another improvement I noticed - and what a major one it is! - is they've just upgraded the gents toilets and they're now the best I can think of in the area. Big thumbs up for that!
As for the food I can't comment as I've never had any but if the prices are like the booze then it's probably reasonably priced - it's no 'gastropub' (thank god) but it's probably an ok place for a burger. I've noticed that the staff eat there so it can't be that bad!
So anyway this is definitely in my top 3 pubs in the area - and probably unlike 'stroppy' I do live locally! (but have no connection with the pub at all) - so don't let the odd negative comment by some misery-guts put you off visiting here. It's one of the best in Camden town.
4 Jan 2012 10:11
@milfer - well you're right about the high prices, but then again The Vine was pricey even before it was given a makeover, so I wasn't expecting anything else. But the beer is fine (Camden lager - great but �4.10 a pint! It's �3.40 just up the road at the Southampton Arms!) - and on the two occasions I've been there so far the service has been really good.
Generally I think the upgrade has been done well - ok it's a gastro, but it was before anyway and had lost its way. The bar area has been extended and there seems a lot more space and tables in there now, and it feels lighter and airier than before. There's a separate dining area at the back and also at the front, which is split between eating and drinking area at the very front - though no doubt some diners there won't appreciate the fag smoke wafting up at them from below! However that won't bother me as I won't be eating there.
3 Aug 2011 06:17
The Dartmouth Arms, Dartmouth Park
This pub is my local - well, closest anyway. It's always been overpriced for what it is (nothing special) but after yesterday I'll never be going there again. I was charged - and stupidly paid - �4.75 for a pint of Staropramen. Now I know this is a premium beer but it was only a couple of weeks ago they were asking �4.10 for it, which was exorbitant then! I didn't say anything yesterday but I thought I'd tell the wider world this way that you should avoid this place and there are plenty better pubs around that have more realistic prices. Never again.
30 Apr 2011 21:01
I've never had any problems with the staff here and they are better than some places I've been to - however, the innovation of waitress service for drinks is a bit annoying and rather pointless too as it's quicker to just go up to the bar. The drinks prices are no higher than I'd expect for the area, although if you want a good quality selection you best find somewhere else. There are two big screens for sports, a good size outside seated area and this place is one of very few in this area which has it's own car park - although it only holds about 6 cars. The main negative as others have said is the toilets, which frankly are disgusting.
15 Mar 2011 16:36
This bar's previous incarnation, Auntie Annie's, was neither brilliant nor the best pub in Kentish Town (FFS!) but was a total dump - and it was the worst eyesore on Kentish Town Road too (no mean feat that). The makeover was long overdue and even though it now won't be to everyone's taste (including mine) it's certainly an improvement. I like the description below of it being like Liberace's head while he's having a nightmare (LOL!) which does give you an idea of what it's like. It's trying to look classy but it's really just kitcsch - it's worth a visit just to have a laugh at it. I've only even been in there to watch football, and it's fine for that - can't think of any other reason to go there.
4 Nov 2010 13:55
This place re-opened some time ago now and is called Aces and Eights. The Spanish tapas theme has gone (thankfully) and it's now a kind of upmarket rock n roll bar. Personally I like it a lot better than Bar Lorca, which was just pretentious. This suits the area better too IMO. I don't know if they play music off a juke box or an ipod but they play some great stuff in here across the whole spectrum - I've heard tracks in here I haven't heard for years or have never heard at all. Food is now just pizzas (I think) but I haven't eaten here. Friendly staff and free Wifi.
4 Nov 2010 12:40
This place reopened a few months ago and has gone seriously upmarket gastro. I haven't eaten there but my mrs has and she said it was overpriced for what you get. Which was no surprise, as a pint of Staropramen is �4 (most expensive I know in the area) - I paid it, but made a mental note 'never coming here again'. I can understand that they want to outprice the riff raff (the pubs previous clientele) but I don't consider myself riff raff and they've outpriced me! Service was a bit lame too.
16 Oct 2010 22:40
I was hacked off when they closed the old Tup as it was good for football and I'd only discovered the place about two months before. And when it opened as the Black Heart I thought they'd made a big mistake, mainly because I thought it was going to be a bit too trendy for that particular bit of Camden - I thought it was more suited to the other end up towards Chalk Farm. But I was wrong. Now I'm really pleased it's there because it's the best bar in the area - though frankly it doesn't have much competition - and has improved a lot from when it first opened. The drinks, prices and service are all pretty good, it has an interesting theme, a nice vibe, a decent jukebox and excellent free wi-fi (no password required even!). The location of it means that you don't get too many dickheads and tourists in there (because it's tucked away from the main drag) so most of the punters are people who work and live in the area, and aren't too up themselves. I just hope it stays that way. A big thumbs up.
25 Aug 2010 11:14
The only good thing about this place is that you can use it as a short cut to walk directly from the Black Heart through to the Camden Eye. A dreadful, depressing dump and hugely overpriced. Badly due a makeover and a takeover.
14 Aug 2010 14:22
The Drunken Duck Inn, Barngates
Went here a couple of weeks ago while on holiday. As other reviewers have said, it's more of a restaurant - which was why we were there - than a pub. It's in a nice spot, looks good and has a nice feel to it - but I wouldn't come here just for a drink. Actually i wouldn't come here for a meal again either, but that's not to say it was awful, just that there are better places around. The food was decent, but for the price was nothing special. Thankfully i wasn't paying - if I had been i think I'd describe it as disappointing. The service was pleasant enough - though a bit too 'try hard', and was actually amateurish. They totally screwed up our wine order and my second pint was left standing on the bar for 10 mins before they bothered bringing it so I'm told, i didn't see that myself. (A couple sitting near us had to ask for their bill 3 times and eventually got so fed up they went and paid at the bar.) All in all, a bit of a 'meh' experience, but I'll be kind and give it a 6.
27 Jul 2010 21:04
The Southampton Arms, Gospel Oak
Well how wrong can you be? It has now re-opened and has morphed into a real alers paradise! I went in there last night, and I was very impressed. Real ale isn't my thing but I think the Camra crowd will love this place - there were about a dozen on tap (don't ask me which ones) proper hand pumps and everything, as well as a couple of decent lagers for drinkers like me. OUT have gone the tv's, the fruit machines, the stinking furniture, the stinking punters - and the miserable vibe that went with them - and yes, the boxing photos too! A radical transformation and a hugely successful one by the look of it. I predict this place is going to be very popular, as it's just what this area needed - a decent proper pub that's not a snotty gastro, a youth club or a sports dump. A big thumbs up!
20 Dec 2009 13:57
The Southampton Arms, Gospel Oak
Looks like it will be staying a pub, as they've painted the outside black - in itself an improvement on the fading red it was before. I'll be surprised if much else changes inside though, as the place is too small to do much with. It'll probably get smartened up a bit (which wouldn't take much TBF!) but smartening up the punters is probably too much to expect. I imagine it will be the same old crowd when it re-opens. But will all that boxing paraphenalia survive? Watch this space...
18 Dec 2009 15:10
The Marathon Restaurant, Chalk Farm
I read that they raided this place a couple of weeks ago for abusing its late license - apparently they were serving people alcohol even if they hadn't bought any food, which they shouldn't do - and the council are now going to review its license.
1 Aug 2009 20:39
There are some pubs that are rotten, but in a good way. This isn't one of them. In fact it's quite a depressing experience coming here. The one good thing about the place is that it's cheap - but believe me you get what you pay for! Gotta agree with Strongers comments below about the unwelcoming feel and the disinterested barstaff. The staff seem quite friendly with their (downbeat) regulars, but are full of 'attitude' when they - eventually - serve me. The smell in there is horrible (smoking was definitely a good thing for this place!) and you feel like you need to wash your clothes if you sit down, the seats are so grubby. Naturally it shows all the sports - it's an Arsenal pub, and when they're on it can get even more nasty than usual. I'm writing this as a way of reminding myself just how grim the joint is and why I don't want to step foot in there ever again. 1/10 (for the cheap beer)
22 May 2009 13:13
I like this pub. I've been here often over the last couple of years and I've always found the barstaff really pleasant and attentive, which even now still surprises me considering that they look like a bunch of slacker students who shouldn't really care! It has massive windows and the corner location makes it great for people-watching down Parkway. They usually have Sky Sports News on and they show football matches, but it's not a sports pub really (which is good). I don't know or care if it has a good beer selection but they do sell Staropramen which is what I like - but unfortunately this is probably the most expensive pub around the area. Can't comment on the food as I've never eaten here - and judging by the reviews below, that seems wise!
22 May 2009 12:11
This place has had a makeover recently - outside it's now a distinctive colour green all over and they seem to have renamed it The Flowerpot. Looks pretty good really. Unfortunately it's still the same on the inside. However on the couple of times I've been there I've never had any trouble and the service has been alright. Prices for beer aren't extortionate, esp. for a place with a late licence and live music/dj's. Obviously this ain't a place for CAMRA members (thankfully!) so don't expect a great range, but for what it is it's ok.
22 May 2009 11:15
I can't believe the rating for this pub - 6.7! - as frankly it's a bit of a dump, and it's overpriced for what it is. I've only been there a couple of times but the service has been pretty poor each time. The only thing I go there for is to watch football if I'm in the area, as there's no other places round there (that I know of) that show it. However it's not great for that as the tv's aren't that well situated for viewing from seated areas. There is a need for pubs like this - I'd hate to see it gastro-ed - I just wish it was a more pleasant experience to go there. (Thinking of food, I haven't eaten there, but I've seen the food being served and it reminds me of one of those places on Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmare's before Gordo's gone in and done his thing!). The big pity is it's in such a great location - just tucked in to the north of Camden Town and down from Kentish Town. Waste of a good space.
22 May 2009 11:04
This is now a restaurant, not a pub. It does serve a fair range of beers but you can tell by all the cutlery and glasses set out on the tables what this place is all about - just 3 small tables in the centre of the bar are left free for drinking, and they're always taken up. Consequently the bar often gets congested too. I know there's an upstairs room there and if they turned that into a dining area - which I thought they were going to - and left the bar for drinking, it would be much better (though I suspect they wouldn't agree).
As you might guess it isn't cheap but compared to the prices charged by similar places round this area, nor is it the most expensive these days (I'm talking beer here only). But the main thing I really dislike about the Bull is the overwhelming air of smugness that permeates the place now - it was never like this before the present owners took it on. I wouldn't call the staff rude but neither would I say they are friendly - 'businesslike and aloof' is how they come across to me.
I can't comment about the food from my own experience, but my partner and her friend ate their a couple of months ago and were thoroughly underwhelmed by the whole experience. They said they'd rather go to any of the other similar establishments in the area, for the food, service and ambience - and I can think of 6 within a 10 minute walk of the Bull. I have to agree that for a drink, I'd rather go to any of the others as well.
21 May 2009 15:27
The Surprise at Pimlico, Pimlico
The only surprise about this place is that it's still in business - though after the smoking ban comes in it probably won't last too long. Hopefully.
27 Jun 2007 16:37
It looks like what it is - a s**thole that's had a cheap makeover. It says something about a pub that it's best feature is the toilet. Overpriced for what it is. I won't say I'll never go back there, but it won't be very often.
21 Mar 2007 16:22
The Marquis of Granby, Westminster
Generally this is a decent pub, esp at lunchtimes, and maybe for a pint after work, but is probably dead after 7pm. Reasonably priced for the area, bar staff usually good, some tv's for sports (though you often have to ask for them to be turned on and they're not keen on having the sound up). A bit on the small side though, which makes Friday lunchtimes too packed. And watch out if you get served by the landlord - which doesn't happen often - as he's a bit tight on the measures!
21 Mar 2007 14:03
I particularly dislike this chain of pubs, the ones with that cream and red outside decor, and this is a prime example. Horrible place, particularly in tne gloomy downstairs. Like drinking in your granny's front room. It's so bad I'd rather drink in the Littern Tree just across the street (but most people probably wouldn't!).
21 Mar 2007 13:16
The Whittington Stone, Highgate
The only good thing I can say about this place is that it's cheap. But cheap n cheerful it ain't. You get what you pay for. Avoid. (It's not in Highgate either, it's definitely in Archway. A place like this wouldn't do any business in Highgate. It shouldn't do even in Archway either).
9 Nov 2015 19:24