BITE user comments - thefirkintaster
Comments by thefirkintaster
I am not sure what this place is trying to be...
The beer was quite well kept and drinkable, the food looked "ordinary" but there was no welcome and no atmosphere.
24 Jul 2015 11:48
We walked here having found the Crown shut down and we were very glad we did!
Very friendly, busy place with what looked like good food and superb beers.
We had "Shagweaver" from the North Cotswold Brewery - absolutely gorgeous!
24 Jul 2015 11:46
The Kings Head, Napton on the Hill
Good, quality food, well kept beers, very friendly
24 Jul 2015 11:41
Walked from the marina up and over the hill to find this pub SHUT - maybe forever.
24 Jul 2015 11:40
Very interesting building, but they only had Doombar on - yuk!
Walked out but might try it again to see if it has Real Ale next time!
24 Jul 2015 11:38
The place was empty apart from two louts blocking up the bar, they saw us but would not move over so that we could see the pumps - shame.
We moved round to the side from where we could not see what was on offer.
The landlord walked out from the back of the bar - the most miserable and surly I have ever seen.
We nearly walked out at that point but then a very pleasant lady came through to serve us. A pint and a half of Godiva, we moved away from the bar - it was off, sour and rancid.
The barlady apologised profusely and offered two bottles of the same in replacement - they were quite pleasant for bottled beers.
This review would be 0 if it were not for the Lady (NOT Landlady!).
Never again...
24 Jul 2015 11:35
The Bowling Green Inn, Southam
Very busy when we were in. Staff somewhat rushed.
We had two pints of "Tribute". Well the pump handle said it was Tribute but no way! - I know Tribute rather well...
It was a perfectly good beer and quite drinkable after the initial surprise; they must have got their pipes crossed!
24 Jul 2015 11:25
VERY friendly landlady, well kept beers.
Light and airy interior.
24 Jul 2015 11:22
Went in twice during our local stay.
Both times very busy but the staff were very friendly and attentive, particularly the young barman.
Well kept local real ales - we were drinking Hooky "Summertime" and "25 Barons" - both lovely!
24 Jul 2015 11:19
The Plough Inn, Little Bourton
Checked the opening hours.
Saturday afternoon, a very hot day.
Walked 6 miles along the canal and over the railway line, then up the hill.
Outside, the sign:
"Sorry we are closed".
Another mile or so to The Bell, nearly died...
24 Jul 2015 11:14
As Hugh1971 says, a Hidden Gem!
We have been going to the Eight Bells for some years - whenever we are passing that way - if only we could pick it up and move it closer!
Everything you want in a true traditional pub, friendly locals, friendly staff and excellent beer.
24 Jul 2015 11:04
The Filo (First In Last Out), Hastings
Very friendly, a good range of real ales and good food.
The first time we were there, they had a couple of superb guest ales on, one from Darkstar (Revelation?). The second time they only had their own beers (brewed just down the road) but we found at least three of them very drinkable and interesting.
24 Jul 2015 10:54
We were given a friendly welcome by the "barman" - obviously not Colin, and a nod from the other customer in there at the time.
There was a choice of three beers of which we tried two. Very well kept but as previously noted by Soldrax, a bit lacklustre.
There was another beer which I would have preferred but the barman said it was not ready. A customer came in shortly after us and was quite mouthy when told that this beer was not ready. To his great credit, the barman refused to serve him with this beer - he obviously wants his customers to enjoy beer at it's best!
24 Jul 2015 10:38
When we were there, the place was heaving!
However, everyone in the crowd was careful to make sure we could get to the bar where we found an excellent range of beers.
Again, we found somewhere to sit in a back room to enjoy a couple of welcome pints. A true "local" with very friendly staff and clientele!
24 Jul 2015 10:26
A very wide range of perfectly kept real ales.
A bit of a tight squeeze when we were there but well worth it.
We found a bit of space just up the stairs and were welcomed by others sitting there. We thought that this was the best pub in Ramsgate
24 Jul 2015 10:20
Well, we didn't meet the landlord, so maybe that was a good thing!
Instead we were attended to by a very pleasant young lady who made us welcome and advised on the food they had on offer.
There was a range of about 5 real ales of which we tried 4 between us - all excellent.
24 Jul 2015 10:13
A wonderful little place with excellent beers, very well kept.
Very pleasant, welcoming staff and a superb atmosphere among books and a small stage.
24 Jul 2015 10:04
What a disgusting little place!
The two staff (one the owner?) were rude and insulting, and would rather have a smoke outside than to serve customers.
When it finally arrived, the pint was virtually undrinkable, but the barman had gone back outside to smoke again. My wife and I were further insulted on our way out.
This place must have changed massively since the previous two reviews!
24 Jul 2015 09:59
The Chequers Inn, Charney Bassett
This is my local. It has been excellent and rubbish over the years. Now, at £3.70 a pint - for cooking bitter - in a village pub - I will not be going again until after its next change of hands! The next closest is £3.10!! A rip-off.
17 May 2013 18:26
�3.80 for a pint of local bitter!!
That's 40-50p more than even the riverside pubs!
You must be joking.
Do your pocket a favour and go to the Bell instead.
15 Aug 2012 06:33
The Blacksmiths Arms, St Albans
Visited towards the end of the Beer Festival on Saturday. Crowded, noisy, lively, superb beer and good, reasonably priced food. Staff were very friendly and helpful.
4 Oct 2010 18:15
A good range of well kept beers, the food looked good and we will go back next time we are in St Albans.
4 Oct 2010 18:08
Considerably more friendly than The Six Bells. Beer interesting and well kept
4 Oct 2010 18:01
Nine of us (aged 11 to 59) went in Saturday lunch for several beers - well kept and interesting. Seven of us (46-59) went back Sunday lunch and had coffees followed by several beers. Because we were not eating, we were asked to vacate the table for a party of 8 diners who had just come in - EFFECTIVELY ASKED TO LEAVE - the table had not been reserved and we would have been left standing.
Well, we did, and went to the Rose and Crown - much more friendly!
Not advised for drinkers, we will not be back!
4 Oct 2010 17:56
Still friendly, this used to be a good real ale pub. Although it still has beer engines, the ale is actually dispensed with high pressure CO2 through a single turn tap with a tight sparkler. I doubt that The Plough will remain in the CAMRA guide much longer - sad.
15 Sep 2010 12:32
The Rose and Thistle, Frimley Green
Having been dragged to the beer desert called Lakeside for a Belly Dance Congress the wife was involved in, I was extremely pleased to find that the previous comment is the invective diatribe of a very sad, probably barred, idiot.
Prior to my visit at Friday lunch time on 25th Sept, I had a very quick glance at the comment and only went in to the R & T to verify that our group of four would not want to go in there later. I was initially bemused by the sign showing inclusion in the 2010 Good Beer Guide - that did not sound like a drug den!
I found a very clean and extremely friendly pub with three decent real ales, two draught ciders (and plenty of funny fizzy stuff to keep others happy!).
That night the four of us tried the Old Wheatsheaf up the road, nice enough but only Greene King beers on at that time.
The following lunch time the four of us had a very pleasant meal at the R & T and then on the Sunday afternoon the two males of the group returned for a few beers while the girls danced.
If this pub was near where I live, I would make it my local.
It is just a great shame that the next Congress is in two years and Frimley Green is a long way away from home!
28 Sep 2009 13:24
Bit of a shame, it took so long to get served that I walked out...
4 Jul 2009 10:41
Excellent "proper" villiage pub with outstanding landord. Wide, ever changing range of real ales
4 Jul 2009 10:39
Does not have the range of real ales in used to but a well kept pint of Brakspears and friendly service.
4 Jul 2009 10:35
About �2.80 for a very decent pint. Various guests including Ramsbury and Oxfordshire Ales. Looks like a gastro but excellent for a good beer by the river during summer
4 Jul 2009 10:32
�3.15 for a very ordinary pint, surly landlord - never again
4 Jul 2009 10:29
June 2009 - Sad previous comment, we have had no problems with our meals. Small beer festival from local breweries a couple of weeks ago was excellent. The landlord is a true enthusiast and always has some good guest beers.
15 Jun 2009 16:23
June 2009 - Superb beers including two named after the landlord! Pitstop Brewery had at least three on including some extremely serious "Last Lap" (9%)
15 Jun 2009 16:13
The Waggon and Horses, Southmoor
June 2009 - Recent beer festival had about 20 to try. Pig Roast was good too. Although a Greene King pub, he usually has a reasonable guest on.
15 Jun 2009 16:04
June 2009 - Definitely called The Yew Tree now. Very friendly, riverside seating, well presented light lunches. At least 3 real ales including local St Georges Blues and Royals and Wye Vale Butty Bach when we were there. Easy walk across fields next to the river to "The Lower Lode".
15 Jun 2009 15:39
Back to thefirkintaster's profile
The Boat Inn, Birdingbury
Currently changing hands - forget about food or even useful opening hours!
Walked 3.5 miles along the canal to find it shut on a Saturday afternoon!
However, we found the Stockton Working Men's Club a mile or so away - a wonderful place.
24 Jul 2015 11:56