BITE user comments - theinnspectre.com
Comments by theinnspectre.com
The Bunch of Grapes, London Bridge
The BoG is a nice pub serving Youngs ales, but it's nothing special. I got chatting to a few American tourists who were keen to tell me just how much they love a traditional old English boozer. They can do better than this; there are so many interesting pubs in this part of London. This is a one pint pub - drink it, enjoy it but don't hang around, move on. That said, landmark enthusiasts will be pleased to know it's near London Bridge station, Southwark Cathedral, and the Shard. Woohoo.
17 Apr 2013 21:06
I had a very nice night at the Bishops Finger, catching up with an old pal over five pints of Shepher Neame's Bishops Finger ale. It's a tidy yet small pub, with a function room upstairs. The staff were pleasant despite being rushed off their feet. The beer, which included Spitfire and Master Brew, was very nice as you would expect but I made the schoolboy error of not eating before hitting the booze. The result was the worst hangover I've had in years. I was as sick as a dog.
17 Apr 2013 15:51
I spent an afternoon hanging out with some ageing rockers at the Dublin Castle. These people are old enough to know better. Leather trousers on a 20-year-old don't look good - unless it's Sheena Easton of course - let alone someone of 50. Entering this pub felt a bit like stepping back in time to the early 1980s. The mirrored walls made me cringe, I seemed to be surrounded by old fogies in leather trousers. There was no escape. However, the beer was good - Adnams Explorer, Deuchars IPA and Shepherd Neame's Master Brew.
17 Apr 2013 11:31
The Somerville Arms, Leamington Spa
A nice CAMRA award-winning boozer off the beaten track in Leamington. A good choice of Everards ales, great darts facilities, a cosy little room at the back in which to entertain the missus, a beer garden the size of a postage stamp and there's a fluffy little cat too. What more do you want? This cracking pub attracts bearded CAMRA anoraks like moths to a lamp.
17 Apr 2013 10:49
Regardless of what anyone says, this is a decent pub and ideal for a cheap pint to escape the crowds at Trafalgar Square. I've been here when it's packed and there's always a good mix of punters, although the upstairs bar can resemble a sixth form common room at times. I suggest you head to Chandos to start your night out, get a couple of cheap pints under your belt and then head off elsewhere in search of more interesting ales and some crumpet.
16 Apr 2013 20:00
The Nell Gwynne, Covent Garden
One of London’s hidden gems, the Nell is a small but homely boozer tucked down an alley off The Strand. Blink and you could miss it. This pub is always dimly lit inside, which I like because I always feel I look better in the dark. Usually three or four decent ales on tap - on my visit they had St Austell’s Tribute, Bombardier and Deuchars IPA. Get’s busy on nice evenings when the work crowd spills out into the alley for a pint and a puff. Be careful when heading to and from the loo, the staircase is just as tricky as the North Face of the Eiger.
16 Apr 2013 11:54
The Ship and Shovell, Charing Cross
The Ship and Shovell is a lovely old boozer. It's popular with office types keen to drink their work woes away and it's a hit with tourists too - they just can't resist a traditional British pub right in the heart of London and who can blame them. Good choice of real ales such as Badger, Firkin Fox, Tanglefoot and Sussex Best. On my visit, a couple of persistant punters from Down Under were trying to charm their way into the barmaid's down under, without success. It has to be said, the staff are friendly and know their stuff. You get two pubs for the price of one with the Ship and Shovell, it's well worth a visit. Getting home should be a breeze, you can stagger to either Charing Cross station or Embankment underground.
15 Apr 2013 22:14
Visited the Mint yesterday to make the most of the rare good weather. Sat in the beer garden and the sun went in almost immediately. I took a swig of Adnam's Krystal White ale and then it started to rain, so I went back inside. Pub is very clean and tidy. Nice old wooden beams, although it's a bit too gastro-pubby for my liking. A nice pub to take great Aunt Audrey or your mother-in-law, the missus or the girlfriend, but not the kind of place you'd hang out with the boys. Had Doom Bar and London Pride on tap too. Lovely barmaids although had a lengthy wait to get served.
15 Apr 2013 21:32
Sometimes it's not the pub or the people that run it which are the problem but it's the punters. This pub is famous for one thing; attracting lager top-swilling Chelseas-supporting chavs like bees round a jam jar. Nice barmaids though. It's swings and roundabouts I guess.
15 Apr 2013 17:12
If I were you I’d work up a thirst by walking along a stretch of the Brecon and Monmouth canal then dive into this lovely old boozer for a refreshing pint or six. I love this place. There is always a good selection of real ales on tap. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. It’s always a wrench to leave. Looking forward to returning there next month.
15 Apr 2013 17:04
Back to theinnspectre.com's profile
The Plough, West Sutton
If ever a pub deserved to be bulldozed to make way for a Tesco Express then it's this place. Truly awful. The punters wouldn't know what a good pub is if it bit them on the backside. The same could be said for those who run this shambles of a boozer. Real ale lovers will have a better chance of finding a decent pint in the middle of the Sahara. I had to resort to ordering a pint of Stella and even then I was told it wasn't on draught and had to drink two bottles of the fizzy stuff. Terrible beyond words. It pains me to say it, but this has been a pub in decline for too long. Close it down.
4 Oct 2014 20:18