The Cow, Newham

Requested BITE to add this back Jun'13. As they have now done so here goes, although the review is now out of date.

The Cow is a Geromimo inn and I believe they tailor their prices by area. As the Cow is set on the edge of the Westfield Olympic park, this is priced as a tourist trap. The surroundings are OK, the service is OK and the drinks are OK, but the prices are very steep. They had Aspalls draught at £4+ a pint, indeed a round of three drinks came to just over £12.

As food, I ordered the plaice goujons and chips for lunch (£12), expecting a large portion. I got an average bowl of chips, and 3 goujons (so that was £4 a goujon! not including the chips), my two friends laughed, but their cod & chips set them back £14 each and they were similarly disappointed.

At that time it served the most expensive pint for a UK pub that I'd been to, although the prize is now currently held by the Cuckfield in Wanstead.

21 Feb 2014 16:03

The Cuckfield, Wanstead

Revisited in Oct'13, the prices have increased. The draught cider (which should be room temp) was so warm you could have bathed in it. They had run out hand pub beer (yes really). Well below the standard expected for the very high prices they charge.

18 Jan 2014 14:35

The Cuckfield, Wanstead

As a local I retried this pub recently on a slow weekday evening (Weds).
A reasonably good atmosphere inside, beer is good (according to my friend the beer drinker).
The cider (mine) was quite good. However the barsman was clueless as to what he served. Incorrectly calling the the Thatchers, Sheppey's inspite of the fact he had a bottle in front of him. It was also warm (so needed ice - very poor) and he forgot they sell also Addlestones. All the drinks were expensive 3 & 1/2 pints costing approx £12.
The food was very good quality but slow to be served, its also expensive and pretentious, by calling the burger handmade they happly charged £9.75 for what was basically a burger & chips, and would happly charge to £1-3 more for a rasher of bacon etc.
However although there are negatives, ie the prices and staffing which seems poor. It serves good beer, reasoble cider and good food. you will just need a second mortgage if you visit regularly!

31 Mar 2013 17:07