BITE user comments - Dunmall
Comments by Dunmall
A friendly pub which has had and maintained a good reputation for many years.
Very cosy and welcoming if a little out of the way, it is very traditional in style and has a friendly atmosphere. The staff seem to have time for people and the beer and food is of good quality; they really make an effort with this place and it shows.
It used to have Karaoke (and may still do) on a Tuesday which had been running for about 18 years there and is great for a decent night out.
Overall, worth making the effort to get there and you will probably want to go back. The owners deserve a lot of credit.
18 Jan 2009 11:20
A very average pub which focuses heavily on (poor) food.
The low-lit decor inside is your average Beefeater fayre with some character in fairness. The atmosphere is ok without being anything exceptional, largely due to the fact that most people are eating.
The worst thing is the staff. Unfriendly, rude and largely unhelpful - the place is full of acne ridden teenagers who flap around and often argue with each other in front of paying customers which certainly doesn't help things along.
People seem to be resigned to the fact that Rainham has a poor reputation when it comes to pubs in so far as that they have few and are generally of poor quality so it appears they head here as a "safe bet", even though it is of a low standard.
Overall, not worth it at all. The food and atmosphere are way below average and the staff are some of the worst in the area in my humble opinion. Take a train out of Rainham and visit another town with much more strength in depth.
18 Jan 2009 11:14
The Southern Belle, Gillingham
An OK but noisy and fairly unwelcoming pub.
You certainly feel out of place in there. It is usually ram-packed full of locals and you feel that there is potential for trouble, although, in all fairness, i've been in there a few times over the years and I haven't seen any.
The relatively new decor with its plasma screens and black leather sofas was a welcome touch but it has the "can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" feel - it is loud and pretty much full of heavy drinking men, especially on match days.
Overall, you could do worse but I wouldn't recommend staying for more than one - there are better pubs in the area.
18 Jan 2009 11:04
I'm quite surprised by the comments on here.
I've been several times over the past few years and have always found Ye Arrow to have a great and lively atmosphere (especially when you compare it to the disaster that is The Kings Head next door). I've certainly not seen any trouble but the potential is there as people generally seem to be pretty sozzled so I wouldn't completely discount the posts here.
Not many people really know of it's existence despite it's prominence just off the high street and you feel that is just the way they like it when you step in the door. Not unfriendly but they clearly like who they like in there.
Overall, if you want a lively night, you could do a lot worse but there are better pubs within walking distance.
18 Jan 2009 10:54
A nice pub but generally caters for the more mature customer.
If you are under 35, this probably isn't the place for you. It is welcoming and quite friendly but it feels like it is very much a closed shop and there are people in there that probably have been for many years.
The beer is good, the music is of generally good quality and it feels quite cosy.
Overall, I wouldn't go there during the day or when there wasn't anything going on but well worth a visit at other times.
18 Jan 2009 10:44
Has changed a great deal in style over the past 10 years.
Previously, the focus was on upmarket traditional food and had a host of regulars.
Now, it always seems to be empty - the inside is well maintained and has a lot of original features but it is always empty at all times of the day and feels quite depressing with just a handful of people who play the multitiude of gaming machines that litter the premesis.
Other pubs such as The Crown, Coopers Arms and George Vaults (all within walking distance) offer so much more when it comes to atmosphere and life, there is little or no need to visit. It seems they don't even try to offer anything other than beer and empty tables.
Overall, it is empty and has a confused identity - is it traditional? Not really. Is it a modern pub? not as such. Is it an entertainment venue? Only at certain times of the year. With some TLC and focus, it could easily compete with other pubs locally but it doesn't offer any reason to go there.
18 Jan 2009 10:39
A very good, traditional pub.
It feels homely and welcoming with it's olde worlde appearance and decor. The clientele always seem to be good-natured and friendly with not a hint of trouble in sight.
It captures the feel of Rochester perfectly which so many others in the area fail to do - it looks and feels like part of history. The staff always seem cheerful and clearly enjoy working there which is a refreshing change.
In the summer, the excellent and thoughtfully maintained beer garden is well worth a visit.
Overall, it is well worth venturing out of the high street to find this little gem.
18 Jan 2009 10:31
This pub is probably the most well presented in the area.
It is strange that it is empty most of the time (Wetherspoons across the road is probably a major factor in this) because the staff are friendly and welcoming. The problem I feel is that it still feels like a converted house (which it is) and the downstairs (which you occupy) is divided into small rooms and intimate drinking areas. Without this, it would almost certainly build upon the good atmosphere.
This makes it a lot less sociable unless you are visiting with about 20 friends - a shame. The other problem is that the music is generally of low quality inside - very heavily focused on obscure dance music where the DJ clearly plays his record collection - I certainly haven't been when they are playing 70's and 80's etc. as stated on here.
Overall, it could potentially be one of the best pubs in the area with a little thought but it is certainly worth checking out.
18 Jan 2009 10:23
Not a bad pub.
It caters a great deal for people who drive up at lunchtime from Medway City Estate and the focus is heavily on food.
It has a some character and is a well known pub locally, having moved away from it's earlier origins of the 1970's and 1980's when it was known for live music and for being a bit tatty.
Now, it looks and feels quite smart and is a good place to go if you fancy a quiet pint without sitting in a morgue. The clientele are good natured and the staff are generally polite and friendly.
Overall, it has a good deal going for it but it lacks character and focuses a bit too heavily on food.
18 Jan 2009 10:14
Not a bad pub but suffers from being overcrowded at weekends.
You can hardly move and getting to the bar is a nightmare. The rest of the week, it's quite friendly and sociable with an extensive range of good food.
In recent years, it has become more of a younger persons pub but there is still a decent mix of ages inside and it is always a pretty good atmosphere.
Overall, well worth a visit but not at the weekend.
18 Jan 2009 10:09
The pub has lost a great deal of character with the refurbishment.
Previously, it had events such as karaoke and live sport etc. and now it has been transformed into something resembling an upmarket Wetherspoons. The decor is undoubtably better but very manufactured and out of place.
It's still very noisy and overcrowded - a problem that will be less likely to be resolved with the much smaller interior. The staff are friendly and there is rarely any problems inside or out as the doormen seem to know the pub and people well which is a very refreshing change.
The main problem is that it has become a pub which isn't worth going out of your way for. It doesn't have a real identity anymore - quiet pint? No, Good food? Cheap boil in the bag rubbish, Atmosphere? Not what it used to be by a long chalk Good beer? Same as virtually everywhere else.
The thing with the Cricketers is that there are few pubs in Rainham considering the size of the population who have money to spend and people tend to visit the pub because they can't be bothered to venture out further and want an easy option, hence, it is always busy but has little else going for it.
My advice : take the train and find a better town with better pubs.
18 Jan 2009 10:04
A dark and unwelcoming pub with a long-standing poor repuation for trouble and troublemakers.
A lot of pubs near Railway Stations seem to do well out of people waiting for trains etc but people never venture over and it's easy to feel why when you step inside. Very tatty with unusual smells hanging in the air and a few heavily boozed and unfriendly locals propping up the bar.
It isn't the worst pub in the world but there are much better pubs in the immediate area (The Alexandra for one and it needs a thorough overhaul. Avoid.
13 Jan 2009 11:30
A decent pub with a couple of problems but worth looking up.
The owners clearly make an effort with the place and there is often good-natured Karaoke nights. The clientele varies wildly - it can be packed or empty at weekends and usually completely deserted during the day. When packed, it is generally pretty ok as they have door staff who seem to do a pretty good job of weeding out the troublemakers.
It is a bit tatty but it is a historic and impressive building so it doesn't detract from the overall feel and atmosphere. Beer is standard and a little expensive but this is generally because there is a small nightclub underneath, which is cramped, very dark and not particulary good in all honesty.
Overall, you could do a lot worse for a night out in Chatham. Not threatening and a good atmosphere at weekends make it a worthwhile visit but the Command House just over the road is much better if you like Karaoke and music in all honesty.
13 Jan 2009 11:23
Terrible pub with a deservedly terrible reputation.
There are problems at night, problems during the day and no doubt problems at all other times. There is a hardcore element of locals which seem to permanently inhabit it, including loud, barely-legal teens and heavily boozed drinkers who seem to thrive in making the place virtually uninhabitable.
Many pubs have closed locally but people living in the area wouldn't shed any tears if this place shut up shop for good. Tatty, rough and does nothing for local people or the community. Avoid like the proverbial plague.
13 Jan 2009 11:15
This pub generally serves the local businesses which operate in the area and is busy most lunch times.
At any other time, it is slightly below average - it lacks character, atmosphere and isn't worth going out of your way for. The food is disappointing of standard quality, probably slightly better than Wetherspoons.
The staff are ok and make an effort. In the summer, the seating is very welcoming outside and has good views over the river.
Overall, ok but not worth going out of your way for. It should be busy and successful considering the lack of competition and its situ but it just isn't and is never likely to be.
13 Jan 2009 11:05
Very large pub which does nothing for the atmosphere, which is generally empty and depressing at any other time when there isn't football on, when it's just noisy and unwelcoming.
The staff work hard but are generally unwelcoming and look to be counting the minutes until they can leave. The food is quite Wetherspoons-esque poor and has clearly seen a microwave at some point.
The beer is cheap but generally of poor quality and it is very dark inside which adds nothing.
Overall, an awful pub. Even if you needed a cheap drink, Wetherspoons is opposite (which is only slightly better).
13 Jan 2009 10:57
This pub was generally designed for people who live and work on the Kings Hill Estate.
This means that, during lunch hours, it is generally full of white collar businessmen enjoying a liquid lunch. Outside of those, it is generally quiet, dull and quite depressing. At night, it is even worse; the silence only punctuated by a few well-heeled locals talking about pony lessons for Toby and Alexandria.
The food is of poor quality; you can tell that it has occupied a microwave or been frozen for some considerable time and dressed up with ubiquitous garnish. The beer is standard and nothing more.
It has no soul and no heart, which is why people who live in the area tend to head to West Malling Village or into Maidstone itself where there is more choice and much more quality.
Overall, one to avoid. The main problem is that it is on an estate with a deservedly poor reputation as a manufactured, heartless mess. There is no community or reason for living or travelling there and the Spitfire encompasses that feeling perfectly.
13 Jan 2009 10:49
This pub is very different depending on what time of the day/week and what time of the year you visit.
During the day, it is completely deserted and has very little character compared to the other pubs locally. At the weekend, it can be pretty lively and gets very awkwardly full. When live music is on, it's generally an ok atmosphere.
The owners clearly make an effort but it really falls down in so far as that it is situated amongst much better pubs. Not one to go out of your way for.
13 Jan 2009 10:36
The last time I was there, I opened the door where there were some clearly debatable-aged drinkers shouting their heads off.
Then, as I approached the bar, a bony woman with no front teeth started grabbing me and gesturing me to dance. I then turned and left as quickly as I had come in.
Before then, it had always been an awful pub with a poor reputation. Always full of louts of all ages that clearly wouldn't be allowed into any other pub in Rainham. The staff were ok and the beer is pretty much standard but there is no reason why you would ever want or need to drink there.
2 Jan 2009 08:40
A very average pub which, considering the location and history of the building, should be a great deal better than it is.
Not exactly the most welcome of places. Myself and a couple of friends were the only customers apart from an elderly couple in the corner. The landlord was very gruff and Phil Mitchell-esque - he took no pleasure in the money we were spending or the fact that we were even there.
In these times where we are paying �3.00 a pint as opposed to �60p a can from a supermarket or �2.10 at the nearest Wetherspoons, impoliteness at the mere thought of having to serve paying customers is not only unacceptable but downright insulting.
Apart from him, the beer was good if a little unimaginitive, the clientele were friendly and it's generally a nice pub, hopefully under new management soon.
2 Jan 2009 08:33
The Horseshoe and Castle, Cooling
Have been to this pub many times over the past 20 years and it seems to change all the time.
My last visit a few months ago was very different from the previous time I was here when it was lively and welcoming. Now, it seemed quite empty and very clicky; our visit was almost taken with an element of surprise.
It is a great pub though with a lot of history in an amazing and historic little hamlet. People used to come out of their way to come here and it doesn't seem they do much more which is a great pity and quite worrying considering that pub has closed down previously.
The beer range was fairly extensive and the quietness of the pub suited it in a way. It all felt authentic and very real as opposed to the many chain pubs polluting the country.
If you're looking for a quiet drink in a now quiet pub with a bit of genuine history out in the middle of nowhere, then this is for you.
2 Jan 2009 08:22
The Queen Charlotte, Rochester
Not a great or attractive looking pub by any means.
I've frequented this place on many occasions and always left a little disappointed. The place is tired and it all feels quite depressing - if you've come here and paying �1 more a pint than the Wetherspoons a few doors down, you expect something more for your money i.e. atmosphere, friendly people and bar staff.
No-one seems to want to be there or ever seems to be enjoying themselves, it's nearly always the same when I go there - a few old moaning codgers sitting at the bar and some young and frequently noisy people playing pool. Standard beer and standard service, nothing really worth mentioning at all.
It has strong competition nearby from better pubs such as The Man of Kent round the corner, Enigma and Wetherspoons etc. but doesn't bother to compete or reinvent itself, it just trundles along in it's own depressing and predicatable way.
Overall, there are far better places to go than this locally, not to bothered with at all unless it has a massive overhaul, which is extremely unlikely.
2 Jan 2009 08:05
The Man of Kent Ale House, Rochester
A great pub - another hidden Medway gem.
If you ever get to the point where you think every pub is a part of a chain, The Man of Kent is a welcome antidote and a well-kept secret.
The beer? Nothing traditional - no well known branded beer which presents you with a bit of a challenge but a welcome one nonetheless because all the alternatives are excellent and very good value for money.
The landlord and staff are friendly and welcoming. Live music is a regualr feature there and have some amazing bands of contrasting styles - you walk in the door and never really know what to expect which is extremely rare these days.
The people vary drastically from students to businessmen, to rough and ready looking but the atmosphere is exceptional and I have yet to leave without a smile on my face.
The decor is just about the most random you could imagine - green faux-leather big armchairs and ricketty stools, a real open fire and a back room piled high with games and books, it all feels bizzare but you kind of except it and appreciate it.
One slight drawback is the size. It is quite small and the pub has clearly been a victim of it's own success - the last time I visited, the landlord was turning people away in droves so it's advisable to come early, especially when a band is playing.
Overall, i'm not someone who is impressed easily but I certainly was and continue to be with The Man of Kent. People told me that it was one of the best pubs in Medway and I completely agree. If you live in the area and don't visit, you're truly missing out on something special and pretty unique.
2 Jan 2009 07:49
The first time I entered the Wat Tyler a few years ago, I felt a little insecure as it appeared very much a locals pub with loud banter reverberating around the pub.
The more time I spent there, I realised that it was all quite friendly and felt welcoming. The people there were loud but good natured and I began to feel like I fitted in.
They have a great range of beers which are all reasonably priced. The pub has a lot of history and this feels evident inside with little nooks and crannies everywhere.
Some people avoid "locals" pubs but this is one where you wouldn't feel out of place and a nice antidote to the soulless Tollgate and Wetherspoons lurking closely nearby.
Overall, a pretty good and deceptively friendly pub It doesn't hide the fact that it's a traditional pub and you wouldn't want it too. Well worth a couple of pints.
2 Jan 2009 07:29
The Royal Victoria and Bull, Dartford
This pub has so much potential, amazing, histioric and natural decor with spacious rooms and so much size.
Sadly, they have never really seemed to get it right with the Bull. It has always been a bit of a letdown - depressing atmosphere, too many louts who clearly aren't there for the karaoke or live music etc and detract from the atmosphere. The food is very poor and the beer selection is chain-pub basic.
The atmosphere is non-existent; you really don't feel anything in there, it all feels a bit pointless in all honesty and, half way through your first pint, you'll be thinking about moving on.
Having to pay at times to enter this poor pub adds insult to injury. The doormen are pretty poor and generally unhelpful and unfriendly, as are the bar staff.
Overall, not a great pub, below average pub with no real atmosphere. It should be, it could be but it needs a major image overhaul first.
2 Jan 2009 07:20
Probably one of the poorer Wetherspoons in existence.
Cheap beer, fairly awful but cheap food and the usual Wetherspoons mock historic interior make it accessible and convienient as they all are.
The problem with this Wetherspoons is that they seem to let in and serve pretty much anyone. As far as I am aware, they have rules and regulations which say about warning loud groups which swear at the top of their voices etc. but it's rife in here and no-one seems to do very much about anything.
The staff are generally impolite, unfriendly and always look like they are on the tense, on the defensive and about to explode at any moment which makes standing at the bar an unpleasant experience.
At the weekend, it is impossible to get a seat, get served or eat anything as it is full of prefuelling clubbers taking advantage of cheap beer, which is all Wetherspoons is good for in all honesty if you don't mind selling your soul.
Overall, not a nice, friendly or welcoming pub but very convienient and cheap as all Wetherspoons are. One to generally avoid unless you are particulary hard up.
2 Jan 2009 07:06
A great pub 15 years ago - a great landlord, a great laugh and very welcoming.
The pub then seemed to plod along ok until about 5 years ago when anyone seemed to be allowed in - a pub that nice really went to the dogs in a very short space of time until it became a real mess. All very sad and gone forever by the sound of things.
2 Jan 2009 06:53
I visited this pub very recently and, as other comments posted on here, it certainly did very much feel like a locals pub.
Not saying it was unfriendly; the atmosphere was fairly loud and quite boisterous but nothing OTT. The bar staff were functional - not service with a smile by any means but not unwelcoming.
The beer is all standard stuff and not too expensive. The decor is tidy and reasonably well maintained, nothing special or that detracts from the atmosphere.
Sky sports on plasma screens is a prominent feature and the pubs promotes regular karaoke and supports Darts Teams which again, adds something to the previous comment about it being very much a locals pub.
Overall, OK. Not bad, not good. If you're looking for a quiet drink with friends, this isn't the place to go but if you're looking for a quick and reasonably friendly pint, you could certainly do a lot worse than this.
2 Jan 2009 06:48
A good historical and well-kept pub which stands out like a beacon of hope against the other poorer pubs in the area.
The staff and landlord have always been very personable and friendly; you get the impression that they enjoy running a pub and part of that rubs off on you. The inside is very traditional and in keeping with the history of the building with pictures and ornaments everywhere.
The food has a good reputation and the beer is of a good quality. The atmosphere is very good and people really seem to genuinely enjoy themselves there - very much a pub where you can take a group of friends and have a conversation.
Overall, if you're looking for plasma screen sky sports football and a loud jukebox, this pub isn't for you but it's of a very high quality and somewhere where you could quite happily spend a whole evening out .
2 Jan 2009 06:36
Have visited this pub many times over the years.
Very little has changed - the pub has always been dark and full of people who would be turned away from other pubs; heavily intoxicated to the point of not being able to stand, shouting loudly and swearing.
It also has a young, yobbish element who occupy the pool table area and shout and swear their heads off. Being a smallish pub, the noise carries into every part of it and is extremely offputting.
The bar staff are generally ok, no real problems there and the beer is all very standard. The decor is very, very tired and takes a great deal away from any prospective atmosphere.
Overall, a poor, tired pub which, without a minor miracle, has very little future. It needs a complete overhaul, more stringent door policy and drastic change of image before I, or anyone I know would ever consider drinking there. Avoid.
2 Jan 2009 06:26
A nice pub if nothing spectaclar.
A good size, good atmosphere and genuinely friendly bar staff. I agree with other comments on here that the more unsavoury characters locally seem to bypass it; the people inside don't seem to frequent other pubs locally and maybe rightly so.
The decor is a little tired but quite cosy and inviting, particulary compared to other pubs in the area. The beer is of good quality and there is a decent range.
Overall, well worth a few pints; in another town with a great many better pubs, there is no doubt this pub would be nearer the bottom end of the scale but because it stands out against so many poorer pubs, it is well worth a visit but not one to go out of your way for.
2 Jan 2009 06:13
A station pub, especially with one with as big a station as Dartford, has usually a high number of people waiting for trains etc.
Not this one. This is very much a locals pub and pretty unsavoury locals at that. Always shouting, always noisy, always dank, dark and depressing.
The beer is cheap if you're not fussy about what you drink and if you enjoy pool, there is a large dedicated area with three tables. The whole place is uncared for and surprisingly run down considering it is a chain pub.
The staff always seem relatively helpful and do the best they can with what they've got. Considering the amount of times i've been in there and been subjected to selfish, noisy, attention-seeking idiots, I haven't seen any trouble which, considering the potential, surprises me enormously.
Overall, if your train is delayed and you strongly fancy a quick pint, this isn't desperately bad but it really isn't somewhere where you should consider going for a night out.
2 Jan 2009 06:07
Not a bad pub, always quite lively and has good entertainment.
Not a natural pub; lots of awkward little partitions and corners, probably because of the buildings original use which makes watching the live music and speaking to people in largish groups, particulary at the weekend, quite difficult. Beer is always of good quality and reasonably priced.
Clientele are generally ok; not seen any sign of trouble in there in the few times i've visited and doesn't particulary feel like there would be. The inside feels quite traditional but in a mocked Wetherspoons way.
Overall, nothing special. There are better and worse pubs in the area so not somewhere where you would go on a special night out or occasion and certainly nothing worth going out of your way for.
2 Jan 2009 05:56
An always lively and generally friendly pub but reasonably boisterous and quite loud.
The clientele are clearly all local and seem to use the pub with some frequency. The staff are quite friendly and welcome your custom which is a refreshing change.
The beer has a reasonably sized and competitively priced range but nothing elaborate. There is a Dartboard, Pool Table, Loud Jukebox and two Fruit machines with lots of old local pictures adorning the walls inside which fits in well with the decor.
Overall, a good pub but not one where you would want to stay all night. The atmosphere is quite good but can be a little intimidating at times but if you're passing by and fancy a quick pint, you could do much worse.
2 Jan 2009 05:46
The Westcourt Arms, Gillingham
Not a great pub, generally always full of heavily boozed and very noisy lager louts of varying ages.
Haven't been in since it was refurbed. God, it needed it - formerly like a 1950's working mens club, terrible. Very large and worn down inside.
A very unwelcoming atmosphere - felt like you were very much in the wrong place unless you knew someone. I visited first with a girl a couple of years who wanted some wine, only to be told very gruffly by the landlord "THIS IS A WORKING MENS PUB, WE DON'T DO WINE". Tosser.
Overall, a poor pub with a menacing atmosphere, certainly somewhere that doesn't need to take up several hours of your life. Looks rough, feels rough, all very poor.
2 Jan 2009 05:37
A good pub, sadly missed. Good quality beer and friendly staff.
Very up and down on the clientele - one night it'd be fairly rough and the next, it'd be full of students or well dressed people from local businesses etc. Very cosy and traditional inside with a great jukebox.
With so many rubbish pubs staying open, it's a crying shame that more like the Roseneath are going. Another one bites the dust.
2 Jan 2009 05:30
The Honourable Pilot, Gillingham
Nothing remarkable or entertaining about this pub.
The main focus is hugely on the food - if you're not eating, you're crammed into a small bar area which is usually full of people waiting to be seated. The bar is expensive for a chain pub and has little choice in beer.
The food is almost insultingly bad - i've been there several times and it is virtually all boil in the bag or clearly microwaved. In this modern era with Supermarkets now selling quality food at reasonable prices, places like this are hugely inadequate and a real throwback to the old oven-chip Beefeater style places.
The staff are OK but clearly ran off their feet. The atmosphere is all family based but friendly but this isn't a place to go for an evening out; it's not a real pub in all honesty.
Overall, poor quality food and a pub that isn't a pub. Leave well alone, only use as a very last resort.
2 Jan 2009 05:24
Pub has remained virtually unchanged for many years. Quite tired from the outside and always appears as if little effort is made.
The barstaff are, and have always been quite quiet and generally disappointingly unfriendly - not rude but just go about their job without conversation or a smile.
It has always had a depressing feel inside. People seem to take little joy from being there and it hangs heavily in the air. Not somewhere where you would go on purpose - I only visit when missing the train and it has never had or offered anything to lighten my mood.
The beer isn't extensive and the decor is very much 70's and 80's, not attractive at all. Because of the mass closedown of Strood Public Houses within the last ten years, there is no doubt that the Steam Packet has benefited but undeservedly so.
Overall, just about OK if you miss your train but there is no other reason why you should frequent this quiet, dull and depressing little pub. With so many decent pubs closing, it's frustrating that ones such as this which offer so very little stay in business
2 Jan 2009 05:10
A very cosy, traditional pub with Jukebox (on quite low), pool table and fruit machine. Has a feel almost like walking into your front living room.
It hasn't changed for many, many years. Always friendly with a good selection of beer. Nothing exceptional about the pub but one you can count on for a decent pint which is quiet enough to have a conversation.
2 Jan 2009 04:57
A hidden gem. A great place to visit and always a good, friendly atmosphere.
People don't seem to know of it's existence locally which seems odd, despite it's tucked away location; especially considering the enormous amount of pubs which have closed locally.
The pub very much focuses on quality music and quality beer and is very dimly lit, which would be a pain at some other pubs but really adds to the atmosphere. It has a traditional pub feel with friendly clientele and I've never had a bad night in there or seen any trouble.
Overall, well worth a visit and you'll want to keep this one a secret.
2 Jan 2009 04:48
A pub that has been poor since it was converted into a pub.
Many reasons - a) it is almost completely empty during the day apart from a handful of casual drinkers where it is very dark inside and the staff seem disinterested b) The toilets are legendary in the area - not only are doors, toilet roll holders, mirrors always broken and hanging off, the floor is always covered in urine night and day and people regulary actually take apart the BRICKWORK inside, physically knocking them out, damaging the walls to near destruction and leaving the remnants on the floor. Never seen anything like it. c) it is always very dead at weekends, particulary towards the end of the evening. d) Although the bar staff are generally ok, the doormen are of a very poor standard. e) it is a chain pub with no imagination, style or atmosphere.
Overall, is cheap but throughly below average chain pub. There is no real point in visiting.
2 Jan 2009 04:38
A nice, friendly pub which is almost out of place in the
immediate area.
Very good food at a fair price - I hear the current landlord is leaving which is a great pity because this really is a decent place to go for a relatively quiet pint and something to eat and I hope the new owner keeps things as they are.
The staff are polite, helpful and friendly. The people drinking there all seem good-natured and there for the same reasons. The interior is traditional with a quiet jukebox and fruit machine and it all seems quite cosy for the location.
Overall, well worth a look and one of the better pubs in the area.
2 Jan 2009 04:25
A poor pub with a reputation for the worst bar staff and doormen in the area.
The last time I visited, two companions of mine were asked for i.d. (aged 36 and 31 respectively, surprised they even got this close) by two very unfriendly and militaristic doormen with a bad attitude who were clearly very bored at having to guard a barely-full pub). I understand they have to take certain precautions but we'd just come from a wedding reception in formal attire and hardly looked like Alice Cooper.
The staff always seem to resent the fact that they have to serve you and have no real training in barwork i.e. I asked whether they had a certain type of lager, to which a barmaid in her late teens chewing bubble gum replied "Ain got naaan".
People have a look on their faces inside like they don't really want to be there and I understand that - it is local and cheap (to a certain extent) but apart from that, there is no real reason to frequent another soulless chain-pub with a mammoth amount of gaming machines which occupy every nook and cranny. I have been going there for some years because of the convienience and regretted it every time. Avoid and maybe they will take the time to train the staff properly.
2 Jan 2009 04:18
AVOID - Without doubt, the roughest pub in the area. Visited three times and each time, there was fighting, often between groups.
The first time, the entertainment was heckled and viciously abused all night, creating a bad atmosphere for everyone else. The evening ended with a vicous brawl outside where one persons ear was bitten off apparently.
The second, a glass was thrown and people were flying in at all angles with tables and chairs being knocked everywhere.
The third, there was trouble with a wedding party which involved two men wrestling each other to the ground and knocking the hell out of each other.
If this was the best pub in the world besides this, I doubt I would go back. As it stands, it is a poor, basic pub with standard lagers, unfriendly staff and an intimidating atmosphere full of idiots. On each occasion, I had no real choice in being there and I wouldn't go back in a million years - avoid like the absolute plague.
2 Jan 2009 04:02
CLOSED - Unlikely to re-open according to local reports. Had a good atmosphere when open but unpredictable - one night you could make new friends and have a great time, the next, a punch in the gob.
2 Jan 2009 03:51
If you are looking for a lively (especially Karaoke on a Monday night with Marky Mark & Big Sid, can there be a livelier Monday night out in the whole of Kent? I very much doubt it!) and very friendly, welcoming pub, The Command House is the only place to go in Chatham.
A little pricey drinks-wise but i've been to a staggering amount of pubs in the area and haven't been as welcomed, appreciated and enjoyed myself as much at any other.
In the summer, the music festivals outside are of exceptional quality, good-natured, pleasant and friendly without any trouble.
If you're looking for a quiet drink and real ale, this pub probably isn't for you but if you enjoy entertainment with a trouble-free atmosphere, I couldn't recommend anywhere better in Kent or East Sussex, especially on a Monday night.
2 Jan 2009 03:46
Dragon Inn, Weston Super Mare
Not the busiest Wetherspoons around but it seems to take an absolute age to be served with the bar staff seemingly having no concept of who was next.
Also had food ordering difficulties - no meal was served after 45 minutes and when asked, was told that it had been sent to the incorrect table and that it would be another 15 minutes.
Food and Beer was the samem below average but cheap Wetherspoons Fayre. Atmosphere was better than the average Wetherspoon but still nothing special
24 Sep 2010 03:15