BITE user comments - GingerBear
Comments by GingerBear
Alice_RW:
Oops! Yes, you're right, I did get my pubs mixed up! I was thinking of the Quebec Tavern! I'm pretty certain I never got to try the Baker's Arms before it shut, sadly. I apologise for upsetting you regarding a pub you (and others) clearly held dearly.
I only discovered my mistake last night, when the missus had insisted on checking on the net for the BA's whereabouts (before we headed out to a pub that didn't exist anymore) after not recognising it on a stylised Woodforde's Pub Stops of Norwich map we've got (it's a few years old). She came on here and I then recognised your quotes of mine! I see from the Google Maps link on here and via the Street View, that there's a couple of houses with a bricked-up frontage, as if it was a shop or pub previously, to the left of the chip shop on St Leonard's. I have vague recollections of there being a (closed-down) pub on this spot - I take it this is where it was.
I will however, take my right to reply on your character assassination. I take great offence at the line "...probably because you've spent too much time in trendy wine bars and forgotten what a good pub is!" Let's be clear: what I reported on, I saw. I just got the name of the pub wrong. I know a good pub and a bad pub when I see one. And I detest trendy wine bars and the w*nkers they attract. I've walked past the QT a fair few times since, on my way into the city for a night out, and haven't felt any desire to see if things have changed in there. There's plenty of better choices desperate for my patronage.
Also, you may have overlooked the clue to my character in my choice of username: GingerBear. The ginger bit is obvious, the bear (aside being a reference to how hairy I am) is a nod to the Norfolk pronunciation of beer, such is my love of both proper beer and the Norfolk way. So don't misread me on the 'not from round 'ere' bit either. I'm as East Anglian as they come; born in Essex, briefly lived in Norfolk, grew up in Suffolk, now living in Norfolk again.
Oh and last night? We ended up nipping down a lovely local, The Cottage.
9 Apr 2011 09:47
Expected a lot more from this pub, but was let down. We went here as a large group for a Christmas meal a couple of years ago and they didn't really deliver. They were understaffed, which meant long waits, so why take on so many bookings if you can't handle them? The food was poor; we could have cooked far better at home, and for the price we paid, I'd expect a higher quality than a Bernard Matthews-esque pre-cut slice of processed turkey. It annoys me when businesses bite off more than they can chew, as they certainly couldn't cater for the large number of tables they had available. My experience has put me off going back for a drink another time.
7 Jun 2007 17:01
Despite my best intentions, I can't really say too much against this place. Yes, it's a chain pub in a chain pub district. Yes it's got a reputation as a grab-a-granny night place. But I've been in there a few times both of an evening and before/after the footy and not had too shabby a night. Two pound a pint the last time I was in there seems to go against what someone else has said about the pricing, though the choice is limited to John Smiths or Strongbow for proper drinkers. The Waveney Yellows use this as their home match watering hole, and those boys like a good drink at a good price without any bother, so that's some sort of recommendation. DJ has been pretty good on a couple of nights I've been in there too. Bit too dark, low-ceilinged and hot to watch the footy in though, I feel.
The best of a bad bunch on Riverside (especially now The Ferry Boat has now been shut down just up the road).
5 Jun 2007 12:53
Only gets a four because of the nice Chinese lady serving and it's proximity to the footy (though there are better choices for a pre/post match pint). Nothing decent to drink on tap or pump, but she does have Adnams in bottles. Dodgy as f**k otherwise and clientele even dodgier. In fact, I'm knocking it down to a three...
5 Jun 2007 12:42
Missus recommended this for a Sunday morning fry-up and I wasn't dissappointed. Seemed it was famed for it too, as we weren't the only ones. Nice and relaxing game of pool with the footy on the telly afterwards, and decent ale too. Nice pub. Haven't been again yet, but I don't live that side of the city anymore. Will do (visit) at some point though...
5 Jun 2007 12:36
Previous ratings seem to back-up my opinion that it (your experience) truly does depend on what time of day and week you go in here. I've been in a few times, though the evening occasions were only brief meeting-up couple-of-pint affairs before we moved on, so I didn't really see any trouble/shifty characters. Also been in on an early evening after the footy and had a nice uncomplicated St Georges day meal here - for a decent deal as expected with this chain. Ales have been good too, and service was ok from what I remember.
5 Jun 2007 12:31
Glad to hear my experience wasn't a one-off, as that was what was putting me off reviewing it with a negative slant. Landlady definitely gave off the impression that she had a million better things to be doing than serving me or being civil or welcoming. Despite her, they have a good choice of ales (can't remember if prices were extortionate) and looked like they might be a good choice for food (though I haven't tried yet, so that's just a hunch at the mo). It's a lovely building and we sat outside in the glorious sunshine and then took a walk through the cathedral gardens and the nearby river, which is just the type of experience this pub is suited for. I believe it's enough of a back-water pub to not be overly touristy, but then I suppose anyone coming to Norwich for the cathedral will walk around the back and discover it, so maybe not.
Would've scored higher than a six were it not for the attitude of the landlady. Which is a shame.
5 Jun 2007 12:22
Great to see such a wonderful pub in the national top 40 (with my rating it moved up from 15 to 14, and with an average of 7.3 spread over 95 ratings that's got to be good!), as it truly deserves it. Fabulous choice of ales that is hard to beat, and with character and charm oozing from every orifice; you haven't been drinking in Norwich if you haven't been to The Fat Cat. Their sister pub (and brewery) The Cider Shed is cool too. We did want to visit their other pub in Colchester when we went down there for the footy, but we didn't have enough time - it's on the 'to do' list...
5 Jun 2007 12:05
Popped in this pub on a Saturday evening on our way home from the footy at the end of this season. Definite locals pub; heads turned as we came in and we weren't recognised. Full of old couples ready for their Saturday night down the local - the karaoke was just starting up as we got there. No choice at the bar, so I was lumbered with half a crappy tasting John Smiths. Probably plenty fine if you're 40+ and live local. Nobody wanted to talk to us (we sat at the bar not tucked in a corner), but that's probably because we 'don't come from round 'ere'...
#APOLS IF THIS DOUBLE-POSTS, BUT IT DIDN'T GO UP FIRST TIME, SO I'M JUST TRYING AGAIN#
5 Jun 2007 12:01
Been here a couple of times and almost never came back after the first, due to a poor experience of a complete lack of service, but glad I gave them another chance (largely due to my mission of having a drink in EVERY Norwich pub).
The first time we came in, it was quiet and we went to the bar, where one (of the many) staff was serving someone else. Nobody wanted to make eye contact with me and when they did claimed they weren't serving as they were dealing with a party out the back or something. Someone then entered the pub and stood behind us and the bar staff who had been serving when we came in then proceeded to take his order over our shoulder as if we didn't exist (or they hadn't heard us try to order off their colleagues). We promptly turned on our heels and left.
Upon trying again, it was even quieter (a Saturday afternoon, I believe), and this time I got served. I made it quite clear I wasn't sure exactly which Belgian beer I would like and thankfully the girl took this hint and suggested the popular glass. Which was lovely - and strong (they only serve halves in large wine glasses). They also directed me to the toilets without prompting when I was wandering around the back corridors, and responded when I said my thanks and goodbyes as we left.
Much better experience than before. Hence the decent rating (8). My missus isn't converted, but I'm willing to forgive (if not forget).
5 Jun 2007 11:56
Cracking freehouse with superb collection of ales. Visited for first time Sunday just gone (though knew of it's reputation for long while), where they had a mini beer-festival (their first) in their garden. Friendly people, nice bright and individual decor inside pub - cracking pub, and not too far from The Fat Cat and plenty of other excellent pubs this side of the city.
5 Jun 2007 11:42
According to the current issue of Norfolk NIPS (no.141, May-July 2007), "refurbishment...finally appears to be going ahead. An extensive internal make-over will also see a name change to The Dog House, with an auntumn reopening possible." Not sure I like the sound of that, even if it does mean we get one of our city's pubs back. Can't comment (or rate) the pub as once was, as I never visited before it shut down.
5 Jun 2007 10:57
The Bakers Arms, Norwich
Feel I ought to return again and clear things up once more, as we've since returned to the Quebec Tavern to find it a completely different -and pleasant- experience. I know then that this review of sorts should then be on their page, but seeing as I slated it here (thinking originally that I was referring to the Baker's Arms, then I should keep the correction on the same page.
Since my original review in '07, the smoking ban has obviously come in, forcing most proactive pubs to spend a lot on renovations (esp. outdoors). The Quebec was one of these. Now they have a small sheltered smoking come barbeque area outside, but have also spent a lot upgrading their toilets to an excellent standard.
The pub had the horse racing on when we visited and it was clear by the sheer volume of racing memorabilia adorning every spare inch of wall that the owners and enthusiastic locals are keen horsey lovers. If I recall rightly (which has been debatable given my past record!) there was a lot of Quebec team info and photos on their noticeboard amongst the gee-gee stuff, for their footy/pool/darts etc teams.
Actually yes, just recalled there's definitely a darts team as a search a while back came up with the Quebec being one of surprisingly only a few in a small Norwich league (and another close by - possibly The Jubilee?)
A few old boys got chatting to us during our whistle-stop half-and-out-again pit-stop on our way into the city - I think we might have been about to watch the Gas Hill Gasp (just round the corner) which is coming up this Friday so nearly exactly a year ago then! And from what I remember I had the choice of a proper ale this time, so all in all a completely different experience and one that makes us want to return.
What I wrote in '07 was accurate - if written for the wrong pub name - but it's certainly out of date now and so I felt I had to correct matters. Sorry for the confusion, people. Pop in their sometime. I'm sure there was some enticing food deal on their chalk board too.
3 Jul 2012 22:43