BITE user comments - GuidoMerry
Comments by GuidoMerry
Went in here whilst on holiday in the Wylie valley earlier this month. Excellent pub with well kept local ales direct from the cask (see earlier comments), very busy on a Thursday evening; however, the excellent front of house service still found room for my family and I and we enjoyed a fine meal. My wife recommends the steaks which are served on hot stones so that you can decide yourself how well done (or not) you want your meat, they also catered for our children. If I lived in Warminster this would be a regular port of call for me.
25 Aug 2011 15:55
One of the few pubs worth going to in the Selly Oak/Selly Park/Bournville/Cotteridge/Stirchley area (the British Oak being the other). As stated below, it's from the Ember Inns chain and therefore has the usual comfortable seating and loung environment you'd expect from any of their pubs. It does perfectly reasonable if unexciting food and always has a good selection of beers. Last week was Reverend james from the Wye Valley brewery, which was very nice.
Just one correction from some of the comments below, the car park is behind the pub (parking spaces out front reserved for disabled drivers) and is not that large (probably 50 cars maximum).
5 Jul 2011 15:41
The Bear and Ragged Staff, Bransford
Having "found" the Bear & Ragged Staff as an emergency ad hoc stopping point on a journey to Hereford, it's become a staple Sunday lunch destination, which we go to about once a quarter. Lovely location, friendly, welcoming and child friendly staff, nice interior, but even better beer garden when the weather permits and usually at least one decent beer on (always well kept, last Sunday it was Hobsons 3.6%, which allows one to have a couple of pints over a three hour meal).
The quality of the Sunday lunches and the attention to detail and helpfulness of the staff make this well worth the trip out from Birmingham when we want to treat ourselves.
5 Jul 2011 15:28
AS it says on the outside it's a dining pub, so not somewhere I'd recommend for a drinking session; however, it's OK for a meal with a reasonable pint (in this case a well kept Purity Ubu), there were two ales and a number of lagers available. THey're child friendly and the kitchen were responsive to the two errors made with our food order (including recognising that the bolognese was burnt and as that batch had to be thrown away making a special pasta dish for my youngest daughter at no cost to us).
21 Jun 2011 16:02
The Old Contemptibles, Birmingham
Went in on Friday night, good selection of ales and lagers. Had pints of Tribute, Dragon Slayer and Purity Ubu, all of which were well kept and presented. Only quible is that the rear section of the seating area is now cordoned off for dining customers only, this significantly reduces the available seating in the pub and means on a busy evening you're likely to find yourself standing (and it's hard to find somewhere to stand that won't block others access to the bar, doors, loos etc...). Still this is cracking city centre pub retaining many of its original Edwardian features, well worth a visit if you're in town.
21 Jun 2011 15:55
Went here for the first time in years on Tuesday night. As others have said below this is an attractive old pub in what appears an almost rural setting, but is of course enclosed in the salubrious Birmingham suburb of Harborne. Was pleased to see the bowling green was still in situ (although looking a little bit scruffy). This pub should be a real gem with its setting and old world charm, but has always, for me, failed to make the most of itself. THe bar area is tiny and that can make it difficult to get noticed/served, even when there are ample staff on duty. Beer selection (beyond the usual lagers, iced guiness and whatever else appears for mass consumption everywhere these days) was Brew XI, M&B (I think) Mild, Courage Directors, Old Speckled Hen and Black Sheep, the latter was what we had and very nice it was to; however, it would be good to see some more local real ales being sold here (as our Black Sheep was served in Purity pint glasses I'd guess that might often be the case). Also pub was open till midnight so as it was a late start there was no need to hurry the two pints we had. As I'm now back living in the area I'm sure I'll be back again soon.
16 Jun 2011 11:50
The White Lion, Ross-on-wye
As I spend quite a lot of time in Ross this is a regular place to visit. In good weather the garden, right by the Wye, is a pleasant place to sit and drink and eat (the food is perfectly decent pub fayre by enlarge prepared on site). In the evening there are more restaurant like arrangements available although you can also eat in the bar area. The beer is mostly Wye Valley brewery and has always been well presented when I've been here.
11 Jun 2012 13:49