BITE user comments - MartynG
Comments by MartynG
The Golden Fleece, Wells next the Sea
Paid this establishment a visit last Saturday (30 August).
After visiting last year, I was impressed by the improvements that (what I assume to be new management) have made; the place is bright and clean, the staff helpful and the beer (Wherry) was excellent.
Yes, it's become much more of a food establishment, but so long as beer drinkers are made welcome (and we were) I have no problem with this.
The new sitting area along the front of the building is great for people watching!
Dogs allowed.
2 Sep 2014 13:49
Called in a couple of weeks ago on a classic car tour. The new owners were very accomodationg and are clearly enthusiastic about their venture.
Friendly service, excellent beers and a facinating unspoilt building with loads of character - what's not to like?
Heartily recomended (and we will be back!)
8 Jul 2014 13:36
The Star has changed hands again, now run by Sally, Andrew and their son, Jack. The welcome is warm and genuine
Although limited to Mcmullens beers, the quality has improved significantly (AK and Country) with a guest being Bard (haven't tried it) and prices remain reasonable (£3.25 for AK).
The food is also very reasonable, with main courses starting at about £4.75 and it's all fresh, home cooked produce.
The pub (and kitchen) is now open daily from 12 am until late evening (not sure about final closing times, but it is about 11.30).
PS - it isn't my pub, but it is my local! Give a try
7 Jan 2014 17:41
An intersting pub, witha facinating history.
We dropped in late on Sunday afternoon, to find the kitchen closed. However, as it had only just closed, it was quicly re-opened and three meals rapidly produced.
One of our beers proved to be the end of the barrel and was changed without question.
Only a brief visit, but the management/staff proved to be very welcoming and freindly, the beer was very good (the Nelson's Revenge in particular!) and itwas very comfortable.
We may well return (particularly to see the saturday Classic Car meeting).
23 Sep 2013 13:35
Called in yesterday (Sunday22nd Sept) whislt on a clasic car tour.
Initially we were disapponted as the pub appeared to be shut (it was mid afternoon). However after a minute or tow we were welcomed in and spent a very enoyable hour in the company of Debbie and Ron (and a few others.
An interesting pub, with great beer and lots of atmoshrere. Well worth a visie
23 Sep 2013 13:25
The comment made by ID23 appears to be totally out of kilter. To give the poster the benefit of doubt, perhaps the wrong pub is being refered to.
OK, so I'm a regular, but Max and Kev have worked very hard to maintain the old fashioned pub atmosphere since they took over; it has recently been decorated and is clean and tidy. The beer is excellent and the service is great.
Perhaps ID23 (if indeed, the Keys IS being refered to) would be so good as to what, is "nasty" about the decor and service. However, specifics, rather then generalisations, are essential.
26 Jul 2013 13:21
Further to my earlier post, this pub has found it's feet and is supurb. Well worth a visit.
BTW - the London Pride has been replaced by Tring Side Pocket in order to provide a weaker "session beer".
23 May 2012 13:48
The Edinburgh Inn, Wells Next The Sea
Called in here on Saturday after running from the Golden Fleece(a serious deterioration has sent in since my last vist). The beer (Wherry) food and service were all excellent and would not hesitate to return.
The pub's location does it no favours, but the interior is cosy (despite it's size) and welcoming.
21 Mar 2012 13:17
Visited a couple of days ago after an absence of many years. What a transformation - really clean, tidy and pleasant. The Doom bar was excellent and the menu looks to be reasonably priced.
Good luck to Nick and Bernie on their new venture
21 Mar 2012 13:06
Just a quick note to say that the pb is now closed all day MONDAY's until the end of March
25 Jan 2012 12:43
Snarling Mallard - the "free cheese" you mention (sorry, didn't see you on Sunday, did I?) relates to the Cheese Society established by the locals - who donate the cheese and port - to raise money for charity. It has been running for many years now.
If you had paid a quid, you could have joined in.
31 Aug 2011 13:17
Hasn't really "changed hands" - the tenant has installed a management couple.
19 Apr 2011 13:39
Pleased to say that the pub has now been taken over by a local lady (Judith) who knows and appreciates the local customers. Hopefully this means that the quality of beers and service will be fully restored - early signs are excellent, with a warm welcome and a lively vibe.
Now open from midday until 11pm every day.
4 Apr 2011 09:54
The Brocket Arms, Ayot St. Lawrence
This has developed into an excellent pub, with a reasonable range of well kept beers, in a wonderful location. When it re-opened after refurbishment I did have my doubts, but things seem to have settled down.
Not the easyest place to get to, but well worth the effort.
9 Mar 2011 13:27
Very pleasant pub, with well kept beers (Bath Ales). Enjoyed a couple of pints of Gem and they were very good.
Food is very good too.
9 Mar 2011 13:12
The Three Horseshoes, Harpenden
Erm - now closed (again!) Something to do with a licence (or lack of) I believe.
21 Feb 2011 12:59
The Three Horseshoes, Harpenden
Pleasantly surprised to find that this establishment has re-opened as a pub, rather than being a restaurant. It has a supurb location, real fires and is dog friendly.
There are three real ales available (Tring, Cumbria and Ringwood at the time of my visit ) all of which are well kept. However, these will change on a regular basis. The landlord appears to appreciate real ales, which is a good start.
Pub food is also availabe at reasonable prices.
Any business that reverses the trend of tuning pubs into eating houses deserves our suppot.
7 Feb 2011 12:33
Started usingh this pub again recently as my usual local appears to be taking a turn for the worse.
It's been a few years since my last vist, but the landlord remembered and welcomed me, the beers are very good, the service excellent and the atmosphere cosy (well, at this time of year!)
Heartily recommended.
3 Feb 2011 13:12
Revisted on our way back from the KOP Hill Climb on Sunday 26th Sept (pouring rain, open cars!) to receive a warm welcome, excellent beers and great service. (The log fire was also extremely welcome!)
5 Oct 2010 13:05
Contrary to Snarling _Mallard's comment, TT landlord continues to be on sale.
19 Jul 2010 13:15
Now under new management (wef 18 May 2010) and first impressions bode well for the future. A nice atmoshere has been created and the beer is good. Still finding their feet a bit (as you might expect).
Good luck to Betty and her team
24 May 2010 12:51
The Carpenters Arms, Harpenden
Just to clarify -"the place over the road" used to be a pub the - "George iv" which closed some years ago an is now a private house. The retention of the pub sign was part of the planning consent , if I remember correctly.
26 Apr 2010 12:27
Called in for a couple of pints one lunchtime last week. Still an excellent pub (although, being a lunchtime, it was quiet).
1 Mar 2010 13:01
Continues to grow on me - not a "traditional" pub but the atmosphere is very welcoming and the service very good. We recently had lunch, which was excellent, for the price.
Not a huge range of beers (only real ale is Timothy Taylor landlord, which isn't one of my favourites) bu there are others, such as Wiess Bier, which compensate.
1 Jun 2009 13:03
The Brocket Arms, Ayot St. Lawrence
Paid our first visit since the refurb yesterday afternoon.. Nice to see the place looking so clean and polished. Both the beer (Old Speckled Hen) and the service were excellent. Prices seemed reasonable (�4.50 for pint of hen and half of Becks).
Slight fly in the ointment was the BBQ. I felt that �4.00 for a couple of small sausages, a slice of bread and a little bit of garnish was a tad expensive.
Hopefully, this will be a welcome addition to the list of venues
1 Jun 2009 12:52
The Three Horseshoes, Harpenden
Called in on Sunday afernoon. Nice to see the old place open gain (many a happy spent here over the years!). It's most definately a restaurant rather than a pub, but I had a really excellent pint of Spitfire.
Hopefully, it will again become a target for weekend walks
20 May 2009 12:51
I'm pleased to say that this remains an excellent, friendly pub with excellent service and atmosphere.
My son and I visited on Easter Sunday evening and had a meal (the manager - Alan? - managed to find us a table, despite it being very busy,) and a few pints of "April Fool" (no comment!) which was good, if a little below perfect temperature for my taste, but it did get better!
The live music and table dancing (that's dancing ON the table, for the uninitiated) conitinue to be a well established and welcome tradition
15 Apr 2009 13:47
Remains one of my favourite destinations on the Solent. Long may it continue
9 Apr 2009 13:26
Called in on a suday afternoon a couple of weeks ago. Nice to see an old friend (from another life - bit of a surprise really!) working behind the bar.
Just had a quick pint (GK IPA) which was excellent. Still friendly and welcoming. Definately remains "on the list"
9 Apr 2009 13:24
The Crown and Garter, Inkpen Common
Nice enough place, and the beer was good. Sadly, all of the atmoshere seems to have been "improved" out of it. Maybe I've been spoilt, but the beer also seemed to be pricey.
31 Mar 2009 13:58
Discovered this place on Sunday quite by chance - excellent (I have to agree with everything Saxon_Scooper has said). We only had time for a quick pint, but were made welcome and the beer was excellent.
31 Mar 2009 13:53
A small group of us called in here on Saturday. Excellent choice of beers and a wonderful location with friendly staff and locals.
Will certainly pay another visit.
31 Mar 2009 13:46
Paid my first ever visit here on Saturday 21st March for the classic car gathering. well worth the effort and an intersting location with great promise.
The beer was ok (a little flat) - perhaps just the way it was being pulled ?
The service was a little slow (but very jolly) which made up for it. The main hold up seems to be the location of the till - it's buried in the corner where everyone is falling over each other to get at it.
Best of luck - will be back
25 Mar 2009 14:01
The Strathmore Arms, St Pauls Walden
Dropped in here a couple of weeks ago, on a Sunday lunchtime - still an excellent country pub with an interesting selection of real ales which are well kept.
Doesn't look inspiring or pretty from the outside, but it really is well worth a visit.
25 Mar 2009 13:53
The Elephant and Castle, Amwell
Can't agree with cgj.
Children are and always have been, welcome in the front and side bars and there never have been any problems. Both of our boys have been accompanying us for evening meals and Sunday lunch since they were quite young.
However, children (and dogs) have always been excluded from both the back bar - beyond the well - and the rear garden; there are signs to this effect.
To my mind, this is a reasonable compromise - and as a regular at this pub, I have been happy to accept.
25 Mar 2009 13:46
Must call in sometime - i lived a few doors away once (25 years ago) and thenit was like a wild west saloon!
18 Mar 2009 13:16
Still a great pub - the beer and food are excellent (the food is possibly of an even higher standard than previously) and the staff are helpful and friendly. Might get a little "raucous" on occasion, but it's all light hearted and harmless.
18 Mar 2009 13:06
This place has now re-opened as "The Green" - the aforementioned Asian restuarant. Haven't tried the food yet, but reports are good (after a shakey start).
That said, it does have a huge bar area on the ground floor, but in my view it is totally soul-less - a bit like the lounge of any international hotel anywhere in the world. On my most recent visits, the three real ales were distinctly "off" .
It would also seem that there is a developing reputation for trouble at weekends as Harpenden empties to The Green due to it's 2.00am licence.
18 Mar 2009 13:00
The Carpenters Arms, Harpenden
Whilst nothing to do with the Carpenters, I understand that the "Shoes" has re-opened, but I have no details.
Glad to say that "The Carps" contiues to be an excellent venue
18 Mar 2009 12:54
Called in mid- afternoon on Sunday with a friend who said it was 20 years since his last visit. We were made very welcome and the beer was excellent. Can't comment on the food (as we didn't eat) but at least they were still open and serving (unlike other establishments we tried in passing).
Will certainly bve back
23 Feb 2009 13:21
Dropped in on Friday evening. Nice to see Don (ex The Cross Keys) behind the bar, but the place was dead compared to how it used to be. The friendy, fun atmosphere has disappeared. As there was so few people in, I can't comment on the views of others, below.
The beer is still good though.
23 Feb 2009 13:16
I'm pleased to say that Viv and Mike are still in residence, so no changes yet. The banter is as good as ever and hopefully, will remain so.
12 Sep 2008 14:04
The Slug and Lettuce, Harpenden
Appallingly slow (and disinterested) service. Pass by, it WILL be quicker
25 Jul 2008 13:18
It's currently closed for major building works, not a mere refurbishment. When trading it was pretty dire, with expensive, unappetising food and expensive, poor quality beers.
I believe it will re-open as an Asian themed restaurant, so I suspect high quality real ales will be thin on the ground
25 Jul 2008 13:14
To be fair, the pub has had the same landlady for at least 18 months (can't remember exactly)and it is getting better.
22 Jul 2008 13:27
Good beer and friendly company - but then I am a local. As with all small pubs, those already inside will turn to see who's coming in as the door opens (if only to see who's buying the next round!). There's nothing sinister in this - it's just curiosity.
22 Jul 2008 13:23
Dropped in here on Sunday afternoon on our way back from Rye. The place was somewhat packed - largely by a members of a scooter club "on tour" Despite this, the service was brisk, efficient and friendly, with the Spitfire being of an excellent standard.
Can't really comment about the cooked meals (other than the fact that they looked substantial) but the sandwiches we had were very good value.
Will certainly call again next time we are doen that way.
1 Jul 2008 13:34
Now under new management (with effect from 30 May) Hopefully, the previous high standards will be maintained.
2 Jun 2008 13:01
A distant relative used to run this pub, many, many years ago. My father still has some of the original oil lamps from when the business was sold (probably in the mid '60s.
That said, I haven't visited in many a year, but having looked at the photos and read the reviews, I think I will be calling in the next time I'm in the Coventry area.
23 Apr 2008 14:02
I've been visiting this establishment for many years - since the days when it was called "The Half Moon" - and was a real country pub with lock-ins at the weekend (which gave rise to it's downfall, but that's an entirely different story!)- but I probably won't be doing so again.
There's nothing really "wrong", it just seems to be sloppily managed with the consequence that it has become just average and despite an extensive menu, there's nothing particularly special or enticing.
Although this is a free house, little effort appears to be being made to offer any variety in the beers on offer. What is on offer is well kept, so no complaints there.
If this was my old school report, it would say "could try harder"
23 Apr 2008 13:56
Visited yesterday for the first time in many years (about the time that it won the Evening Standard "Pub of the Year)and was amazed by the transformation. Admittedly, it wasn't very busy, but the service was good and the OBB was excellent. I've always been fairly ambivelent regarding Sam Smith's beers, but this was good.
A charming pub.
23 Apr 2008 13:40
The Elephant and Castle, Amwell
I've been using this pub regularly for more than 20 years and it has really been transformed by the current landlord (Bob)his Wife (Sue, who runs the kitchen) and son (Gavin)not forgetting the rest of the team.
Bob takes real pride in his beer (as does Gavin) and an excellent standerd is usually assured. The food is always good.
Sunday lunch is very good value and because of this is always very popular (both summer, with the extensive gardens being available and in winter, whenit's really cosy with the log fires blazing) so it pays to join the queue outside the front door at 11.55am if you really want a table. Being a fairly small pub there is only a limited amount of space and for this reason, reservations are not taken - it's first come, first served.
It is, therefore, an excellent local pub that serves both good beer and food.
11 Apr 2008 13:41
I have made a couple of visits to this pub recently, the first mid-week with a friend to check it out as a possible venue for a classic car meeting (yes - there wer even a group of pre-war rileys in the car park when we arrived) and the second on Saturday with my family for lunch.
On both occasions the welome we received was warm and friendly.
The beer is of excellent quality and the food verry good value and the portions (at least in my case) substantial.
Well worth getting out into the countryside for.
11 Apr 2008 13:22
It's certainly changed since the days of the long term landlord (Bill Drakely). Much improved, with a good pint although it has lost it's "village" caracter, but then, so has Walsgrave
28 Mar 2008 14:04
The Trengilly Wartha, Nancenoy
Although this place could be regarded as being rather upmarket, it is used as a watering hole by many of the locals, which makes for a convivial atmosphere. A good range of well kept local beers, an even better wine celler and the food is excellent
28 Mar 2008 13:59
Dire - awfull food and below average beer. Not worth the effort.
28 Mar 2008 13:53
Excellent pub with a lovely pint of London Pride. Friendly staff. The food is a bit above average in terms of price, but then the quality does reflect this. Well worth a visit, but it can get a little crowded around the bar.
28 Mar 2008 13:47
The Carpenters Arms, Harpenden
Continues to evolve since the departure of Tibble and now feels even more cosy. The beer remains of good quality and the atmosphere friendly. still well worth a visit.
28 Mar 2008 13:36
Revisited the Galleon earlier this year. Stunned by the changes since we lived in the area, but then that was almost 30 years ago!
I can't say that I like the changes, but the beer was OK, bu the food was a little expensive, particularly for mass catering
28 Mar 2008 13:30
A good local pub with the usual aray of regular inmates. Beer is usually very good and the atmosphere very friendly. Sadly, no food at the moment.
17 Mar 2008 14:25
A real traditional country/village pub(one of the few left). The beer is always excellent and the food is good value.
Nick and Bernie are always welcoming and helpful.
Well worth a visit
17 Mar 2008 14:22
Dun Cow, Salthouse
Enjoyed a very pleasant pint of Wherry here on Saturday evening. The service was efficient and friendly and the beer was of excellent quality.
We also had a meal - again, this was very good and came very quickly
The views from the garden are fantastic and made the beer all the more enjoyable.
However, this is very much a food destination, so sitting space inside is a a premium. Not an issue on this occasion as the weather was very good, but if it was wet and cold, the situation might be different.
2 Sep 2014 13:55