BITE user comments - Oakie
Comments by Oakie
On reaching Atherstone by canal, this was the first pub that I headed for, because it had a score of 8/10. What a disappointment! It was totally devoid of customers at 7pm and there was one hand pump with Speckled Hen. As for food, I didn't even ask, as I turned around and walked out in disgust. 1/10
14 Sep 2014 09:41
Despite "shouldersarms" slating this pub, I was in there in August 2014 and all the beers were in excellent condition.....and I tried them all over a couple of nights. Very basic drinkers pub with a few Cunard posters and photos on the walls and 'Scouse' on the menu, although I didn't try it. Definitely worth a visit.
1 Sep 2014 05:17
Excellent pub with eight beers on tap, three being their own brew. Didn't eat here, but sorely tempted by the menu and food that comes out of the kitchen. Almost more staff than customers, so service is superb. Rammed with people eating on a Monday evening, which says a lot for this pub. I will be back!
18 Aug 2014 19:52
In a brilliant location, with a long line of hand pumps that looked impressive, but failed to deliver, as only two were on. I sampled one, which was slighly sour and on its way out, so had TT Landlord, which was cloudy and without flavour. An unimpressive menu, which I would not even try! I cannot see this pub lasting much longer, unless they shape up.
18 Jul 2014 11:02
A large well furnished Vintage Inns pub with extensive gardens on the edge of The Kennet and Avon Canal � what an opportunity for a very successful business. All I can say is that it is an opportunity missed by a mile. Although the food is bog standard chain pub fare, it is just about passable, which is more than I can say for the staff and service. The staff are just about out of school, have no idea what good beer is about and are surly to boot. Welcoming smile � what? Service � you must be joking! I suppose the old adage applies:- �If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.� It�s time Vintage Inns got their act together in this department with some proper staff training. My pint was cloudy and at the bottom of the barrel, so the little girl got the barrel changed and drew the new brew into a glass half filled with the old brew, so I called for the manageress, who clearly stated that if the glass was held up to the light and three fingers could be seen through the glass, it was up to Cask Marque standard. What a load of bollox! I won�t be drinking there again! Go to The Rowbarge at Woolhampton to see just how it should be done in a pub that is also part of a chain.
27 Jul 2012 12:22
Found this pub by chance from the Grand Union canal at bridge 65, just above Kingswood Junction. A warm welcome from the Yorkshire landlord with a about four real ales on handpump, including draught Guinness - the first in the country, so I was told by the landlord Mark Ainley, who is also Director of Universal Beer Dispense Ltd. The pub had been closed for restoration for about 6 months and still smelled of fresh paint, but don't let that put you off; he has spent �100,000 on it so far and it shows. The Tim Taylors Landlord was in excellent condition and went down a treat after 3 hours locking on the Hatton flight of locks. There was no food at the time, but I am assured by Mark that it will be basic home cooked food to satisfy the most hungry of visitors. There is a canalside garden and the toilets are immaculate, which makes a refreshing change to most pubs. This pub has loads of promise and I hope it comes up to expectations when I visit next. 8/10 for the welcome and the beer.
26 Jun 2012 19:50
What a great pub! It well deserves the title of CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2009/10.
An excellent choice of four Locale beers at good prices, plus real cloudy draught cider on at the time of my visit and the food - well, if you want a subtantial meal, home prepared and cooked, just like mother made, this is the place. Two meals for a tenner, but as I was on my own, I pigged out for a fiver on four lamb chops and six different vegetables! This is a pub that appears to rely on it's locals for it's main trade and long may it do so. What a pity that I'm not passing this pub on my way back up the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. Wish this was my local! 10/10
22 Sep 2010 08:40
Visited here in January, so it was understandably quiet. St Austell Ales were good, food was hearty and appetising � good thing �cos there was nowhere else to eat! Locals were friendly and welcoming, which is more than can be said for the bar staff. Cheer up you lot!
22 Feb 2009 19:59
The Vine (Bull & Bladder), Brierley Hill
What a great town pub! Wish a few more were like this! Batham�s is heaven in a pint glass. Did not try the pork pies as we had just eaten elsewhere � next time eh? This pub was recommended to me by �The Antique�, who knows a few around here and who I met coming up the Hatton Flight.
22 Feb 2009 18:57
I met friends here last Thursday to listen to the flamenco music. There was a warm welcome at the bar, the beer was good and the pub was busy. We ordered food in the restaurant and waited for more than an hour before it arrived, only to find that the Pelham pork bangers were very overdone and dry and the mash was lumpy and without any flavour or character, as well as looking like a wigwam! My friends� steak and ale pie was without the puff pastry, flat and un-appetising and appeared to have been re-heated in the microwave. I understand that new people have recently taken over this pub, which previously had a very good reputation for it�s pies. Unless they take steps to improve the quality of the food and presentation, they will find less and less customers visiting their restaurant, which will be sad as there is much else to offer.
22 Feb 2009 12:58
The Warwick Castle, Maida Vale
I have been going here for about the last four years when at Canalway Cavalcade. Normally the clientele are overflowing into the road outside on Bank Holiday, but this year there were four. I waited five minutes at the bar to be served; there were only two staff serving and one was a novice; normally there are four or five staff on; not many people were inside. After still waiting to be served, to no avail, I walked out in disgust.
3 May 2017 13:25