BITE user comments - Parfifty
Comments by Parfifty
As Wetherspoons go this one isn't that bad. The usual collection of JD regular�s sit alone at tables nursing pints and mumbling to themselves. The ale is often chilled to near freezing point. The expected collection of lager and shots suit groups of people getting a few cheap ones in the tank before they disappear off to one of the many terrible bars nearby. Further along Upper Street they will be paying up to twice as much for the same drink alongside the same people who were in Wetherspoons earlier.
A good meeting point close to the station with friendly staff.
11 Jul 2007 12:53
I think this pub has a policy of employing local people. This is a terrible mistake. As a lifelong Hackney resident, educated in the borough, I can vouch for the fact that the alumni of Hackney schools are often not equipped for working in the service industry. The staff here are nice, often witty and quite sharp, however they have little or no knowledge of beer, pubs, or drinking. They also dislike having the piss taken out of them, this Wetherspoon�s system of employing the bare minimum of staff doesn�t fit well with this.
On two separate occasions in the upstairs bar I have seen the lone barmen leave to find their colleague who suggested to us that we go upstairs to be served, rather than be served downstairs at their bar. On another occasion I saw a member of staff have a fight with a rude, drunken customer.
Although this place is cheap it is far from cheerful. Up-on-their-luck alcoholics sit alongside the seemingly deranged, while gaggles of local girls and boys loudly get drunk on cheap cocktails. If you want decent food and drink in a pleasant environment go to the Pembury. If you�re feeling a bit down and want to be cheered by the fact that there are others worse off than you go to Baxter�s Court.
11 Jul 2007 12:38
Simply average. The good jukebox and pleasant decor is let down by the clientele, bar staff and prices. I think the views expressed here are fairly accurate. It's one of my locals so I reluctantly spend some time there, but always get annoyed. The staff seem more interested in tweaking their moustaches and twisting strands of their asymmetric haircuts to put any effort into pulling pints and getting through the hoards of customers two deep at the bar.
11 Jul 2007 12:16
Plainly terrible. Poor selection of beer, badly kept. Have been three times and have experienced poor service in an empty bar each time. This place must be a front. Purchased for �1m and after extensive development it sits permanently deserted. At 8pm on a Friday a few weeks ago they ran out of vodka, the barmaid returned from the shop opposite with a single 70cl bottle. There is a large covered area for smokers at the back where the staff sit smoking weed. The new owners have taken the busy, successful Madigan�s and turned into the empty, poorly run Amp. BEWARE MTV Base is played loudly throughout the day and night.
10 Jul 2007 15:55
The Albion, Bethnal Green
I don't know why this pub hasn't attracted more comments/ratings. It's a great little pub just up from Broadway Market, opposite Hackney City Farm. This is everything that the Cat and Mutton isn't, and it's only 5 minutes walk away - it has friendly staff and customers, a good atmosphere, decent ale (the Epping Forest is especially good), a pleasant outside area, and its reasonably priced. I've started drinking here more and more. It also has a book club and some kind of walking group that meet there.
27 Apr 2009 14:22