BITE user comments - RolandDeschain
Comments by RolandDeschain
The Kings Arms is an opportunity missed in my opinion. It could do with a major overhaul to drag it kicking and screaming into the 21st.century. It is nice enough...the staff are always friendly and efficient having to serve behind a small bar and the atmosphere is always good. But it has some odd touches. The conservatory is nothing more than a badly constructed lean to which needs pulling down and although the outside area is great for smokers it is not the prettiest of outlooks. A bit of money thrown at it would work wonders. They have some nice prints on the walls though...they seem to take up all available wall space and make for an interesting half hour perusing through them (if art is your thing).
30 Jul 2008 08:41
The Argyll Arms, Oxford Circus
A great pub which has kept its original decor despite the temptation to change the lay out which would certainly get more punters in. The price of the drinks is remarkably cheap for it's location, being in the heart of central London on one of it's busiest streets but I suppose they can afford to as their turnover must be massive. One of the pubs I always start off at or finish at when I go on a pub crawl around London. It is also great for a pre-theatre drink if going to the Palladium literally opposite. A lot cheaper than paying their prices!
29 Jul 2008 10:35
Once one of Hitchin's best pubs, now gone over to the corporate dark side whereby food is king and drinkers frowned upon. What a waste.
29 Jul 2008 09:50
A quirky pub for real ale drinkers. Unusual from the outside and in and it gets PACKED at weekends and almost impossible to move both inside and out and ages to get served. Best visit at a lunchtime when less busy as the food is quite good. Given that, it really needs a better wine selection other than "red" or "white" as your choices. It could do with a refurb as well but I expect some would say that is part of it's charm.
29 Jul 2008 09:48
A council estate pub in the middle of the town. Quite horrible with an intimidating atmosphere. Avoid.
29 Jul 2008 09:44
This is the traditional pub in Hitchin where all youngsters first go to drink when they are old enough...or even not quite old enough but think they can get away with it. The landlord turns a blind eye, as does the police as at least they are all in the same place where they can keep an eye on them. I am a bit old for the place now but I still have a soft spot for it. Run down it might be but every town needs a pub like this. It is where young drinkers cut their teeth before moving on. And it has a great jukebox as well.
29 Jul 2008 09:42
It is a bar, not a pub. Selection of beer and spirits impressive (although not real ales) and the service is better than when it first opened. The food is not bad...the tapas selection is great for snacking on although don't expect authentic Spanish cuisine - this is "tourist" tapas. It is a nice place to go if you want something different. The decor alone is worth a look as I don't think the designer understood the concept of "less is more".
29 Jul 2008 09:37
Possibly the roughest and most run down pub in Hitchin. Don't stand still too long because you will get stuck to the floor and don't trust the bar stools because they are all on the verge of collapsing. A veritable sh*t hole that has to be seen to be believed. I give it 1/10 for curiousity value.
29 Jul 2008 09:32
One of those "pubs" where they want you to eat rather than drink and then clear off as quickly as possible so they can free up the table for somebody else. This is a perfect example of bean counters taking over pubs and not giving a toss about tradition or heritage.
29 Jul 2008 09:29
This is a bar, not a pub, and that distinction should be clearly in your mind before visiting. This is not one for real ale fans. The choice of spirits is excellent and you can get a decent bottle of wine nicely priced. The staff are always friendly and efficient and Sunday evenings are good with live acoustic music and free nibbles available all night. It is also good for watching football as they have table service with pitchers of lager available. I wouldn't go there on a Friday or Saturday night though as it is definitely pitched at a younger crowd. No worse for all that though...it is horses for courses and sometimes this place is perfect for what you want.
29 Jul 2008 09:24
This is an OK pub. Drink prices are very reasonable in a town where they are generally extremely high. Not a good pub when it is packed as being long and narrow there is nowhere to stand or sit without being in the way of someone trying to get past. It can also get quite "chavvy" at weekends but if that is your thing then fine.
29 Jul 2008 09:18
Lovely looking pub, probably the best looking in Hitchin with it's oak beams and traditional feel one side and an almost church like feel on the other due to the shape of the windows which dates back to when some of the building was a monastery. Nice atmosphere due to the fact it is set back from the town centre up a cul-de-sac so most non locals would not have a clue where it was. Drink is quite expensive though and the food menu is looking a bit tired. A better "winter" pub as it lends itself to dark, cold nights with the log fire blazing.
29 Jul 2008 09:10
Have been visiting this pub for years under various management and the current landlady has done wonders with the place since she took over. It now feels bright and breezy, not dark and claustrophobic how it used to be. Nice atmosphere which can verge on the "cliquey" at times and if you get the chance try it for Sunday lunch. The roast dinners are superb. One thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't do busy very well. Trying to get to the bar when it is packed is nigh on impossible due to all the regulars propping it up that refuse to budge an inch. The bar stools definitely need removing during busy periods.
29 Jul 2008 08:57
Lovely pub which has got the feel of how pubs used to be before breweries started turning them into alcopop drink factories. Great selection of real ales and a fairly decent wine list (for a pub) which is reasonably priced.
This pub is also home to the most miserable dog in the world called Moon who will only pretend to be your friend if you have any crisps or nuts.
29 Jul 2008 08:50
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The Manor Arms, North Perrott
Great pub indeed. My wife and I were visiting for the weekend but were made to feel very welcome as I was expecting a village pub atmosphere where outsiders were frowned upon. We had lunch and dinner in there and the food was excellent. You cannot ask for more out of a pub really. Could have stayed in there all day and all night. Oh, we did!
30 Jul 2008 16:46