BITE user comments - TGD
Comments by TGD
Popped in for a quick one on a late Saturday afternoon. The rain was just about holding off and so standing outside was okay, thankfully as the pub itself is very narrow so easily crowded.
The beer was very well kept, the barmaids were serving quickly and friendly, a good effort given how very popular the pub is. All in all a very good pub for those who like their real ale.
18 Jun 2011 11:36
Came here to eat upstairs with the wife on a Friday night. This has never been the best of pubs for a drink, previous comments were fair a couple of years ago, but it's gone downhill. Loud and quite chavvy, a fun atmosphere in a way I guess. They never used to put much effort in the beers and have completely given up the ghost as the handpumps are still on display but there's nothing in them. So lager it is.
The food is nice enough. Fairly priced, reasonably tasty but it's fairly standard fare and nothing special.
18 Jun 2011 11:28
A good little pub, especially for beer.
They took ages over my lunch order and got it wrong, but gave me a free beer in recompense and very apologetic so no hard feelings.
5 Jan 2011 10:16
I didn't try this for a few years as it has the look from the outside of a Harvester, which is great for friends with kids but not somewhere I'd ordinarily choose for a drink. But the wife and I did go in for a late evening meal and glad that we did. Nothing special but we were made welcome, the guest ale was quite drinkable and the food much better than I had expected. Not the best pub around but was pleasant enough.
2 Jan 2011 18:27
A nice neighbourhood pub. Gann's comments from three years ago still ring true. The food was decent and the portion was large so fairly good value (though it's true The Stag nearby is cheaper this is more of a boozer whereas that is more child-friendly eating).
2 Jan 2011 18:21
The Salisbury Arms, Winchmore Hill
A good venue on a summer's evening as there is lots of space outside to linger. Inside is big, and in winter there is an open fire. Always seems friendly, the food is quite good and there is a large selection of beers from around the world as well as two or three decent bitters.
1 Jan 2011 20:00
The Orange Tree, Winchmore Hill
I live in the area and this is one of my favourite locals. Low ceilings and decor from the 70s but thankfully the care over the beer is modern day, as it's always good and guest ales rotate often enough to keep it interesting.
It's a big football watching establishment, and very Arsenal. The bar staff are friendly and if you're lucky to be there on a darts evening you may even be offered a sausage or similar from platters for the players.
1 Jan 2011 19:57
A friendly pub in the classic Donnington style - traditional Cotswolds, not too big so it easily gets busy and well kept beer from the local brewery. We didn't try the food but there are a few tables set aside for eating at the back bar and I'm sure it would be decent.
1 Jan 2011 19:52
The Hollow Bottom, Guiting Power
This was one of the stops on a long walk through the Cotswolds, and glad that we found it. Very horsey oriented, lots of memorabilia and trophies on the walls and a TV showing racing footage. Possibly not to everyone's taste but it's done honestly and well. The beer was well kept and they had three different choices. Seating and atmosphere comfortable, and on a cold winter's day the best bit was a huge log fire that defined roaring! If anything a touch too hot but we weren't complaining.
All in all a lovely pub and worth a visit.
1 Jan 2011 19:46
The Queens Head Inn, Cheltenham
This is the most traditional pub in Stow. Plenty of atmosphere and the one that locals talk about more than any other. A friendly atmosphere and even more friendly resident dog! Old beams, hard wooden pews and well kept beer from the local brewery Donningtons. A true delight!
16 Dec 2010 13:56
This place used to be pretty grim before the overhaul earlier this year. It's now much improved, with decent beer and a good atmosphere on the night we were there (a Friday). Had live music and a mixture of punters huddling inside as the snow was falling heavily outside.
Not the best pub in Stow - the Talbot is more 'happening', the Queens is more traditional - but worth a visit.
16 Dec 2010 13:53
A lovely pub - interesting and historical interior, well kept beers and good food. Also a fantastic open fireplace surrounded by comfortable seating.
It's quiet, being on the edge of town and going for the pub lunch or resident evening clientel (it is a hotel after all). But friendly and worth popping in for one on your way into town.
17 Nov 2010 08:31
After being closed for the best part of a year, this re-opened in 2009 and the new management have worked really hard to make this place popular and fun.
The environment is fresh and modern - big wooden tables and contemporary art - but it's not out of setting for Stow. It attracts a varied age group and is probably the most 'happening' joint in town (so probably not the quietest).
I've drunk there regularly and love the Wadworths (one of my favourite breweries), and the wine is decent and well priced too. On my last visit we ate, and wished we had done a long time ago. The menu has a mix of classic and more adventourous dishes which are well presented, very tasty and well portioned for the price (generally slightly lower than the competition).
A good, fun place to go for a lively evening.
17 Nov 2010 08:20
The Queens Head, Stow on the Wold
A fantastic Cotswolds pub which hasn't relented to the more modernistic style that many have taken over the past few years. A great atmostphere (pop in one xmas day if you're in the area) with plenty of locals and a few out-of-towners.
I have yet to eat there but the food looks good in a classic pub food way. They only serve Donningtons, which to be honest is not may favourite of the many local brews, but they serve it very well (and it's certianly not bad).
All in all a delight.
17 Nov 2010 08:13
The Kings Arms, Stow on the Wold
More of an eating place rather than a pub but they're quite happy letting you just drink if you can find somewhere to sit, it's not the biggest of venues.
The food is really good and the beer range, whilst limited, is kept well and tasty.
17 Nov 2010 08:09
The Eagle And Child, Stow On The Wold
Whilst claiming to be the oldest inn in England, these days it aims at little more than the restaurant trade. The previous posts don't give much joy on that front, though the time I ate here (early 2009) it was acceptable but there are many better places in Stow to eat.
There is a small bar area where one can get a drink but it's really for people to have a quick one before sitting down to their meal.
17 Nov 2010 08:06
The Spice of Life, Cambridge Circus
Grubby place, sticky seats if you're lucky enough to get one. I can't see why it's so popular. Beer isn't too bad to be fair.
17 Nov 2010 07:52
The previous reviewer suns this place up. You wouldn't come here to drink.
The pizza is okay, I guess. I was a little disappointed, the cheese used was on the watery side and lacked a little flavour. We were grateful to sit downstairs as the upstairs was full to bursting with large table generating unbelievable amounts of noise, given that no one seemed individually to be that rowdy. Presumably the noise reverbs off the tiled walls.
I'd recommend Pizza Express over this joint. True it has the benefits of outside seating, should summer ever come back to these shores. But sitting right next to a busy road isn't terribly interesting, so it's not much of a benefit.
3 May 2010 22:39
Hmm, I think the rating is about right. This place really is the pits. My mate and I popped our heads in because we were passing and trying to find somewhere that was sowing the footy. They have decent screens for that, and that's about the only decent thing here.
You'll scratch around trying to find something worth drinking from the chrome-only bar, then scratch around trying to find the money to pay for the overpriced slop. Super cold lagers and little else, you know the score.
It's such a pity, as it has all the ingredients for being a good enue - lots of space, multiple floors and the rarity of a roof garden. But it's run by unimaginative management who know that there are enough undiscerning chavs in the area to just about keep it going.
3 May 2010 22:33
We sought out this pub to enjoy the real ales and very glad we did. A large selection, only two out of 16 were not available. The beers did tend to be slightly lightly flavoured, perhaps a preference of the landlord or perhaps just chance.
A friendly atmosphere and the staff were happy to offer advice on the beers and bring out rounds to our outside pew. Not many places where that will happen. The pricing seemed to be �3 for every pint, making life simple.
The CAMRA discount is worth having and they said something about being able to get one from the pub if one bought a pie and a pint, or something like that.
23 Jun 2009 09:55
Not so bad - a case of what-you-see-is-what-you-get. Some decent people, a fair number of drunks wandering in and out. Not somewhere to stay all night, but if you want to meet somewhere near Angel and actually get served within 10 mins, then this probably beats the others in the immediate vicinity.
31 Oct 2007 17:25
The Queen Boadicea, Clerkenwell
Looked good in summer with a very large outside area (on the pavement but a really wide expanse). But boy was I disappointed inside. Nothing worth drinking, and the food lacked imagination. Even the seating is uncomfortable!
30 Oct 2007 16:32
The Jerusalem Tavern, Clerkenwell
Really good. A lovely setting in and out. Excellent range and quality of beers. Stood outside between the buildings and had a super time.
30 Oct 2007 16:29
Came for lunch. Service was slow, food was nice but disappointing given the expectation I had had. Not particularly good value but not rip off prices.
We came at the end of a beer festival so they had many cask beers to try. Ordinarily the beers are okay but go to the Jerusalem for a better experience.
30 Oct 2007 16:26
Came for lunch. Service was slow, food was nice but disappointing given the expectation I had had. Not particularly good value but not rip off prices.
We came at the end of a beer festival so they had many cask beers to try. Ordinarily the beers are okay but go to the Jerusalem for a better experience.
30 Oct 2007 16:25
Thought this was a lovely place. It's a Hall & Woodhouse pub which serves some of the best beer in the country.
14 Sep 2007 18:14
Probably one of the better pubs close by Upper St but that doesn't necessarily mean a lot. Beer is okay, ambience can be either rowdy soon after work or full of gambling types earlier in the afternoon. Has an outside seating area though that is now fairly smokey since the ban was introduced.
3 Sep 2007 15:20
Had a lovely time here. Food is on the pricey side but looked nice (was only drinking). Ale was kept well enough, atmosphere was far nicer than many others around here, and there is a small outside seating area which catches a bit of Sun.
3 Sep 2007 15:11
Unfortunately it's such an obvious place to meet for a pint after work that it can take 15-20 mins to get served. It's not worth it. Okay but nothing special.
3 Sep 2007 15:08
The Queens Arms, South Kensington
I'd love to give this place higher rating than the 6 I did: it's got good beers that are regularly changed and kept in good nick; the place looks good and they don't gouge ones eyes out on pricing (this is a relative comment given the location and lack of choice around here in general). And its proximity to the RAH is fantastic.
However, it's really aiming for the gastropub and half the seating is reserved for diners. There isn't much space otherwise and I get the impression that unless one gets here mid-afternoon then forget finding somewhere to sit. And the way the bar takes up space between the seats it's really cramped and not terribly pleasant to stand (especially in winter as there's nowhere to put coats).
11 Dec 2012 12:31