BITE user comments - Thuck_Phat
Comments by Thuck_Phat
The real point about the Coal Hole is that it is consistently busy and is therefore getting through a lot of real ale, which as a consequence tends to be of decent quality. I've never had a bad pint of TT Landlord, which always seems to be on, in there. A recent visit again saw the Landlord on top form and the Coal Hole is one of the best places in London to sample this great, but often badly treated, beer.
8 Dec 2009 10:14
What a cracking pub. Traditional interior with lots of wood - floors, furniture etc. as well a fine collection of old brewery and beer signs. Visited during their beer festival when they're serving over 100 ales during the week. The day we went in there were nearly 50 on. Tried 15 or so by buying a few rounds of 6 1/3 pints - a very sensible idea to get through a few different beers without falling over. Our favourites were Mamalade Cat from Fat Cat and Flower Power from the Whim Brewery. Food was also good and staff all knowledgable and friendly. Normally they have around 8 real ales on so this is a great place to head to and get quaffing.
30 Oct 2009 11:38
Didn't try the music quiz or the food but the beer was shocking. An uninspiring choice of Greene King IPA and Abbot as regulars so I tried the guest which was a special from Castle Rock. I can't remember the name but it was so appalling I didn't manage to get through half of it before giving up. If you're looking for a session on real ale I'd give it a swerve.
30 Oct 2009 11:32
The Charles Lamb, Angel, Islington
Excellent boozer with high quality ale, friendly knowledgable staff and a fair smattering of attractive totty. A winning combination. Butcombe bitter and Dark Star Hophead both excellent and Dark Star Oktoberfest at 5.2% on as a guest. Didn't eat but the menu looked interesting and food appeared good.
30 Oct 2009 11:28
The Lamb Tavern, Leadenhall Market
Classic City boozer with only Youngs best and Directors on offer both of which were in good condition and easily quaffable. Beef and sausage baguettes looked good and were popular but our focus was only on the beer.
23 Sep 2009 15:27
This is a great pub with a real problem. The atmosphere is cosy, it's wood clad, floor, ceilings and beams, no muzak and no machines. The staff are friendly and knowledgable.
The problem is that it's a Warwickshire Beer Company tied house. When we visited they had on 5 WBC ales and a guest from the Shardlow Brewery. We tried each of the Warwickshire ales, except the Best, and couldn't face a second pint of any of them. They all appeared well kept and were clean and crisp but they all had a heavy woody flavour and an unpleasant sour tang as an aftertaste. The WBC brewer needs to taste some of his own ales.
So if you want a great pub in Atherstone then this is it as long as you don't want to drink real ale.
17 Sep 2009 12:58
The Kingsway/Charlie Browns, Stoke On Trent
This is a real find. Titanic have redeveloped the place well and offer 5 Titanic ales as well as 5 guests which tend to include one or two seasonal Titanic ales and an Everards. Staff are knowledgable and friendly and the ale quality excellent in the case of Iceberg and White Star which I had.
14 Sep 2009 12:35
A recent visit found Adnams and Pedigree available as standard ales and Monkey Stout as a guest. Had a Pedigree and it wasn't good enough to warrant a second. Food however was very good and wine is obviously an option. This is a great pub for a meal but on my experience really doesn't warrant its' GBG entry so if you're looking for a session it's propably worth trying elsewhere.
14 Sep 2009 11:54
Agree with all previous comments about excellent staff and friendly atmosphere. There does seem to have been a change on beer policy over the past year or so though. On previous visits it seemed that there were four real ales offered which were regularly changed and always in good condition. On my most recent visits there have only been three - Batemans XB and Purity Gold at 3.8% each and TT Landlord which I found to be indifferent. This is such a good boozer in all other ways it would be a real shame if ale standards slipped further from the previous very high level.
14 Sep 2009 11:49
Althorpe Coaching Inn, Great Brington
This is possibly the best pub in Northamptonshire. Stone floors, beams, real fire, welcoming and knowledgable staff, friendly clientele, decent food but, most importantly of all, top quality, well kept ale. They tend to have around 8 real ales on including 3 or 4 ubiquitous beers such as Greene King IPA, Speckled Hen, London Pride and Abbott. These always go down well with the less adventurous although I've never bothered with them due to the ever changing and high quality selection of guest ales. Recent highlights have included Kelham Islands Cadillac Ranch, Cheddar Gorge Goats Leap and Abbeydale Absolution. There is always a range of strengths and beer types and they are invariably well kept. An absolute must if you're looking for a decent pint in this part of the world.
17 Mar 2010 08:13