BITE user comments - afullpint
Comments by afullpint
For the first time ever, I had a couple of less than perfect pints. They were still better than virtually every where else in Salisbury but well below the usual high standards for this place. Also, the prices are getting a wee bit on the high side, particularly compared with Deacons just down the road.
25 Nov 2009 16:45
The pub is now called the Safari Garden. I must admit that I haven't been in in its new guise, but I was talking to someone in Deacons across the road who said that the restaurant side of the place serves up African food like giraffe, gazelle, ostrich, etc. I might be tempted to check it out.
25 Nov 2009 16:41
Well, Hidden have moved on, and the place has been taken over by an outfit called Gusto. I'm not sure whether the intention is to focus on food, but the Hidden beers have been replaced by the likes of London Pride and 6X. The 6X was okay. Alot of the previous comments regarding the quality of the ales became clear to me when I heard the new manager explain to a few people around the bar that when Gusto took over, they found the beer lines to be disgusting and appeared not to have been cleaned for at least 6 months!!
25 Nov 2009 16:37
I was stunned to find that this place had made it into the 2010 Good Beer Guide!! Who on earth in Camra allowed that to happen? Of all the Wetherspoons pubs in Britain, this must be amongst the worst, what with unpleasant youths, drunken girls showing off their beer bellies, and frankly mediocre ale. Very poor show.
14 Oct 2009 12:21
Last port of call before the station - having already been into the Frothblowers and left without getting a drink due to some intimidating idiots who were trying to turn the pub into a gypsy camp - plus the Haunch for a decent but expensive Courage Best. At last, a place with decent people and fair prices.
10 Jun 2009 11:17
The Haunch of Venison, Salisbury
After having been intimidated away from the Frothblowers, I went in here for a quick pint as I made my way along to the station. Fairly busy on a Saturday with the usual maroon cords and tweed jacket crowd. Had an expensive pint of Courage Best (not too bad a beer now it is made at Charles Wells in Bedford) before moving on.
10 Jun 2009 11:15
The Frothblowers Arms, Salisbury
I was attracted into this place by the previous review which suggested that Timothy Taylor's Landlord was available, but I had the misfortune to visit when it was full of the most unpleasant people. Shouting, shoving and general mayhem seemed to be the order of the day (or night, Saturday night). I decided not to bother. I'm told that weekday evenings are okay but avoid like the plague on Friday and Saturday.
10 Jun 2009 11:03
The Winchester Gate, Salisbury
I happened to notice whilst passing by last week that a beer festival was being held over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, so I thought I'd try it out on the Friday night. A small marquee had been set up in the pub's back garden with 12 ales, a cider and a perry on and a BBQ doing burgers, etc. The beers included ones from Crouch Vale, Woodfordes, Mauldon, RCH, Harviestoun, Otley and Inveralmond plus a sublime Raspberry Wheat Beer from Milestone - a tad strong at 5.6% as I realised later to my cost!
It was so good that I managed to scrounge a bed overnight at a friends and went back on Saturday and indeed for part of Sunday. The weather of course was great over the weekend, and the place was packed. An enjoyable time was had by all. The landlord - I believe his name is Bill - was in constant attendance and seemed to enjoy regularly sampling his ales.
Well done!
27 May 2009 15:46
Whilst supping some excellent beer in the Wyndham Arms, I was persuaded by a companion to go in to this place. Whereas the Wyndham was full to bursting for their Monday night Real Ale Club - ales at �2 a pint, the Five Bells was completely empty, save for the surly barmaid reading the latest issue of OK magazine. The telly was on showing Coronation Street. Two ales - Hop Back GFB and Ringwood Best. The GFB was undrinkable, and it took much effort to get the barmaid to exchange it for a half of the Ringwood, which was passable. Awful, awful.
19 May 2009 19:48
Took some friends to see three classic Dorset pubs. The Square & Compass at Worth Matravers is overrated - although the location is truly fantastic, the Vine at Pamphill - a must-visit place, and here. This is my favourite of the three when it comes to beer quality and choice and prices and food........ Excellent.
3 May 2009 18:19
I took a couple of visitors to see a few classic pubs in Dorset. We went to the Square & Compass at Worth Matravers, but this place is much better. Obviously, the scenery is no match for the S&Q, but overall the pub is 10 times better, and one mustn't forget the beer, which is more varied, better quality and cheaper that one gets at the S&Q.
3 May 2009 18:15
The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers
I am going to be a bit of a party pooper on the Square & Compass. It is a decent pub, but it's all about Location, Location, Location. I love going there and sitting outside with a pint of reasonable (but not great) ale, but it's expensive and trying to get a drink can sometimes be a challenge - why do people have to clog up the area around the serving hatch? It was a nice day yesterday, so there was no need for the massive scrum along the hallway! I usually get there two or three times during the summer but only to show visitors the stunning location. 6 out of 10 from me.
3 May 2009 18:11
I hadn't been in here for well over a year. Still much as I remember it, and the Ringwood Best was excellent.
11 Mar 2009 12:03
The Salisbury Arms, Christchurch
What a shame. This used to be a great place for live music. The ales and ciders were always pretty good. I met up with an old mate the other day and were going to pop in whilst we waited for the bus. However, the boarded up window put us off - and then a bus came along so we didn't venture inside.
11 Mar 2009 12:00
I'm afraid I have to disagree with the last few reviews. I have never been a fan of Hidden beers - they are all rather ordinary - and I had a very unpleasant pint of Hidden Potential in this pub last week. If ale is your thing, then there are much better pubs to go to such as the Village, the Winchester Gate and the Rai D'or. However, all is not lost as the ambience is fairly pleasant - but "the best real ales around"? I think not!
11 Mar 2009 11:56
The Winchester Gate, Salisbury
Re the previous review commenting upon mine, I wasn't suggesting that the Winchester Gate was better than the Village because it certainly is not. My real ale pub of choice in Salisbury is still the Village, but this pub offers a welcome addition to the quality real ale scene in Salisbury. Anyone venturing over to, say, the Wyndham Arms should include the Winchester Gate in their travels.
22 Feb 2009 19:36
Ye Olde George Inn, Christchurch
This used to be my regular pub when Dave and Margaret ran the place back in the 1990s. I stopped going in when it turned from a boozer with excellent lunchtime pub food into a foody place - e.g. all tables had a sign on them saying 'Reserved For Diners'. I was persuaded to go in to try it out again, and although my view on the place as food first beer second hasn't changed, I must admit it was quite pleasant, and the ales were in good nick.
22 Feb 2009 17:50
The Bermuda Triangle, Parkstone
Did one of my regular Poole/Bournemouth pub crawls and started here on Saturday afternoon. Four excellent ales on offer, all in great condition. Fully derserving of its high ranking in the list of top pubs.
22 Feb 2009 17:44
I came across this one when checking various venues in the Salisbury area to take my mum to for a meal to celebrate her 90th birthday. The description in the previous post typifies what goes on in second rate foody pubs in England. It always seems to me that chefs - or more probably cooks who try to masquerade under the description of 'chef' - just can't be bothered. Foody pubs in affluent areas have had it all too easy for several years now, but the credit crunch will sort the wheat from the chaff. Buck up your ideas. In the end, I decided on the Red Lion in Salisbury for the birthday dinner - I hope I have made a decent choice!
18 Feb 2009 11:32
Aaargh. First went in here a couple of years ago and had a fairly decent meal and pint. I'd heard it had recently changed hands and went in to see for myself during a "scenic route" drive from Salisbury back to Bournemouth. Everyone including the staff - or was she the landlady? - looked like chavs, and the beer was rubbish. I won't go in again.
18 Feb 2009 11:20
The Sir Percy Florence Shelley, Boscombe
I love going in here - albeit for all the wrong reasons. Scousers, dossers and other forms of low life all seem to percolate down to this place - and the 99p beers have made it all the more popular with the Boscombe winos. A real laugh!
18 Feb 2009 11:06
Still go here when going between the South Western and the Guide Dog but not what it used to be. Beer selection not bad - but the choice used to be much better.
15 Feb 2009 19:02
Have been going to this pub off and on for years, but as I live in the Bournemouth area, I have to rely on the trains. Getting there is easy enough but getting back on the train can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. Great pub, beers and people.
15 Feb 2009 19:00
The Kings Arms Hotel, Dorchester
Had the full range of Dorset Piddle beers. The hotel served them fine, but I found all 3 beers somewhat bland. However, a comfortable hotel bar.
12 Feb 2009 17:28
DBC have done a pretty good job after the problems of the last year or so. Went in on Monday night when a birthday party was in full swing. The only issue was the rather large number of youngsters in there who didn't look 18 but were getting stuck into the lager.
12 Feb 2009 17:19
Whilst I wouldn't quite stretch my score to 10/10, I was well impressed with the beer, the layout/decor and the prices. Probably the best pub in the Dorchester/Weymouth area.
12 Feb 2009 17:17
The Inn on the Furlong, Ringwood
Popped in whilst returning home from the Winter Beer Festival in Salisbury. There were four of us who were tipsy but by no means drunk. The reception we received was unfriendly to say the least, so supped a quick half of Best before heading to the bus stop. Not as good as the Inn On The Furlong of old!
8 Feb 2009 17:21
I'm afraid I have to disagree with justdarkbeer. This pub always disappoints me. The beer selection is okay but I've had some pretty mediocre pints in there. I wish the owners well but I suspect they are under the burden of a pretty hefty rent.
8 Feb 2009 17:16
Pleased to see that the pub is as good as it used to be before the Marstons take-over. However, the guest ale is nowhere near as eclectic as it used to be.
8 Feb 2009 17:12
Goat and Tricycle, Bournemouth
Popped in to see if things had improved since my last visit. No complaints about the ales but I remain unconvinced about the revised bar layout. A fine pub but still to reach the standard achieved by James and Trish.
8 Feb 2009 17:10
Went in there whilst in Salisbury for the Winter Beer Festival. Usual selection of excellent ales, including Taylor's Landlord, albeit a bit pricey. Dare I say it however that the Village now has some competition for the best real ale pub in town from the Winchester Gate on the other side of town?
4 Feb 2009 17:15
The Anchor and Hope, Salisbury
Nice enough pub but nothing much in the way of ale. In fact, the Sharps Doom Bar I had was not in the best of condition. Go to the Winchester Gate for superb real ales.
4 Feb 2009 17:10
The Winchester Gate, Salisbury
Went in here whilst taking a breather from the Salisbury Winter Beer Festival. Three beers - Hop Back GFB, Keystone Cheer Up and Flowerpots Stottidge Stout - all in superb condition. I was told by the landlord that he has beers from Box Brewery, Goddards, Harviestoun, Blindmans, Yeovil Ales, Three Castles and George Wright all waiting to come on. Vies with the Village for the best pub in Salisbury when it comes to real ales.
4 Feb 2009 17:08
The Winchester Gate, Salisbury
I think the landlord may have taken heed of a couple of previous posts regarding the space taken up by the sofas and random stools as they have gone, to be replaced by normal tables and chairs. The bar now has a lot more space to allow people to get through to the toilets, particularly when the pub is busy.
Beers on when I was in the other day were Hop Back Crop Circle, Downton German Pale Ale and Wessex Walnut Best, a good choice and all in excellent nick.
2 Dec 2009 11:36