BITE user comments - alemonkey
Comments by alemonkey
German Oktoberfest bottled beer now in stock!
Leicester Branch CAMRA AGM Wed 22nd Oct will be a tight squeeze so arrive early for pizza and seats for the quiz in the main bar only.
Day Of The Dead Beer Festival from Friday 31st October includes Hales ales, some Halloween specials, Transylvanian red wine and craft bottled beer from Mexico.
British Sausage Week returns 3rd - 9th November.
24 Sep 2014 18:57
Meet the Brewer Night- Tues 8th July @ 7:30pm.
Special guests from the Navigation Brewing Co. Notts.
6+ of their ales to try of their summer ale range.
Give-aways and prizes!
2 Jul 2014 14:54
Ginger Grouse Ginger Beer tasting night Tues 10th June. 8pm+
St. Bernadus Abbey Beers promo launch Tues 24th June. 8pm+
World Cup 2014 games on big screen with big sound! Special Pizzas!
ID4 July. USA beers, burgers, bourbons and bands.
10th Cheese & Cider Festival. 21st - 27th July.
20 May 2014 13:31
12 Welshe ales for you to sample from St. David's Day, 1st March.
British Pie Week returns! First week in Mar = Mon 3rd -Sun 8th Mar.
Meet the Brewer Night confirmed Tues 11th from 7pm.
Irish ales?! Hoping to source more than just keg Guinness for you ok!
21 Feb 2014 15:04
Meet the Brewer Night- Tues 11th March @ 8pm.
Special guests from the Derby Brewing Co.
6+ of their ales to try of their Spring ale range.
Give-aways and prizes!
5 Feb 2014 13:45
Been way to busy- sorry I forgot to blog the Trafalgar Naval ales beer festival!
Christmas is coming and we'll be offering our famous Xmas cobs, mince pies, mulled wine, sherry, port + stilton & crackers plus a range of special ales. Mid week fun with festive quizzes and sports. Live music Thurs -Sat- check lislings for details.Open Sundays all day now and early opening on relevant home rugby / footie matches. Shut 25th Dec. 26th football day TBC & defo on 1st Jan, ok.
29 Nov 2013 17:03
Currently closed on Sundays over the summer except for special occasions and bookings. Have a family party here!
Summer time promos on our new Facebook page- prizes to be won and offers available at The Criterion Free House social networking site. Be sure to connect to the correct one with photo of pub on home page.
Football on Sun 11th- open 1-4:30 and 6:30- as required.
Bourbon fans will enjoy our JIM BEAM HONEY promo night on Wed 14th Aug. With free tasters and our general knowledge quiz- starting from 8pm.
Open Sun 25th at 5pm for long weekend. 2 live rock bands from 8pm. Note we will be closed on Bank Holiday Monday 26th instead.
6 Aug 2013 13:42
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY FESTIVAL WEEKEND:
BOTTLED BEERS, BURGERS & BOURBONS! 4 - 6 JULY.
CIDER, PERRY & CHEESE FESTIVAL 15 -21 JULY.
2 HEAVY PUNK ROCK / METAL BANDS 28 JULY 8PM.
NO CHILDREN AFTER 8PM FOR ANY EVENTS, SORRY.
3 Jul 2013 13:13
LIVE COMEDY NIGHTS-
Sat 22nd Jun 8-11pm. The Same Faces £4
Wed 26th Jun 8-11pm. FREE ENTRY!
LIVE INDIE ROCK BANDS
Sun 30th Jun 8-11pm. Electric Soup + TBC FREE!
NO UNDER 18'S PERMITTED. I.D. MAY BE REQUIRED.
28 May 2013 13:41
MILD FOR MAY. 18 CASKS OF MILD OVER THE WHOLE MONTH.
NEW SEASONAL PIZZA MENU FOR SPRING.
2 BANK HOLIDAY SUNDAYS = LOUD ROCK BANDS @8PM. NO MINORS!
26 Apr 2013 16:46
BANK HOLIDAY LIVE ROCK BANDS- EASTER SUNDAY 28TH MARCH, MAY 5TH AND AFTER WHITSUN ON THE 26TH. EXTREME VOLUME NO UNDER 18'S PERMITTED.
KINGS & QUEENS ALE FESTIVAL 15TH -21ST APRIL.
11 Mar 2013 14:04
ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER is back! With guest PATRIK FITZGERALD as an unofficial pre comedy festival treat. Tickets £8. No under 18's permitted. 7pm+
DAVE'S LEICESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL 8th-24th FEB. Tickests £5+
LEICESTER BIG EAT TUES 12th FEB 5:30 - 9pm.
BUY A 12" PIZZA FOR THE PRICE OF A 9" PIZZA
ST. VALENTINES DAY. WED 14th FEB. BUY A 12" PIZZA AND GET YOUR PARTNERS FOR THE PRICE OF A 9" PIZZA.
SHORT FILM CINEMA. WED 27th FEB. ENTRY £1.
29 Jan 2013 14:24
HALLOWEEN QUIZ- 31st OCT
BRITISH SAUSAGE WEEK- 5th - 11th NOV
St. ANDREWS DAY- Scottish ales from Fri 30th onwards
Call now for Xmas bookings, parties- large groups require table reservations!
30 Oct 2012 13:59
ROCK BANDS- FREE ENTRY! - NO UNDER 18'S, SORRY.SUN 26TH AUG
ENJOY A LIE IN ON BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY!
LIGHT SIDE ALE FESTIVAL MON 17TH - SUN 23RD SEPT.
NATIONAL PIRATE DAY WED 19TH - PIRATE QUIZ FROM 8PM.
JENEVER TASTING NIGHT- CONTINENTAL GINS- WED 10 OCT, 8PM.
HALLOWEEN FUN TBC...
23 Aug 2012 13:16
JUBILEE BANK HOLIDAY- CORONATION CHICKEN PIES & SPECIAL ALES & CUPCAKES! ROYAL QUIZ ON WED 5 FROM 8PM.
JULY 4-8 US INDEPENDENCE FEST- BANDS, BOTTLED BEERS, BOURBONS & BURGERS!
JULY 9-15 CIDER, PERRY & CHEESE FESTIVAL. CRACKERS!
5 Jun 2012 19:09
WED APRIL 25TH JIM BEAM BOURBON NIGHT
MAY THE MILD BE WITH YOU... A MONTH LONG SPECIAL FESTIVAL WITH AT LEAST ONE MILD ON PER DAY FOR 4 OVER WEEKS
WED MAY 2ND BELBIAN BEER TASTING NIGHT
SUN MAY 6TH ROCK BAND "THE FISTERS" ENSURE YOU'LL HAVE A HEAD ACHE FOR THE BANK HOLIDAY- NOTE BIRTHDAY PARTY IN MAIN BAR WILL TAKE UP HALF THE ROOM SO SQUEEZE IN FOLKS!
23 Apr 2012 14:39
BRITISH PIE WEEK- 2nd chance to enjoy not just pizza pie during local annual CAMRA festival. 5th - 11th March (kitchen hours only).
TITANIC CENTENNARY ALE FESTIVAL. 9th - 15th April. Follow the ships maiden voyage- in beer - with a timeline of 18 ales from Titanic Brewery, Stoke. Quiz on Wed from 8pm to mark the 100 year anniversary of event.
17 Feb 2012 14:53
DAVE'S LEICESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL!!!
THE CRITERION IS PROUD TO PRESENT A WIDE VARIETY OF COMEDIANS OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS FROM 4TH - 19TH FEBRUARY 2012. (tickets not sold at the pub)
PLEASE CHECK THE COMEDY FESTIVAL TIMETABLE FOR DATES AND TIMES OF ACTS PERFORMING.
TRY OUR 'CHILLI CHALLENGE' - BUY 4 PINTS AND GET A 12" MARGHERITA PIZZA FOR FREE, BUT BEWARE, ONE SLICE HAS CHILLIS HIDDEN IN THE STUFFED CRUST!
Strictly over 18's only, Pizza will not be served during performances or in gig room. Book tickets and tables early to avoid disappointment.
4 Feb 2012 14:47
Slake - If I had to check every beer, every day to ensure it wasn't on the turn I'd be drunk before we opened. Sometimes one has to gamble with some new breweries to cater for the tickers otherwise we'd sell nothing BUT Oakham ales. It's nice to give the micro-breweries some support but problem beers are not repeated. If you do have a problem with a pint we will always check the ale and exchange it and unfortunately I will be presenting less beers for festivals in future as people don't drink a wide variety and they deteriorate before they are sold.
4 Feb 2012 14:39
RARE CHRISTMAS ALES COMNG SOON. HOT MULLED WINE, MINCE PIES & SHERRY, PORT, STILTON & CRACKERS + OUR FAMOUS CHRISTMAS COBS RETURN! (PIZZA KITCHEN HOURS ONLY FOLKS)
WORKS DO'S AND DON'TS- BOOK NOW AND RESERVE TABLES.
XMAS EVE- CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT, NEW YEARS EVE CLOSE AT 4PM, RE-OPEN AT 6PM FOR INVITE ONLY CELEBRATION UNTIL 1AM. XXX
STRICTLY NO UNDER 18'S ALLOWED AFTER 8PM. PARENTS BUYING BOOZE FOR MINORS WILL BE BAKED IN THE OVEN UNTIL CRISPY.
30 Nov 2011 15:04
BELGIAN BEER TASTING NIGHT WED 19TH- DE KONINCK DRAUGHT.
CAMRA AGM WED 26TH OCT 8- 11PM.
HALLOWEEN WEEKEND BEERS- AS USUAL A SURPRISE LIST WILL BE UNVEILED FRI- MON. HALLOWEEN DISCO SAT 29TH AND METAL BANDS SUN 3OTH.
BRITISH SAUSAGE WEEK 31ST OCT- 6TH NOV.
NORTH-EAST YORKS FEAST- 3 DOZEN+ ALES 14TH - 20TH NOV.
3 Oct 2011 21:14
36 real ales over 1 week- 19th to 25th Sept. Beer from Wiltshire so come dance around like you're at Stonehenge for the Autumn Equinox and quaff some druids fluid. Strictly no tie-dye. New bottled beers range available...
12 Sep 2011 20:05
BANK HOLIDAY FUN- part of the Castle Park Festival- we're hosting LIVE ACTS all weekend inc COMEDY Sat pm (�6 adv) and 2 ROCK BANDS Sun from 8pm- FREE! Pizza on specially for you from 4-8pm only on Sun. No under 18's. Come try the bottled beers from the Baltics. Next Ale Fest for the Autumn Equinox 19th-25th Sept with beers from Berks.& Wilts. X
25 Aug 2011 15:19
BEER FESTIVAL- 1- 4 JULY. BOTTLED BEERS FROM US. An American Dream with creaft beers, bourbons. Burgers, hot dogs & chilli on Sun & Mon (US Independence day) only.
COMEDY- GEORGE RYEGOLD, WED 13TH JULY. OVER 18's ONLY.
Winner of Best Act Leics. Comedy Festival 2011 back for a special show.
�^adv. ?�8 on door + support tbc.
CIDER / PERRY / CHEESE FESTIVAL- 18- 24 JULY. 1 week long event with some superb farmhouse selections and cracking cheeses.
SONIC-ELECTRIC SUNDAY- Ska-Rock from Leics. own SMOKIN' THE PROFIT + Metal from FINAL COIL & guests tbc. Over 18's ONLY.
1 Jul 2011 13:15
PIZZA COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED- NEW SUMMER MENU!
BLYTH POWER PUNK BAND & ATTILLA THE STOCKBROKER SUN 8TH MAY. @8PM. �10 FOR ADVANCE TICKETS.
SHORT FILM CINEMA WED 18TH MAY �1 ENTRY.@8PM.
TRAPPIST BEER NIGHT 8TH JUNE @8PM.
INDIE/ROCK GLASTO-KARAOKE SUN JUNE 26TH- FREE!
5 May 2011 12:55
2nd St. George's Day ale fest kicks off Thurs through to Sun/Mon- stocks providing. A few Easter beers thrown in too.
4 days of LIVE music- Sun from 4pm is METAL- no under 18's at all!
Royal Wedding special ales with celebration PIES! Monthly cycle meet so book a seat to eat, folks!
15 Apr 2011 17:04
St. David's Day 1st Mar- 7 Welsh ales available. CAMRA meeting on 2nd.
BRITISH PIE WEEK is 7th- 13th Mar during Leics. annual CAMRA festival.
Pizza competition- create and name a new dish for our specials board and receive prizes! Promo ends Sat 30th Apr, winner announced Wed 3rd May.
Easter weekend & St. George's Day Apr 23rd clash for a full on live music, beer & food Bank Holiday of fun. Sunday metal starts at 5pm until til 11pm.
12 Feb 2011 14:22
COMEDY FESTIVAL- NO tickets sold at pub. Get here early to eat as no food allowed in front bar due to acts and seating plan. Pizza available on Mon 7th & 14th due to demand (pm only) & 4 pizza deal on for festival only.
3 months of Sun rock/indie/metal confirmed for last Sundays of the month.
La Chouffe night rescheduled for Wed 23rd Feb- tasting night from 8pm..
3 Feb 2011 21:59
I run a pub and had a blog that I was the rudest manager they ever had the misfortune of meeting. They have obviously never been to London. After queue jumping regulars pushed in front of my friend for 15mins he spoke politely to the woman behind the bar about it and was told to "F*** off you c***!" There were 2 major rock gigs that night but not even enough staff to cover the average Sat pm. It's all about peacocks strutting their stuff, bad attitudes and having a tattoo bigger than your ego.
3 Feb 2011 21:51
The Criterion Crew will be here every day in Dec except to celebrate the birthday of Lord Jesus and suffer his hangover on Boxing Day too. So even if it is -10 degrees C, we have flu, colds, migraines, broken digits, bad backs, oven burns, etc we come to work to make your Xmas complete...
Pizza available for 27th rugby match- lunchtime only.
Lots of festive ales available into the new year. We close @4pm on Dec 31st and re-open for our invited regulars @6pm. Free buffet @9pm.
Beer tasting night Wed 12th- Nice Chouffe.
Charity gig Sunday 16th Jan for MIND.
.
20 Dec 2010 21:23
week long derbyshire ale fest now on
heavy metal band special 28 nov & 12 dec
short film festival wed 1 dec
forget s***bucks- enjoy hot chocolate & polish cake here
christmas cobs- roast dinner in a roll in dec
mince pies & sherry, mulled wine, port with stilton & crackers
belgian draught beer tasting jan 12
RESERVE TABLES OVER XMAS
open on 27 dec for Tigers home game
new years eve- invitations only
18 Nov 2010 20:01
monday movies night has begun! hotwired BIG sound shaking the building!
pop quiz-tastic tues from 9pm. students heaven!
12 ales on for camra agm wed from 7pm. quiz as normal.
chilled folk music thurs pm @8.
14 spooky brews to be enjoyed from fri thru to sun.
polish vodka, lager & food to celebrate the nations independence day on thurs 11th nov from 7pm. get there early to get a seat to eat.
dominoes day 12th celebrated two days later on the subdued sunday- come along for traditional pub games like darts, doms and chess!
25 Oct 2010 22:22
monday movies night has begun! hotwired BIG sound shaking the building!
pop quiz-tastic tues from 9pm. students heaven!
12 ales on for camra agm wed from 7pm. quiz as normal.
chilled folk music thurs pm @8.
14 spooky brews to be enjoyed from fri thru to sun.
polish vodka, lager & food to celebrate the nations independence day on thurs 11th nov from 7pm. get there early to get a seat to eat.
dominoes day 12th celebrated two days later on the subdued sunday- come along for traditional pub games like darts, doms and chess!
25 Oct 2010 22:22
ale monkey is BACK! after reverting back to communicating with 2 empty baked bean tins and a piece of string on a desert island i am now happy to announce these events: 1- trappist beer night wed 13th oct, 2- halloween beers sat 30th into 31st & ROCK KARAOKE, fun & prizes etc. 3- British Sausage week from 1st nov, 4- Polish food & drink night, 5- week long Derbyshire ale fest starting 15th nov.
11 Oct 2010 21:43
Is anybody familiar with the name Norman Balon? He was the self professed 'rudest landlord in Britain' at The Coach & Horses pub in Soho (that is currently the venue selling the UKs dearest pint at �5.80!) He was nicknamed the 'Red Baron' and (in)famous for 'shooting down' Brits, once banning his own mother and throwing a writer out of his boozer mid shepherds pie for being "f***ing boring". We all have bad days when somebody claims to be able to do your job better than you- I don't tell you how to drink your pint. So in this era of boarded up or bulldozed traditional pubs please show your appreciation of those working hard to ensure this social environment survives. PS- our cheapest house pint is only �2.00. X
22 May 2010 13:06
opening at 11am sunday 2nd for leics. city game
bank holiday monday 3rd = 3 live bands 8-11 + pizza 4-8 only
camra branch meeting wednesday 5th may
attila tickets on sale now for wednesday 9th may
belgian beer tasting night wednesday 26th may
bank holiday sunday 30th = 2 live bands 8-11 + pizza 4-8 only
pizza tbc for bank holiday monday 31st may
1 May 2010 13:42
I meant patron saint... Do you like FREE BEER? If so, come along on Wed 26th May for Belgian beer Maredsous. Our promotion (8pm+) courtesy of Duvel Moortgat will include sample tasting of this fine Belgian ale + some CHEESE, SAUSAGES & CHOCOLATE. General Knowledge quiz on too.
2 Apr 2010 19:58
Seems like 50 firkins of beer is too much. I'll reduce range for next one- St. George's Day theme but lasting whole weekend. A history of ye olde England rather than all beers being bottled Mythos from Greece (no smashing of pizza plates please) or Efes from Turkey (kebabs will not be served in place of pizza)- I never can pin him down! He's also the patrant saint of Ethiopia and if anyone can tell me in which old city is the rock hewn church of St. George shaped like a cross I'll provide a meal for 2 + a drink each. Atilla the Stockbroker re-scheduled for Wed 19th May folks.
22 Mar 2010 23:53
Just fine tuning (short)list for beer fest. There will be over 50 firkins delivered with 35 racking spaces only. 5 beers left from the weekend to sell first too.
I have 10 pins from Potbelly to put on back of bar each day if required.
Comedy festival has been a real hoot- lovely to see lots of new faces enjoying the venue & it's acts. Apologies to the gentleman that insisited the pub is on Newark St. and threatened to call the police if I called him back again with correct directions- I will change our address accordingly.
Please continue to make reservations for large parties. It is not very fair to remove the reserved signs from tables for your unannounced group to usurp.I've done a 12 hour AFD shift- nighty night! X
21 Feb 2010 00:09
Happy 2010. Coming to you real soon: Every Friday night is full blown band night (from mid Jan- FREE) and monthly Heavy Rock acts on Sundays tbc. Trappist Beer night Wed 20th Jan, Short Film Cinema, Wed 27th Jan (�1 entry), 2 weeks+ of humour with guests for the annual Leics. Comedy Festival and another 1week long Real Ale Festival with 30+ beers (subject to demand) from Northants.& Warks in the last week of Feb.
... So this 'barman' is probably me, the manager, that does not have to serve constantly and collect glasses yet chooses to OVER his myriad jobs(see above) or have the inclination to watch you muse over the blackboard at the expense of your fellow punters that are gasping for beer & pizza. Ta.
6 Jan 2010 18:55
Merry Christmas folks! Coming to you in the next 12 festive days:
Website- after a hacking we should now be back up and running.
Beers from new brewery Lymestone, The Cosmics Christmas Party- Live Music Sat 3-5pm. Xmas Pop Quizzes Tues @ 9pm, Xmas general knowledge quizzes Wed @ 8pm. We will be offering a selection of Xmas snacks & feasts at the weekends whilst pizzas will be available mid week only (not Xmas Eve). the bottled beer menu is now so up to date it's ready before some of the stock has arrived! Tuck in, enjoy the variety, relax. X
15 Dec 2009 20:47
Please note that it is the month of Christmas drinkers that visit annually without warning- so pre plan your night out: May I suggest reserving tables for the weekend if you intend to enjoy pizza! We will all be working twice as hard, giving up our Christmas to ensure you have one, so please give us some courtesy at this busy time. (Any more criticism of staff working themselves to death over a beer festival will result in no more beer festivals if they are not appreciated.) Cheers!
7 Dec 2009 15:06
The Criterion is proud to host another beer festival- with our cellar cooling back on fine fickle and a new weekend pizza dude too! 28 ales are currently available, with 12 more in reserve. Please note we have a large cellar-not a TARDIS- and can only rack 30+ at a time- so it is not possible to serve the back up beers dated for sale for another 48 hours unless you are a Timelord. New website on the way: criterionvenue.co.uk. over & out. x
20 Nov 2009 23:57
Just like to reassure customers and tradespeople alike that the Rugby Brewing Company has not 'gone bust' as the rumour mill has it and we here at The Criterion are still operating at warp 9 as normal. The smoking shelter swung on by Tarzan has 'gone bust' and we are currently addressing its maintenance.
Both the pub and brewery websites have been suspended and will be resumed by more effective and local means soon to keep updates, well- up to date... Our only real problem is coping with the amount of current trade so we are having difficulties in keeping the quality to match the quantity of punters! You hungry, thirsty, pop pickers you! Ciao.
16 Oct 2009 20:06
Dear Sharp, Nov 13th. Sorry to hear pub was closed on your visit. As the manager and licensee I wasn't made aware either- as I was on holiday. Not good enough...
Please accept a complimentary pizza & a pint on me. Reservations are recommended for large parties at weekends- especially match days- to avoid further disappointment.
22 Jul 2009 14:43
I do find the �blogging� of our customers� visits most helpful and entertaining. I am most grateful to the many guests that compliment the team in their efforts and I am more than happy to sit down with any disgruntled customer(s) in an attempt to rectify any grievances.
However, I do draw the line at both underhand competitors within the trade berating our venue on-line rather than enjoying the �friendly rivalry� that makes Leicester stand out in the real ale world and professional businessmen walking behind the bar to air their complaints- as if they have authorisation- as to do this is neither professional or any of their business. Where else but in the pub trade do you find customers walking behind the counter into the staff area? Chip shops? Service stations? Banks? Pizza Express?�
We must have discipline, or after a strong Belgian beer the lunatics will be running the asylum (as well as the government). It isn�t even as if all the staff hide in the kitchen and corridor (team discussions take place out of customers aural range) in fear of a �ticker�!
Perhaps a self-service option could be arranged to relieve me of some of my hours (currently averaging 55 per week), which is why I do not have a fake plastic smile on my face all week. So if I�m grumpy, it�s because I haven�t had my fix of delicious pizza washed down with a refreshing pint.
Unfortunately, people tend to focus on the negative aspects of a visit and, may I add, it certainly can be upsetting to staff alike to be patronised, abused and disrespected in our place of work- all at the start of a 12 hour shift. We are not robots, but have a range of human emotions- and we have friends and lives to lead that exclude us from catering until 1 am for the people that get out of bed at 10:30 pm.
The majority thoroughly enjoy the banter of the staff, the suntrap beer patio, the range of competitively priced (house) beers, traditional Italian pizza, pub games, a multitude of live acts, private parties, quiz nights and real ale festivals.
I hope you find this information helpful. If you have any concerns with these issues please make an appointment with the management to help us make changes to the benefit of all in both personal and professional matters.
12 Aug 2008 20:42
The Criterion, Leicester
2 DOZEN rare Xmas real ales to try from mid December.
Christmas Cobs return + Pudding, Mince Pies, Sherry, Port & Stilton!
Large parties and table reservations advised.
MIND Charity fundraiser Sun 25th 3-8pm inc. raffle
Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival 4-22 Feb.
2 Dec 2014 14:42