BITE user comments - arferjob
Comments by arferjob
The Olive Leaf, Hayling Island
Fantastic traditional victorian bar. Very chatty and welcoming landlord. Excellent beers and food. Look for the great artwork on the walls. Always a must when I am in this area.
21 Feb 2011 21:57
The Old Boot Inn, Stanford Dingley
We visited on a Sunday and were told the same. My wife, who is vegetarian didn't want the single veggie item on the Sunday menu, so asked for a cheese roll off the main menu. No go, apparently the chef can't manage it on a Sunday. Very dissapointing will not return, especially given that there are many exallent pubs in this area.
23 Oct 2010 07:49
The Pineapple, Brimpton Common
What a difference the new landlord has made. Fantastic service from hardworking barstaff, nothing too much trouble. Good atmosphere, especially weekday lunchtimes when it can get very busy. Beers are well kept, but limited choice and nothing from any local micro breweries. Even though the pub looks like it is given over to food there is still room for those who just whish to have a drink. I keep returning to the pub so much so that I am begining to be treated as a local, cheers!
11 Sep 2010 09:26
Good well kept beers, good basic food, excellent service, friendly locals and barstaff
11 Sep 2010 09:11
Just passing through Pangbourne on Sunday Lunchtime and we decided to stop here, not for food but for a much needed drink. I was a bit dubious when I saw the number of children heading through the door in front of me, but luckily they turned left into what I think is the eating side of the pub and I went right into the bar. Two excellent real ales, roaring open fire, good mix of very friendly locals. Very good service from chatty barmaid. Certainly one to come back to.
23 Feb 2010 11:33
First; ale_hunter, I don't believe my comments are damaging, a good pub is so much more than being about good ale. Comfort does matter and it would be a foolish landlord that didn't think that. Now, as promised I have returned, now that the new owner has had time to settle in. What I found this time was 2 real ales, both from W. Berks, both in excellant condition. Very good service from the very efficient barman. Food ok, the barman tells me the chef is not working at the moment due to falling off his bike but is making a speedy recovery and will soon be back in the saddle, so to speak ,so I think more adventurous fare will be on offer soon. 5 degreees outside and still cold inside. I asked the barman why the fires wern't lit and he told me that the landlord was chopping up some wood as they only had big logs and needed small ones to get them going. There was evidence that the fires had been lit so I guess I am just unlucky to go in at the wrong time. Sorry to go on about the heating but it is important to my wife who won't go in there again untill it's warmer. Overall I think this pub is very good and I will certainly be calling in more often. What it really needs now is customers. So come on all you locals you can help make a difference here
21 Feb 2010 03:02
Now re-opened. Very cold, as in no heating, no atmosphere and no discernable difference from before. Early days though, so worth a revisit in a month or so when the new owner has had time to settle in
11 Nov 2009 21:39
The Carpenters Arms, Burghclere
I don't have a thick wallet or a thick skin and I am certainly not a BNP member, I just think this is one of the best pubs in the area. My wife and I have always had good friendly service here. Beer and food are always of the highest quality and it has been a real treat to sit in the garden ejoying the views.
10 Oct 2009 21:32
Excellant pub, good range of real ales, all well kept. Freindly efficient staff and very good food. Comfortable relaxed atmosphere. Without doubt one of the best pubs in the area. As good as the plough at longparish but cheaper.
10 Oct 2009 21:02
Northbrook Arms, East Strotton
Excellent pub in an old bakery shop and adjoining house. Very good selection of real ales, good food reasonably priced and despite being very busy good efficient service. Can't fault it!
29 Sep 2009 22:04
Good beer, good surroundings and service from the young man behind the bar that was exceptional. Food; very basic Brake Bros type and not that cheap. Good place for a drink and a chat but go up the road to the Brittania for a better meal.
27 Sep 2009 10:25
My wife and I went in the lounge bar where we spent an enjoyable half hour chatting to the Landlord and some of the locals. The beer was excellent, Tim Taylor's Landlord, as was the service. We didn't sample the food as no one else was eating, (strange for a Sunday lunchtime) and the pub certainly needs re-decorating. But, all in all this is a pub that I would certainly visit again.
27 Sep 2009 10:11
Myself and a group of work collegues went here on Friday lunchtime at my suggestion, so I was a bit nervous about what we would find. No worries though. The beer was excellent, as was the food and the service. This is a proper pub, where you feel you are being welcommed into someones home as their guest. We will certainly be returning in the near future.
4 Jul 2009 07:06
A comfortable pub in nice surroundings serving the full range of Wadworths beers. However, food not very good, small portions and a bit pricy. No real pub atmoshpere just plenty of elderly folk enjoying grandma's birthday. Innofensive , but I won't be rushing back.
28 Jun 2009 20:50
Called in last Sunday and spent an hour in the very nice garden. The pub was fairly busy and I had to wait some time to get served. The food was first rate, but I did only have a cheese and pickle sandwich. The young lady serving the food was very efficient but seemed to be on her own, I suggest more staff are needed. A good down to earth pub with no frills that has it's place alongside the more expensive up market dining pubs in Stockbridge.
21 Jun 2009 00:10
The Coach and Horses, Sutton Scotney
Food was good, beer was good, service was good. I will certainly call in, if passing this way again.
20 Jun 2009 23:49
The Four Horseshoes, Sherfield on Loddon
I have been to this pub a couple of times now (Friday lunchtime) and on both occassions I have enjoyed good beer and food that was excellent value for money. Very good service from freindly competant staff, all enjoyed in comfortable surroundings.
20 Jun 2009 23:34
I went to this pub about two weeks ago. There were four of us and we had three courses each, with one being a roast beef. As previous reviewers have said the food arrived within minutes of ordering and was of a very poor standard. The manager was floorwalking and was shamelessly trying to flog a new range of mini deserts and wouldn't take no for an answer. Fortunately the whole experience was over in 30 minutes. Stay away from this pub, you have been warned.
20 Jun 2009 23:17
An interesting place. Beer OK, friendly staff and locals. No idea about the food, I was there on a Saturday lunchtime and there didn't appear to be anyone eating. Not bad but there are plenty of better pubs than this.
7 Sep 2008 09:53
I spent a disconcerting hour in here being stared at by the locals and having to endure the rather loud pontificating of the usual CAMRA beer snobs. What was once a great pub is now just a tourist attraction for the beer tickers. Living on the reputation of the brewery, (much deserved) this pub has given up trying and is in a slow decline. Try the Hinton Arms, at least they care about their customers.
12 Jul 2008 08:41
The Globe on the Lake, Alresford
Excellent, simple food. Best steak, chips and pepper sauce outside of France and very good prices. A fine selection of real ales and good wines. Superb service from staff who all know how to treat the customer right. A great place to dine before heading up into town to the Horse and Groom for an afternoons serious drinking.
30 Mar 2008 23:41
Typical Hall and Woodhouse pub / eatery. Standard beers, standard food. The pub itself is exceptionally dark inside, which prevented the barstaff identifying the lipstick residue around the top of the glass. However, this complaint was rectified with the minimum of fuss by the very curtious and friendly staff. Worth another visit.
30 Mar 2008 23:29
The wife and I visited this pub on Saturday lunchtime and were suprised that we were the only ones there. However, the food, beer and service were all first class, so we will be back. Lets just hope its a bit more lively next time.
28 Jan 2008 22:29
The Pineapple, Brimpton Common
Beer is good but very limited in choice and the food is average in quality. Can't stand the arrogant fat bloke behind the bar, but apart from that its a good pub for a drink after work with collegues.
15 Dec 2007 01:56
The Round Oak, Padworth Common
I first went in this pub a few months ago and thought it was a bit of a dump. I was ignored by the landlord until the locals gave him permission to serve me and there was only one real ale, 6X which is not my favourite beer. After several visits though, I am begining to appreciate the understated charm of the decor, the large open fire and the excellant quality of the 6X. This pub is growing on me!
15 Dec 2007 01:50
Average pub, service slow, no atmosphere, but at least its warm, dry and clean. OK for meeting collegues after work.
15 Dec 2007 01:39
One of the worst pubs I have ever been in. Beer rancid and I had to pay to park the car, its only free parking if you order a meal. As previous reviewer said, go next door!
15 Dec 2007 00:55
I agree with the previous reviewers. I have been coming to this pub once a year in May for the last 5 years and have not been disapointed yet. It's a 120 mile round trip but to sit in the sun in the wonderful garden with a great pint and a fantastic meal is well worth it.
15 Dec 2007 00:47
We went on a Sunday lunch time, arriving at about 11:30 and the pub was already filling up. Most of the tables were reserved but we managed to find one with a good view. The beer was good but from a very limited range. The food was terrible. Overcooked beef that had been reheated that many times it had gone hard and still they managed to serve it cold. By the time we left there were people queing to get in and the noise of screeming children and arguing adults will stay with me for some time. The views were fantastic and if I can find out when they are not so busy I will be back for another pint, (no food though)
18 Nov 2007 22:51
Its precisely because this pub doesn,t serve chain pub food that makes it so good. If you give the landlady a few days notice she will make whatever dish you like within reason. I have always had a friendly reception here from the landlord and staff. I live about 15 miles away but still come here two or three times a month. So the landlord is a bit grumpy now and again, he's a middle aged bloke working long hours to make his business succesful. This is a real pub with real people and I have had many an interesting conversation with total strangers on a Sunday afternoon. Oh! and the beer is good too.
18 Nov 2007 22:34
Fantastic place. Good food and a superb range of real ales, real fires and real locals. Although this pub is difficult to find it is well worth the effort. Old fashioned in every way including the ridiculously short opening hours, perhaps staying here might allow longer drinking time! Very good web site, check it out.
18 Nov 2007 22:08
One of the best pubs for miles. Locals freindly but you do have to elbow them out of the way to get to the bar. Landlord Terry is a perfect host and a genius when it comes to keeping and serving some of the country's finest beers. I spent a blisfull half hour in the pub last Friday lunchtime, on my own with just the sound of the ticking clock and the crackle of the large open fire, what a way to relax.
10 Nov 2007 01:12
Very good pub, except for the overpriced food. The key here is to eat the cheapest thing on the menu as the quality goes down as the price goes up. Excellent quiz night, Mondays, and always good beer and freindly staff.
10 Nov 2007 01:02
Poor quality overpriced food. No atmosphere and difficult to find a seat although the pub is half empty. Godd beer though so might try again in the summer.
10 Nov 2007 00:56
Excellent pub. Very clean, good beers, fantastic food and very attentive barstaff, yet still a village pub complete with locals and lots of character. Set in ideal walking country this pub makes a great journeys end
21 Oct 2007 21:08
Previous reviews were spot on. Excellent food and a great pint. Excellent service despite being busy
15 Oct 2007 22:06
Very quaint, good beers served by a very friendly barmaid, made my first visit to Winchester worthwhile and I will definitely be back for a nightime visit.
15 Oct 2007 22:02
Calleva Arms, Silchester
Decor and ambience good, interesting artefacts on the ceiling and walls. Beer range fairly good and all of good quality. Food average.
21 Feb 2011 22:03