BITE user comments - budvar_1
Comments by budvar_1
Little Chester Ale House, Derby
A cracking wee pub, constantly changing range of well kept realales. No telly or other electric distractions, a must visit!
21 Jul 2014 21:43
Visited on a Tuesday evening. There were a few customers inside, and a few sitting in the garden at the rear. The staff were pleasant, the pub itself was clean and comfortable, the loos were clean and well maintained. A large board advertised the available beers, listing them from lightest in colour to darkest, as well as the ABV, it also listed the beers due to come on. The main reason for visiting the pub is the beer, it's the home of the Shiny Brewery, and the beers are superb, well, the ones I tried were! The guest beers are also well looked after, a "must visit" for that reason alone! A few other good pubs nearby, Little Chesters Alehouse, a micro pub, on Chester Green is well worth the short walk.
29 Jun 2013 23:43
The Templehall Inn, Morebattle
Nipped in here a couple of weeks ago, as I was passing on a training walk (long story!) and I met an old friend outside it, her partner was inside havin' a pint so I popped in for a blether. It's a nice smallish bar, usual selection of keg beers with, on this occasion, Border Breweries Wee Beastie. As I was driving I didn't partake! A nice wee friendly bar, good to see it open again!
16 Feb 2013 22:26
Tried this a few years ago, and it was ok! Now closed unfortunately! My son tells me its opening again under another name!
4 Nov 2012 19:40
The Tyneside Tavern, Haddington
Nipped in here this last night while my son was at the Lennoxlove Book Festival, listening to JK Rowling plug her new book! I went into the lounge, which is laid out for diners, but they were quite happy for me to have a pint and no food! The staff seemed quite helpful and friendly, the atmosphere was ok ( for a quiet lounge...the bar sounded much busier!) and the pint was good...Atlas Latitude. Nice pub!
3 Nov 2012 01:34
The Fox and Hounds Inn, Denholm
Walked 5 miles from Hawick to try Game Bird, brewed just a few minutes along the road by Scottish Borders Brewery. I'd driven past this wee gem for about 15 years when I worked in Kelso, always meant to pop in, but never did!
The bar is small, with a fire and a large screen tv, the staff and locals are friendly, the beer is great (well the Game Bird was!) and the food is too! My pal had the Pork and Haggis Sausages with Neeps and Tatties, I had another pint! WELL worth seeking out!
2 Sep 2012 22:52
Had just come back down off Ben Nevis, it had taken us 7hrs to get up and down, and we were KNACKERED! A pint of River Leven Blonde just hit the spot! It was quickly followed by a Red Cuillin, and then by another Blonde...lovely! The perfect setting for a pub! Excellent beer and friendly service, didn't eat here, but I can certainly recommend the beer!
29 Aug 2012 00:32
Visited this one YEARS ago, it was ok! Now closed unfortunately!
31 Mar 2012 23:27
Visited while staying at the Thistle Hotel. A better than average Spoons, had a few handpumps on, tried 4 different over the evening, all were well kept and delicious. Worth a visit if in the vicinity.
31 Mar 2012 22:53
Popped in here while staying at the Thistle across the square. I'm guessing it's been revamped since it was last reviewed. I found it to be bland and sterile, a couple of large tvs showing football one night and a thrash metal-type band doing a sound check for a gig later that evening,.
The beer selection is basic, and the service on the second night was awful, I left after finishing my pint, never to return.
31 Mar 2012 22:46
Keel Row Lloyds No 1, Newcastle
Revisited this pub on Sunday 14th Nov, it was quite busy but had plenty of staff on. My daughter and I had a burger and a drink each, we both wanted the Gourmet Burger but were told they were off, the second pub we'd been to that night that had sold out of burgers, we could however have a normal burger, so beginning to get desperate we opted for that! The pint I had, Big Lamp Keelman Brown, was crackin' so no complaints there. I was, however REALLY, pissed off at the service I received, I joined a queue at the bar behind a couple, but the staff ignored us and kept serving people who just approached the bar and shouted their orders. The staff were aware of us and evetually came to our end of the bar, and asked me what I wanted, I told them to serve the couple first as they just wanted drinks and they were before me anyway, they got their drinks and then I was ignored again, and they went back to the baying throng that had approached the bar again! Not the best pub in the area, and definetely not the best service!
17 Nov 2010 11:37
The Three Bulls Heads, Newcastle
Went in here after leaving the awful Goose next door, much better atmosphere, cleaner, and friendlier staff. We were looking for somewhere that did food on a Sunday evening, and they were still serving, but we couldn't find a table, as time was an issue, we couldn't hang about so we left to look elsewhere. Try here instead of the Goose!
17 Nov 2010 11:25
The Goose at the Gardens, Newcastle
Visited Sunday 14th Nov, it's a large characterless room that's obviously seen better days,very untidy and quite run down. Seemed to have a fair mix of customers. It was fairly busy, and we struggled to find a clean table, finally picked the least dirty one and sat down. My daughter and I decided to try the burger and a pint offer( �3.99 I think) I made my way to the bar only to be told there were no burgers left! The range of beers didn't inspire me to stay, so we left, don't think I'll return.
17 Nov 2010 11:20
Family popped in here for a quick drink this afternoon, was quite quiet customer wise, so got served quickly, and got a table easily enough. It has an excellent selection of draught and bottled beers and ciders, there were at least 4 handpumps all apparently on, clips turned round at least! Unfortunately, I was driving again, so no pint for me! It was clean and airy, the only negative was an over loud music system in the bar, VERY loud! We moved through to the lounge which was much quieter and very comfy. There were more hanpumps in here but I didn't check to see if they were different to the pumps in the bar. I'll certainly visit again, and try to sample some of the brews next time!
16 Aug 2010 00:09
Visited about a while back, couldn't find it on BITE then, I didn't know it had reopened under a this new name! Had lunch, which was a massive battered fish with excellent chips and peas, lovely! Was driving so no alcohol, but the fresh orange and lemonade I had was fine! I remember it well! My daughter,a student, liked it as well. Although the food was fine and to be recommended, it DID seem a bit lacking in atmosphere, that may change in the eveving tho!
17 May 2010 22:15
Opposite the bus station and near the uni. Had a quick pint in here after an interview for a job ( which I didn't get) beer was ok, didn't like the tv tho! Lacked atmosphere, although I put that down to the time of day, mid afternoon. Would probably try again!
27 Feb 2010 23:11
Went in here with the family looking for somewhere to have lunch. there's quite a large outdoor area, but as it was raining and bloody freezing we wanted somewhere to sit indoors. It was busy with young folk ( most folk seem young to me these days!) nothing wrong with that! However, it was dirty and untidy, the carpet was filthy, tables were covered in glasses. We left!
27 Feb 2010 23:00
Northumberland Arms, Newcastle
Popped in here while the wife was in Primark across the road, I have to agree with "anonymous 18 Apr 2006" in that it's like a bunker, was fairly busy, a few people having lunch, which looked ok. I didn't have a beer as I was driving(I went in to suss it out for a place to have lunch) and I left after a swift fresh orange, but it doesn't have a good atmosphere! We went down to the Quayside for lunch!
27 Feb 2010 22:37
Sunday lunchtime, the place was pretty much deserted, due to the local offices being closed I guessed, quick friendly service, food was usual JDW fare, better than most I've had recently, it WAS only burger & chips! Clean surroundings and clean toilets, all in all a decent 'Spoons and worth a visit. They had 4 ( I think) handpumps on but as I was driving, I didn't partake, my Pepsi was good tho!
13 Sep 2009 21:58
Saturday lunchtime, bar was quite busy but managed to find a small table. Food, two different burgers, was delicious, the accompanying chips were superb, crisp outside and fluffy inside! It seems to quite a food orientated pub, that said, the beer, I had a pint of Yates, was top quality, and had just the right amount of head, although I did notice a few pints being carried to tables that had what I would consider way too much head! Service was great, apart from the arsehole that pushed his way in front of me at the bar, not the staffs fault tho! One other thing, the lock on the john is bust so you have to keep your leg against it while you're your having a dump, just thought you should know! A cracking pub and one to visit if you're in Carlisle, along with the Howard Arms!
30 Aug 2009 01:07
Visited on a sunday afternoon, plenty of seats & tables available in the spacious bar. Beer was poor (York Guzzler) food was poor ( Sunday Roast Specials, half chickens) all 3 didn't looked roasted, althougn were cooked, they looked pale and unappetising, although chicken tikka and vege burger, which were chosen by my kids,were fine. Pub itself was fine, and toilets were ok, but poor food, disappointing beer, and poor food service put me off visiting again.
24 Aug 2009 00:14
I spent most of my first year at college in this fantastic pub, so much so that I had to repeat the year! Great to see that it's virtually unchanged! A superb pint of Deuchars!
12 Jul 2009 23:56
For a Lloyds (Wetherspoons) bar this is pretty good, quieter than I'd expected for a Sunday afternoon, there were a lot of people sitting outside, so we found a table inside quite easily. Food was the usual Wetherspoons fare, nowt wrong with that, and the pint I had was crackin' (Big Lamp Bitter) so nothing to complain about really, even the toilets were clean! I've not spent a night in Newcastle yet but when I do I'll put this on my crawl list!
12 Jul 2009 22:38
The Five Swans, Newcastle upon Tyne
Went here on April 7th 2009, when visiting my daughter. She suggested having lunch here as she liked it (she's a student at Northumbria Uni)and it did a buy one get one free deal on selected dishes. There are plenty of seats outside, seating inside is comfortable and clean. There is an obvious studenty feel to the place, being near both unis thats to be expected I suppose, beer range was uninspired, Fosters, John Smiths, Woopecker, etc, no cask beer. Food was ok, in the style of Wetherspoons, good sized portions and hot, at the price (as it was on the BOGOF deal) I had no complaints. Big screens advertised the current offers on a variety of cocktails and other drinks aimed at the younger, student types that are the pubs target market. All in all, not a bad experience, food was good, it was clean and comfortable and it was quiet enough to allow conversation. A cask beer or two would improve it's rating in my eyes, as would a good clean of the toilets.
8 Apr 2009 10:20
Richard John Blackler, Liverpool
Going by the previous comments, I'm not alone in finding this 'Spoons not very welcoming or clean. Ok, it was heaving when I popped in, but as it was Sunday, with Everton v Liverpool as well, I'd have thought extra staff would have been drafted in, but still the dirty tables were strewn with glasses, the staff that were serving all looked stressed out. I didn't have any beer as I was driving, but I was planning on eating here as I quite like Wetherspoons food, and the reasonable prices, but after having a look around the place, I decided to grab a sandwich elsewhere.
28 Jan 2009 10:25
Visited on a Saturday afternoon, fairly busy with drinkers and lunchers. The pint of Theakstons Bitter was delicious, smooth and hoppy, also had Black Sheep on handpump. A crackin' interior with many rooms, one bar in the middle, seating is comfy, there is a juke box (not over loud) a fruit machine and, although I couldn't see it, a telly. Well worth a visit.
11 Jan 2009 12:39
Keel Row Lloyds No 1, Newcastle
A typical Lloyds No1 bar, a bit dark inside large screen tvs above the bar, it was busy on my visit, on a Wednesday afternoon, most of the tables inside were for two, so my family (5 of us) moved outside to have our lunch. This was the usual JDW fair, nothing special. Only had 3 handpumps, which was a bit disappointing, two normal JDW beers and only one guest.
16 Oct 2008 00:24
Visited on Sunday before August Bank Holiday, weather was pretty good, so many people sitting outside. Food was average tastewise, and a bit pricey for what it was. Have to say Weatherspoons beats it on price! I was driving, so no beer I'm afraid so can't comment, they had Theakstons Best and also Grouse Beater on draught. Very much a family orientated food pub so avoid if you're looking for a quite pint.
29 Aug 2007 22:33
The Clovenfords Hotel, Clovenfords
Visited a few months ago and had meal in the Vineyard restaurant, which was delicious. Didnt try any beer as I was driving so cant comment on that. It's clean and well maintained, has plenty of seats outside if the weathers good enough to allow that. I have heard that there's been changes to the chefs since my visit and the food isn't as good now, but I cant say for certain.
23 Aug 2007 10:01
Have not visited this pub for at least 15 years, and I've been in it twice in the last week. It's clean, airy (Hurray for the smoking ban!)and while it was busy,it wasn't too noisy so it was easy to have a conversation without raising your voice.The seating is comfy, but if you prefer to stand there is enough space around the bar. I didn't try the food but it seemed to popular on both visits so I may give it a try soon. As well as the usual suspects on draught there were 3 real ales available on each visit, Deuchars, Pedigree, and a guest, Hydes Bitter one time, and Cains IPA the other. A good pub tastefully revamped, inside & out, well worth a visit.
14 Oct 2006 00:05
Hmm,Ok I agree the interior was MUCH better than I expected, after seeing the trendy tables outside,but this place has no atmosphere or character. Not a pub I'd go out of my way to revisit.
2 Oct 2006 11:03
Staggs is a superb wee pub. Freindly staff & punters, quiet enough to have a conversation without shouting comfortable seating, and a small but ever changing range of perfectly kept cask beer. WELL worth the journey from Edinburgh...or any where else for that matter.
2 Oct 2006 10:54
A typical JDW pub on two levels, good atmosphere on most visits, good beer too , although the quality of the food and food service has been variable.It is often very busy at lunchtimes with families, and in the early evening when the offices empty. Midweek after 6-7 o'clock it's usually easy to get a decent seat. Variable food aside, this is worth a visit.
27 Jul 2006 19:20
First visited over two years ago, before the smoking ban in Scotland. Then I found it to be too smoky, although it seemed ok in other respects. On this visit it was very busy, but we found a empty booth after a couple of minutes. The smoky atmosphere had obviously gone and made for a nice relaxing,airy feel to the place. The range of cask beers was dominated by Houston Brewery beers which, if I had time I would have loved to sample, they also had Bitter & Twisted. The food was the usual JDW fayre, can't complain about that really as you get what you pay for.Well worth a visit if you're in Ayr.
27 Jul 2006 12:43
Visited on a quiet midweek lunchtime, there were a few people dotted around the bar. This has been refurbished recently and given a good clean. Rather lacking in atmosphere, although that may change in the evening/at weekends when there is live music. Food was delicious, I can recommend the venison & stilton pies, my wife had fillet of fish in a remarkably light, melt in the mouth beer batter.Servings, while not massive were sufficient and left space to enjoy my pint of Wells Bombardier, they also had Deuchars on draught as well as the usual keg suspects. The gents toilets must be in the running for the "narrowest toilet in the world" award.
4 May 2006 11:40
Surprised to see the big screen tvs! I understood Wetherspoons to be devoid of this sort of thing , while I cant complain about the good range of cask beers, or the speed of service, the presence of these irritating screens and the VERY smoky atmosphere spoiled the experience for me!
23 Mar 2006 01:27
GOOD GOD!!! What's happened to this pub?? It used to have great beer and lots of atmosphere, but on this visit it had neither!!! It was dimly lit with few punters for a Saturday night, which made me suspicious, and after tasting the pint,Houstons Peters Well, I could understand why...the beer was dismal, as was the pub, even the "hen night" in the corner of the bar seemed to be having a crap night...we left before finishing our drinks...AVOID!
23 Mar 2006 01:15
Ah! The Guildford! A VERY fine pub indeed! Another of those bars I frequented as a student, and was delighted to revisit recently to find little had changed (apart from the FANTASTIC range of cask beers now available, not that cask beers weren't available then, but they now have a bigger, better range of draught beers)You'll be lucky to find a table, so hopefully you'll not mind perpendicular drinking. Although the bar is very busy, you won't have to wait for your order to be served. I can heartily recommend the Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted, although will be many others to chose from. Beware of the revolving doors when you leave, especially if you've had a few!!!
23 Mar 2006 01:01
I happened to pop into this pub on a recent night out in Edinburgh....avoid this place if possible. When our party of 8 passed through the door, we were "greeted" with glares from both customers & staff, and mutters of discent...It would seem they like regulars here and frown upon casual passers by, which must piss them off, being on Rose St, one of the city's busiest pub crawls. There were no cask beers available, so after a swift Bud bottle ( I might prefer cask beer but I'm not THAT fussy!)we left, hopefully never to return!
23 Mar 2006 00:45
I used to drink here years ago when I was a student in Edinburgh. I was delighted to find that it hadn't changed, a small but well kept range of cask ales, including Broughton Greenmantle IPA, which was superb! They also had Abbotsford Ale, which is actually Atlas Brewers Three Sisters, rebadged for the Abbotsford, and again, another crackin' beer.On my visit Anchor Steam Beer was also available on draught @ �3.40/pint!!! I passed on that one.I hear great things about the food avaliable here but as I haven't tried it I can't offer an opinion. I can however highly recommend this superb bar.
23 Mar 2006 00:31
One of a couple of Wetherspoons in Derby. On my last visit, for lunch, we were informed that most of the menu was unavailable due to some (obviously horrendous) disaster in the kitchen.However it is a very comfortable pub, serving a good selection of interesting cask ales, there is limited seating outside. Well worth a visit.Oh! It's just a matter of minutes walk from the centre of Derby...hardly a "backwater"...enjoy!
23 Mar 2006 00:01
Been to this a couple of times when visiting Derby, and it's a typical Wetherspoons, with a rather boring standard range of cask ales available, there may be a guest ale of note,Springheads Roaring Meg on my last visit, which was top quality, very good stuff. Food is standard Wetherspoons fare.Another Wetherspoons in Derby, The Babington Arms, has ( or had on our visit on the same day)a wider, more diverse range of cask beers, but as food wasn't available there that day(some disaster had happened in the kitchen!) we went to the Standing Order instead. Will no doubt visit both again soon...will review both again.
22 Mar 2006 23:52
The Clachaig Inn, Clachaig
A retro rate, I visited The Clachaig on Aug 30th 2014 after climbing Bidean nam Bian, and heading back along The Lost Valley, a long hot day! We nipped in here for a well earned pint on the way back to Glen Nevis. It was quite quiet, just a few folk in the large bar, a good atmosphere tho! I enjoyed the pint of Trade Winds, one of the many handpumps available that day. The staff were friendly and asked where we'd been and recommended other local walks. I'd definitely return!
11 Feb 2015 22:10