BITE user comments - doj
Comments by doj
Just back from the Willowbank where I had an excellent glass, or three, of the Caledonian Brewery's Seasonal Ale for March - May 2001 - Flying Dutchman at 4.5%. Nice tidy pub with a very modestly priced food menu. Downside to me was the presence of twin TV screens over the bar showing firstly football - Romania V Switzerland, then horse racing from Dubai - both with the volume far higher than necessary! Sadly, in this sports mad city of mine this is not unusual! My rating reflects my displeasure with the ambiance and I doubt that I will bother going back because of the intrusive TVs.
26 Mar 2011 20:18
The Eagle and Child, Bispham Green
Went there by bus from Ormskirk. Dropped off at the door at noon which was when the pub opened. 6 very acceptable real ales on tap and a delectable cider from Pontypridd, South Wales which, at 6.5%, was definately one for the road. Food pretty good if slightly pricey but service efficient and friendly enough. Pub closes at 3 Monday to Thursday and, as the bus back to Ormskirk was due at 2.55 this suited us well.
25 Aug 2010 22:14
The Stan Laurel Inn, Ulverston
Visited this pub with a couple of friends on a Wednesday lunchtime. It was very busy with a lot of people eating. Six real ales on tap; Young's Bitter; Tirril Brewery 'Old Faithful'; Ulverston Brewery 'Laughing Gravy'; Dent Brewery 'Golden Fleece'; Twaites 'Original'; and finally 'Thirst Class' from a brewery whose name I can't read from my notes. We did have half a pint of each of them and they were all excellent. The bar staff were pleasant and efficient and on the barmaid's recommendation we decided to stay and dine and had some of the finest fish, chips and mushy peas ever. As a plus the meals were 2 for the price of 1. Can't recommend this pub highly enough. Would have stayed longer but we had a train to catch. The Laurel and HArdy Museum is close by too - well worth a visit - if you are a fan.
25 Aug 2010 22:03
Visited at lunchtime on a Wednesday. Mate and I delighted to find a Samuel Smiths pub. We both had a pint of the Samuel Smiths stout to start with and it was OK and not as good as the same brew sampled elsewhere. I overheard another customer complain about the bitter so for the next round I stuck with the stout while my mate tried the bitter. He wasn't happy and I had a sip and it was sour and, in our view, undrinkable. Barmaid was aked to change it for something else and was clealy not happy and eventually changed it for a stout and charged him the difference! How's that for keeping the customer satisfied? The customer I had overheard earlier who was not happy with the bitter left without finishing his drink by the way. Will we go there again - I doubt it. Other drinkers there were friendly enough though. If you want to drink Samuel Smiths at its best go to the Golden Lion in Frodsham.
1 Oct 2009 12:33
One of the better pubs in Frodsham. Samuel Smiths Stout is superb. Prices are very acceptable at circa �1.50 or so a pint. Just up along Main Street go to Coward's Butchers for quality pies full of real meat - a true treat.
The Golden Lion is well worth a visit, and handy for the station too.
16 Sep 2009 17:15
Good selection of real ales when we were there. I really must start taking notes in the pubs I visit as my memory is not what it used to be! Nice beer garden too. We will certainly go there again soon.
9 Sep 2009 23:37
No opportunity to sample the wares here - doesn't open until 14.00 except on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday when it's 12.00.
9 Sep 2009 23:31
Stumbled on The Lake by chance. Good find. Only one real ale - Bombardier which was in excellent form. As indeed was the landlady!
9 Sep 2009 23:26
Three of us wandering around Hoylake bumped into a friend who told us that this establishment had just changed hands in the past few weeks and he was not impressed. He works only a few yards from the Anchor but we met him, by chance, in the Ship. We sent in a scout at the Anchor and he was out in quick time reporting that there were no real ales on. It may improve an if so I will report back.
9 Sep 2009 23:20
Visited on Wednesday, 26th August 2009, had a very acceptable pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord. Food prices a little too high for three poor and penniless pensioners.
26 Aug 2009 20:53
The photo, taken on Wednesday, 26th August 2009, tells its own sad story. The pub is currently closed and for sale.
26 Aug 2009 20:50
Visited today - Wed. 26th August 2009 - by far the best of the three pubs we had visited. A real 'local' full of friendly drinkers - realistic prices too! We will certainly go back there. Real ale too - pity it was after a few earlier pints so I can't remember what we had. Sadly no food available on the day as the chef was having a day off. Small grocery store opposite had a few pasties though which were allowed to eat in the pub.
26 Aug 2009 20:44
Visited with 2 friends on a quiet Wednesday lunchtime. London Pride in excellent condition. The place is certainly not 'run down' as described by an earlier visitor. Indeed it is very clean and tidy and spotless too. We will visit there again next time we go to Southport.
23 Jul 2009 12:04
Friday, 8th August 2008. Tempted by the promise of a Beer Festival 3 of us visited the Junction - it's right opposite Rainford Station so very easy to find. Sadly we got there at 1 p.m. only to find that the Festival didn't start until 8 p.m. Never the less we enjoyed a couple of quiet pints while all around there was much huffing and puffing in preparation for the evening. Pity we couldn'tstay because all the real ales were being set up for later!
8 Aug 2008 22:21
Visited there on Saturday, 11th November 2006, with a bunch of CAMRA members from Liverpool. What a great pub! Wide selection of ales. Food looked great - the cumberland sausage curl was very inviting. Great atmosphere. Best pub we visited all day.
12 Nov 2006 20:56
Merseyside CAMRA ran a coach trip on 2nd September to Cumria and the Queens Head was our first stop. Many of us wished we could have stayed there all day. There were five real ales on the pumps and a roaring fire in the grate - well it was chucking it down outside in traditional lakeland fashion. The warmth of the fire reflected the warmth of the welcome we received from all the staff who took the time to chat with us while they were busy pulling our pints. This is pub not to miss.
3 Sep 2006 21:30
One of my favourites in the whole of Liverpool, primarily for the great value all-day King Sized breakfast which is washed down by one the real ales on tap. I have never, ever, had a bad pint in the Pilgrim and the staff are friendly and efficient. Do not miss this place if you visit Liverpool but be warned that it can get busy - very popular with students.
15 Jun 2006 22:32
The relatively new owners have been busy introducing new beers to their range - Cain's Lager is developing quite a reputation for itself and is about to be produced in cans and the recently introduced Cains Stout is delicious and is being rolled out throughout the Cains family of pubs. Of late the 'guest beers', that used to be a feature of the Tap, have vanished and it is now a choice of Cain's, Cain's, or - Cain's.
15 Jun 2006 22:22
Wapping Bitter won the CAMRA 'Beer of the Festival' Award at the Liverpool Beer Festival held earlier this year. The presentation of the plaque to Stan - the Brewer - took place on Friday, 9th June 2006. A tour of the brewery, which is cunningly concealed under the pub, showed how much can be packed into a small space. Brews on offer as well as the bitter were their Summer Ale and the excellent Wapping Stout. I have yet to try the breakfast but intend to do so in the near future. Liverpool is going through a 'Big Dig' and the Baltic is somewhat isolated at the moment - it's well worth the effort to go there though.
15 Jun 2006 22:15
The Crooked Billet Inn, Worsthorne
Visited this glorious pub with a party from Liverpool on a Saturday – they even opened up an hour early to accommodate us. They stock a range of beers from the local Worsthorne Brewery and its owner, Michael Whittaker kindly dropped by to chat with us. On offer that day were Red Man, Chestnut Mare, Foxtons and Some Like it Blonde.
The pub itself has a number of rooms – including one with a real fire. The central serving area is readily accessible from all sides. Alison and Paul – the management team – have really got their act together to create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere backed up by cheerful and efficient staff. Top marks too for the quality of the beers served.
I would like to make a prediction that the Crooked Billet will, one day, be a contender for the title of CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year.
18 Mar 2013 10:22