BITE user comments - eccentric_man
Comments by eccentric_man
The Marlborough Arms, Tottenham Court Road
IN response to earlier comments, you can't expect to avoid students in this pub (practically next door to ULU and UCL) since they provide a large chunk of its intake.
For the most part the summary below is fair (if a little acerbic in places). The food is acceptable (and designed) for a student budget - I myself have enjoyed many-a-two meals for 6 pounds offer. At least it comes quickly.
By an ale-drinker's standard the beer isn't kept all that well, but I've had a lot worse.
I have no problem with the music.
I have no problem with the decor. If you don't like it, bugger off to some poncy wine bar where you'll pay through the nose for something just as bad, but slightly shinier.
8 Feb 2005 15:06
The Carpenters Arms, Tottenham Court Road
This pub used to be fantastic. It was moderate but cheap beer and excellent friendly staff. An overabundance of UCL students in the area, but since I just finished being on of 'em I can hardly complain.
Anyway, like I said was a decent place to go, especially on quieter evenings of the week, but since the refurb last year it's gone downhill. It looks a bit shinier than it did, but the prices went up and the quality went down (slightly).
Disappointed. If you're in the area, I'd recommend the Fitzroy on Charlotte Street as a must-visit, or perhaps the Marlborough arms on Tollington for a fair selection of ale and cheapish/good food.
8 Feb 2005 14:56
From what I could gather from CAMRA, this is the only pub in the centre of Croydon where you can get a pint of Broadside. As such, I made my way there poste haste to sample aforementioned wunder-brew.
Very nice it was too.
Quiet, friendly local pub. Fairly small, but cosy with it. No fancy crap, but a real local pub. Only been in for a few pints here and there, but if you're doing the rounds in Croydon I'd recommend it (for the proper bar billiards if not the Broadside!).
8 Feb 2005 14:51
Tremendous News! I was under the impression that the Tamworth Arms had closed down once tramlink construction got underway, hence I thought the Dog & Bull was the only remaining Young's pub in the area.
My mistake. Guess I'll have to wander down when I'm next around.
8 Feb 2005 14:47
Come here all the time, whenever I can.
The ONLY venue in London with live Blues every night of the week. Also, free every day before 8:30. Considering the quality of the music, this is incredible. Some of the best gigs I've ever seen!
Drinks are expensive (pint of broadside around �3), but what do you expect from a live music bar behind regent street? Well worth it if you ask me.
Anyway, if you want some of the best blues you can ever see live, go Friday or Saturday night. Friday it opens at six, but all the tables will be occupied by 6:20 so be swift! Saturday is also cool, opening at noon with open mic from 2:00pm and a band in the evening.
4 Feb 2005 16:12
Really like it in here. The place just looks cool. Drinks are, sadly, too expensive and doesn't have the best range.
But still worth a look-in. Are superior pubs close by, but more out of the way. If you don't know what you're looking for in Camden, The World's End is a fair enough shout.
Watched the 2003 World Cup England v France semifinal match in here; weren't many other people there, so it was pretty cool. Also came for the Final itself, which was far busier. Unfortunately the pub wasn't designed to house a big screen, so unless you get in early & get a good seat, the view is pretty pants.
A rugby-watching alternative is the Liberties Bar halfway up the high street.
4 Feb 2005 16:05
Pretty decent place to go for a few pints, especially in early evening in the summer time. But lacks any genuine pub atmosphere. Fair, but not top-notch, selection of brews. Decent quality, though. Wouldn't go to randomly chat to strangers, but good if you're with a crowd of mates.
4 Feb 2005 15:55
Unlike most places in Croydon, don't need to dress up to get in. Hence it's one of the only non-pub venues in Croydon that I've got time for. Fair selection of music, depending on what day it is. Quite expensive, but bearable. Quite cool decor inside.
4 Feb 2005 15:49
Best place to hear decent tunes in Croydon. Friendly staff, lots of interesting people to meet.
Beer selection not always that great, and last time I was in the beer quality was terrible, but that's not typical of The Ship, just a one-off. Still well-worth a visit.
4 Feb 2005 15:37
The Porter and Sorter, Croydon
Decent pub, okay selection of beers. Food is pretty good. Bar service not the best in my experience.
Good, but nothing special.
4 Feb 2005 15:35
Decent Youngs pub on Parkway just off Camden High St. Fair range of Youngs beers. Usually pretty friendly people, nice relaxed atmosphere. Can seem a bit impersonal sometimes, if that makes any sense.
But usually a good time.
4 Feb 2005 15:32
Really nice pub out of the way in Camden.
Basic interior - nothing special, but friendly staff and punters.
Great Adnams Broadside served from proper casks.
One of my favourite beer gardens. Spent most of my summer days in my last year of uni whiling away the hours there. Right on the canal, so quiet and relaxing. The summer sun travels over from the back of the garden down to set over the front of it.
Also within easy reach of central Camden, if you want to go on for a night out, or alternatively the Lord Stanley north through the mews if you want another pint of Broadside.
4 Feb 2005 15:29
This is an awesome pub. Cosy inside, cool balcony. Great range of brews, all pretty decent quality.
Fantastic location in the square. Pasties sold downstairs are tremendous. Also close to a great cigar shop.
And, being in Covent Garden, also close to other great watering holes such as the porterhouse, if you're looking for a change of venue/beer/pace.
4 Feb 2005 15:25
Adore this pub. Have been almost every week for several years. Discovered it while at university in London. Me & my uni mates managed to single-handedly change its review in Time-Out to include a reference to student clientele (of which we were the only ones at the time). Since then, a few more students visit, but mostly a blend of blue-collar and city types of an evening. Excellent range of draught and bottled Young's range, usually of superb quality. The Special and Winter Warmer rule.
Great decor, although pub is quite small so between about 6:30 and 8:30 is packed most evenings.
But have now started serving food again after a couple of months without.
Still my favourite Young's pub.
4 Feb 2005 15:21
Great pub on Surrey St. in amongst the market. Fair range of Young's brews. Traditional listed building dates back ages. Friendly, decent folk reside herein. Also only remaining Young's pub in Croydon, as far as I know. The rest have gradually receded into the ether. Shame.
4 Feb 2005 15:15
Another superb Sam Smith pub. Looks awesome inside - dates back to 14th C. I think. Suffered from major blaze a few hundred years ago. First floor removed to leave massive open space with original wood fittings and windows. Great booths, and stove fires for the chilly winter months.
And, of course, Sam Smith supplies his wonderfully cheap and tasty brews...
Food's also pretty decent.
4 Feb 2005 15:11
One of my favourite London pubs. Tremendous watering-hole. Excellent Sam Smith brews (and at �1.68 for the Sovereign or Old Brewery, dirt cheap for the area). Do still play some (quiet) music, good mix, nothing too lame.
But beware - thieves very active in this pub/area - have had mates deprived of all sorts; coats, wallets, souls etc.
Added bonus: Icco is just about a block north on the corner - some of the best value genuine pizza in london. Perfect bite before hitting the pub.
4 Feb 2005 15:06
The Porterhouse, Covent Garden
Cool place to go for something a little beyond a regular pub/bar. Great bottled selection of beers of all (or most) types.
However, gets annoyingly busy despite impressive size, and generally seems to be too few bar staff.
Also bloody expensive, but hey it's Covent Garden.
Still a good spot.
4 Feb 2005 15:02
The Sir Julian Huxley, Selsdon
Not too shabby. Food is disappointing, but then again I've got a big appetite.
Fairly cosy, not too busy. Also have a half-decent range of guest ales, including some not-to-commonly seen ones. Fair effort.
4 Feb 2005 14:57
Right in front of the practice studio I use with my band, so v. convenient. Also cheap, with friendly staff and big screen for watching your favourite team get beat...
4 Feb 2005 14:53
One of the best pubs in Croydon. Decent range of Fullers beers, all consistently top-notch. Pride is particularly good.
Also a tremendous place to watch the rugby, especially if you want to avoid Walkabout.
Highly recommended. Good facilities, but food is pretty pricey.
4 Feb 2005 14:51
Back to eccentric_man's profile
The Caernarvon Castle, Camden
Cruised along here last saturday night to do a recce (my band BENIHANA are headlining here on Friday 2nd September '05 - come enjoy some groovy stoner rock!). Looked like it'll be a cool place to play a gig, and the bar staff were real friendly. Shame the headlining act for that night had cancelled, but that's not the pub's fault.
Solid pub, although disappointed that there weren't any ales on when I was there.
22 Aug 2005 16:21