BITE user comments - goosegog
Comments by goosegog
A quick beer update: Dark Star - Hop Head ~ Dark Star - American Pale Ale ~ Dark Star - Saison ~ Surrey Hills - Shere Drop
More ales, all local and excellent on soon. We're very lucky to have a handful of exceptional ale outlets in this locale!
13 Apr 2010 22:56
Good quality ale and the �5 pie was also good value for money and a real pie not just a lid. My only major criticism is a significant lack of cleanliness of the plates and cutlery for our meal. They were crusty with food residue underneath. I can't imagine I'll be returning
11 Apr 2010 18:48
The Prince of Wales, Farnborough
An absolutely superb gem of a pub I visited on Good Friday afternoon for a pair of cheeky halves. The fire was lit and the welcome was warm. An incredible 10 ales on and the Downton Quad Hop was superb as was Hop Back Hop Medley. My good lady friend had Dark Star Hop Head which trounced them both!
A clean and well-maintained pub with the care and devotion all pubs should have. Visit soon!
2 Apr 2010 23:33
I used to really rate this pub a few years ago. Went in with friends on Saturday night. It immediately appeared filthy and run-down. Three out of four pump clips turned round leaving on Shepherd Neame Kentish Best on so we left straight away.
30 Mar 2010 07:28
A fairly niceish place, interesting interior. A couple of real ales when I was there which weren't as good as I've had them served before. If I was in Guildford anyway, I would return
30 Mar 2010 07:23
Not really a pub so not somewhere you'd go for some drinks with friends unless you're eating, in which case it's a pleasant place to eat.
We had a warm welcome from the new manager and Horsham beer in good condition. (Sharp's - Doom Barwas also on) Beautifully presented restaurant with excellent menu and great food to match. I'd certainly recommend for a nice meal in a clean, friendly, cosy atmosphere with great service
7 Oct 2009 20:22
Plough at Blackbrook, Blackbrook
I'm not sure why but this pub has closed again. Please, if it's because it's not doing well and you're a potential new owner, please sell some decent, exciting real ales and the pub will fare much better. Check out the nearby Royal Oak at Rusper, Surrey Oaks, Three Horseshoes at Sidlow and choose your beer along the lines of these places!! This tempting little pub will continue to fail if it continues to sell dreadful Badger beer
15 Sep 2009 19:15
I enjoyed many great beers, mostly those I've never had before, on the beer festival on Friday night and returned to try all the excellent ciders on the Monday while enjoying the jazz band in the sun. A recent new and permanent chef has lifted the food quality too to great reviews. You'll receive a friendly welcome from the locals and enjoy a traditional pub, run properly
4 Sep 2009 22:44
Great pub. Stopped in for a pint for the first time today. A warm welcome and a fine pint of Harvey's Olympia. A traditional, unspoilt place
24 Aug 2009 22:20
Great pub with lots of historic original features and fittings. Monthly guest brewer (Dark Star August!!), a warm welcome and a great atmosphere. lots of wood and brass. Love it
24 Aug 2009 20:49
Went with a group of 8 friends on a Friday night and we were all asked for ID, even an older gentleman in our group, but that was OK as the staff were friendly enough. Lots of lager but they do also have Thatcher's Heritage Cider on tap which was a nice treat
DJ+loud music+dance floor was what we were looking for and we had a good evening here. Clean toilets. Friendly bar staff. It's alright!
27 Jun 2009 07:15
Three Horseshoes Inn, Sidlow Bridge
First visit for many years and delighted to say it's a great ale pub. A warm welcome and keen interest in seeing we had a good evening. Dark Star Hophead and Dorking Number One both reasonably well kept if not totally perfect on this occasion. Highly recommended and I will be returning soon
10 Apr 2009 18:44
Plough at Blackbrook, Blackbrook
Now extensively redecorated and reopened on Saturday 21st March 2009. A nice cosy pub with two distinct halves. Still owned by Hall & Woodhouse so unfortunately still Badger beers but I'm told the landlady intends to buy the pub and venture into better beers. Food still in its early days and menu limited at the moment but set to expand. Worth keeping an eye on this place. Real log fire
23 Mar 2009 21:35
Not too bad really. Open-plan, modern, perhaps soulless. Had a good pair of ales though; Sharp's Doom Bar and TT Landlord, both served well. Function room upstairs
14 Mar 2009 10:23
The Kings Head, Holmbury St Mary
Nice little proper boozer this. A warm welcome in this tucked-away pub in the rolling Surrey Hills. 4 real ales on offer (GK-IPA, Horsham Best, Surrey Hills Shere Drop, Hepworth Pullman). Log fire. Bar Billiards. Good stuff!
11 Mar 2009 21:05
Plough at Blackbrook, Blackbrook
Currently under renovation. The chap I spoke to said it was being purchased from the brewery and would be independently owned. Potential good pub here!
25 Feb 2009 18:57
A simply-decorated High Street pub in the delightful and pictiuresque town of Lindfield, this pub is indeed a gem and well worth a visit. Not especially traditional inside, the building could easily be converted into a shop but the pub's specialities lie in the beer!
Several hand-pumps of wonderful ales and lagers (no usual lagers here - Dark Star's own Organic). Lunch for �3. Clean toilets. Great place!
22 Feb 2009 20:37
Set in the residential area of Kemptown, this corner bar is handy for the local music scene with open-mic nights and regular solo-musicians performing, including the Irish landlord. Colourfully (gaudily) decorated many years ago, the pub is poorly maintained and gives the impression of having seen more prosperous times. Three striking goldfish tanks are a feature of the building. The main bar area is decorated with a selection of band t-shirts pinned to the walls and the window frames. A taped-shut Velux vent is also a feature. What was most notable was how very cold the venue is. It was 0�c outside but there was no heating on at all. No warmth. Many people remarked how cold it was, even to the landlord but no heating was turned on for us. Most punters sat shivering in hats and coats while enjoying the live music
A grim hole of an establishment with little-to-no evidence of cleaning. The gents' toilet is plastered with gig fliers, the floor featured several used toilet rolls sodden in a puddle of muddy piss. More filth in the toilet cubicle whose wooden toilet seat was on the floor, along with grubby scrunched-up balls of toilet paper
The usual Hall & Woodhouse drinks: Badger ale, HB lager, Stowford Press cider. No Irish whisky. No single malt whisky. This place is very run-down and crying out for full renovation. Avoid until this happens
8 Feb 2009 09:59
A country pub spoilt (or enhanced, depending on your viewpoint) by a Italian-esque 'makeover' inside. There's nothing traditional here. The food is trying to be special. It's quite pricey. We had a pizza which was pretty good actually. The beers are premium and pricey. Aspall cider. It's not really a pub any more.
11 Jan 2009 17:12
Just popped in for a pint after a walk. A pleasant and well-maintained pub, extra special because they brew their own beer. 3 real ales were available today. The Crooked Furrow and Tally Whacker were both very good. Great location. Well worth a visit. I shall be returning to try all their beers several times over!
Log fire and darts
11 Jan 2009 17:08
Just popped in for lunch on a Monday. A pleasant pub with two log fires burning. Adequate lunch menu which was good tasty fare. Beers included Wychwood Winters Troll, Hobgoblin, Ringwood Best and cider was Thatcher's Gold - yum yum! Worth a visit if you're in the area
5 Jan 2009 14:40
A nice little town-centre pub with a warm welcome from young staff
Disappointing beer selection though of one guest ale (Rockin' Rudolph when we visited on Sat) and the wishy-washy Green King IPA. Used to have Scrumpy Jack on tap but is now Strongbow which is a shame.
4 Jan 2009 09:32
A change has occured. A new landlord has improved the beer. We visited last night (Sat) and the beers were Surrey Hills Ruby, Old Speckled Hen, Rockin' Rudolph, Hook Norton Old Hooky so four real ales on offer.
The pub was full of life and the crowd were a friendly bunch. Well impressed, we will return!
4 Jan 2009 09:27
We popped in last week following a country walk. It's a nicely kept / improved pub with a good pint of cider on offer (Weston's Stowford Press) and a mix of client�le. An interesting building with several different seating areas. If you're in Capel and fancy a pint, it's worth popping in
3 Jan 2009 15:22
We took the opportunity for a return visit to eat today. It was busy but the staff were keen and happy, despite the date! Our chicken and leek pie was superb and cost �10. Young's was �3 a pint. If a Harvester pub was tacky reproduction furniture, then this place is a beautiful old grandfather clock in fine working order!
1 Jan 2009 17:05
Dreadful. Dreary, poorly kept pub, fallen from grace. Poorly-kept beer and absolutely undrinkable wine on our visit last night. Few customers and no atmosphere. Could do so much better with a little love applied
29 Dec 2008 16:57
A large and modern accommodating Young's pub. Clean and well run with a very warm welcome from the keen an enthusiastic staff. Masses of room for big groups and cosy seating in places for smaller occasions. There's a plush dining room out the back too; ideal for a birthday party
�3.05 a pint for Young's Bitter which is well kept, as are the other beers. Excellent service and the staff have a good sense of humour. Right next to Weybridge railway station so easy to get to. The only bad word I can find to say about this place is like most Young's pubs, there's little adventure to be had in the guest ales other than Young's.
The food we had was pretty darn good too. I'll be visiting with my workmates again soon!
22 Dec 2008 19:40
I agree with and don't need to expand much upon the 2008 reviews of this pub. I enjoyed my visit and was received with warm welcome. Unspoilt town boozer.
Would benefit from keeping and handful of specialist bottled stouts behind the bar for those, like me, who ask for them due to the pub's name. There seemed little interest in the subject though and I suspect K&B would disallow it anyway, which would be a shame. Stowford Press is one of the better 'town ciders' though. Would visit again on a pub crawl or a lunchtime pint. Possibly better that a rubbish chain pub. Billiards is a nice touch, I hope that stays
17 Dec 2008 22:54
Dec 2008 Review:
A mate and I popped in Saturday lunchtime in the hope of some Thai food and a pint and that's just what we got. A clean and well maintained pub with all the brasses polished. A real log fire and a warm welcome. Barmaid with a nice smile and a good sense of humour. Scrumpy Jack which is a good cider for most pubs and a couple of good ales too. Restaurant area, pub / restaurant with fire, low-beamed traditional pub area and separate bar with facilities for showing sports but not over-the-top by any means. A nice balance and something for all tastes. Thai meal was excellent but like most Thai meals, not completely filling on one course for the Western diet!
Worth a visit, would recommend and visit again
17 Dec 2008 22:44
A wonderful traditional pub. Well kept beers usually with an interesting guest ale alongside their regular ale. Stowford Press cider.
Absolutely fantastic quality food. Not a huge menu but that's not a bad thing. The lamb shank is scrumptious and a speciality. Last time I was there they'd sold out so I had a fillet steak which was the best I could remember eating. It could not have been improved!
Pool table, friendly staff and a warm welcome. Hard to fault.
9 Dec 2008 19:04
Quite a nice traditional little village pub. Beer pretty well kept. (Pride and Ringwood) Brass all polished! Darts and bar billiards table (in good condition). It's got some competition but I expect the other pubs probably see a lot of the passing trade.
We tried to go to The Old School House (Bryces restaurant) down the road but the car park was full to capacity so we popped in here instead and I'm glad we did
14 Oct 2008 15:57
An impressively large and unspoilt country pub situated on the village green. Many rooms, nooks and crannies. Ideal for intimate company or a large group. We didn't eat on this first visit but it looked great
Country produce shop situated within includes a butcher and fresh local meat. Ales well kept and good choice too. Roaring fire and K6 phone box inside also add to the charm. A return visit is planned!
14 Oct 2008 15:51
The Shakespeare's Head, Leicester
Not a particularly inviting-looking pub from the outside but we found it in The Good Pub Guide so we ventured in. They were offering a very lovely pint of Old Tom for �1.40. That's an incredible price for beer these days.
Like stepping back in time inside, it's completely unchanged since new. Well maintained, clean and friendly. We were staying at The Holiday Inn over the road and this pub was a great find for the real ale drinker.
31 Aug 2008 19:11
Dull, dull, dull. I liked the look of this place but went in, looked for a nice pint of cider, turned on my heels and left! No decent ales either. Unimaginative pub with a towny feel
28 Feb 2008 23:24
The Plough & Attic Rooms, Rusper
Yeah, it's really pretty nice in here. I wanted a nice ale and a sandwich which is exactly what I received, along with a really friendly welcome from the nice lady behind the bar. They've done a good job
28 Feb 2008 23:22
As close to perfect for a country pub as you could ever hope for. A massive range of well-kept ales, a superb Thatcher's cider and fabulous roasts on Sunday with local organic vegetables and meats.
I've been back several times and if the above ticks all the right boxes for you, you must visit. Cozy and intimate with nooks and crannies to hide in, The Royal Oak is an absolute gem. I just wish I lived in walking distance! Pantomime horse racing in their diary and chicken racing to come soon I'm told!!
11 Feb 2008 21:03
I visited recently (Feb '08) having been in lots in the summer when the pub is very popular. Still the same friendly welcome from the landlady. A cozy fire and good food awaits. On the downside, the cider was nearly flat, the beer poorly kept and of very limited choice (Tanlgefoot & Badger (yawn)) and they seem to have 'invested' in some kind of ultra-bright energy efficient light bulbs which serve only to dazzle. They're horrid!
With only drink improvements, a little imagination in the beer department, this could be a wonderful place. If you love a choice finely kept ales, try The Surrey Oaks up the road or The Royal Oak, Rusper
11 Feb 2008 20:57
This pub is a bright, clean and airy restaurant rather than a pub. The beer is good quality mediocrity at best. There were children everywhere on a Saturday lunchtime but you may read that as child-friendly. A reliable place to go for good quality pub grub and a pint. Not so good for real ales and truly hopeless for real cider. Surprisingly effective hand-driers though!
23 Dec 2007 07:45
Closed down now and changing to a Strada restaurant. Oh goodie, another Italian restaurant! I didn't like this pub but it was good for attracting the sort of people I didn't want in my favourite pubs. Shame it's closed really.
27 Mar 2007 22:03
For us, an absolutely brilliant pub. Many different beers, a warm welcome, cosy lighting, enough seating, and, crucially, a darts board! A good time was had by all. Thank you to the land lord and lady. We love your pub!
25 Mar 2007 02:08
I thought The Black Horse is also SA owned? Not that that matters much, The Red Cross is somewhere pleasant to go for a quiet pint. Perfect for some
15 Mar 2007 06:55
With a new landlord comes another approach to running this pub and for the better I say. The Red Cross is now somewhere to go for a calming, mature atmosphere and to enjoy a fine selection of ales (4 last night including Flowers (guest), 6X, Broadside and Pride). Scrumpy Jack and Biltong (Jerky) available too. Plenty of seating and a sensible atmosphere make it a place for, perhaps, older boys and girls. Good stuff!
3 Feb 2007 09:00
A very nice pub! Nice in the summer for green views from the garden and nice and cozy inside for a pint in the winter. I have only stopped by for a pint on the way home from work on a good few occasions.
Who asks for seperate bills? Just estimate and get the hell out the patron's face!
6 Dec 2006 22:49
I went to The Dolphin looking for good beer and food in friendly, traditionial surroundings and that's what I found. This wonderful, unmolested compact pub has three very seperate sections which cater for whatever mood you're in. Great Youngs beer, served with a smile and the food was pretty good too. There's not much they could have done better for us(mind you, the toilets could do with some modernisation (or cleaning up a bit)). I wish I lived next door! Don't tell everyone about this great pub though; it's not huge!
6 Dec 2006 22:43
The Oaks is a great place to take your mates to show your pride in your local pub. It's a great pub for drinkers and eaters alike. Always changing, they had 365 beers in one year in 2005! The food is pretty good and good value too. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm lamb pie :) It's my favourite pub in the world though so ignore my bias and go see for yourself
15 Oct 2006 19:44
It's still a 'quite good' visit if you're a local. Nice and dark inside, welcoming and consistently good beer quality and a fair choice available. I'm always happy to visit
15 Oct 2006 19:40
We were delighted to see The Bell has changed hands and is now looked after by some younger folk who seem to care. It's alright, not a huge amount of atmosphere. They're trying but haven't quite got it right yet. It's a good place to visit if you want a few beers with a mate
15 Oct 2006 19:37
I've been recently and landlord Ken has taken on a new bar dude called James and a friendly chap he is too. Great food, great beer, great service, great surroundings and great beer festivals! No wonder it's my favourite pub!
15 Aug 2006 18:26
The S'Oaks is my favourite pub full stop. I guess I'm pretty biased then but it's great to have a choice of garden areas 5 or 6 bar areas, pool table, fires, incredibly well kept ales and ciders, elusive crisps and really good food, all at reasonable prices. They made it no smoking this year too so when you walk in it smells of grub! When you leave you don't stink like an ash tray. If curry floats your boat, Ali Raj over the road is also superb. Think PINTS > CURRY > MORE PINTS! The pub also has two beer festivals a year. Huzzah!
15 Mar 2006 23:12
I love going here! Not for the atmosphere. Not for the bright lights and featureless interior. Not for the hard seats and lack of space or comfort. But for the FACT this place knows it's serving a vast and very educated variety of beers from around the world. I really enjoy sampling their many beers on any occasion. Well worth a visit. They know their sh!t!
17 Dec 2005 22:43
This place is a sh!t-hole! It's in a real tatty state of repair and even has smashed in windows now! Avoid at all costs
21 Nov 2005 15:29
Hooray! What a find. The Pilgrim is a great pub. Really friendly, decent cider (Stowford Press �2.50), pool table and FANTASTIC food! I recommend the Lamb Shank!
21 Nov 2005 15:26
Nice pub in a nice location. Recently under new management so my rating is reserved until they've been in a while...
31 May 2005 21:32
Legendary in the 90's when run by Linda, The Black Horse fell into the hands of Asian tennants who served Japanese and Korean food. It was run into the ground and stood derelict for a couple of years before having lots of money hosed at it in 2004. Major interior changes plus an extention seriously changed the pub into a very expensive and very bright food pub. There's nothing much bad about it with the exception of price (�18 for a steak without chips?!) and lack of charm of the original.
8 Jan 2005 10:49
Nope, The Black Horse didn't steal but business as it's way over-priced for food unlike The Jolly Farmers which isn't half bad. Pop in for grub, pint, log fire and papers!
8 Jan 2005 10:41
The Skimmington Castle, Reigate Heath
The Skim' is a lovely pub set in a secluded, serene location. It benefits from a fine choice of ales and ciders and friendly staff. No-nonsense food isn't astounding but then neither is the price. Nice for some Sunday grub and a few beers. Well worth a visit
8 Jan 2005 10:38
The Tickled Ivory Piano Lounge, Reigate
I don't fit in here. Full of immaculate people but I did get the most drunk I've been for a long long time! Usually rammed and smokey, take lots of money. What is nice is they have comfy leather sofas, live music and table service!
7 Jan 2005 16:44
Big pub on two floors spoilt by astounding lack-lustre and care. Huge potential to be the best pub for miles but falls miles short of the mark due only to lack of imagination. Possibly the most un-delicious beer in Reigate!
7 Jan 2005 16:39
The POW has seen terrific improvement and is now a genuinely warm and friendly place with a choice of ales and a log fire in the winter! Unfortunately the pool table has gone but it does have a Bar Billiards table. Whilst not a lively pub there's nothing much wrong with it. The landlord has made a very good job of making The POW a nice place to be again
7 Jan 2005 16:34
A hugely improved version of the much maligned pub in Nutley Lane, new tennants Peter and Yoz have given The Admiral a full makeover and new image. The pool table has sadly gone but it does have some big comfy sofas now and good beers albeit a little limited in choice due to the brewery I think. If you haven't been since refirbishment pop along for a pint, you'll be surprised!
7 Jan 2005 16:30
Yup, not as classy (we're talking D vs C class!) as the 'head, the Oak is an amusing wee pub with a more prominent position on the green. Worth a visit
23 Aug 2004 23:29
The Duke's Head is OK, nothing special but it does have a nice view and nice garden. Sadly it closes and sells over priced canned lager on Bonfire Night. They don't do that in Lewis which is a much better villiage than Brockham as their pubs stay open for the public on Bonfire night!
23 Aug 2004 23:26
Random roadside pub taken over and lots of money hosed at it. If you like McDonalds you'll like this pub. It's fairly bland and everything you see is new and fake however if you want a guaranteed seat on a Sunday and a roast dinner and a parking space, this will do the trick. However I reckon The Black Horse might steal some business when it opens 5th Sept 2004
23 Aug 2004 23:14
Lame lame lame pointless place (not a pub) Expect to see Alan Partridge or Gareth Cheesman there
23 Aug 2004 23:09
Nice pub, nice location, nothing particularly great or poor. Not a speacial night out and no reason to avoid. It's OK!
23 Aug 2004 23:07
An intimidating pub from the outside, it wasn't until a mate and I went there on a 'let's go to a random pub' outing we discovered what an unexpectedly nice old fashioned genuine pub with friendly land lord and lady. Proper pub snacks like pork scratchings, a choice of 2 ciders and a few beers. A rare opportunity to play Bar Billiards!
22 Aug 2004 20:42
Chris, probably because you used his car park for eating at Ali Raj across the road! The Surrey Oaks is my favourite pub even though I don't live particularly near. An exceptional array of ales, international beers and real cider on offer. Great food and a big garden with Boul� pitch and swings! Unmissable Beer Festival August Bank Holiday weekend and Ali Raj is superb for a curry after a few beers
22 Aug 2004 20:38
Great cosy, slightly grubby in the right places (gives character!) pub. Many original features. Always good beer at very good prices (Stella still �2.50 a pint). Nice to sit out in the garden behind and Dave's a nice guy!
22 Aug 2004 20:28
A great local, off-the-beaten-track pub which is the only place in Reigate to sell Stowford Press cider so it gets my vote! Function room out the back for special parties. Pleasant on-street seating. Very clean toilets! (and no I'm not connected with the land lord, just a random drinker!)
22 Aug 2004 20:23
They've HOSED monkey at The Castle turning it into the immaculate Priory. It's a different place, much more a bar than sh*thole pub it was before. Ideal for Redhill chav's posh night out with a new girlfriend!
22 Aug 2004 20:15
Unfortunately since John has left Ray has gutted The Bell of all its character making wall and ceiling trinkets. When John took over a few years ago it was an ailing and irrelevant pub in Reigate and he turned it round into a nice little ordinary pub with good beer and seating often available except for the busier evenings. Ray seems to have different ideas for The Bell and I'm not sure what they are but I think he's saving up for something however he shouldn't have gutted the place of all its character without having the next step in place. It seems to be much emptier now. Stuart has been driven away by Ray's unique pub management concept. One day I walked past I saw him throwing a ball for his dog in the pub. He clearly had nothing better to do as there wern't any punters!
22 Aug 2004 20:11
The Cricketers, Dorking
I'm very much warming to The Cricketers. After a few recent visits I attended this weekend's beer festival and was quite impressed. A real mix of local characters in here, like a sketch from The Fast Show! The landlord though tied to Fullers runs a great beer festival three times a year and with a warm welcome. If you're in Dorking it's the place to head to I reckon
2 May 2010 21:39