BITE user comments - jon.paul
Comments by jon.paul
Old Orleans, Kingston Upon Thames
I only drink there because its the after work venue (that and the dodger)
Talk about between a fraggle rock and a hard place, and this is the fraggle rock.
Cold, souless, reminds me of that god awful chicargo chain.
Lacks a drinkable beer beyond a blanc, you ask a whiskey and dry ginger, you sometimes get it, you sometimes get a blank stare.
Its your regular 'trendy' racket venue.
3 Apr 2007 22:42
The Litten Tree, Kingston Upon Thames
and the one in epsom seems to have been bulldozed?
Mind you, the door policy there was just asking for the place to be shut down.
5 Jan 2006 14:20
The Kings Tun, Kingston Upon Thames
Rumors abound that this may be rebranded a Lloyds No1. That is JDWs clubby bar type chain.
Could be an Improvement, but sometimes it feel as if a bus lost control at the lights and smashed into it, it would be an improvement!
It is OK, I'm not totaly sure about some of the door staff, they seem to have slipped up a couple of times, and with the regular clinetel the need to be up to seriously on the ball.
21 Dec 2005 15:45
O'Neills, Kingston Upon Thames
Its not perfect and the Fake feinian theme rubs. Needs to get in a couple of *shock horror* 'Beers' rather than the usual euro-lagers. The Erdinger is nice, but again, they are charging more than some other places. Seems over processed compared to Heogardens (IE its clear, and a white beer? errr? not right surely).
The music fella is still there. Still needs a complete overhaul of its seating arangements and a cloak room (as it quickly becomes standing room only!)
As to the previous Pub, the Apple Market. I remember it, that wasn't friendly to walk into, after the 'just finished work' crowd went home it became very insular and almost unfriendly if you were not a known face.
Other than that, I agree, drop the fake fenian theme, get a couple of beer/ales in, maybe smarten the place up a little and organise the seating better and have places to hang your coat if you don't have a seat, keep everything else and you will have a serious winner.
Its a good place to go on a Thursday/Friday/Saturday night. Not brilliant, but good in a 'good enough' kind of way.
Hey, I even like the door staff who conduct themselves in a maner that is definatly a cut above those in some other extablisments in town.
21 Dec 2005 15:29
Barcadia, Kingston Upon Thames
On the down side of Barcadia
It is good, Belive me, there are so many so-so to passable pubs and bars in the area that it stands out as good, but it is not the bee knees that some posters here rave about. After all, for a start, from my experiance they play all kinds of music, only if it has the word "house" in the genre name. And the music can be overbearing at times (volume wise).
Oh, and it needs to be twice the size (at least) with a larger quieter area.
Seems to be run by enthusiasts who have a bit of business noggin between these ears. That is NEVER a bad thing.
15 Jul 2005 14:51
A Bar 2 Far, Kingston Upon Thames
Closed for refurb, seems to be comming back as an eaterie!
Another half decent late night venue in Kingston seems to have bitten the dust.
14 Jun 2005 13:03
The Willoughby Arms, Kingston Upon Thames
I should Imagine that the weekend of the 23rd of April will be the next beer fest, As It's St Georges Day. Certainly it would be most unusual for Rick to let that slip by without some sort of event.
25 Mar 2005 15:11
The Queens Head, Kingston Upon Thames
To let sign on this one as well as the Oak
what is happening to these pubs just outside kingston on the Richmond Road. I Hope they don't suffer the same fate as those on the London Road :(
17 Mar 2005 18:06
So my spelling is rubbish! *pokes tounge*
The Oak is under new management, i've not seen the old bar manager or land lord/lady for a couple of weeks, A notice on the till pointed out that due to change in ownership they could not take cards, I asked the bar maid about this. Ownership has changed from Spirit Group to 'the massive pub company'.
21 Feb 2005 11:11
A Bar 2 Far, Kingston Upon Thames
Hint to anyone walking past this apparently, eternaly empty bar, go in, go upstairs.
Only what i can describe as a spacious if rather delapidated (in the decore department) ball room is what greets you upstairs, bar, bench seats, a few sofas and an elevated dj area (for dj and his crew) at one end. It has Something of the unpretentiousness of a Student union bar about it.
Lets face it, the beer selection isn't great, just the usual suspects and heaven help you if you want a beer rather than a lager/pilsner or Guinness, still a good selection of shorts and bottled beers. Its not that cheep either. However there is no door charge and late licence.
So if you don't fancy O'Neils, and don't want to spend money just to get into somewhere. This could be a viable option.
14 Jan 2005 20:09
Seems closed/for sale?
Something of a shame as i have wanted to re-visit the lounge (as it was before)
18 Dec 2004 18:02
Certainly a place I shall visit more often.
For consumption, a good pilsner, a white beer, 2 hand pump ales as well as the usual selections of lagers, the black stuff and ciders. Food, good weekday deals.
Decor is traditional dark warm colours, The music is just loud enough to be heard, not so loud that it makes conversation difficult.
At one end, 2 pool tables and many smaller tables, at the other, comfy chairs. I mean comfy chairs in the 'i don't want to get up' comfy.
Staff are friendly and helpful.
Just far enough away from the town center to be a nice retreat from those industrial boozers and the friday/saturday night party crowds that make drinking in the town center such a chore these days.
7 Dec 2004 12:39
The Queens Head, Kingston Upon Thames
"This is not the Owl and the Pussycat you are looking for"
Went there last night with a few friends. I Was not impressed, Lacking in atmosphere (it was monday night), warmth (decor is seriously to blame) or Beers!.
Staff however, top notch.
I won't be visiting again except for meeting someone there. There are pubs much more to my personal taste in the area.
7 Dec 2004 12:28
Acorn 20, Kingston Upon Thames
OK, The former Artful Dodger has been gutted and sanitised.
The good stuff, Opened out lay out, smokers corner retained, toilets upgraded.
Gone, pool tables, real ale.
Gained
DJ muzak all night long. Too loud to talk over, not loud enough to dance to.
Food, it is good but they keep themselves to finger food.
If you like bars, its worth visiting, if you like pubs, its not for you.
Needs about 12 months to 'mature' as it still feels like a show home!
I've given it a bang in the middle 5
22 Mar 2008 19:45