BITE user comments - kentrunner
Comments by kentrunner
The Old House At Home, Hersham
Personally I will be sorry to see the place go - I have lived nearby for 15 years and the Old House at Home was the first pub I had a pint in. It struggled on ever since with even the occasional spruce up and it was open every day - even Christmas. Now it looks very lonely and very dark. It is a grand building but down it will have to come. Not sure what the prospects are as the area nearby is industrial and locals probably wont want any more housing, social or otherwise. Only time will tell....
4 Aug 2010 23:11
An all round gem. Ossian and Brakspear ales in superb condition and a couple of others available too. Local clientele but very welcoming atmosphere in a well kept urban local. The food is excellent, basic pub grub, good breakfasts and excellent quality burgers served with style and even some salad! The beer garden is a fine little oasis (non-turfed so may not be ideal for small children), with smoking shelters and plenty of seating. Luton may not be the most attractive town and from the outside the Rose looks average - inside though is a great thriving local which is bucking the national trend.
19 Apr 2010 00:05
Sunday lunch at �9.50 in a very attractive pub in the Surrey countryside and you expect something pretty good. Roast beef of mediocre quality and roast potatoes could have been used as offensive weapons. Complained to chef who said portions were "pub policy" and would not add any more roast beef to my plate. Less than friendly atmosphere in the pub; staff surly and clearly did not want to be there; took a filthy glass back to the bar which had a large crack in it for exchange. My wife's bottled diet coke was replaced with a fountain equivalent - oldest trick in the book and summed up the visit. Had this been a restaurant I would not have paid. Our waiter (Polish guy) was great, personally, I would put him in charge of the lot. If you want a Sunday lunch in Ripley try elsewhere; this is a real pity though as the gardens and garden furniture are superb and the pub itself is charming.
20 Sep 2009 22:01
Went in last week and the pub appeared to be on verge of closure. No ales, only one lager, most of the interior furniture appeared to have vanished. Customers consisted of stoned looking estate types, drifting in and out with bags of chips. Atmosphere was semi threatening, lots of aghast stares from the locals, all the lights in the pub were on full blast giving the place a very uneasy aura. If the pub closes again I am sure the developers will move in; big plot with plenty of room for a small cul de sac!
9 Aug 2009 19:56
Anyone venturing in to this place must surely do so in the knowledge that it is not a Home Counties family friendly gastro pub. It is a run down boozer in the tatty end of a tatty town. I went in Sat lunchtime and listened in a while. Most of the customers in there are just trying to forget. Got chatting to one bloke who was just out of a life stretch in Elmley (HMP in Sheppey) and he said as much; just there to get smashed, forget, leave, crawl home and repeat until something better comes along. No food, no ales but the lager was surprisingly good!
26 Apr 2009 22:33
Gem of a find in a small village between Deal and Sandwich; bliknk and you could quite literally miss Sholden where I discovered the Sportsman pub. Cosy saloon bar, two ales (IPA & Pride) both in excellent condition. Pub has three chalet bedrooms for hire which seem very popular. Garden area, kids play apparatus and general feel of pub are immaculate. Excellent food at reasonable prices, this pub has a distinct community feel to it but it was not any less friendly as a result. Ideal for a weekend trip out in the car and combined with a trip to the East Kent Coast. Full range of local (Deal, Walmer, Dover etc) local papers was a nice touch too.
26 Apr 2009 22:26
Went in for an early evening session ahead the music for the which the pub is better known. Can't recall the ale served but it was pretty good but the main attraction was the superb food. Reasonably priced, good portions and excellent quality.
6 Mar 2009 23:54
Went in for lunch and ordered a soft drink and a pint prior to the food. The outrageous sum of �5.00 was charged!! Meantime land lord and staff were moaning about the government not helping the pub trade in times of recession. At these prices I don't blame HMG for not coming to their aid. Decided not to have lunch as the prices were similarly high (�10 for a burger). Drove back to the Harvester at the top of the road (no ales) and had an excellent value lunch for �4.99 a head including salad bar.
The Castle is a lovely old pub serving excellent beer but it's pricing pollicy makes it one of the most expensive places I have been to. Not really worth seeking out.
6 Mar 2009 23:25
Very busy centre of town Wetherspoons. I go in at lunchtimes when i can no longer face going back to the office. Superb range of beers and the 99p real ale offer makes this place well worth a visit. Locals may appear a bit grim and there are certainly some with serious addiction problems, but, never had a cross word with any of them and most are actually very friendly. Food very good and served at very reasonable prices. Highly recommended.
6 Mar 2009 23:19
Popped in on a Wednesday afternoon to see how this place is doing. Ale was on offer and well served, food was very cheap and pretty good but the pub itself seemed tired. The customers were mostly solo drinkers and it did not feel an especially welcoming place. Overall it was a good stop to read the paper in peace and quiet and not to have to endure the crowds at Wetherspoons. On reflection the food was actually pretty good.
6 Mar 2009 23:12
Unusual road locked location with very well kept Sheperd Neame beers. I stopped off having just arrived Chatham train station, OK atmosphere, no unfriendly glares which can be a hallmark of many a Medway pub.
1 Sep 2008 13:46
Ashley Park Hotel, Walton on Thames
Atmosphere is a bit dull but this is because it is run by a national chain and the interior is a bit sterile. Aside from this it is always busy with a good flow of commuters and passing trade heading to/from the station. 21+ policy and the affluent housing nearby means it is chve free and you won't get stared at if you walk in with suit and tie etc. Very cheap and reaonable quality food. Lots of real ale and always well kept - no fuss exhange policy - and decent staff.
1 Sep 2008 13:44
Superb example of a reinvigotared local which has diversified into reasonably priced, high quality home cooked food. 2 beers, Spitfire and Masterbrew, Spitfire was on the turn, so exchanged without fuss for Masterbrew. Bar area is very local with plenty of regulars and all seemed friendly enough. The food area feels like a restaurant with table service but it is no way cut off from the pub. The food was presented exceptionally well, piping hot, fresh ingredients and excellent flavours. Menu is traditional English but choice extends to Italian and French mains such as bourginon and pasta. Desserts outstanding and again superbly presented. Very well run pub, excellent for an evening out.
1 Sep 2008 12:09
The Victory, Chertsey
Visited for Sunday lunch and found a superb kitchen and chef. All meat and veg home prepared and cooked to the highest quality. Other locals would charge way over the £10 at the Victory. Only 1 ale (Doom Bar) but excellent quality. Pub is transitioning from basic local to something more upscale. Locals were friendly enough but seemed a little perturbed by the number of foodies that were arriving! Excellent layout, plenty of space and an outstanding kitchen. Great for Sunday - will try later in the week. Easily accesible from Chertsey town / train station.
16 Nov 2014 21:31