BITE user comments - kodabar
Comments by kodabar
The Old Thameside Inn, London Bridge
I was there today for the first time. There were about 60 of us dressed as pirates and the staff put up with that quite decently, despite piratical shouts and songs.
But I have to say that the beer was very over-priced (but you are next to arch tourist trap the Golden Hinde ship) and extremely badly kept. Even the lager was terrible. How can you get mass-produced lager wrong?
I also experienced their inability to work out serving order and the odd smell of stale beer.
They knew we were coming, it was a sunny Saturday afternoon and they only had three staff... one of which wasn't serving anyone for no discernable reason.
It's a shame. It could be quite nice if they made an effort to keep their beer properly, cleaned the place up a bit and hired some more staff. Disappointing.
2 Jun 2007 20:02
Role Playing Cub (Dungeons and Dragons) meets upstairs here every Wednesday night from 6pm, 7pm or so.
geekclub.co.uk
7 Feb 2007 13:03
Well, it's going to be replaced with offices I'm afraid. It'll never be a pub again.
I'm told that it came down to the fact that it's worth 900,000 as a pub and over 2 million as offices. An easy decision to make unfortunately.
20 Aug 2006 10:24
The pub is closing for good on Friday August 19th. So the last night there is the Thursday. Paul, the latest landlord is moving on to pastures new with a new gastropub venture in Hammersmith. He'll be missed. The pub will not.
11 Aug 2006 04:10
The Mitre is not open on any weekend. Nor, indeed, are the majority of the City pubs. In fact there is only one weekend a year in which the Mitre is open and that falls during the beer festival.
While I'm at it, the Mitre's phone number is 0871 3322 687
Obviously, Scotty and his wife actually live there and do not appreciate being called at 6am in the morning.
2 Apr 2006 22:57
Guess what? There's a new landlord. Paul's a good bloke though. He's lasted two weeks so far and he's genuinely concerned with turning the pub around. The food has been extremely cheap recently since Sid made all meals three quid. Paul's already ordered up a better quality of food for the evenings at least, so we'll see what happens there.
And he's got two lovely dogs who make closing time a much more pleasant experience. Fingers crossed Paul.
Surely this has to be Greene King's most cursed pub. A poisoned chalice for any landlord...
17 Mar 2006 06:47
The cherry tree can be found in the front bar in the corner nearest the door. As you enter the door, it's on your right in a glass case with an explanation beside it. It's no longer a complete tree, I'm afraid, but bloody fascinating none the less. Ask Scotty (ya wee beauty) or Louis behind the bar for a copy of their "history sheet" which details the uh, history of the place including that of the cherry tree.
12 Mar 2006 02:09
Continuing its run of landlords, there is now another one. Sid has departed after a few short weeks and there's now a Hong Kong girl in charge. She says she's only there temporarily, but most of the permanent landlords last less time than that.
This pub is in huge trouble. If you visit any other pub in the area (The Olde Mitre, Melton Mowbray) you'll get a good pint from friendly, intelligent, well-trained staff in good surroundings. And in the Printers Devil you get none of that.
17 Jan 2006 19:17
Unbelieveably, they've got yet another landlord. However, this is a decent fellow who's doing his best. Food is now 3 quid and you pretty much get what you pay for. (Fish and chips is good though). Beer is much better kept and poured. Going up in my estimations. Previously I wouldn't have come here except for the club meetings, but now, I might even consider it for a night out.
But when you've got The Olde Mitre just around the corner, then this place has a long way to go.
18 Dec 2005 00:27
The misery is still there. To be fair, I have encountered him socially and his a much less
dour character than he makes out when behind
the bar. But it wouldn't hurt the bugger to
crack a smile once in a while.
4 Dec 2005 20:10
Oh, and ask for their "history sheet" to get an excellent rundown of the last 500 years. City pub, so it's closed weekends.
Don't be put off by the crowds outside in the alley, there's usually a seat inside. There's two rooms and another level upsatirs. You'll get a table; don't worry.
11 Aug 2005 00:37
This is a true classic. It's been there since 1546. The cherry tree which Queen Elizabeth the first danced the maypole round is still there. Cheap, decent, well hidden, a great selection fo guest ales. And a landlord who's a bastard (just as you said, Scotty). Heartily recommended to all, except for the fact that I don't want you there spoiling it. You'll never find it anyway.
Come off the tube at Chancery Lane, head south towards "the Gherkin" and the river. Turn left up Hatton Garden and then cross the road towards the bent lamp-post with the bishop's mitre on it. And there you go. Tell Scotty I said "hello"
11 Aug 2005 00:36
Yet another new landlord as of June 2005. Hopefully this will mark an improvement, as things had been starting to go downhill. Got three bad pints in a row one night. Yikes.
26 Jul 2005 01:17
On Wednesday nights from 7pm, the Dragons On The Hill role-playing club (dungeons and dragons, that sort of crap) meets upstairs.
The pub's okay and the food menu has improved hugely. Has a barmaid called Ninja. Honest!
15 Mar 2005 14:17
The Angel, Soho
Ohsusyq is a fine barmaid and brightens the place. The depressing beer zombie is still there, despite a leave of absence (maybe it was to do with his Scrabble obsession). But Mike the landlord is still the star of the place, bringing his lovely smile and Northern wit and charm to warm the hearts of the punters.
I love The Angel, I just wish that other people didn't know about it. Weekends can be rather busy in the evening.
19 Jun 2008 14:13