BITE user comments - nonstick
Comments by nonstick
Popped in for a late lunch yesterday to be rudely told that we needed to hurry up and order, because the kitchen closed at 3pm (despite signs to the contrary); and that the first items we tried to order (including burgers) had run out.
A reasonable selection of ales were available with a curious buy-one-get-your-next-one-free offer - though the taps had hand-scrawled labels on them, and I'm not convinced they were even on the right beers. My pint of Deuchars IPA tasted weird and lemony, and on returning it, the barman admitted he didn't really have a clue about the beers.
It's probably safer to stick to bottles. Or another pub.
7 Aug 2007 08:32
A Hook Norton pub, although disappointingly only Old Hooky and Hooky Bitter were on when we visited.
Decent pub food, and a fortnightly pub quiz featuring a fiendish history round.
4 May 2007 19:45
The Swimmer at The Grafton Arms, Holloway
I hesitate to recommend the Swimmer, purely on selfish grounds, because I like it and don't want anyone else to find out about it.
As previous posters have mentioned, it's a tad on the pricey side, but there's always a friendly welcome, some nice beers (including Honeydew, Leffe and Pride), and a cracking quiz which has supplied us with many a beer voucher.
But don't go, especially if you're clever, and it's Monday evening. :)
4 May 2007 18:12
Mojo's is now Karma. But I still can't work out what I've done wrong in my life to deserve ending up there.
The venue's had an expensive-looking refit in the past few months. It's made the bar a multi-purpose venue; they advertise themselves as being a "coffee bar to late night venue". Consequently, it looks almost exactly like the Student Union bar in Hollyoaks. And that's the least of its problems. Thursday night is 80s night, with novelty hats, wigs and glasses available at the bar, for only �2.75, as advertised by the large day-glo signs, which are either trying to be in keeping with the theme of the night, or just happened to be cheap down at the stationer's.
Our DJ (although I hesitate to call him that, because his mixes were so slick they must either have been the result of a compilation CD, or - more likely given the bizarre order of his playlist - some beatmatching software) was not shy of using his microphone to get the crowd excited, using skills he might have picked up in the fairground down the road. He was mostly unintelligible, but we did learn that there was some sort of more exciting DJ playing at Karma this Sunday. I didn't manage to pick up who, though - DJ Hennessey is far more suited to telling us to "scream if you wanna go faster".
I did worry a little about the DJ's eyesight, though -- given his complete inability to read the crowd. Around 11 o'clock, as the bar rapidly emptied (Evesham's other hell-hole, Innuendo had just opened for the night), he treated us to that cheesy club classic, Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer. As it got to the chorus, he shouted into the mic for everybody to join in, and at "Whoa-oh", dipped the music to be greeted with silence. The dancefloor was empty, save for a few sad lights and a solitary laser.
The clientele do appear to enjoy it, though. Perhaps I just wasn't drunk enough, or maybe they just don't know any better. I've had more enjoyable nights out in Norwich though, and that's saying something.
4 May 2007 18:05
I'd heard there were some nice pubs along Goldhawk Road, and the Goldhawk tempted me in with their blackboard advertising "tasty ales" on tap including Deuchars IPA (which is generally enough to sell a pub for me).
The front section was fairly crowded with trendy media types, but we didn't have too much trouble finding a sofa in the back section. Decent range of drinks, and music at a sensible volume too.
29 Apr 2007 19:01
BRB at The Gate, Alexandra Park
The Gate is one of those pubs which has so much potential to be a great pub, but somehow manages to fall down along the way.
I popped in on a Saturday night and found it not to be too packed, and yet service wasn't the fastest because the barman wasn't actually at the bar. There was a fairly good selection of beer taps, but the only one that hadn't run out was Carlsberg. And the reasonably good selection of music was turned off halfway through the evening in favour of the cricket.
Which is a shame, because it's got a decent looking interior, and far enough away from Wood Green to not attract the hordes.
29 Apr 2007 18:57
I popped in after work last night (a Friday), without hugely high expectations (it is a chain pub after all) but found myself being pleasantly surprised by the service; we got served at the bar straight away, and there was pretty speedy table service. Loads of staff around, Budvar on tap, decent food, and amusingly predictable 90s indie on the PA.
31 Mar 2007 09:14
I've just moved in down the road from the Churchfield, and it came recommended by my flatmates. Good selection of beers, reasonable prices (for London), music that's not too loud, and friendly staff.
What more could you want from a local?
8 Nov 2005 14:26
Despite all appearances, this pub isn't actually a Wetherspoons anymore. Consequently, their beer's not quite so varied (no Baltika for me), and they don't take credit cards.
The pub itself is nothing special, but a relatively quiet place to have a pint and a chat if you find yourself in Camden on a Friday night.
22 Oct 2005 14:54
The Old Ale Emporium, Harringay
The Emporium has had a bit of a lick of paint since I was last in, and looks like it'll be nice on sunny days (even if your view is just of the 29 crawling by) - and was pleasantly surprised to find Deuchars IPA and Harvieston's Bitter and Twisted on the pumps alongside London Pride. But I couldn't stay beyond my first pint, because the music from the jukebox was just too loud to be able to hold a conversation. Turn it down a bit, and I might just be back...
6 Mar 2009 11:41