BITE user comments - shropspy
Comments by shropspy
Good looking pub with a large range of (Greene King) beers and enough staff even at busy times. However, the beer is only middling - a reasonable IPA and a slightly dodgy Hare Raiser. Musak a bit obtrusive, too, as were drunken students from Westminster university.
25 Mar 2010 13:35
The Carpenters Arms, Marble Arch
Good beer from a range of breweries and friendly staff make this a pub which is well worth a vist. I can't agree with some of the negative comments about staff in other reviews. My barmaid was pleasant and charming.
Good outside space and an interesting layout inside, too. No food, though, at least at lunchtimes. Amazing to think it's only a stone's throw from Marble Arch.
25 Mar 2010 13:32
I was welcomed into this traditionally furnished Youngs pub by a friendly Irish barman and served a decent pint of Youngs Bitter and a very fine meal, both in short order. The craic between the barman and the locals was worth a listen, too. It was a bit chilly to use the pavement drinking area, but the road outside wasn't too busy at lunchtime so it might be worth it in Summer.
25 Mar 2010 13:26
Always lively, the Griffin (and the lounge bar, the Griffinette) is a great place to meet mates, although it doesn't have any real ales.
30 Jun 2007 22:25
The Waggon and Horses, Cirencester
Fine beer and VERY good food (booking advised) in a small pub staffed by friendly people. Do try for both food and drink.
25 Sep 2006 16:22
Eldridge Pope house in traditional Cotswold building in centre of historic Cirencester. I had a quite well-kept Southern Glory. Chain-pub menu, but was very tasty. I wouldn't travel to Cirencester just to go to this pub, but once I was there I would certainly not walk on by. Apparently, they do accomodation, too.
25 Sep 2006 16:18
A characterful (but not original) pub with good food and good beer. The Brains Dark was lovely, and the Lamb Cawl delicious.
You can get cheaper food and beer in most of the nearby Brains pubs, but the atmosphere isn't as calm as here. Of course, it wasn't a match day....
25 Sep 2006 15:15
Please note - the rear (rear ale) bar was closed as of 23 September. Only fizzy keg & lager.
25 Sep 2006 15:09
The raised area outside is a lovely place to sup an Exmoor Ale and watch the world go by. The whole building is interesting, and survived the flood despite its age. Don't forget to visit the flood memorial exhibition nearby.
7 Aug 2006 14:23
The George and Dragon, Ilfracombe
This is a really good, friendly pub and much quieter than some in the area. The food is good, plain fair and the beer is well kept. Although it has an Ushers sign outside, it had Spitfire and Directors on but no Ushers or Wadworths. It does tend to get overrun by families in high season early evenings (6.30 - 7.00) and they book tables out for parties, but we always manage to get a table for two.
The earlier comment about the toilets is now unjustified (they have always been clean when I've been in) but the one about the low doorway is fully justified - beware if you're over 5'11 in your choice of footwear.
7 Aug 2006 14:03
The Prince of Wales, Ilfracombe
Very interesting pub - a wishing well just outside the door to the Gents!
Nor so genteel as some Ilfracombe pubs - brash and fun and good beer. Vinny is right about the low ceilings. Your headache might not all be due to an excess of alcohol....
7 Aug 2006 13:50
The Artillery Arms, Old Street
I've always found the Artillery a friendly establishment with a good mix of people. Importantly, it's got well-kept beer, particularly the Chiswick. However, it's a good pub, not a great one, and I'm not sure it should be in the top 10 in Britain on the basis of users' ratings, unless someone's being a bit generous.... Perhaps between 6 & 7 rather than 7 & 8.
24 Jul 2006 14:27
PS the pub is now cask marqued. Didn't try the food. The staff were friendly and so were the locals who abounded.
24 Jul 2006 10:03
Why haven't I posted something about this pub before? A really interesting old pub on the main drag with two front drinking areas and two downstairs rooms as well as a good size beer garden. Carries Wadworth beers and some guests. I had a fine pint of Mild from the Pint Size (old Mayhem) Brewery, which is now owned by Wadworth and operates as a kind of R&D facility.
24 Jul 2006 10:01
Fine pint of Summersault and my partners half of Bishop's Tipple was good, too. It is true that, as they say outside, there is a view of the spire from the beer garden if you're prepared to stand to the left....
Ahscum should go back for the food now - nothing too fancy but good pub standards well cooked. I had the a really good beefburger.
24 Jul 2006 09:55
Ushers house which carries their seasonal beers too. Food is OK. Pool table takes a bit of getting used to as it is in a very restricted space.
19 Jul 2006 16:54
Still worth a visit for a well kept selection of beers in the ale bar. The building is worth a bit of a look, too. An unusual basis for a pub which has been well used while keeping the original layout.
19 Jul 2006 15:29
The beer's good, but someone needs to look to the ambience. Not the place to start a night, you need to bring your own atmosphere with you.
19 Jul 2006 15:26
Sometimes roars a bit loudly, but a good stop on a trip and a fine pint at any time.
19 Jul 2006 15:24
Large Neville was on good form on Saturday, and the Big Nev was fine too. Fine beer and conversation with the brewer - a lovely way to spend a lunchtime. Ask about the pork scratchings. If you are nearby, you must take time to pop in.
19 Jul 2006 15:19
There's still time to dash in for a last pint for a while, though. The brewery haven't confirmed the date for the start of the closure, so if you haven't visited either at all or for a while, you will have the chance to do a before and after.
19 Jul 2006 15:13
The Coach and Horses, Shrewsbury
Good food, good beer, almost next door to the Admiral Benbow (q.v.) if you don't want to walk too far. Often has guest beers from Swindon and particularly Archers which is a nice pint.
19 Jul 2006 15:09
Ye Olde Bucks Head Inn, Frankwell
You could bring your granny in here. She could have a port and lemon and you could have a reasonable pint, including a couple of ales. Perhaps I just caught it on a quiet day.
19 Jul 2006 15:04
Just to let you all know, this is still a let down. What a wonderful exterior - but that's the place to stay.
19 Jul 2006 15:01
An historic pub - see the bit of wattle exposed behind a perspex panel. Only a few step east of the Abbey up the Abbey Foregate. Brother Cadfael would have dropped in for a quick one on his way to St. Giles. Good beer and good food (including exotics). Not the best in Shrewsbury at either, but well above the average and well worth a visit.
19 Jul 2006 14:59
The Dog and Pheasant, Shrewsbury
Perhaps I'm a little less easy to intimidate than our anonymous friend, but I find it a very easy pub to find someone to talk to. I do agree about the high standard of real ales which rotate frequently. Can be smokey and is small so can be crowded, but well worth a visit.
19 Jul 2006 14:53
The Shrewsbury Hotel, Shrewsbury
It's a Wetherspoons. Cheap beer which is usually OK. And long queues: because there aren't enough staff, not because the ones they have don't work hard or keep smiling. The "beer garden" is the car park next to the main road.
19 Jul 2006 14:48
Can't think why I haven't commented on the Armoury before. Not the cheapest pub in Shrewsbury but spacious and close to the river hence cool in summer (ah - that's what made me comment this time). Wide range of mainly well-kept beers. Staff don't wear uniforms so a stranger apparently wlking smilingly towards your table might just be coming to clear the glasses ;-(
19 Jul 2006 14:46
Marstons Pub. Reasonable beer, reasonable food. Don't go out of your way, but if you're in the area, drop in.
1 Jun 2006 16:46
Tried to drink here on Saturday last. Good range of beers, but as there were only half the bar staff needed to cope with the number of punters, and those present were all serving food, I gave up after 20 minutes and went elsewhere. I wouldn't disagree about the neds.
1 Jun 2006 12:10
What a jewel (and as ericmarco says, a bit of a hidden one). Fine beer, and more whisky than you can shake a stick at, served in some of the best whisky glasses ever to grace a bar.
1 Jun 2006 11:36
Just to let any prospective visitors know that the Bon was still on form on 27 May, with good beer and good craick (I suspect CantillonRose is a teetotaller: he doesn't seem to like any pub).
Sampled three beers out of (I think) eight on. All well kept and served.
1 Jun 2006 11:32
Recently refurbished (except for the Gents)and now has one tap for real ale - a pretty reasonable Black Sheep when I was in. Fairly comfortable and clean. Pool Table. Live music sometimes. Next to Royal Mail depot. Average pub, bu tbetter than some others in the area with 6+ ratings
21 Feb 2006 17:21
How can this only have a 5.5 rating (before me). An old coaching inn, with the stables block converted to a brew house which serves this pub and many more. Beers are very good and well kept (as you would expect) and the food served in the upstairs bar and restaurant is great too.
22 Jun 2005 18:46
The Admiral Benbow, Shrewsbury
I can't praise this pub too highly. On a really busy night, the barman came out from behind the bar with a tasting glass for me of a (really good) beer which had just come on and which he thought I might like, based on one I had bought 20 minutes earlier. You don't see dedication like that to customer service very often. The rear arcade style room around the patio is worth a look, and toilets are squeaky clean even if they have antique status.
22 Jun 2005 18:17
Jacknicholson got it right, and I pleased to report it's just as good now as in 2003. I would have said town centre prices rather than pricey.
22 Jun 2005 18:09
Not terribly close to the Abbey...
Fairly recently refurbished Ember Inns (M&B) pub with Cask Marque. 8 ales on at my last visit. The ones I sampled were chilled rather than at cellar temperature, but seemed well kept. Didn't try the food but it's reported to be good, if a little slow. Good large garden, which is the only area kids are allowed into.
22 Jun 2005 18:06
Nice pub with lots of small rooms in which to drink fairly well kept beer. Just enough off the main drag that you don't have to use your teeth to get to the bar, even on a Friday evening. Didn't try the food.
22 Jun 2005 18:01
The Bridge Inn, Audlem
The new licencees, Gary and Vicky, have now settled in, and the beer quality is superb. Although the range is limited to the usual Marston's assortment, they couldn't be better kept and Gary makes use of such specials as Marston's make available.
Food is excellent, and the 2 for �10 menu is wonderful value. Well worth the few steps up from the canal bank.
18 Aug 2012 11:33