BITE user comments - strongarm
Comments by strongarm
Dropped in to kill 20 minutes after fleeing the too-heavy Hope up the road. Bit of a schizophrenic place - it's a hotel pub, very historic and easy on the eye from outside, - with smart dining room and public bar interconnecting and a weird separate trolls-nest of another bar. Prices for even bar food very high - didn't try. Odd public bar ambiance: sports TV screens; some dining tables; some too-low stools and banquette-style seats. Doesn't quite gel. OK pint of Winter Warmer but the Ordinary Bitter and the Christmas Ale both off. Poor. Not a relaxing place at all, got very busy later on though. Meh.
4 Jan 2015 20:55
Hmmm. I really should have liked this place. Great range of well-kept beer. Good and reasonably-priced basic food: no poncery. Open fire. No recorded music. Co-operative community venture. And yet, I didn't feel at all at ease:I think it's all just TOO much of a CAMRA cliche: not a woman in the place, more hair on chins than on the middle-aged heads therein, all worshipping so solemnly at the cult of Al-e. There's a morris -dancing poster FFS. All that was missing was a steam railway out back. I'm a real-ale loving middle-aged bloke but even I felt (and was, I think, silently meant to feel) unworthy to be in such a company of well-acquainted bores. Pity. Don't let me dissuade you from going but I 'll go somewhere more mainstream and less painfully self-conscious next time.
4 Jan 2015 20:47
Dropped by after long walk wanting a decent pint and a good sandwich or two: didn't get either. Very poor pint of Special plus two OK Scotch eggs from the bar that had clearly not been properly cooled in running cold water (grey/brown rings around the yolk). OK basket of chips. But what kind of pub doesn't do sandwiches? Cold, no atmosphere; usual bunch of boring saddo drunks at the bar talking sh!te. Wish I'd spent money elsewhere. Young barman was nice and helpful.
1 Jan 2015 06:13
Used to be a cracking pub that sold food: now a food-selling machine which doesn't keep any space for. or give a tiny rats ass for, the drinker. Went in at 3pm - 3pm! - to find every table occupied with fat, chobbling monsters and a stink of cooked and cooling food that knocked you down : plates full and empty-but-uncleared everywhere. More like a posh greasy spoon that the good pub it was. Much to the management's bank balance's satisfaction no doubt. Turned on heel: off to an proper pub; not going back. It's been 'Richmondised'. Shame.
1 Jan 2015 06:08
Dropped in on the bounce after rejecting the White Cross on the basis of a wall of vile dinner smells greeting one on opening their door. Good move. Busy, but relaxed and uncrowded boozer, nice bar staff, great pint of Winter Warmer, unobtrusive music in background; fire; nice and warm. Good town centre pub. Would return.
1 Jan 2015 06:03
Charming old fashioned little local with sunny and green rear beer garden. Nothing here for the young boozer, thank God. Well-kept Fullers Two Halves; live Test Cricket and racing on different and unintrusive screens; pleasant barman; usual regulars crowd of loser middle aged single blokes with money on the gee-gees trickling in after Saturday lunch: nice fellers up for a bit of a chat. Two well-spent hours.
23 Jun 2014 13:07
Now closed and boarded up. Owner wants to convert to flats but his first plan has been rejected by the Council.
12 May 2014 10:34
Dropped in for a quick quiet pint one mid-Saturday afternoon to watch some Heineken Cup rugby on the screen. Very fine pint of Autumn Ale. Crisps are massively overpriced. Good subdued congenial atmosphere. Middle-aged crowd. Suited me.
4 Nov 2013 16:54
No-frills old interior; friendly and helpful staff; clearly take their beer seriously - excellent Hobsons Mild, well-kept but bland Clun Pale - good home-made dishes on the menu with generous portions. Bit stuffy, could use some ventilation or an open window. Recommended.
11 Jun 2012 10:49
I can see the marble Hill working better as a Sainsburys Local than this pub.
8 May 2012 13:32
Has reportedly changed hands. First sign of the new administration - a Psychic Fair. Oh, dear. Who you gonna' call? Ghostbusters!
26 Apr 2012 12:58
Brouge, Bistro and Belgian Beer Cellar, Richmond Upon Thames
Closed. Will allegedly open as a non-Belgian bar of some sort
14 Feb 2012 10:00
Dropped by early on a Six Nations Saturday lunchtime; public bar was full of guys watching football; lounge though was very quiet; a couple of families - one the landlord's? - occupying the pole positions. A bit cold and characterless. However, beer (Special) excellent and home-made burgers extremely good - though a few more chips wouldn't cost much to provide on the small plates. Staff friendly. Just all felt a bit random. Would go back.
14 Feb 2012 09:58
What the f**ing shitting sodding hell colour have they painted this pub? Navy urinal blue. Christ.
3 Jan 2012 16:16
Dropped by for a quick pint of Bengal Lancer; featured on two pumps. "No, mate, we've sold out" said the long-haired fatty, finally trolling around behind the bar to serve me. Clearly expected me to order a different pint. Fcuk him; walked out. Simple isn't it - if you don't have a beer on, turn the clip round or put a towel over it. Apparently not to the half-wits in charge here.
Passed by half-an-hour later; clips still proudly on display.
Crap-house of a Pub.
29 Nov 2011 11:05
Yep, plenty of bar shills out there; all of them giving themselves away with the only-one-bumsucking-post posted-the-day they-joined riff.
Keep exposing them! I do.
1 Nov 2011 14:39
Good pub doing good things. Great range of diverse well kept ales; nice interior, not spoiled by refurbishment; cool outdoor space with sofas; varied and well-cooked menu. Vote with your presence.
31 Oct 2011 11:17
I used to drink here 20 years ago. It's changed layout since then and gone a bit upmarket, but one thing's the same: they couldn't keep a decent pint then and they still can't. Tiger? Full of crap. London Glory? Off - end of barrel pint. Abbott was OK but a slightly over bitter taste. Chips tasteless. Three 'nibble' fish fingers were served where 4 were advertised.
It'll be another 20 years before I go back.
14 Sep 2011 12:58
I notice that neither EmilyBright 123 or Nicholas7 have posted about any other pub anywhere since their little shills for this one. Quel surprise!
20 Jul 2011 09:56
Can see what the fuss is about. Clearly a lively and loved local with a good vibe, good beer - 9 brews plus cider! - at 2.50 for a (my) pint. Great original door -glass. Cool cat sleeps on the fishtank. Peanuts overpriced and smells like a deep-clean wouldn't hurt. But the fundamentals are good; high marks.
19 Jul 2011 19:49
Rocked up, the only customer standing at the bar; air stale and stuffy. Pair of blokes behind the bar eventually condescended to stop chatting and serve me a very poor pint of Spitfire for 3.30. Locals in garden mixed; some middle class St Mags types, others massive-arsed with tattooed dog kind of vibe. I live locally but won't go back.
19 Jul 2011 19:42
Friday night; place is like a morgue; they've run out of Pimms; the beer (allthree I tried) is indifferent and the food is awful. Don't.
19 Jul 2011 16:34
Sunday lunch special of 'Pork Wellington@ served with absolutely no pastry. WTF?Steak very small. Guest beer Spring-something-or-other on good form. Back door slams regularly - put an f'ing damper on it!
Does anyone in this pub care?
8 Jun 2011 15:33
St Margarets Tavern, St Margarets
Beer OK, but wine madly overpriced. Many barmaids but slow service. Interior has no tangible ventilation creating a hot, sticky, food-smelling fug. Yuk. Not nice.
9 May 2011 16:42
Hmmm. Tilly is very quick to plug both this pub's menu and to dis the local competition. While reviewing no other pubs at all. Curious. Could s/he and the management be in some way related?
Just askin'.....
18 Apr 2011 10:46
I wonder if one-time-reviewer seabass35 was in fact witnessing one of the many street drinkers round here being refused service? I drink here on and off too and have never found the staff to be other than polite and helpful.
14 Feb 2011 15:44
Popped in for a quick evening pint; H&W Pickled Partridge in very good nick; TV sport on but not intrusive; few quiet conversations going on; nice clean toilets. Passed the no-gits test; would go back
25 Jan 2011 10:50
Not rating this pub as didn't go to it - I wanted to know if discreet kids welcome; called at regular intervals over 20 minutes; line permanently engaged. So me and my money went elsewhere.
1 Nov 2010 16:01
Nice old traditional pub, open fire, good Shep Neame, good range of food; home-made and delicious. Children welcome. Much better bet than overcrowded, overpriced chi-chi National Trust tea room at the adjacent castle.
1 Nov 2010 15:58
The Old Bell Tavern, Harrogate
Fine pub; great real ale, wooden floors, no music, TV or slots, memorabilia and a mixed crowd; let down by abysmally slow food service, ugly barmaids and a grumpy alcoholic guv'nor.
12 Jul 2010 11:45
Lovely old bar; great atmosphere; gaslit interior very unusual; downsides warm, sour beer (CaAk Marque? Really?) and lightfittings that stop you seeing the TV.
12 Jul 2010 11:43
I know it's warm, but the beer shouldn't be. Tepid ESB is not a refreshing brew. Asked for a bottle of Fullers bottle-conditioned Bengal Lancers IPA from the cool cabinet "we don't have it". Of course they don't - they're only a fecking Fullers pub, aren't they? Sainsburys have it but they don't. Place is useless and even the barmaid who flashes her tan-line tats doesn't redeem it.
2 Jul 2010 15:43
Back to the Turks on a Friday night; staff not coping well with the crowd a World Cup game brings. Garden unbearably smoky from the smoulderings of those who Blair's public health fascists threw outside. Of course, the children in the garden get the biggest lungfuls. Garden fountains rusty, sharp and slimy. This place is a bit of a pit but it doesn't bother the undiscriminating locals. Bah.
14 Jun 2010 15:33
If JonnyWev doesn't sound like a member of staff to you, you have more faith in human nature than I!
14 Jun 2010 15:28
St Margarets Tavern, St Margarets
In last night: most enjoyable: a good pint of Rocking Rudolph Christmas Ale and a very good home-made burger let down by left-around-too-long (refried?) chips.
18 Dec 2009 16:12
St Margarets Tavern, St Margarets
I'm not an employee, just a normal member of society who has the social awareness to realise that, just as a wine bar would find it unacceptable if you took your own sandwiches in to eat with your wine, or a coffee shop would be a bit mad if you took in your own cakes, so a dining-pub is entitled to be a bit peed off if a cheapskate smuggles in some shop-bought food. Is that too hard to get a tiny mind around? Apparantly so. Next time, buy a can too and sit in the park
25 Nov 2009 13:03
Draught Golden Pride is on again but blink and you'll miss it. Better phone first if coming far.
26 Oct 2009 11:34
Closed. following the retirement (?) of the landlord. Re-opening is promised soon.
Must say I always found it abit of a dank and dirty hole, though it has the character and location to be areally good pub. Here's hoping that its improved but not ruined.
13 Oct 2009 09:40
St Margarets Tavern, St Margarets
bgareth why on earth would you think it was acceptable to eat your own ffod in a pub that seels food. Cretin.
4 Sep 2009 16:20
The Salt House, St John's Wood
From a distance it looks like the pub it was, but this is now a soul-less bar where you can eat. I needed a place to wait for someone so drank a half of real Czech Budvar Budweiser. It was fine, if not cheap. No reason to stay; no reason to avoid. Meh.
19 Aug 2009 13:04
In a lovely town with a lot of nice pubs - both often rather ruined by the obnoxiousness of the majority of visitors (is there a factory where they produce shaven-headed, track-suited or vest-and-shorted tattooed villains and their grossly corpulent, scraped-haired, fag-ash-lil molls? In Middlesbrough perhaps?), the Station is a welcome oasis of relative peace (though its no morgue), good beer, atmospheric decor and pleasant service. Nice old building, tastefully updates with separate lounge bar and family room. Local Black Dog ale very well kept. A seriously good pub and handy for the station (duh!) and buses too.
27 Jul 2009 12:03
A handsome and fine pub for drinking, dining or overnighting: no gimmicks, piped music or fruit machines - just good food (much of it home-cooked), good beer, a good wine list, real fires, a mature, pleasant staff and village young men who are not louts but nice chaps who play cricket for their club. (Sadly) what a rarity! Highly recommended for those who like their pubs traditional, simple and good -and from the meal and accommodation boookings register, clearly appreciated by those who care about these things.
27 Jul 2009 11:52
Fairly basic drink-hole wedged between road, river and railway. One dark bar, a small lounge area with pool table, plasma TV, wooden walls and conservatory-feel, like some chav's wet-dream. The 'beer garden' is a rough concreted yard. Money has ben spent but to no happy end; maybe they plan to pave it properly and put some planters out; they should - it would make a world of difference. View from same at low tide is of mud and rusty railway bridge girders. Says it's family friendly; I wouldn't bring my ankle-biters here. I was well thirsty and appreciative of the OK pint of real John Smiths but didn't linger and don't advise that you do.
26 Jul 2009 22:29
The Postgate Inn, Egton Bridge
It was 4pm and I was gasping and this was the third pub I'd visited (2 others were shut in mid-afternoon in hot mid-July; no wonder 50 a week are closing!). So almost anything would have done but this was better than that; good Black Sheep, characterful interior; pleasant service; great location by the station. Exactly what was needed when it was needed.
26 Jul 2009 22:23
Swung by, very thirsty at 3pm on a hot school-holiday July. It's closed until 5 (or was it 6? No matter). This pub smells of decline and failure. The downstairs cafe/restaurant is clearly closed permanently. The interior and exterior look uncared for. Admittedly, Glaisdale is a bit of a sprawling, unfocussed place and rather off the beaten track, but a fundamentally good-looking pub in a location as close to the station and the Beggars Bridge should be able to make its own luck and publicity. By all means try it when its open!
26 Jul 2009 22:20
Beautiful location, full appreciation of which was somewhat spoiled by the pub's placing of a smelly hen-run next to the decking-balcony-beergarden by the river (which decking & tables thereon they could keep cleaner by the way). Why was there a huge amplifier in the middle of the bar floor? Unclear. Details, details. Beer (Black Sheep) in very good nick. Food tasted and looked good, but this is a not-cheap place to eat; �5 for a doorstep sarnie of home-cured ham may be fair value for quality grub and the �9 rabbit casserole looked good, but (though unseen) �7 for cheese and biscuits feels like taking the 'pease' - unless you get a whole cheese; there are very poncey places in W1 that charge less. Recommended but they should pay attention to housekeeping and not lose sight of reality on the charging.
26 Jul 2009 22:15
St Margarets Tavern, St Margarets
Has reportedly just been bought by Greene King from Punch Taverns, so maybe things will improve.
23 Jun 2009 10:05
Nicholas7 must be EmilyBright123's boyf...both 1st-time posters, posting on how wonderful the refurb is, minutes after they've registered on the site. Coincidence?
1 Jun 2009 10:53
"EmilyBright123" is clearly a shill - a bumsucking write-up and no previous reviews...think we are stupid? I hope it wasn't you, "Emily" (if that is your real name) that thought it was a bright idea, having chucked away the old pub and the old pub atmosphere to now chuck away the pub name and its historic associations. Is "grotto" too downmarkert for you and your airhead image/marketing-driven 'mates' (as pictured on the erzatz new website?
This pub belongs on a bypass in Bracknell now.
28 May 2009 09:55
Visited again yesterday; ESB in good form (though is �3.10 really the going rate for this brew???). Place sometimes seems like a hostel for SCOPE beneficiaries (seriously), but live and let live. Steak and Kidney pie excellent and great value; burgers much less so.
18 May 2009 09:21
I make no comment about this pub, as I haven't been in since the refurb - except that I've tried to, twice: one at lunchtime and once in the evening and both tiomes the place has been locked and dark! What the F is going on?
17 Apr 2009 15:40
Scores highly for the presence of good-local atmosphere, conversation, locals 'nice dogs, well-kept ale (Bomber County guest beer), good range of bar nibbles, TV available but at low-volume and a range of interesting bar snacks - and the absence of lagered yoofs, piped music, fruit machines and stenchy 'pub grub'. A real pub and a must if in the area if not worth a long trip.
19 Jan 2009 11:56
Once more to the Turks for Sunday lunch. ESB on good form (no more Pride here. Ever.). Great duck special; sorry to say the Ploughmans is a complete rip-off. Avoid.
14 Oct 2008 10:50
Not rating the pub this time but passing on reports that this is not the nice place for families that it might be on Sundays due to the presence of some extremely unpleasant and disruptive kids whose parents are known to - and who are thus indulged by - the staff. You have been informed.
24 Sep 2008 15:50
Another visit: really good home-made burgers and - I never learn - a sour pint of Pride that gave me the shits almost immediately. But (again) the ESB was great. What IS it with this place that they can't keep the Pride well? How they get in the Good Beer Guide is beyond me.
24 Sep 2008 15:48
Closed for refurbishment; opens end September; the "history" page on their embryonic new website looks a promising sign of an interested and active landlord - here's hoping.
22 Aug 2008 11:50
The Olde Ship Hotel, Seahouses
Can't rate this as didn't stay - dropped by on an early week night and the main bar, which looked nice in a cosy-corridor sort of way was packed; the dining-bar was packed (and stank rather evilly of food) and the family room was a draughty hallway by the loos. Very atmospheric and clearly very popular but too darn small.
4 Aug 2008 16:23
Wanted to like it but couldn't. Lah-di-dah student staff ineptly serving a group dinner at one end of the room ("I don't think we got the right number of apple crumbles") meant you waited an age at the other for them to deign to languidly pull you a pint of the frankly wierd "Sandcastles At Dawn" - imagine wheat beer with astringent lemon added - or "Dolly Daydream" - think the wet dog shown on the pump clip. They want �22 to serve you a lobster. Trading 100% on its location; this 'pub' has no atmosphere, nothing worth drinking and is a total pisstake.
4 Aug 2008 15:19
Nice interior - refurbished without being ruined. Patchy food - roast lunch a damp washout; other options better. Garden a den of kids, which is fine but it could be cleaned more regularly. Pride is indeed a disappointment; when I went the ESB was on good form but then they ran out and didn't have another barrel. Needs to get its act together.
12 Jun 2008 15:38
I have given this pub an 8 out of pure nostalgia and sentiment. I have such fond memories of this pub from the early 1980s when I was 17 (I know, I know...). Sam's was 49p a pint then! Is quoits still played out back?
Alas, I have been in London for 20 years now....
22 May 2008 15:42
Garden has been tidied up since my last visit last year: slightly larger play area; new grass; more tables. Bar staff are very friendly and assiduous (in helping you spend against your tab!). Beer (Twick) in good nick. Home-made burgers very nice; could use being a bit bigger....Whenever I go there there seems to be the loathsome football on the TV inside but as I only go in sunny weather and sit in the garden, who cares?
Worth a visit.
12 May 2008 11:16
Popped in for a quick pint of excellently-kept draught IPA. All well here.
30 Apr 2008 15:13
Passing by the Eltham McDonalds - heaving with gormless teens and Eltham's finest shaven-headed, bulging, tattooed geezers - it's a relief to find that the old and decoratively-tiled Park has adopted a defiantly contrarian strategy to attract a very different crowd. A characterful interior, spotless and classy loos, Classic FM, no fruit machine, free broadsheets and four real ales - in good nick if the Harveys is to go by (and a cloudy pint exchanged with no quibbles but only apologies). What's not to like?
Well, a few things. I'm 44 and think I was the youngest customer - there's a bit of a golf-club vibe - so maybe the target demographic could be lowered just a tad. Not stocking bar nibbles just seems odd. And the Sunday roast - often the curse of an otherwise good pub - was bland and tasteless (is it THAT difficult to cook your own roast potatoes rather than buy frozen?). But overall a good experience and if (unlikely) I'm in the area again, I'd go back. Friendly note to landlord: keep it "apart" but don't vanish up your Arras doing so. And work on the roast lunch or, better yet, offer some proper food.
13 Apr 2008 20:30
Was going to go in but through the window the clientele/staff look like an all-male extremely cliquey, smug, think-they're mature-but-they're-actually-just-self-abusers; all shaved haeds and too-many handshakes.
Urrghh
6 Apr 2008 14:32
Bland premises which obviously used to be a local pub but clearly survives now as an identikit dining-room/restaurant - plasma, check; real flame gas fire, check; beech shelving showing off the wine bottles(bet they sell way more wine than beer), check; pretty but utterly sexless barmaid, check.
Every table is a high, dining table and all are booked out for the roast lunches on a Sunday. Want to drink beer - a dozen seats, maximum, for you. Shame, 'cos the Youngs ale is in good nick. Avoid unless you want to feel your life force being actively sucked away.
6 Apr 2008 14:29
The Wych Elm, Kingston Upon Thames
Half a mile away from the hubbub and chav-fest that is Kingston town centre; this is a great example of what is sadly becoming a rarity; the suburban community local. With lino'd public bar (Sports TV and fruit machine here, where they should be) and carpetted lounge, no piped music, very excellent Chiswick bitter and a good line in quality toasties (and a longer menu if you want it), the Wych Elm hits the spot. Slightly fussy but genuinely nice mine hosts who clearly care about their beer, their pub and their clientele. I wish this high-standard local were my local. Don't change this place.
6 Apr 2008 09:53
Bar not a pub; only one real ale (Adnams) and that tasted like sponge-sqeezings. Keen bar staff but not worth going in.
21 Feb 2008 14:13
Currently closed for refurbishment for 10 days. There's scaffolding up outside. Hope they don't ruin it.
13 Nov 2007 16:45
Used the Taps to escape from Blackpool twice in three nights and very much enjoyed this hearty, rugby-watching pub in then heart of a nicely retro, genteel town. Atmosphere is good; no piped music, lots of good conversation, great beer, well-priced; lots of interesting memorabilia; starangers like me made to feel welcome but not bothered. Minus marks for being a tad self-conscious and the fruit machines but otherwise very good. What a pity that such good pubs are such rarities.
26 Oct 2007 11:52
The Dog and Fox, Wimbledon Village
Nice building and interior, great location, overpriced (4.20) and indifferent pint of Special; clientele a noisy bunch of pampered, gilded upper middle-class arseholes. Never again.
3 May 2016 16:01