BITE user comments - thirstyboy
Comments by thirstyboy
The Hereford Arms, South Kensington
Beerscout, if the pub is "very well kept" and "the beer was in very good condition" then I would say the management are very much up to the job. No manager can work on their bar every hour they are open and so can't watch every single drink served but I'm sure if Chris has read this he will seek to retrain his staff as he is definately one of the better publicans out there.
15 Aug 2011 23:39
The Tattersalls Tavern, Knightsbridge
To Murgatroyd I set a challenge - in this shopping Mecca called Knightsbridge can he tell me a pub not geared up to feed the shoppers? As Harrods is the number 1 free destination in London for visitors it would be strange if a few of them didn't want fed and a soon to close pub that didn't take their money. I live near the Tatts and know they open at 9am for their regular currency traders who work nights, the ad agency next door use it as their second office, the staff help a local elderly couple home with their shopping every day and the Harrods staff are mostly known by name and certainly by what we drink. I was even invited on their staff away day to Thorpe Park and while I couldn't go other customers did. So yes there are hundreds of tourists at lunch but this is not all the Tatts is geared up for. Is it perfect? No. Is it worth getting to know the staff and having a "local" in town. Definitely. Especially as the Paxtons is so poorly run, the TeaClipper is up it's own arse and the Bunch of Grapes only sells God awful Greene King ales.
3 Jan 2011 03:27
The Hour Glass, South Kensington
Well done to the landlady of this fine pub for standing up to drunks thinking they own a pub when they buy a few drinks and treat it like the shithole they live in. I am fed up with people ripping soap dispensers off walls, throwing toilet roll in the urinal (what is that all about?!) or sticking their gum everywhere. People are fast to complain if a pub is a bit shabby but then they climb over the furniture and trash the joint. I've had a drink in here a few times and it is well run, the staff are friendly and chatty and you can tell it is managed by a real professional, not some corporate half wit. Keep up the good work and if we all have a word with everyone acting the arse and embaress them into going elsewhere then more power to us.
3 Jan 2011 03:05
At long last I've found you! The best barmaid in London bar none. Glad to see your real ale training in Coventry Garden being put to use. This is a fantastic ale house, not too many arsehole suits and a Landlord who obviously loves his beers. I only wish it opened on the weekends but understand why it doesn't. Good job hiring London's bubbliest, friendliest barmaid, she really is a credit to a great pub.
8 Oct 2010 06:07
The Salisbury, Leicester Square
Oh where have you gone my angel?!
You all know the one behind the bar, small, big bust, huge laugh, always on top form, witty, funny and just a little bit dirty. An other member of staff told me the manager had had a bust up with her and she quit. Well done you, you just lost the best barmaid in the west end.
If anyone finds her please post here where she has gone. That sounds a bit stalker-ish but she was so much fun to chat to over a beer.
29 Dec 2009 20:48
The Bell And Compass, Charing Cross
To Rex, I was in here and wanted to know who was responsible for such a dreadful place so I asked for a receipt. They usually have the owners details on it. Turns out it belongs to Marstons. Even Spirit Group would be hard pushed to find anyone shit enough to design and run this place.
29 Dec 2009 00:32
To the people who enjoyed this pub and said they would come back I ask - "what the hell are you talking about?"
This place is a shit hole. The net curtains and red velour chairs hark back to a distant time and if you look closely at them you can see the layers of dirt on them as sure as an archeologist can peer back through time. The bogs are abysmal, if I dropped a tenner on the floor I would be frightened to pick it up in case I caught something.
This quietest of pubs has six (6!) lagers on, who the hell is drinking enough of these to ensure the barrell hasn't been sitting in the celler for weeks cos I very rarely see more than two people in here and one of them is Pete, your local, friendly, racist host.
And why bother paying for a Sky subscription when there are two manky portable tellys bolted to the wall - hardly a viewing pleasure, if you get to see the screens through the grime.
The conversation when I was last in at the bar revolved around the fancy new flats being built everywhere in the area and how it would change things but don't worry boys I really doubt if any of the new residents will be bothering you by coming in and having a drink - not twice at least.
I love friendly, cosy little local pubs but this is certainly not one of those!
16 Nov 2009 23:54
The Hoop and Toy, South Kensington
Go to secretbeer.blogspot.com to read in full what I think of this pub. Could be very good with the right staff (ie) people who care about what they are doing but as is staffed by those who couldn't care less and view customers as an inconvenience I will not be back.
8 Oct 2009 16:11
The Round Table, Leicester Square
I have tried this pub again after a few bad experiances and have to say what a difference! There is a new maager in there now and he is really trying to sort out this pub which could be great. It is cleaner, friendlier and more inviting and there was a great range of ales. The standard GK IPA (only �2.35 a pint!!!) as well as Bath Spa, Lancaster Bomber and coming next Golden Stag and all under �3.
Hope he continues on this upwards trend cos this could be a great boozer, in a great location, still traditional and if well loved I will be back.
23 Jun 2008 21:06
The Gloucester, Knightsbridge
Hey adda
What did you expect the staff to do? They apologised but short of getting a sniffer dog what exactly could they have done. Its your bag, look after it!
A conspiracy? Be very careful what you alledge and if you didn't see the thief take your bag from your table how do you know no one passed you to get out the back door?
Im sure every pub in London has this problem, not so much the thieves themselves but customers who leave their stuff lying around unattended and shout blue murder at bar staff when it gets nicked. And dont tell me you were watching it or it was under your table cause someone managed to get it with out being seen. Was it on the back of your chair perhaps?
A city of 8 million people will contain a few bad guys, that's why its your responsibility to look after your stuff. You wouldnt leave your bag lying on the street while you went to buy something or go to the toilet and expect it to still be there when you come back, why act differently in a pub?
12 Dec 2011 18:21