BITE user comments - trickydisco
Comments by trickydisco
I'm glad I hadn't read the reviews on here before I went to Studio 6 the other night because I may well have not gone, and to be honest, I had a good night there, in spite of the fact that my wife got a bit too drunk and a bit too loud. The place has been decorated since the photo above was taken, so it now has a nice feel to the place, but sitting outside in the sunshine and the river just yards away was really pleasant. You could have almost forgotten you were still in London. The beer was good if not a little on the pricey side and yes the staff dont speak English as a first Language but there are lots of pubs in London like this, the service could be more slick. I didnt eat there, but the food did look very good and just across the way is a fantastic looking creperie, which is well worth a visit as you stagger home.
26 May 2009 11:18
I have walked passed this pub for ages and always meant to go in, finally I did so last Thursday, I hadn't realised that it was a Sam Smiths, but that was possibly my own fault for not being observant. Anyway, typical of SS pubs this one is a gem, well worth the visit to step back in time to what pubs used to be like, with a central bar and numerous partitions to create small intimate spaces, these at one time would have been there to devide the classes from one another but these days affords a nice snug intimate environment.
Generally Sam Smiths beers aren't my favorite but I couldn't fault any of theirs because they had been kept well, and the staff were friendly and offered a quick service.
Its well worth a visit for a couple although it does get busy, I will be going back.
14 Apr 2009 14:36
There cant be many places like this left in the country, A pub where you actually feel like you are visiting someone's home, one that is yet to make it in to the 20th century, with a roaring coal fire, darts and great beer. There are so many quirks about this place but its a gem, although it does help if you go with a regular, I don't think they get many "strangers" popping in
7 Apr 2009 19:40
Im intrigued by what keep_it_green means by "perfect for couples", I have never considered that a pub may be perfect for couples, or imperfect for that matter. It certainly doesn't have lots of tables for two, private intimate booths or unisex toilets. I wouldn't think oh I cant go there with my mates because it'll be a bit weird because everyone else will be with their other halves.
What I will say yes its a touch on the pricey side, but the food is well worth it, they have a great range of beers although I only tend to drink Guinness so I can only say that there are no faults there, the atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed. Kirsty the landlady is a Kiwi so you will find a few New Zealand influences in the menu and in the drinks, I would be well pleased if this was near to my house and I could visit more often.
5 Apr 2009 18:31
Im amazed that as yet I havent written a review of this place because I have been going here on and off for the last 8 years or so, it used to be my favorite pub in London, it has amazing views, its a spectacular building, and always had a well stocked bar. Unfortunately over the years it has gone down hill, not because it gets ridiculously busy at the weekends and on warm sunny evenings. Its gone down hill because the service is getting worse, I dont think Im getting older and grumpier but it could be a factor, but it does annoy me when bar staff are lazy, slow and surly.....but it does have a great view
4 Apr 2009 01:29
This, for me, is definitely one of the better pubs in Walthamstow. Has a great atmosphere and a superb range of well kept beers, there are often live events in the back room which adds to the whole package, oh and there is a cab office next door for when you have had a touch too much fun.
4 Apr 2009 01:18
The Ferryboat Inn, Tottenham Hale
i went to this pub for the first time a couple of weeks ago and have been back, so clearly it wasnt too bad, or was it?. Well firstly it breaks one crucial rule for me which is never go to a pub that has a cartoon for a sign, which I think is on a par with cartoon ties and claiming to be mad, no, no no.
Clearly its a chain pub, and the influence of "headquarters" is everywhere, but credit where credit is due, the beer is good, and like Danrkelly says Lee the manager is very personable and the service is friendly. The food leaves a lot to be desired, and is well pricey for what you get, I wouldnt eat here again for all the tea in China, mainly because of the mental mouse I saw running around, oh and the rats in the beer garden
4 Apr 2009 01:08
I was invited to this pub because of a friends birthday, having never been before I had a look at some of the reviews on here and consequently went along with trepidation, I expected rubbish service and all the things that people complain of. Im not about to say that everyone was wrong but I was surprised, it wasn't as bad as I expected. The pub is in an amazing setting, and you obviously pay the prices for being in the dock, it was lovely enjoying a couple of cold ones sitting outside surrounded by the boats. I didn't eat here and in honesty I wouldn't come back because in spite of the views it is a tourist trap, my overall feeling of the place would be that it is what a visitor might expect a British pub to look like.
4 Apr 2009 00:34
This is a typical Sam Smiths pub, cheap but not unpleasant beers, lots of old features and character. It is a shame though that these days increasingly pubs are employing staff with little or no grasp of English, so you get served by miserable looking bar staff who you cant have any banter with and whom you have to ask to repeat several times the cost of the round, shame really.
1 Apr 2009 15:06
this pub has been done up in the last 6 months or so, what they have achieved is quite a pleasant lively bar which is worth ducking in to if you are in the area but I wouldn't go out of your way.
17 Mar 2008 12:02
This place reminds me of the grande cafe's of Belgium or Paris, so on that front they have done their job, Im sure that there will be people who have spent more time over on the continent who will tell me that Im wrong for such and such a reason, but its well decked out, the atmosphere is lively so its a fun place to go.
The list of beers is immense, and it would certainly take more than one visit to try them all, but what is worth a go, if you are unsure, is to get a "plank" of tasters, the staff are very helpful and from my experience know what they are talking about and can give good recommendations. As far as the food goes I have only ever eaten the moule et frites which I cant fault.
all in, because of the prices I see this as one of those sorts of places that you go once in a while, for something a bit different.
17 Mar 2008 11:54
The Ashburnham Arms, Greenwich
This pub is pretty close to perfection, I cant comment about the food, because as yet I haven't eaten there. The service is fantastic, the beer is well kept, its relaxing, comfortable, great ambience, they have a garden front and rear for the summer, I would recommend it to anyone.
17 Mar 2008 11:30
There are far better bars in the world than this place where the staff aren't overworked and rude and the drinks arent over priced.
17 Mar 2008 11:20
I like this boozer, perfect to go to to escape oxford street and all the chaos that it brings. During the day it is comfortable and relaxed, in the evenings it gets livelier, perhaps a bit busy, but it does empty out during the week as the evening progresses as the workers go home.
It also attracts some of the better looking women of the world, which has to be a plus.
5 Apr 2007 13:32
Probably the closest pub to baker street. that is all I can say posative about this place.
its like thousands of other pubs in town centres throughout the country, it aint got soul
5 Apr 2007 13:24
went here the other night, looked grubby from the outside and there was a lot of scaffolding, inside was nicely done out, good selection of beers. but was really busy.
5 Apr 2007 13:20
I used to work around the corner from this place so have spent many a lunch and evening in this place, it has nothing special to offer, there are plenty of other boozers like it. In the summer however it get busy with people standing out front blocking the pavement.
there are other bars within walking distance which are better.
21 Feb 2007 13:19
The Lamb and Flag, Covent Garden
I have to agree with the majority of the views here, it is one of my favourite boozers in Covent Garden but the beer is changeable and it does get rammed.
21 Feb 2007 13:14
The Punch And Judy, Covent Garden
An absolute tourist trap, it has been done up recently. I try and avoid going here but a few friends of ours who were visiting saw it and wanted to go for a beer on the balcony over looking the street performers. It gets very busy the staff dont give a flying fiddle and being a level above doesnt guarantee immunity from being tapped for a couple of quid by a disshevelled juggler.
21 Feb 2007 13:10
Ok, its an all bar one, so you know what to expect. a range of european beers, an extensive range of wine, nuts and olive in jars and full of 30 somethings. I dont personally see this as a bad thing, but All bar one's arent generally my cup of tea because I tend to like my pubs to be individual. But this place has one major benefit, the view over the Thames from the decking at the front, look left and you have tower bridge and the tower of London, right and you can see canary wharf. Absolutely wonderful, I always take visitors from out of town here for a quick drink
21 Feb 2007 13:01
The Inn at Grinshill, Grinshill
I love this pub, the current owners have done great things, the restaurant serves some great food with locally sourced ingrdients, the bar is warm and cosy with a real fire, the staff are friendly and helpfull and there is a garden for the summer months, its a real gem of a modern country pub, and not part of a chain. In fact I liked it so much I had my Wedding reception there.
21 Feb 2007 12:48
there are a lot of people I work with who love going to the Riverside for a drink afterwork, and for the life of me I cannot understand why. First and foremost it isnt a pub, its a wine bar/restuarant, in that an interior designer has put a lot of effert in which is reflected in the price of everything, and when I say it is pricey, its prepare to remortgage your home sort of pricey. That and the majority of the tables are taken up in preperation for diners.
I think of the food as average, it is almost like thier interpretation of what they think people who own a Jamie Oliver cook book would really like but they havent actually opened the cook book.
I like the tables outside with the views across the Thames but you have to clear the area by 10 or so because of the residents above.
21 Feb 2007 12:08
I cant say much about the Maple Leaf, its gets busy, has some Canadian memorabilia dotted around, and has a couple of Canadian brews available.
I was in there last night, the barman was more interested in serving the women than who ever was next, the barmaid was more interested in continuing her banal conversation with a couple of regulars propping up the bar, not even breaking conversation as she served me, call me old fashioned, but that is bad service.
beer tasted alright, but there are far better boozers to go within spitting distance of this place.
Oh and they are quick to kick you out at the end of the night.
30 Jan 2007 11:30
The Porterhouse, Covent Garden
Its my understanding that the Porter house is an outlet for a micro brewery, with the beer being brewed in Ireland, now read into this what you like, they dont serve any draught branded beers, and the food here is great. Of course its not cheap, afterall you are in the westend, and yes it does get full of suits during the week, but this shouldnt be a surprise given where it is, and what is it people have against people wearing suits anyway!!.
Its worth popping in simply to sample a few of the beers but the interior is unique because it is on so many levels, all connected to one another with walk ways and small stair cases, so it is easy to get lost. oh, and in some of the lower levels you cant get phone reception, this can be a blessing, or a curse, depending on why you are in the pub in the first place.
30 Jan 2007 11:17
This pub used to be 120 paces from my sofa to the bar, so was convenient if I couldnt be bothered to walk to the other pubs in Wanstead. I am amused by the managers comments, and whilst I admire his loyalty to the George the issues raised by reviewers are true and issues that shouldnt have to be pointed out to the management.
Typical of any spoons pub the beer is cheap, and rarely do you get a decent pint, the food is terrible in presentatation and taste and I have regularly complained which was often met with indifference. The staff work hard and probably put up with a lot of abuse so are often surly, They also have the strictest and most agressive drinking up policy I have ever come across and always got my back up.
during the week service isnt so bad although they arent to keen on clearing/cleaning the tables, come the weekend however the place gets rammed with the questionably young and is often 3 deep at the bar.
It is a beautiful building and I wish I could have seen it during its hayday, regretfully the original interior walls and fittings have been ripped out to turn it into a cavernous indentikit boozer.
there is very little to say posative about it other than its cheap, its close to Wanstead Tube.
29 Jan 2007 11:33
The Argyll Arms, Oxford Circus
This is one of the handiest pubs in London, right by Oxford circus so really well placed to meet people or to bob in if you have had enough of shopping, in some ways it can be a bit of a creche for grown men.
It has seating to the front on the pedestrianised part of the road which obviously get rammed, the interior is fantastic, its like taking a step back in time. The beer is nothing special, nor is the food, I once ate here and the guy even apologised before he put the food on the table, but they did give me 2 pints to help wash it down so I suppose that makes up for a bit.
29 Jan 2007 10:26
We used to refer to this boozer as the chavfield and for months following its revamp gave it a wide birth, I remember the tart up previously and that did little to improve it. A friend of mine however persuaded me to visit and I went along grumbling like a boy who wasnt allowed his football. All I can say now though is that as a butterfly sheds its chrysalis this pub has shed its chavs, its a really nice pub to be with a great range of beers, lovelly beer garden and a broad cross section of clients from the young to the old, one thing they all have in common however is the overwelming desire to part with thier cash and how the landlord like to help them.
29 Jan 2007 10:04
I have to agree generally with the other reviewers, this pub really is something a bit special when you compare it to many gastropubs, the upstairs bar (if my memory serves me correctly) is sumptuous and coupled with a great vibe. Beers, although expensive, are good and the food, again pricey, is a bit more interesting than what you would normally expect, the comedy in the loo is a great touch, but I had to be careful I didnt appear to be one of those people who hang around the loo. they also have the most polite staff who turf you out at the end of the evening, I think I was the last to leave and (again if my memory serves me correctly) they didnt get shirty, dirty or rude.
29 Jan 2007 09:48
The Rose and Crown, Walthamstow
Very unusual boozer, possibly one of the only medievil themed pubs in the country, which clearly was done some time ago. The place is grotty, the beer was poor, although the service wasnt. I went on a Saturday night and it was dead, so dont go here if you want atmosphere. Like patrickjsm says, pop in have a look, leave.
13 Oct 2006 16:03
I almost dont want to write this because I think the 'gale is an undiscovered gem of a pub, and I would hate for it to become too popular. This pub is like a proper boozer should be, an extention of your own lounge...or at least that of your aunty, the beer is great, atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the land lord has a good eye for a barmaid and an amazingly well stocked range of spirits. If Carlsberg made pubs....
26 Jul 2006 18:10
This pub was probably a lot smarter a few years ago as it is starting to look a bit dated, the beer is good and the garden is of a good size although is troubled with lots of bugs. One major plus point, a tenner fell out of my wifes pocket on to the floor, we wouldnt have noticed had the barman not come running after us once we had left to return it.
26 Jul 2006 18:04
I dont know what the appeal is of this boozer, Ive been to many in my time and to rate it above the half way mark is well over generous, there may be the odd attractive barmaid, but the rest of the pub, dull, drab, run down. On its plus points its good if you like rubbing shoulders with chavs and the beer isnt a bad pint, the tables outside are a plus for summer drinking.
26 Jul 2006 17:58
The Lord Palmerston, Walthamstow
Moved to the area pleased to see a local nearby, went there the once and never again, bar maids my look good only after 10 pints of woman improver and certainly havent got even a close grasp of the English language. Decor is shabby to say the least and has the atmosphere of a dentists waiting room.
26 Jul 2006 17:51
The Anchor, Southwark
I went here a bit ago, and to be honest I had sort of forgotten about BITE, so Im just catching up.
There is a nice outside bit to this pub but regrettably a some point during the evening a surly chap came out and made us get off them so he could lock the chairs up, I thought this was a little mean because the chairs hadn't hurt anyone and were having fun in their own little chair way.
We went inside and I was pleased to notice that although the place was a bit of a warren I could easily work out where the gents were from the tangy smell of urine which most places try to get rid of.
I cant fault the staff, English wasn't their first language and they could get by providing there was lots of pointing and gesticulating, so under the circumstances they were doing pretty well, probably better than if I went to work in a bar in Eastern Europe anyway.
More interestingly though was that whilst in here I saw the tallest woman I have ever seen and also a very tall gentleman, I thought it a bit of a shame that they weren't together, but the tall chap seemed intent on tying to gain the affection of his date who had clearly had so much of the fun juice to know which was was up, let alone that the BFG was trying to seduce her. I suspect though that the two tall people are a regular fixture of the pub so I would suggest a trip to another of Londons riverside boozers.
23 Jul 2009 23:54