BITE user comments - tuppence
Comments by tuppence
Horrible, pointless refurb. Hard echoey surfaces, no soft furnishings to dampen the sound. Mediocre beer choice (it's not 2002 anymore, lads) and removal of pool tables (par for the course these days, but nothing worth coming here for in compensation).
But they went to check out some rivals and saw those old Edison lightbulbs were fashionable and got some of those, so it's not all bad.
25 May 2015 10:47
The Horse and Groom, Great Portland Street
Two pints of Pure Brewed lager and a keg OBB - nearly �12. You gotta be having a laugh, 'cos nothing SS pubs sell is any good really.
I used to go due to the good value of the beer when I was younger, but now I may as well go to the other non SS pubs in Fitzrovia (there are a few) and actually have a decent beer.
Shame.
9 Oct 2012 16:49
The Princess of Wales, Primrose Hill
Before: homely and traditional.
Now: just another aspirational gastropub, like all the others, but perhaps a little more gaudy than others in the area.
In summary: fucking ruined
9 Oct 2012 16:41
Nice, busy pub, excellent beer, empty dining section, �12 for a burger (!).
4 Jul 2012 13:18
The Swimmer at The Grafton Arms, Holloway
Pretty decent, attractive pub and good beer in an area that needs them.
Just wish Nigel Tufnel and his sidekick working behind the bar had been bothered to empty the outdoor ashtrays. Every one of 'em was overflowing. Considering there were only 3 customers, it wasn't that difficult.
4 Jul 2012 13:14
The Sekforde Arms, Clerkenwell
The current user rating of 7/10 is far more indicative of the quality of the pub than the miserable review below this (19 Jun 2012) - typical �one review user� fodder.
I hadn�t been back for a good few years and found it to be a friendly, homely local's pub. Beers are well kept, food is cheap. The interior is traditional - bare floorboards and comfortable bench seating; it�s not been through the Young�s blandification machine yet. Didn�t notice either a smell from the loos, nor peeling walls.
No mice present on my visit, but a handful of friendly regulars and a scatting of Clerkenwell workers.
4 Jul 2012 13:06
Northmen: so don't save a pub from potential demolition because you don't like the service? A bit extreme. New staff are easy to come by (I agree that young kid is a moron) but the character and history of the wedlock is irreplaceable.
As for the owners selling to the highest bidder regardless of their intentions, what happened to integrity? Money talks and tramples everything else it seems.
30 Sep 2010 18:51
Interesting, Kissa. You have to concede it's odd for someone to comment on three ostensibly distinct pubs which happen to be owned by the same people. You haven't commented on the (average) Peahen or the (excellent) White Hart, I note.
And lo! You do have a vested interest. And you're friends with the owners too. At least you admit it. It doesn't make it a "fake rating", but (like MPs), you do yourself and your comments a disservice if you don't disclose vested interests, no matter how innocent.
You ask what more could you ask for. I'll tell you what. Character and warmth. As I said about the Cock, with all that cutlery laid out you feel like you're drinking in a restaurant. The Verulam Arms in St Albans for example does a much better job of balancing the food/drink thing. Only my tuppenceworth, of course :)
I leave negative comments where they're due. Country pubs are being ruined by thoughtless refurbishments. I understand they have to diversify to attract the high margin food eaters, but if I walk into another pastel, generic cloned McMullens pub or another 18th century public house which now contains what looks like a mid-range Italian restaurant...well, it�s enough to drive anyone to drink.
8 Oct 2009 16:09
Gann below sums this place up perfectly. Inoffensive but characterless refurbed McMullens pub. Good beer garden though.
1 Oct 2009 13:21
The first to comment...this is one of the more remote pubs within the M25. A good walk through Whitewebbs Park awaits you, or perhaps a drive.
This is clearly a very old pub with a certain amount of character and a good beer garden. There is a magic ingredient missing that is hard to put my finger on. It just didn't have the welcoming vibe I'd hoped for. Still its a good place to go for a refresher, before making your way back home again through the park.
1 Oct 2009 13:19
It is, in fairness, perhaps worth pointing out that this place, the Green Dragon in Barnet and the Pied Bull in Enfield are all owned by the same people. Then its worth looking at kisska27's comment history below.
Not that anyone with vested interests in these three pubs would pretend to be a punter to boost the favourable reviews or anything...perish the thought.
There are plenty of proper, great pubs in St. Albans. A place laid out with so much cutlery simply cannot be named amongst them.
1 Oct 2009 13:14
That should have read "this place, the Pied Bull in Enfield and the Cock in St Albans are are owned by the same people"
....Doh!
1 Oct 2009 13:10
It is, in fairness, perhaps worth pointing out that this place, the Green Dragon in Barnet and the Cock in St Albans are all owned by the same people. Then its worth looking at kisska27's comment history.
Not that she would pretend to be a punter to boost the favourable reviews or anything...
1 Oct 2009 13:09
It is, in fairness, perhaps worth pointing out that this place, the Green Dragon in Barnet and the Cock in St Albans are all owned by the same people. Then its worth looking at kisska27's comment history.
Not that she would pretend to be a punter to boost the favourable reviews or anything...
Onto the pub itself: Gann is right. It looks like a Country Pub from the outside, almost all country pubness to the place was removed a while ago under previous ownership. The new refurbishment simply moves it even further in this direction. Another pastel semi-restaurant in an old country pub. If people want to have modern restaurants, there are plenty of empty retail premises at the moment. Oh well.
1 Oct 2009 13:08
Anyone else think fatpav works for the Three Crowns? I certainly do.
The give away is thus: who else would joining BITE simply to post an argument with someone else about one pub? I note no other posts on any other pubs.
7 Nov 2008 14:20
From all these comments about waiters and bookings and food, you'd think the Albion was actually a restaurant plonked into the shell of a pub.
Oh that's right - it is. Pubs are supposed to be relaxing places, but with the amount of diners and the crowds, this place really isn't.
24 Sep 2008 16:42
Had the worst burger in here I've ever eaten. Overcooked, dry and generally vile. The salad was going rotten. I really should have complained.
The only other place in which I've eaten a worse burger is the Flask in Hampstead. Same owners, funnily enough!
24 Jul 2008 15:02
"The Shack" closes this month, according to their website. The building didn't fit with their aspirations, which sounds very much like they weren't getting enough punters in.
Perhaps they should've just kept it running as a proper pub? It was quite popular when it was, apparently.
18 Jul 2008 18:54
The Duke of Hamilton, Hampstead
I want to like this place and have tried my hardest to enjoy it here on numerous occasions for the last 10 or so years. It's a proper boozer of the old school, with a good selection of beer, but it doesn't quite work for me.
The regulars are the priority here, despite some of them being pretty annoying and the decor is tired, rather than traditional. Had a pint of cider here once that had gone pretty badly off and it was, in fairness, replaced, albeit with a lot of muttering from the old landlord. Was accosted by the locals afterwards about how it was obviously my fault for not understanding what cider was. Of course they weren't to know I had been there the week before and had enjoyed the same cider, before it had gone off.
Far too many closed, poncified and gastroed pubs in NW3 leaves the nearby Old White Bear the best of the lot.
23 Jun 2008 14:05
Paradise By Way Of Kensal Green, Kensal Green
Very pretty refurb, IMO, but the preening, swaggering demeanour of many of the patrons makes this a tedious, wannabe destination venue and too much hard work.
Fact of the Day: this bar is owned by the same people who brought you the Old Queens Head in Islington, the Westbury in Kilburn and the Queen Boadecia in Clerkenwell.
But then seanporter (below) is all to aware of this fact, aren't you, Sean?
16 Jun 2008 15:15
The Horseshoe unfortunately attracts customers who like to sit and get drunk whilst gawping at women. These same customers are under the misapprehension that using words like "quaffing" make them seem raffish and erudite.
The interior is too cold and impersonal to make anything else about it (good beer/food) worth visiting for.
16 Jun 2008 02:06
The Clissold Arms, East Finchley
All Bar One look-a-like, with aspirations...
Boring - go over the road instead for a much better pub.
16 Jun 2008 01:50
Being the best bar in Southgate isn't difficult, considering every pub in the area is rank.
Suffice to say I get a bit suspicious when a place feels it needs to get members of staff to sign up under different names on BITE to drum up a bit of free publicity. It's the kind of thing which might put me off going to a place.
16 Jun 2008 01:44
The Londesborough, Stoke Newington
Peanut73 (plus others) are correct - too many uncontrolled children. I've had kids under my table as I've tried to eat, while their oblivious parents natter away on the other side of the pub.
I've also seen more than one person nearly have an accident attempting to negotiate the groups of kids who sit unattended on the step in the middle of the pub. If one of the darlings got hurt in the process, their daddies QC would shut this place quicker than you could say Health and Safety.
I guess that chap stokenewingtonsurfclub was too busy thinking about his epilepsy inducing myspace page to notice this.
Ultimately, to get the best out of this place avoid weekends and stick to weekday evenings.
19 Mar 2008 01:26
The George and Vulture, Hoxton
Echoing other comments - this is a decent normal pub in an area where such things are hard to come by.
20 Feb 2008 14:34
It seesm my visit on 8 Jul 2006 was a one off. Been back a half dozen times since then and found it a busy, fun place. Great service and good mix of locals.
Indeed its true - not too many Shoreditch types they're all over in the Royal Oak.
20 Feb 2008 14:27
So the Cock joins the litany of perfectly acceptable pubs which someone thought they could 'improve'... before it shuts down 12 months later.
And I go out in Bow a fair bit - it would be good to know where 'DavidKnockton' spends his time, so I can avoid going there.
20 Feb 2008 14:21
Good trip here recently. Lots of ales, pleasantly busy & good service. It was the afternoon though and there were a few too many kids for my liking (I counted 6 or 7).
Incidentally, you'd have thought SteveEast17 would have learnt his lesson after coming here in July, but no! He goes and takes his poor mates in (again), just so he can come on BITE and moan about it.
20 Feb 2008 01:10
Rambling review below aside, this is a weird little place. Accessed by a buzzer next to the bridge after a certain time it was totally deserted on my visit back during the warmer evening weather.
Still, my companion and I had the whole canalside terrace to ourselves, so we didnt complain. In a word - underutilised.
7 Jan 2008 20:43
The Bald Faced Stag, East Finchley
Unless you�re a 20 year old scrote with a tracksuit and an attitude, there�s no way you couldn�t say this is an improvement compared to how it used to be here.
Despite the restaurant bit, it does feel like a semi-traditional pub and is doing well for those young flat-sharers around East Finchley. Its not cheap, however, especially the food. Still, the owners (who also own the Dairy in Stroud Green) have got their punters sussed as all those aforementioned flat-sharers seem more than happy to pay for the privilege of drinking here. On the toss of a coin I still prefer the Old White Lion, which has a better garden.
4 Jan 2008 13:10
Really frinendly staff and a mixed crowd of locals. Pool tables upstairs and (as said by 1epal) good food, too.
Maybe a bit tatty (some small windows broken) but still great! Best pub in Edmonton.
4 Jan 2008 01:57
Good pub - a bit tatty but in a good way. Nice staff, good tunes and some interesting regulars!
4 Jan 2008 01:34
According to CAMRA this nice little pub is under grave threat from closure, for conversion into flats. There are clearly not enough flats in Kentish Town.
Get there while you still can.
25 Jul 2007 13:38
The Crown and Anchor, Chiswick
Now called 'Shackology', despite the exterior (which is listed). It still considers itself a pub, despite the name, so it needs a new entry on BITE.
20 Jun 2007 11:36
All I can do is echo other comments: once one of London's most impressive pubs ruined by an unsympathetic extension and clientele who make drinking here frequently less than endearing. Shame.
Lots of reviews here only talking about the restaurant bit, too. Still, good to see they're catering for babies; and there�s me thinking pubs were for grown-ups!
10 Jun 2007 00:51
The North London Tavern, Kilburn
Any place that has customers who use phrases like "pre-tipple nibble" is not the kind of place I want to drink in, alas.
One day I'll actually be albe to get a seat in here. Front bar perpetually packed with people wearing ironic hats while the back is frequently very very quiet.
2 Jun 2007 14:14
As the clientele of a pub usually define its atmosphere, if you wish to surround yourself with 'notting hill toffs and foreign bankers' then this is indeed the place for you.
No jealouy required; normally all the nice people go to the Cock and Bottle instead. Proof if proof be needed that money does not afford class.
16 May 2007 01:14
Not my most comfy places if you're not playing pool, but impressive to look at. At it to the list of trendy pubs in Kilburn - at the lastest count theres now six (equal to the number of Irish pubs).
7 May 2007 13:31
Repeating what some others have said, really. For such a 'local' pub the greeting isn't exactly warm or friendly. Real, shame as a smile costs nothing.
No music makes it a bit souless on quieter days, too. Could be amazing, but actually middling instead.
5 Feb 2007 23:33
Its nice, that much it true.
*But* its a chain. The 'interesting' decor and menus are identical to about 10 other pubs in North London. They all serve exactly the same 'interesting' beer too
The pubs are:
Edinboro Castle - Camden
Flask - Highgate
Angel - Highgate
Washington - Belsize Park
Roebuck, Hampstead
Old White Lion - East Finchley
Island Queen - Islington
Ranelagh - Bounds Green
Maid of Muswell - Muswell Hill
Kings Head - Crouch End
I'm sure there more. Seems all a bit cynical to me and because of this, rather less interesting.
22 Dec 2006 01:56
Definately One of the better places in Chiswick. Not a chain pub, which makes a change these days and consequently great service,too.
3 Dec 2006 13:12
The Drayton Court, West Ealing
Heres an idea, Bernard: If you dislike it so much here, take your kid to the local park to "play", rather than the local pub. Drayon Green and Walpole Park, for example, are nearby. And you can't really complain that other people let their kids play when thats what you're doing too. Lets leave the pubs to the grown-ups, eh?
3 Oct 2006 22:33
Eio's comments made me laugh. He went there in 1979 - probably a bit late to comment on the place 25 years later!
It could be great here, but is in fact average. Good building, bit it looks rather tatty inside. At 8pm Saturday night it was dead (3 old men). Perhaps it gets more busy at other times?
31 Aug 2006 02:18
The Mucky Pup, Angel, Islington
Would've been nice to see whats changed since former landlord Dave left, as it was always a favourite of mine.
However, last saturday night it was shut for a 'private party'. I hope it was a one off, because theres only so many times I'm prepared to traipse down there to waste my own time.
31 Aug 2006 01:45
'Banner' was clearly in a different pub, or he would've seen FOUR real ales:
Two Sharp Brewary ales, London Pride and also an excellent Mild (Oscar Wilde)
Live Blues band good but too loud. We were outside so it was OK. Unlike nearby Queens Head no-one turns to stare at you as you enter.
20 Aug 2006 23:41
Good-looking, old-school pub which, when I went past last night, (Friday) had about three people inside. Place might get busy at other times, but it seems to be struggling at the moment.
Perhaps people listened to 'anonymous' below? Pubs need to adapt or die and its curmudgeonly attitudes like that (inverse snobbery, in this case) which will lead to the place shutting down through lack of custom and getting turned into another boring gastropub.
8 Jul 2006 13:05
The Freemasons Arms, Hampstead
Whoever thought having refurbishment to look like an Ikea catalogue would be appropriate for a 1930s building in Hampstead was badly wrong. Reminiscent of a nicer All Bar One and as someone else said, "a pub for people that don't like pubs". Saying that, its better than it used to be.
One for the tourists and NW3 visitors - and avoid the weekends. 3/10 (for the garden)
17 Jun 2006 16:14
To remove any confusion, this is now part of the distinctly average BRB (Bar Room Bar) chain. Still, this one is a lot better than the one next to Angel Tube.
25 May 2006 12:32
'tis neither one of London's best pubs, nor nowhere near a awful as others here have suggested.
Having lived in the area from 2001 until 2005, I watched the area evolve from rough 'n' ready to full on trendy. During this time, the Brondes Age and Powers Bar remained steadfast and gave the more normal residents of Kilburn two decent places to go. Of course this was before the alleged cutting-edge types came, apparently "discovered" the area, consequently making it too expensive to live there anymore.
Even now with the Black Lion and North London Tavern all gone trendy, the Brondes Age (and Powers) are still the best in the area.
11 May 2006 02:59
As a big fan of real ales and pubs in general i can only echo many of the comments here and wholeheartedly welcome the Pembury - especially when pubs are shutting every week.
However it must be said that its seems the owners have concentrated all on the beer and less on the 'pub'. Overall, the ambience/decoration leaves something to be desired (a problem with the Oakdale, too).
Firstly, its hard to know the place is open. The above-eye level window frosting makes it uninviting, as do the shut black doors with a rather terse 'no smoking' notice on it.
Secondly a no music policy is all well and good (if you're a fan of Wetherspoons pubs), but when you're establishing a clientele from zero, it can feel like walking into an empty and echoey assembly hall. When quite, the silence can be deafening and when theres people in, the poor acoustics make general chatter as annoying as any music could be.
The magnolia walls, wooden floors and furniture look clean and tidy but lack the soul of a true pub; it could almost be a sparce All Bar One. Its early days I know, but it needs personality (plants, colours, good lighting, for example). All easily remedied. Also, for such a large space, its too open. People like nooks, crannies and corners.
If this pub is to thrive it needs to do more than attract the travelling real-ale crowd and bring in the (nice) locals, too. Unlike the Oakdale theres no shortage of pubs nearby so they would do well to get some objective advice on how to - at little cost - improve ambience and bring in more local regular punters.
I wish them the best of luck either way.
23 Feb 2006 03:13
Excuse my ignorance, but who are Eloise Anson, Iain Russell, Billy van Cutsem, Ed Sackville or Will Buckhurst and why; why on God's sweet earth should I, or anyone else, care about their supposed patronage of this otherwise very good pub? The very idea of "blue-chip socialising" here is about as appealing as week-old porridge and despite delusions of grandeur, Tatler is the intellectual equivalent of Heat magazine. For those put off by Tatler's description of the Duke's clintele, fear not, as this is a great, unpretentious little place.
18 Feb 2006 00:45
Once there were three rubbish pubs in Bounds Green. How theres two. If you're nostalgic for rubbish stinky beer carpeted pubs, the lovely Springfield Park Tavern and The Prince await your custom. Why shouldn't there be a pub aimed at the 25-30 demographic in an area with lots of young people? You talk of homogenisation, but ironically theres hundreds of pubs which look like the old Ranelagh (ie: early 90s refit pubs with yellow flock wallpaper and heavily patterned carpets), but not many (almost none) that look like the new one. Also ironically, Crouch End currently hosts about five old Ranelagh style pubs and only one "nathan barley" trendy pub - its not some trendy person utopia. Saying that, the demographics have widened since its revamp. Before: old men and geezas watching football. Now: Men AND women, young and old, all mixing peacefully. The garden is about 1000 times better, theres a larger, better range of beers and the food is great. The Ranelagh isn't trying to pretend to be anything. It is what it is: a clean, warm modern pub aiming at people who want more choice and more quality in Bounds Green.
5 Sep 2005 12:36
Well over 5000 pubs and bars in our great capital and The Warwick is the 'best bar in London'?? I think that might be overstating matters somewhat. It's very good - nicer than any Upper Street chain hell-hole - but lets get things in perspective.
2 Aug 2005 10:53
The kind of place featured in Sunday supplement magazines that we're all supposed to love now. Frequented by guffawing media types to spend the whole time trying to outcool everyone else, or young affluent families with screaming kids, 3 wheeled buggies and more money than class.
21 Mar 2005 11:44
Good friendly local. Shame one of the girls behind the bar insists on putting on the crappest music known to man, despite an OK jukebox.
10 Mar 2005 10:00
The Enfield Arms, Enfield Town
Excellent suggestion. I'm a 'qualified' landlord (they make you sit exams these days) and know what made the Arms work. So if anyone's got the money, open it! If it's leasehold it could be as little as 25-30 grand(!)
10 Mar 2005 09:55
Great pub, beautiful interior, good atmosphere. They really make an effort here. If I had to criticise, one particular newish girl who serves behind the bar is continually incredibly very rude. Get rid of her! All other staff are great. Sunday lunch also disappointing.
2 Mar 2005 17:23
The Westbourne, Westbourne Green
I remember what area I was in when I went there. Royal Oak, with a sea of council estates but a stones throw away. This isn't Chelsea or Mayfair but people here think it is. Their egos are so inflated, I thought they'd float away. Still, amazingly, not as bad a Tom & Dick's around the corner.
2 Mar 2005 17:17
If I wanted to sit in what looks like a tatty European airport and drink, I'd go to Frankfurt.
2 Mar 2005 17:08
Yates's Wine Lodge, Wood Green
This place is the 8th circle of Hell. Standing waiting for the bus, this is the place to see paralytically drunk teen chavs spilling out onto the street at closing time, vomiting in the gutter and getting into fights. Every single weekend.'Wine Lodge'? Blue WKD Lodge more like.
2 Mar 2005 17:06
The Mucky Pup, Angel, Islington
ellie/anonymous, I think mattyd's sarcasm was faurly justified.
"no-one made any effort to speak to us let alone get to know us". Well I hate to break it to you, but its not a social club. Anyway, did you make any effort to go and speak to people? Your food issues: pubs do run out of food sometimes and it wasn't selling itself as some kind of veggie utopia anyway. Its not the Dorchester Hotel. As for seating, theres plenty, about 35 - why do you rate the pub badly because 3 people were sharing two couches? And "cheapy framed pictures"? Really, is that the best you can do? I think the Steph is a great photographer/artist. Your opinions are in the minority here methinks and for what its worth, you probably weren't there on a bad night, its more likely just not your kind of place.
8 Feb 2005 15:54
The Prince Albert, Angel, Islington
Nice, good looking pub.
Good beer, friendly staff, nice armchairs, fantastic board games and some classic 60s tunes being played too.
Its near Angel tube too so its just a shame its not got many punters yet. Go try it before everyone else discovers it!
24 Jan 2005 16:40
The Enfield Arms, Enfield Town
Yep. I heard its going too. A new road cuts 6 inches into the pub...so bye bye! The local papers are more worried about the loss of a car park and the Enfield Arms was only worth half a sentence. I'd ask the landlord if theyre going to open somewhere else, but I'm too frightened to hear the answer. Been going there on & off since I was an indie kid in the mid 90s - its has the best jukebox I know in London. Annoyed doesn't describe it. Anyone know any alternative pubs north of Camden? I can't face the Chavs in The George or others round Enfield.
4 Oct 2004 17:10
The Harringay Arms, Crouch End
Beers great now, but what in God's name is the 'mild' referb all about.
lots of bench seating removed in favour of high stools and beer barrels..like the beer garden of an o'neills in 1998. The rest removed, presumably to accommodate more people, but in reality the tiny tables are too close to reach other to do this.
Also, a truly horrendous multicolored wall beer display more fitting to a nightclub in Ilford, my nan's sofa in the corner and a beer fridge which is so bright I feel I'm being interrogated by the stazi.
I fear that as they get more cash to continue their referb, they'll turn it into an Australian's nightmare (to quote spinal tap). The changes are just bizarre, cheap, crap and pointless and I just don't get the rationale.
Nice record player tho.
25 May 2015 11:02