The White Bear, Ruislip

We went Saturday evening with my wife for a party of an old work colleague of hers. I’ve driven past there loads of times and it looks a decent homely place from the outside. As it was inside….

But sadly despite the function attended by 100+ there were only two staff on, both of which pulled beers at the pace of a speeding snail. I waited 15 minute for a couple of lagers, the second time round the same again for three more. Whilst waiting for the second set of drinks I noticed that the bar-maid was holding a set of plastic glasses as the glass ones had not been returned to the bar as there was no-one available to collect them.

I waited another 20 minutes for my third set of drinks, but luckily saw some-one I recognised at the bar so the slowness of getting a lager was a little better.

Whilst all this was going on the drinks were running out fast. Some of the ales were not available, even when we arrived. Guinness ran out as did a few others. So perhaps the tortoise like service was a cleverly conceived tactic to make the drinks last until 11.00pm. Who knows?

I did notice someone else stocking up the fridge with white wine late on in the evening. Whoever she was, the pub could have done with her a couple of hours earlier.

We had a good time and enjoyable evening despite the bar and not because of it.

I suspect with an extra staff person or two and more stock the pub may well have taken quite a bit more £££ during the evening.

13 Oct 2014 20:32