The Antelope, High Wycombe

Reading the past reviews for the lope listed here, over the last 6 years, a lot has changed. I've been going since i was about 16, almost 8 years now and over time it has indeed changed. Not, fortunately, have the client�le. The best thing i've experienced in my years of going to the lope is the amount of faces you see week in and week out. I've met a lot of people over the years who will remain memories for a life time. A completely diverse mix of people from rockers to chavs (the good, funny kind), emos to students. No other pub in town offers this mix.
The music is varied, from hard rock to some old skool drum n bass land everything inbetween. Karaoke held on...(guesses recollection...).. Mon?,day?? and occasional drinks promotions make for a good night out even with a small group.

In my eyes, the best thing about the pub now is the expansive covered garden area provided. approx. 1000sq feet(my estimations are terrible, but big) garden with about half of it covered by good quality parasols donned with equally good quality heaters. This means, any time of year, rain or shine, you're sure of a good place to have a bit of a cheeky smoke and a bubble (bubble-it's been said, deal with it). Arriving late can often mean no available seats under the covers, but adequate levels of secondary benches are provided. Busier nights see all tables full and a large congregation of people mass in the center creating quite a party atmosphere. Again, on busier nights, an outdoor bar is opened which serves a variety of bottles and a few other beverages. Two horrifically disgusting porta-loos skirt the edge of the garden as to allow people to piddle without crossing the dancefloor which is inside.. the less said about them two the better. Also, a 'pool' table is available at a pound a go. Not really worth it if you ask me. The table is about as flat as pam anderson and the cues often have had their tips busted. If there is chalk, it's often not any use without a serviceable cue to use it on. However, like most tables in pubs, chalk is often moved on elsewhere. i've got a photo on my phone of the table's side where the staff had written, "please do not steal the chalk", and where someone underneath has written "why not?".. in chalk. made me chuckle.
As for the inside, this is where the lope has let itself down recently. Poorly furnished and lit, the main bar section is often crowded to the point entrances and exits are obscured, drink handling mishaps are a common occurrence as some impatient knobs (ie me and anyone else in the queue) races for the spot you've just been dispensed your drink from. On week nights, the bar can often be found propped up by a collection of alcohol drenched regulars, who you imagine would have some interesting stories to tell... they do not. For the weekends, a secondary bar is opened inside which offers almost the same range of drinks that the primary bar does, and more than the exterior bar. Prices at each of the bars are reasonable at best, their trademark 'shark' being one of the better deals. Double vodka and this shark/redbull equivalent, �3. Which aint amazing but beats some other places - could do with taller glasses and the option to keep the rest of the can. think they get two out of one there.
Other than the outside and the 'bar-room' there are two other notable features, one being the en-suite dancefloor, which i touched on earlier. Often the dancefloor can be great, eclectic mix of tunes, meaning all 'types' of people can join the fun. Occasionally during more mainstream sessions, the floor can get a little crowded due to its size. I reckon, possibly the DJs play a wide range of music so ppl can dance in like shifts. Start off with a bit of Rock, keep the DnB fanboys at bay, allow the rockers to rock out.. then flip, pow, (un)original nutter plays and the chavs flock like birds to the dancefloor, which by now is being vacated by punks. That type of thing happens about 3 or 4 times a night, the mix of genres they play is probably the best thing the dj's got. the variety within those genres are severely lacking however. same tunes, different order i'm afraid. The en-suite element of this dancefloor soon shows itself in either a Final Destination-esque line of suspicious liquid seeping out of the doorway of the mens, which is no more than an arms length from the dancefloor. That or the birds loo will have a queue of lovelies hanging outside. Not a plus-point really, no good chatting up a bird if she's busting for a pee. (atleast that's the excuse i always get!!! *runs off crying*) :P
The last area of the pub is what i've always referred to as the grandads inglenook. With a second point of delivery to the main bar (thinner, about 2/3 customers wide), this area acts as a more relaxed and calm place to be. Customers in this 'nook' should really use this bar-estuary unless severely long queues have gathered both sides. Often the dilemma of standing at the main bar, is that u can see right across to this secondary bar by the nook and it can be ever so tempting to nip round, hoping to shave off a few ply of customers.
Only a few other minor issues. Occasionally after around 12, you will need to pay anything from �2-�4 to get in, this is dependent on it being busy i believe. Doormen are pretty reliable, though a little mob-style. Have seen them with the old-bald guy one time beating the crap outta this one punter, then taking them off the premises and round make of the church to continue beating him up. pretty harsh. Just glad that didn't happen the time i bolted the fence when i was 16. got in, but clothes were covered in that blackstuff, plus tore ma jeans. Oh well, got in.

1 Jul 2009 12:25