The White Horse, Harborne

The White Horse is a pub which has a lot going for it. Most importantly, real ale drinkers would go quite some way to find a better selection of beers and in my experience they are always very well-kept. It is a cozy kind of place with traditional bar and lounge and back room which is used for music evenings. The locals are a good mix and and I’ve never had a problem with them. It also has a lovely cat who is fond of sitting on the bar or will crawl up and make herself comfortable besides you, especially if you have left your jacket down for her to lie on!

What a shame then that the staff let down what otherwise would be a really top pub. On a recent visit I stood at the bar a little bedraggled after quite a heavy rainstorm. I was certainly looking forward to a drink. The place was barely a quarter full and the barmaid was currently serving someone and there was one other customer ahead of me. It took a good five minutes before my turn came round but I wasn’t complaining. Then , to my complete amazement, instead of serving me she dashed over to the corner of the bar to serve one of the regulars (I’m guessing) who had only been waiting a couple of minutes and was probably as dumbstruck as I was that he had got served before me.

I am a big chap and I was standing directly in front of the barmaid while she was serving. I was not waving my arms or making a fuss but I had my hand outstretched with a £20 note in it patiently waiting my turn. The barmaid, up until that point, appeared to be quite competent, having dealt with a large round of drinks in a courteous and efficient manner. You would have to be unbelievably incompetent not to notice it was my turn to be served next so I can only conclude she didn’t like the colour of my eyes or that maybe my nose is too big. I do look a bit odd but is that really a reason not to serve me?

Joking aside (?), the barmaid in question (about twenty-five, slim, shoulder-length brown hair and wearing glasses) clearly favours regulars above occasional visitors who don’t cluster limpet-like around the bar as many of them do in here. To me, that is an absolute cardinal sin in a pub. I’m not normally one to complain but I said, “Excuse me, it was my turn to be served next”. She looked at me with a smirk on her face and just said “sorry”. I pointed out that I had been standing in front of her for a good five minutes. She said “Sorry, I just didn’t notice you” and carried on serving her regular. At this point I was told to “calm down” by someone, presumably the landlady, who suddenly appeared from nowhere to put this stroppy customer in his place. What a shame she couldn’t have been so efficient in coming to help out at the bar when it was needed. I turned on my heels and headed for the door, feeling truly humiliated and with a still unquenched thirst.

I sent the pub an email complaining about the service. I received no response. No surprise. On another night with another bartender, this would not have happened but I am not the first on here to comment on the standard of service at this pub. The fact that I did not get a response to my email says it all really. They don’t give a you-know-what.
Cheers to the White Horse, what wonderful customer service.

11 Apr 2014 10:24

The Case is Altered, Five Ways

Been there a couple of times. At first it reminded me a little of the bar scene in American Werewolf In London where two strangers come in and the whole room goes quiet and looks at them...a little unnerving but maybe I was just being hypersensitive. It's a pub that's slightly off the beaten track after all.
Really excellent ale in very tranquil surroundings. Need one ask for more?
I'd love to see some American tourists wander into there...or better still golfers!

19 Mar 2014 11:29

The Square Peg, Birmingham

Not the sort of place you want to go to impress on a first date...wait at least until the third or when you've had your wicked way...
This place can be completely heaving at 8 AM with hardcore drinkers and lots of slightly dodgy types. That said, i have never seen any trouble there.
Biggest challenge here is actually getting a drink within 10 minutes of approaching the bar. Forget about fist come, first served - it's a complete free for all.
Without doubt the worst Wetherspoons I have been too and definitely the worst bar staff anywhere on this planet.

18 Mar 2014 20:44