please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Unlike Samuel Pepys (who visited in April 1668 with the actress Mrs Knipp, where he “drank, ate a lobster, and sang, and mighty merry”) I walked in , had a pint , a look around and left unimpressed.
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It's alright. Beer was decent service was ok. Not so memorable. Interior looks like many other pubs and I am sure it once looked far more interesting.
Didn't try the crisps so can't comment on them. They might have been amazing.
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We were on holidays, on our final day in London and went in here for a final 'holiday over' pint. I was told by a very rude barmaid that the 50 pound note I had was 'too old' and that I'd need to go to the bank to change it (this being a Sunday). I told her I had just gotten it from an ATM two days previous and she said the bank shouldn't have given it to me. I advised her it was all we had, she said 'So you are saying these will have to come out of my wages?' I said no, I'm trying to pay you and she said 'fine I'll pay for them, now I'll have to ask you to leave'. She was incredibly rude and soured our last day. I later checked on the bank of England website and found that:
'All Bank of England notes from which legal tender status has been withdrawn remain payable at face value forever at the Bank of England in London. Any such notes may be presented for payment either in person during business hours, or sent to us by post.'
It may be policy within the pub not to accept these notes, but in light of the fact that they retain their value and are still being dispensed by ATM's, this woman was (very rudely) throwing away money.
I've worked in customer service for six years, I know how rude the public can be and it is because of people like this woman that the general public have such a bad opinion of shop assistants, many of whom work very hard and are totally unappreciated.
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We found today's food service to be perfectly reasonable. The Redwillow Wreckless was new to me and tasted good (if a little hoppy for me but then I knew all along that it was a pale ale) but £4.04 per pint?! Still that wasn't as bad as £4.02 for a 330ml bottle of Aspall's cider! But with a lot of the nearby pubs shut on a Saturday lunchtime, maybe they have the tourist market to themselves.....
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OMFG! Or in the immortal words of the previous poster "oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!". What ever happened to good service these days? Staff moody and incompetent - we've been ignored most of the afternoon, and when we've hunted them down to be served, they have struggled to get the order right - told they don't do half pints of lemonade on our third round, after ordering just such for our previous two rounds. It's a shame that the female waitresses, whilst being of a more attractive and exotic appearance, don't seem to appreciate it that when punters make eye contact they are in fact wanting their attention because they wish to order food and drinks and not because it's simply feeding their vanity!
Full credit to the Hungarian barman. Lovely venue too. Yet the whiole experience was unfortunately marred by the dreadful service.
Just to add insult to injury the AV situation was appalling as the sound was out of sync with the video too.
On the plus side, one competent member of staff and the food was prompt but bland.
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Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear oh dear.
Went there last night as part of a function, works pub quiz. Took ten minutes to get served the first round. Their Kronenbourg was in a Fosters pump (so they claimed). Pissy, sharp warm house white. Oh well, nowhere is perfect. Second round took FIFTEEN minutes to get served (I timed it), this on a quietish Thursday night. The young barman appeared to be entirely unfamiliar with the bar. No large wine glasses left, so was served a small glass filled to the brim, to carry upstairs. Yeah, thanks for that. Prepaid food was brought round for the function; nasty onion rings, flat soggy chips, three pieces of garlic bread for a four person table. Details were awful. No salt in the shaker, our ketchup bottle was empty. "Can we have some ketchup please?" "We're fucking rushed off our feet, the lifts are broken, and I'd have to go down two floors and back up again to get it." That'll be a no then. No-one cleared a glass from any of our tables in two and a half hours - not one.
I hear in the glory days of Fleet Street this was a gossipy newspaper tavern as fine as the Cheshire Cheese or the Old Bell. To leave a pub short-staffed and badly run when there were two functions booked is just insulting. The other function was a party of American students, and I wonder what sort of time they had. If that was on their itinerary as 'a visit to a classic British pub', then the landlords should be prosecuted for embarrassing the nation.
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Was in here today from 16:30 to 20:30 as part of a large party in a room on the second floor. Although the room had a bar only the Guiness and a Lager was working. You had to go down two flights of stairs for Real Ale. Both the IPA and London Pride were good. Overall the pub is excellent over several floors and bu around 18:00 was packed with worekers and tourists alike. My only critisim is that they had our party (around 60) and another large party as well as walk ins, but they did not have enough staff to serve at the Bars and deliver Food to the tables. Increase the staff and this pub is worthy of a 10/10. Would definately go back.
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I actually quite like this place. Not sure when Harry goes in but there is full table service every lunchtime and whilst I'm not in the area very often, when I am I choose this pub over all the others having worked nearby in a previous job and experienced them all before. The staff have always been pleasant and make my crowd very welcome. Lunch offers are good and menu and drinks list seem perfectly acceptable. Toilets are pretty grim but I come to eat and drink not pee so I can tolerate that minor down point. The managers seem to have a well balanced team with the the usual mix of Brits and foreigners who did enough to satisfy the requirements of a lunch hour. Overall food and drink were lovely although my colleague was miffed by the absence of draught cider! I'll will definately be back again.
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Went back today after an 8 month break, obviously still the same old same old attitude but the staff has changed. Just when you thought that things could not get any worse,....................Spirit Group still amaze you and yes they are (worse).
There is a finite limit to people, their cash and their goodwill/acceptance of cr@p service and whoever the absentee landlord is here he/she is quite close to it.
Get a grip, there are already quite a number of vacant premises on Fleet Street for rent, will this be another??
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Great pub... the staff were all very friendly, choice of beer was great and tasted good too. Had one of the �4 lunch offers and very impressed. Will go back as I was made to feel very welcome.
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Reasonable pint of pride and friendly service. Glad we popped in
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extrememly disinterested staff, even though it was almost empty i felt like i was imposing asking for a couple of drinks. also i had a truly awful pint of guinness. i usually stay and try an ale when im in a pub around here but i didnt even risk it in this place so i cant comment. i hope i just caught them on a bad day, but i won't be back in a hurry to find out.
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Much better pubs within 50 metres or less, better service, better beers and staff without those ridiculous ear pieces that seem to have robbed them of any character/charisma/personality. Beer was very poor and very short in the glass, all in all to be avoided.
Dull, dark dingy and thoroughly depressing.
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not as good as it use to be, not even close, if you are in the area avoid this place (the real ales are the worst, i dont think they know how to care or manage their ales)
halo2 - 25 Sep 2009 01:24 |
Also visited on a Saturday and this pub was very quiet. Not a bad establishment though, but then again nothing to write home about.
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Visited on a Saturday and the place was largely empty as is to be expected in this area. A good variety of wines and beers available and food at reasonable prices though I did not eat there. Enjoyed a glass of Bankers Draft which was chilled and of good quality. Others on tap included Adnams Bitter, IPA, Bombardier and London Pride. I was pleased to see Beaujolais Village on the shelf together with other reasonably priced quality wines for the wine lovers out there.
The pub is a mix of old and new. I noted that the bar staff allowed a tourist to sample some ale before buying (the Banker�s Draft as it happens). Would visit again but there are better pubs around.
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This pub is interesting.
The beer from the upstairs bar often has strange flavours - the pint glasses are not rinsed thoroughly so you often get the taste of detergent in your pint. Some pints also seem to have gone off. A cloudy pint of Stella anyone? This is sub-optimal.
I did not meet Gary.
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Not as good as it used to be a couple of years ago when the interior and the staff were a lot nicer (one of the barmaids really doesn't enjoy working there by the looks of it). It also doesn't attract the crowds that it used to. That said, it's still a pleasent enough pub and the food is very good.
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Credit crunch, cheaper lunch! Nice to see a traditional pub offering occasional food offers. Table service is great idea for lunch (why not the evening?) and having pre ordered a couple of times by phone now, I have to say it makes the whole experience much more relaxing and enjoyable. New menu is great and the wine list appears to have improved as well. Decent staff, charming landlord. Only problem? It's shut for another blooming refurb!! Please update the toilets...!!
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simply stunning pub. nice bar man, it was very quiet but it was not quite 6 o'clock so i am sure it gets busy.
fairly good beer selection
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Recently revisited this former regular of mine . The atmosphere and interior were still as nice as ever.But the food is the worst that i personally have ever had and experienced sice being in London this past 3 years. food score 2, service 5
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This pub is fantastic. The food is great and the service is outstanding. Gary is wonderful and is so friendly. Toilets a bit smelly but needs redoing. Management seem very laid back and not helping other staff. Over all whole experience good thanks to gary.
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Visited last Friday. Beer choice OK and tatse was good.
Didnt eat ourselves, but as it was lunch lots of plates of food coming past all of which looked Very nice. The fish (& Chips) was hanging off the plates.
Will visit again, may have something to eat as prices seemed quite reasonable for the locality.
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Good pub excellent beer whith good service, but the food is clerly pepared by the finest microwaves money can buy, and disgusting loos.
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Wow - sounds like itpubgirl is proudly sponsored by Ye Olde Cock Tavern!!
But seriously, this is a top pub having undergone a recent refurb. Lots of olde worlde charm, original features and very pleasant staff. A good choice of draught beers and very reliable food with plenty of good old pub grub as well as fresh sandwiches, salads etc served quickly at the correct temperature. A nice change from the generally more fusty old pubs on Fleet Street.
We had a work 'do' here not so long ago and were really impressed - the manager even put a playlist on with our receptionist's favourite tracks (more fool him)!
Pleasingly, they also have a proper wine list with some more interesting choices than the ubiquitous pinot grigio and merlot. It's a hit with our lot... 8/10 easily.
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An awesome pub. The staff are fantastic. So efficient, friendly and well presented. Management are also absolutly brill!
The food was fast and well presented. Kudos to the chef. I most definatly will be going back for my lunch and an evening drink.
Also i agree with the comment below. Best pub on Fleet Street :)
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Great pub. Staff are lovely and really attentive. Manager used to run the Devereux and (as he did there) makes all the customers feel like old friends. More pubs should have this attitude. Food is a 'safe bet', not gastro stuff but good quality, hot, speedily served pub grub (and salads too).
Looks like the comments about the ales have been taken on board too because there seems to be a better selection of guest ales.
Pubs have to branch out now to stay above water, think what the effect of the smoking ban etc must have been. I have seen the poker in there and I thought it looked great. Very novel and they keep themselves to a separate function area anyway.
The best pub on Fleet Street by a mile...
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Great pub. Staff are lovely and really attentive. Manager used to run the Devereux and (as he did there) makes all the customers feel like old friends. More pubs should have this attitude. Food is a 'safe bet', not gastro stuff but good quality, hot, speedily served pub grub (and salads too).
Looks like the comments about the ales have been taken on board too because there seems to be a better selection of guest ales.
Pubs have to branch out now to stay above water, think what the effect of the smoking ban etc must have been. I have seen the poker in there and I thought it looked great. Very novel and they keep themselves to a separate function area anyway.
The best pub on Fleet Street by a mile...
anonymous - 21 Oct 2007 22:04 |
I would have to agree, a venue that flatters to deceive.
Was in there again at lunchtime and noticed ( a further ,) drop in quality.
6 handpumps with only 3 in use (Greene ing IPA, Youngs Ord and Adnams Broadside, none of which were on decent form,) and by the number of glasses placed over the taps, a limited selection of fizzy beers. A selection of staff whose indolence bordered on fascinating and a manager discussing loudly how much they could bump up the price of the Xmas menu.
All in all a shadow of its former glory (much missed.)
Oh and as I have no desire to play poker, the prominent oushing of what in the old days would have been known as a card school is also a bit grating!
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The Cock Tavern looks fantastic from outside, like it doesn�t belong on Fleet Street. It is apparently on the site of a pub that was originally shut down during the plague and I�m not sure that it ever recovered as it was dead in there.
Both of the barmaids were very friendly, but it didn�t really make up for the lager selection (Fosters or Kronenberg) or the lack of atmosphere.
Overall I was pretty disappointed as the exterior of the pub caught my imagination and I felt robbed upon entering.
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Shame about the beer. I wonder whether the landlady (Ginella) has gone? I popped in there for a swift one mid-afternoon in the summer, and ended up spending some while chatting to Ginella who was very enthusiastic about the beer. To my shame I can't remember what beer I drank, but it was unusual and superb. And ginella gave me a bottle of Young's Kew Brew to take home. Must pop in soon to see what it's like now.
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Now open again, (Can't see much change inside, you have to wonder why it took so long!)
But in the scheme of things BIG disappointment as the ale range has gone fron a good selection with an imaginative guest ale policy, to the usual dull range of london Pride and the GK standards.
Pity, as one of the reasons to go here was to see what beers thay had on.
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Appears to be shut for a refurb (yet another place that didn't look as if it needed one.)
Lets hope things don't change too drastically.
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Good food, friendly staff, handy location (for me). Downstairs is a bit on the dark side but upstairs is light and airy. Food is delivered fairly quickly too. No complaints.
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Irrepressible, indefatigable, good natured landlady and staff. Sadly the positive vibe is confined to that side of the bar. There is a good variety of guest beers.
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What a disappointment. Looked great on the outside but the interior was far to modern and wrong.Piped music though quite a classy selection.For some reason I have yet to fathom I decided to eat there and had a bog standard pie. Why didnt I wait to eat at one of the pubs I went to later; all better in price and atmosphere.And another problem I seem to encounter.Although I have a Northern accent it is not too strong. Surely HALF and PINT are different phonetically if one listens.
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Staff always show their true colours writing about their own pubs in such a way. Quite a bland place, verging on rubbish inside. Possibly the worst pub in the area! Looks ok from the outside, which is where I recommend people stay!
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I admit to being bias (working for ye olde cock tavern), although i do disagree with the review above. I am currently doing a degree and work at ye olde cock so I can afford rent etc. Practically all the members of staff at the pub are studying for degrees or have them and just use the work to pay morgages etc. [I do not see any of us as being clueless]. Grumy goons? - Only when someone lacks the ability to say please and thank you when they are intoxicated. The Cheshire Cheese is a famous fleet st. pub and therefore packed with tourists, and the Old Bank of England has nice managers but awful staff. If you want a real taste of what is remaining of after work Fleet St. Ye Olde Cock is the place to be.
PS Agnes - we do take cards, the pool room is open untill 11.20 like the rest of the pub - we're you that drunk you don't remember properly? lol
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The landlady is a gem, but the pub itself a nightmare. Badly laid out, badly decorated, and a machine that turns the music up at 6.18 PM just as the clientele are trying to talk to each other.
Mark pulled up over average only through efforts of aforementioned landlady.
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And what a load of old cock it is too! Upstairs shuts early, the pool table shuts even earlier, the tills don't take cards and the staff are clueless grumpy goons. Don't just avoid going in this pub, actively run past it very quickly screaming all the way. After all the Cheshire Cheese and the Old Bank of England are far far better and only a short scream away.
Agnes - 14 Jan 2004 11:09 |
