please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Closed in 2022 - Supposed to be re-opening in a couple of years.
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Busy Wetherspoons next to Barking station. The usual `spoons format applies here - cheap beer, cheep food and a bland, open-plan interior. Ales on were Summerskills Bravo Zulu, Old Bear Great Bear, Jennings Crag Rat, Harviestoun Schiehallion, Sixpoint Bengali Tiger, Hawkshead Cumbrian 5 Hop, Greene King Abbot & Ruddles Best. Ciders were Westons Wyld Wood & Old Rosie.
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This pub doesn't generally reflect the world going on outside, especially after dark. It is very well managed and most hand-pumps are usually working. The beer is also well-kept and you don't often have to return one to the bar. Sometimes you may not always get a full-pint, but this happens everywhere (either deliberately or through carelessness.) For a short period Wetherspoon had lined glasses-ahh those were the days. It's full of characters and it's bark is worse than it's bite (sorry) - most times
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One of the few pubs in Barking not closed down and barricaded, it appeared.
An interesting area to walk round on market day: bush meat and bongo music on offer it seemed to me.
I'm not sure whether the West African culture sits well with English pubs, which might have explained some of the closures.
I think my curiosity's satisfied as to drinking in Barking though.
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Situated next to Barking tube station, the inventive pub name is one of the better aspects of this run of the mill Wetherspoons. A throng of intimidating smokers will more than likely greet you at the doorway and should you have the desire to pass them you will hardly be inspired by the rather mundane interior. A sectioned central area contains a few snugs and a couple of TV screens but generally it is all formulaic �Spoons.. The only thing that really catches the eye is the sculpture of a dog chasing its tale that wraps itself around a central pillar. Despite the generally uncomfortable feel of the place, it was incredibly busy for an early evening which must say something about the lack of any local competition (and it wasn�t as if West Ham were at home either). Surprisingly the beer selection had an above average choice of 4 guest ales (Grafton Lady Mary, Elgoods Mad Dog, Evan Evan Warrior and Nethergate Essex Beast) which did at least offer me some compensation for my efforts in travelling through East London when the tubes are all buggered up. Certainly not an essential stop even for the most devoted �Spoons fan but there is little else in the immediate vicinity.
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Beer was drinkable, clientelle what you'd expect from a rough house area Wetherspoons but it was okay to pop in to for a swift pint after finidng your train had been replaced by a bus.
anonymous - 8 Sep 2009 17:49 |
I think this is one of the better Wetherspoons.well at least you get served fairly fast, and like all in this chain there,s always a good selection of real ales,I have rated it 6 as thats about the highest score I have given to a Wetherspoons pub
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It is next to the job center, yes. But i had a great night here, good service, good food and polite staff. would definately visit again.
D1313 - 23 Apr 2009 14:21 |
Scummy - that sums it up really. The perfect pub if you've just collected your money from the job centre round the corner in your chav tracksuit, if you have one of those big purple alcoholic noses or if you're a dirty junkie.
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I only went in there once on a Friday evening. The crowd were a bunch of foul mouthed, shabby, grumpy and smelly people. Alot of them could not handle their drinks and were trying to start trouble.
Beer is reasonable cheap but tastes like it's from the bottom of the barrel.
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I agree this is pretty dire, enter at own risk!
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This pub is the setting for the Hollywood Movie Saw V. It is populated with toothles cockney scum who have scarlet, alcohol faces, and that's before I tell you about the men. If one raises their voice it makes heads turn, if said yelling yob catches their eye, he'll say "what you bogging at you cnut?". Lots of pregnant teens chain smoking outside and major drug deals going down. There is a family area where Stickey Wicket sings inaudible songs in his sweet, throat cancer tones. He usually finishes his renditions by collapsing onto a table of slops.
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just don'i go in walk past and go to the dog it's a lot better
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My wife and I, who are partial to Wetherspoons, paid a vist to The Barking Dog on a rainy Saturday in June. We normally frequent Highbury and Hammersmith and not East London. The men's toilet was crammed and dirty and the overall place had a shabby look. My wife said the ladies' room was very shabby, very unusual for this chain. The one thing that one can count on in most outlets is that the beer is almost invariably good. A Heinekin and a Fosters were both off or perhaps the glasses were dirty for there was no lacing, a sure sign. Back to Highbury and Hammersmith.
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I have used that pub for the last 12 years and seen many good changes but what your area manager managed to do was wreck the whole ambiance by putting those tall tables in the cental bar area.There were four small tables and around table,this was known as The Knights of the Round Table. Every charity event,they contributed and assisted in the various raffles,and once raised over �3000 for a man called Bill who died at the table number 46. Since then it has been a focal point of the pub,where any body can come and talk about the various problems. We all contribute wether it is through talk,physical help or going to the pensions and credit deparment on the phone to assist them. Now these !!TABLES!! have been put in without any consideration for people who might be phisically,verticaly challanged or otherwise but liked to be able to talk to people who they know will help.I am along with others who DO NOT LIKE what as been done.
Yours sincerly
Budd
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Well worth avoiding, Is a run down place (not literally) but contains all the low-lifes of Barking Town and the surrounding streets. Beer maybe the cheapest, but one of the worst though, Visit @ Barking or SPotted Dog (Never been in but looks good)
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only saving grace for this pub is , its a couple of steps from the station , all manner of low life in here , definatly didnt feel safe in here quaffed my pint then next door to the spotted , not the worst weatherspoons ive ever been in but very close to it.
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i meant to say happened there, yes im drunk!
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Everytime I have been to this pub, the following has always ahooened, be it it 1pm, 6pm or 12am
a) a fight
The scum of the area go here, don't go unless you reeally have to, this only gets 2 from me as its cheap!
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Seems to have got a bit better recently, but they still never seem to have enough barstaff on. Good beer range but quality not 100% reliable on my occasional visits here. On the whole, prefer the Spotted - far more convivial.
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Called in here on a Friday evening, had to wait 10 minutes to be served. I was always impressed with the cleanleness of witherspoons pubs but this is by far the worst, filled with all the dregs of Barking.
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not too bad.. not a spot on the spotted dog next door (no pun intended)
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When this pub first opened, the clean, ersatz furnishings and decor were disconcerting - making you wish for something a bit more "lived in". Now there is often a very unpleasant smell at the bar and the place looks grubby. (The staff don't spend enough time clearing up empty glasses and the stuff that's left around by diners, but this may be because they're needed to serve at the bar.) The pendulum needs to swing back the other way. There does always seem to be a good choice of real ale and the prices are competitive - the down side being the "all dayers" mentioned by others here. It wouldn't be a bad idea if we could buy our beer here and drink it in the Spotted next door! We could pay corkage.
anonymous - 15 May 2005 20:03 |
Does Tim Martin ever visit this place?
Must be in line for worst pub in the chain.
A disgrace to the JDW chain,even the low prices don't make it worth a visit-surely the last chance saloon.
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A noisy cheap and cheerful Wetherspoon - food not bad and some good beer promotions, but you take your life in your hands in Barking on a Friday or Saturday evening.
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Horrible, horrible, horrible!
Went there as we had two hours to kill in Barking on a Sat afternoon; huge pub but at 4pm full up already with usual Wetherspoons customers ie drunk old men and the like attracted by exteremly cheap beer. Paused for a pint and then left swiftly - Spotted Dog next door much better; spacious, airy and good beer.
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Dead inside, there is absolutely no atmosphere !!!
Sarah - 29 Apr 2004 02:17 |
Better than average Wetherspoon, convenient for the station
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Literally a stones throw from Barking railway station, this a reasonable Wetherspoon's, with all the usual features.
Stephen - 16 Sep 2003 14:58 |
