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BITE user comments - Biggles

Comments by Biggles

Ye Old Bell & Steelyard, Woodbridge

Wow! Dropped from the 2017 Good Beer guide! How was that, then?

The guys that run this have been (in one pub or another) in the GBG for 22 consecutive years. Yet the Angel remains in? Nuff sed.

18 Sep 2016 16:06

Crockers Folly, Maida Vale

No ales at all and, I was firmly assured, they never plan to have any.

There were only a few beer taps at all, all of the fizzy kind, and one of them had keg London Pride. Only the end bar is open at all to drinkers (as opposed to diners) and the other two are for dining only. I would regard it as still 'Closed' as a pub, though maybe open as a restaurant/wine bar.

9 Sep 2015 10:21

Ye Old Bell & Steelyard, Woodbridge

This pub changed hands two or three years ago and now always has at least a couple of guest beers to go with the GK and the best Sunday lunches in town.

27 Mar 2015 22:27

Cafe 't Smalle, Amsterdam

Wow, I can't believe how few reviews this place has. It's gorgeous, friendly and has a nice selection of beers.

27 Mar 2015 22:19

The Murderers, Norwich

Good range of beers, in good condition, and a good pub food menu.

Rambling pub with quite a good atmosphere, very convenient for the shops. I'll be back next time I'm in town.

12 Nov 2013 08:39

Bear and Bells, Beccles

Quite busy on a weekday lunchtime. Nice selection of guest ales, in good condition. Bar snacks tasty.

It didn't have a bad pub atmosphere, either. It would have been more atmospheric but the total disaster of the choice of bar-room furniture, I wonder who on earth thought that was suitable for a pub.

23 Feb 2013 10:11

The Cricketers, Cambridge

It's just reverted to its original name, the First and Last. Not sure how long it was known as the Cricketers, I guess somebody thought that would be a catchy name as it was near Parker's Piece.

16 Feb 2013 14:54

The Admirals Head, Woodbridge

Permanently CLOSED (has been reported to BITE).

7 Aug 2012 15:15

Sekforde Tap, Woodbridge

Finally, after years of uncertainty, CLOSED and converted to a private house.

13 May 2012 16:35

Cafe Gollem, Amsterdam

It's still closed. There is some talk of licensing problems that the owner is still trying to solve. A great shame, I hope he succeeds.

4 May 2011 14:12

The Angel, Woodbridge

All has changed, and very much for the better.

Regular guest ales - interesting ones, not from 'the usual suspects'.

Great food, well prepared.

3 Feb 2011 17:45

The Seal, Woodbridge

Now the Duke of York, following a minor refurbishment.

15 Dec 2010 17:44

Sekforde Tap, Woodbridge

It still advertises 8 cask ales outside.

But a typical selection these day is three, all from Greene King.

15 Dec 2010 17:42

West End House, Ely

Still a pleasant, welcoming pub, but , must have changed hands since I was last here, as I was sure they used to do food. Not even a sarnie now.

19 Sep 2010 12:11

The Fat Cat, Colchester

I'm not sure what happened to the beer during the afternoon, Huey, but it was great on the lunchtime of the same day!

Excellent little pub, good snacks, friendly atmosphere.

19 Aug 2010 20:49

The Three Horseshoes, Charsfield

Interesting what you say, davehowe, we've eaten there before and the meals are really nice and well made, but we both commented on the blandness and my wife said, 'it's because she's put no seasoning in whatsoever'.

Shame, they were excellent otherwise.

19 Aug 2010 10:52

The Swan Hotel, Arundel

Fairly characterless town centre hotel. Food and ale of perfectly good quality, though it was the most expensive beer I found in the town by some way.

13 Jul 2010 08:57

The Lamb Inn, Arundel

Please delete, duplicate pub. See under 'Lamb Inn, Yapton'.

4 Jul 2010 15:58

The Red Lion, Arundel

I wonder if Fraser3 is related to Jasper2? Or even the same person?
;-)

1 Jul 2010 14:22

The Blue Peter, Polperro

For cash in Polperro, use the counter at the Post Office (not their ATM, which also charges). The counter is free.

29 Jun 2010 10:49

Ship Inn, Fowey

Good service, excellent ale. Menu looked very interesting but I had already eaten, wil eat there next tim.

19 Apr 2010 21:47

Lugger Inn, Polruan

I also found the food appalling at the Lugger - what would you expect of 'cream of vegetable soup'? Thick, creamy, tasty? Not at the Lugger, it's thin, watery, tasteless.

Someone I spoke to in Fowey later said they would never eat there again, 'everything was grey'. Come to think of it, my soup was rather grey, too.

19 Apr 2010 21:41

The Kings Head, Woodbridge

An absolutely stereotypical 'first and only' post, Michel. Brilliant, though so over the top, even for a post of its type, it's hilarious. Are you the landlord? Or just a joker?

28 Dec 2009 20:00

Three Horseshoes, Whitwick

Superb. Excellent ale, friendly welcome, great atmosphere. All you could want in a local.

20 Dec 2009 16:29

The Cross, Woodbridge

No longer a pub, now a 'Vegetarian Restaurant & Wine Bar'.

26 Nov 2009 16:57

The Bell Inn, Chichester

Good traditional pub, quickly rotating guest ales, good atmosphere and friendly, helpful staff.

That made the food even more disappointing, though. The meat we each had was almost tasteless and could have been anything, and the texture wasn't even much of a clue. Shame.

15 Nov 2009 09:23

The Wilford Bridge, Melton

Generally busy pub, serving food all day.

The quality of the food food is a bit mixed but the worst thing is the Adnams beer - it's possibly the coldest real ale I've ever had - served so cold it's flat and practically tasteless. There's absolutely no need for this abuse of what is normally a very tasty ale.

21 Oct 2009 11:48

The Admirals Head, Woodbridge

Usually Adnams and two guest ales on, normally in good condition.

Excellent food; landlord is Italian, and that is reflected in his menus.

20 Sep 2009 19:53

Manningtree Station Buffet, Lawford

For info of Bronxrichie, the address is quite correct.

Though the parishes of Lawford, Manningtree and Mistley are often just referred to as 'Manningtree', Manningtree Station and buffet are well within Lawford, both from the parish boundary and postal address points of view.

13 Sep 2009 19:59

The Blue Peter, Polperro

I've always found them very receptive to any comments; we did have a criticism of a meal once (though it's unusual, they're normally excellent)and we received profuse aplogies and weren't charged.

26 Aug 2009 15:45

The Old Mariner, Woodbridge

I know where you're coming from, Harbottle, but the Mariner is a beer-drinkers pub and there are never more than 5 ales on tap, which it can easily turn over. They do take some pride in keeping them well.

If you want to see a pub that has far more beers than it can possibly serve in decent condition, you should try the Sekforde Tap further up the road!

28 Jun 2009 21:02

The Fat Cat, Ipswich

Yes, I no longer go there, and the main reason is the *rs*h*les who normally inhabit the place. An unpleasant bunch generally; the pub deserves better.

The Dove is a much better bet.

Thanks for your post, hungrysi, it reminded me to downgrade my rating, which I originally posted some years ago.

4 Jun 2009 22:27

The Dove, Ipswich

I think the rating, currently 7.4, is probably affected by having been held in a much lower regard under previous management(s).

Another good case for resetting the rating on change of management.

28 May 2009 12:18

The Tuckers Grave Inn, Faulkland

Superb, what a gem. The Butcombe was in top condition and the pub was just as friendly as previous reviews said.

Even the doorstep sarnies were brilliant.

The only comment I'd make: we almost drove by, as it seemed closed. On a warm day especially, they should have the front door open, or some other indication they are open, or passing trade will carry on, well, passing. And I'd hate to see this place close down.

2 Oct 2008 18:00

The Tuckers Grave Inn, Faulkland

Pubtraveller: "What do you do when someone is knowingly trying to rob you?".

Didn't you ask for it to be changed? That's what usually happens. And in what way was a barman 'trying to rob you'? A barman gets no profit from serving a bad pint.

The odd bad pint can always happen. You just point it out and get a fresh one, you don't make a drama out of it.

12 Aug 2008 21:07

The Dog Inn, Grundisburgh

I can't make this place out.

We used to like their nice touches, like a basket of nice bread while you're waiting to eat, nice portions, 20% off for early diners (plus you can choose from the lunchtime menu if you wish) if you order before 6:30.

Last time we went, it was all change. No bread. Tiny portions. No ordering from the lunchtime menu. And there's no mention of the 20% off on the website either.

Plus the fact that one table was cordoned off because of a (badly) leaking roof, which didn't exactly help the ambience - and that wasn't the first time either - what kind of restaurant is happy to have diners sitting among buckets collecting rainwater?

I can only think the credit crunch is biting and this is going to be another victim.

7 Aug 2008 18:10

The Duke of York, Marylebone

"Average pub I would say - surprised at the 7.2 average" - Grecian.

As Trainman suggests, this is do to their vigorous self-promotion. Almost all the 'favourable' reviews are by people who've just registered and have never reviewed (or even been to?) any other pub and who all probably 'gave it ten'. It's a bad sign, beware.

If you allow for the fact that there are at least 15 such reviews, that would make their real score nearer to 6. Does that sound more like it?

15 Jun 2008 15:24

The Three Crutches, Strood

Of course you'll 'definatley come again', cola.charlie.

After all, you do run the pub!

29 May 2008 10:36

The Crown, Ufford

I liked this place when these people took over. The policy seemed to be a couple of beers from small breweries and good, plain food.

Now it just seems to be one beer from one of the 'usual suspects', not always in the best condition, and a rather bizarre attempt to place the food upmarket, which doesn't really work in those surroundings.

6 Apr 2008 21:04

The Sun Hotel, Coniston

Friendly, welcoming kind of pub with a roaring fire. No food when we were there as the kitchen and hotel area were being refurbed. Always five local ales on, in good condition, tho served rather cold.

The best pub for barroom chat in Coniston.

(The public bar is actually quite sizeable, so I think Donnajunkie must be thinking of another pub)

15 Mar 2008 20:00

The Royal Oak, Bowness on Windermere

Dreary, rundown pub catering to the bottom end of the tourist market and to locals who want a big screen for football that takes up one wall. Only had a bap each but they were tasteless and the salad was awful - being served on hot plates (why?) can't have helped. Bluebird bitter was OK, tho.

15 Mar 2008 19:55

The Crown, Coniston

Generic food-oriented pub with no atmosphere.

15 Mar 2008 19:54

White Lion Hotel, Ambleside

For a GBG pub, there is nothing pub-like about this place. The beer was OK, the food was certainly nothing special. But it is a bland, characterless hotel.

15 Mar 2008 19:53

The Manor Arms, Broughton in Furness

Excellent small-town pub, right on the little square. Open fire, 7 ales, bar snacks, craic, good atmosphere. It's got all you need!

15 Mar 2008 19:52

The Black Bull Hotel, Coniston

Rather odd layout, with the bar effectively being in a corridor between the front and rear lounges, ie more a servery rather than a bar. It doesn't help the 'pub feel' and I can't help thinking the old layout must have been better, but the ale (brewed on the premises) is good. The food was OK but there seems to be a tendency to go for quantity over quality.

15 Mar 2008 19:50

The Sekforde Arms, Clerkenwell

"Why was it empty on a Saturday night?" - BitterShurn.

IIRC, it always used to be closed on a Saturday night. Maybe people have yet to get used to the new hours?

14 Jan 2008 09:41

The Sorrel Horse, Shottisham

Now closed.

22 Nov 2007 21:17

The Blue Peter, Polperro

Still the best pub in Polperro (or miles around, for that matter) by a very long way.

The new kitchen is obviously a great success for them, as food is now available lunchtime and evenings and it's even better than before.

29 Oct 2007 19:08

The Bell Inn, Aldworth

Why do some pubs make things so complicated?

The Bell has it right. A simple, ancient pub, simple local beers and simple - but superb and satisfying - food.

29 Oct 2007 19:05

The Seymour Arms, Witham Friary

Bloody wonderful!

No music. No food. Sunday lunchtime and the large front room was packed with people being busy talking and enjoying themselves. And they were all locals, we felt we were the only 'intruders'. It seemed like the whole village was in there. Things just as they should be.

29 Oct 2007 19:01

The Kings Arms, Mevagissey

I don't know if the management's changed, but this year there were only two ales on show, and they were on handpumps.

OK, I happen to think beer tastes better straight from the cask, but the fact is that this pub has very little in the way of individuality or character and having several casks at the back of the bar somehow gave it a little something extra. The new broom has swept all that away. A big mistake, I feel.

To be honest, it now looks like what it is, a rather rundown town pub without a great deal to recommend it. We'll definitely try one of the others next time we're in the town.

29 Oct 2007 18:56

The Fat Cat, Norwich

In response to Naarge's comment, only three Fat Cats are related, the Sheffield Fat Cat is completely separate (though may have served as the inspiration, I don't know).

But the two Norwich pubs (Fat Cat and Cider Shed), the Ipswich Fat Cat and the Colchester Fat Cat are all connected with the same family.

10 Sep 2007 16:58

The Fat Cat, Colchester

Excellent addition to the Colchester ale scene.

Good selection of ales, the ones I tried were well kept, good atmosphere.

Yes, it's long and narrow, but that's not really a disadvantage (in fact in Ireland it's almost compulsory). It helps produce a natural seating/eating area away from the standing/drinking area, I found it fine.

10 Sep 2007 16:16

Old City Bar, Canterbury

For some reason, 'listless' was the word that came to mind here. The pub generally was somehow listless, the Adnams was listless, and the barchild would probably have been listless on a good day.

Most of all I liked the poster (one of these mass-produced ones that are intended to be funny but never are): "Hot beer, Lousy food, Bad service. Welcome!". When it's that close to the truth, it's probably best taken down quietly ;-)

10 Sep 2007 13:10

The Duke of York, Marylebone

The 'negative feedback' mentioned by pippiptallyho has already been removed as it broke the pattern, which was of a long list of pub customers registering just to make one post.

21 Jun 2007 21:06

The White Hart, Arundel

Very pleasant pub. Only the Harveys Best was on when I was there, but it was in excellent condition. Landlord, landlady and staff were cheerful, friendly and helpful.

Food (well, the food I had, anyway) was good and there was a good pub atmosphere, despite having opened out to one open space some years ago.

10 Jun 2007 15:11

The Victoria, Earl Soham

What a great pub! You can't beat the combination of an old country pub, superb home-brewed ales and wonderful food.

10 May 2007 17:16

The Queens Head, Brandeston

Gutted!

That's how we felt when we walked in, and that's also what someone has done to this pub. Shame on them.

I remembered it as a real old village 'local', and it still looks like that from the outside, but inside it has been completely stripped of any individuality.

A cold atmosphere, the ubiquitous brand new pale wood bar counter, dreadful little spotlights, everything about as unlike a pub as you could possibly get.

Goodness knows where the old boys from the village go for their pint now, I imagine it must have done Kettleburgh Chequers trade a power of good.

10 May 2007 17:13

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Inn, Castleton

Had Sunday lunch there recently. We were very pleased with our meals, and with the nice range of local ales and friendly service.

23 Apr 2007 18:54

The John Logie Baird, Hastings

"Sonia & Tom"? It was Reg & Sue at the end of November.

"dinner at your restaurants"? It's a Whetherspoons.

Have you got the right pub, Kurt?

15 Apr 2007 09:19

White Hart, Bradwell

Changed hands last year.

Pleasant, friendly local pub, though only appears to have Greene King on handpump.

7 Apr 2007 16:40

Little John Hotel, Hathersage

A large, rambling hotel near the centre of the village. The rooms just seem to go on and on.

Usually four ales from micros, all in excellent condition.

Food is superb value, too much quantity but no loss of quality.

Landlord and all staff very friendly, this pub definitely recommended.

7 Apr 2007 16:31

Scotsmans Pack Inn, Hathersage

Now changed hands and seems heavily geared towards the food side, to the extent that all tables bar one were laid out for meals with 'Reserved' notices on them in the middle of the week.

Complete lack of welcome or greeting from the landlord, all staff pretty disinterested, even in people who did want food, which seemed very expensive.

Very lacking in pub atmosphere.

7 Apr 2007 16:22

The Dykes End, Reach

Lovely pub, quiet village location, overlooking green.

Much of pub taken over by food, you can hardly move for dining tables; it would benefit from more of a balance, there's hardly anywhere for drinkers to sit. There is a pleasant locals bar but it's rather small.

Their own home brew was excellent and the production and variety should increase later this year when the new brewhouse opens. Two good ales and a handpumped cider, which is good to see.

24 Mar 2007 11:18

The Prospect of Whitby, Wapping

It's scary how many people seem to be impressed by the 'old pewter bar' when it's actually a modern 'refurbishment'.

Just shows how easy it can be to fool folks....

23 Mar 2007 23:29

Sekforde Tap, Woodbridge

Now reopened, under a new name: the Sekforde Tap (sic).

A free house with four changing real ales. Food starting soon.

Decor a bit stark, but maybe it'll mellow with time. For those to whom it matters (for the next three months), it's non-smoking indoors.

15 Mar 2007 11:42

The Dykes End, Reach

I understand the pub now has its own microbrewery.

Time for another visit, methinks!

10 Mar 2007 09:16

Tommyknocker Brewery and Pub, Idaho Springs

Good range of their own beers, excellent food.

Nice little town (it would be a village over here, I reckon!) with lots of small shops.

26 Feb 2007 19:46

The Cock, Beazley End

I did see some episodes of this 'soap' and was horrified by what had been done to the inside of an old pub.

What were presumably once wall timbers (quite possibly from other buildings, I don't know) now just form the skeleton of missing walls, they are nothing more than sticks dotted about the interior.

Of course, for all I know that may have been done under previous ownership but it's a pity it's been done in the pursuance of the 'quaint' while 'opening up' the interior. It looks dreadful.

22 Feb 2007 09:03

The Blue Peter, Polperro

Unwise to rely on anything that starts 'Rumour has it'.

Sharp's have been "selling their beer up the road" for ages, nothing new there. Probably he's been recently selling beers that are more popular, I've never been a huge fan of Sharp's, I'm more likely to drink Skinners, which is usually available there.

Personally, I've always found the landlord - and all his family - very pleasant do deal with.

3 Jan 2007 14:43

The Waggon and Horses, Halam

Beware. This is no longer really a pub.

We went in for lunch after seeing it listed in the GBG as having �rustic charm� with �good quality home cooked food at reasonable prices�. It has obviously been through a disastrously unsympathetic refurb since that was written.

It is crammed full of dining tables � so crammed full that, I kid you not, it was a work of art to find a way from your table to the bar for another drink. And that was with most tables being empty - I imagine it would have been an absolute nightmare if all the tables were occupied. As it was, people coming back from the loos had to push their way past my chair; not what you would want while if you were downing gourmet food! And it had that horrible atmosphere where everyone talks in a hushed voice; all you hear are whispers from other tables. Not the relaxed, comfortable ambience that you would expect from a �village local�. Nobody stood or drank at the bar.

The Thwaites Original was fine, though the Thoroughbred was hazy and not really ready but was still served to me just the same. The food wasn�t bad but was very expensive.

Steer well clear unless you want a fancy pub that thinks it�s a smart restaurant but isn�t even that.

2 Dec 2006 16:24

The Five Bells, Burwell

A great local village pub, where people still talk to each other and to you. Well-kept beers, though sadly they are usually all from the dreaded GK, who don�t allow them a guest beer. Very good meals, lunchtime and evening, and good value too.

27 Nov 2006 20:25

The Crown Inn, Bathley

A wonderful pub, with everything you need from a village local. Good ales (two bitters on handpump), cheerful landlord and landlady, the best (really!) roast beef that we could ever remember having as a pub Sunday roast. Friendly locals too. We wished we could have stayed all day but my car kept whimpering from the car park.

27 Nov 2006 20:08

The Warrington Hotel, Maida Vale

Hopefully when it's owned by a TV chef you'll be able to get a decent sandwich with your pint. At the moment all they do when you ask for food is say, 'There's a Thai restaurant upstairs'. If I wanted a Thai restaurant, why would I be in a pub?

24 Nov 2006 10:18

The John Logie Baird, Hastings

Word must spread incredibly fast if they've 'built up a reputation for very good food' in less than two days! Oh, come on....

Sadly, even they admit the ales are only 'reasonably kept'. I'll steer well clear.

24 Nov 2006 10:14

The Seal, Woodbridge

The sad name 'The Seal' is because all Vintage Inns have to be named after an animal and in addition all have a silly (intended to be comic but they always fail in that) inn sign with a cartoon creature on.

(The Duke of York closed in the 19th C)

26 Oct 2006 16:44

The Blue Peter, Polperro

Ah yes, another nice week in Polperro, much of it spent at the 'Blue'.

Still a great pub, serving excellent ales and food, not to mention music.

15 Oct 2006 16:20

The Kings Arms, Mevagissey

Good, friendly local pub, good selection of local ales, in excellent condition (tho I was sadly unable to test them all!) in casks behind the bar.

Nice selection of decent, good-value food and friendly barman.

15 Oct 2006 16:17

The Fat Cat, Norwich

Where's Mark 2 going to be, TWG?

Is there to be another in Norfolk, or were you meaning the Colchester one, which opened last month and, I understand, is being run by the son of the Ipswich Fat Cat landlord (who is the brother of the Norwich landlord)?

4 Oct 2006 17:54

The Seal, Woodbridge

Masquerades as an ancient pub but is really just a modern restaurant.

Great building, looks as though it must date back centuries. But was actually built in 1999.

Two handpulled ales, but beer drinkers are not encouraged. Eating and sitting at tables is what's encouraged.

Drinking while standing at the bar is actively discouraged.

Shame about the stupid name, when it's actually built on the site of a previous pub called the Duke of York.

26 Sep 2006 20:06

The Turf Tavern, Oxford

We were there last summer. There was always a queue at the bar, but only because the Turf seemed to specialise in lazy, talkative barmaids.

This kind of thing does take the gloss off a visit to a nice pub.

26 Sep 2006 16:45

The Five Bells, Burwell

Good village boozer.

Just the standard range of Greene King's beers, unfortunately, but the food is excellent.

Large enclosed garden, good for kids.

10 Sep 2006 11:58

The Angel, Woodbridge

Theoretically has real ale but in practice it's rarely on.

Loud juke box, louder yobs playing pool in the bar.

All the atmosphere it once uused to have went three or four 'redecorations' ago, the lounge is a bare room without any compensatory charm.

There seems nothing to recommend it.

9 Sep 2006 17:03

The Kings Head, Woodbridge

It certainly has the potential to be a good pub. The landlord has been 'on his way out' for ages but apparently he now leaves in January.

Hopefully the Kings Head will then turn the corner.

3 Sep 2006 20:10

The Old Mariner, Woodbridge

At last under decent management (Chris & Tom, previously of Woodbridge Seckford) and they will ensure it returns to being a traditional alehouse.

First impressions: a good atmosphere; four handpumped ales; food starts soon.

3 Sep 2006 20:07

The Stockwell, Colchester

I think there have been other complaints and I hear that it won't be in the 2007 GBG.

24 Aug 2006 15:23

The Kings Arms, Arundel

Great pub, what a shame they've stopped serving food.

24 Aug 2006 10:52

The St Mary's Gate, Arundel

Not really pub any more, just a barn that serves beer and food.

24 Aug 2006 10:50

The Odd One Out, Colchester

I regret only one thing with this pub and that's that, at the end of the day, I'll have to get in my car and go home.

I think one day I'll have to come to Colchester by train just so I can stay all day!

A perfect pub.

24 Aug 2006 10:15

The Stockwell, Colchester

No, I don't think much has changed, anonymous, it's still neglected and so is the beer. Especially the beer.

It was even quiet today, and it was one of the nearest pubs to the Essex County cricket match.

The landlord doesn't seem to care whether he serves a poor pint or not and the bar staff today didn't even seem to know whether he had or not, never mind care.

Today was the day I gave it 'one more chance' to see if it had improved over the last few years, and it was still as bad.

How this place gets in the GBG, I really have no idea.

17 Aug 2006 21:41

The Rose and Crown, Wimbledon Village

Lunched there with the family.

Very impressed, not by what they got right but what they did when they got things wrong (which can always happen anywhere). When one of the party had the wrong dish delivered a second time (only slightly wrong, nothing serious), the manager came out unbidden, apologised, and offered either to provide the meal free or give us a round of drinks free.

Can't beat that, it's the sort of treatment that would make you return. The really impressive bit was that *he knew*, and we didn't have to complain to him, he came to us. Obviously good staff training as well as good management.

9 Aug 2006 17:17

The Fat Cat, Norwich

[serious DWI hassle]

What's that? Google brings up Drinking Water Inspectorate, shirley not?

21 Jul 2006 13:06

Bell Inn, Cheltenham

It's a Proper Pub. The only one we found near the centre of Cheltenham, though we may have been unlucky. The GBG pubs we tried were just barns selling beer.

In this pub, customers actually talk to each other! In the previous ones we tried, they didn't even know each other.

The previous two comments re 'like someone's front room' and 'homely atmosphere' are spot on. You can walk in, be made to feel at home, and have a decent pint of beer (Adnams Broadside is the regular plus a guest).

10 Jul 2006 21:01

In de Wildeman, Amsterdam

Great bar, great atmosphere, great staff and - most important - great beers.

Looking forward to my next visit!

6 Jul 2006 12:24

De Versteende Nacht, Bruges

An amazing bar with a good selection of bottled beers.

You know it's unusual when you are greeted by a large rack of Dutch comic magazines and a decor that, er, shall we say, celebrates the male form.

It seems to be open till around 4am and, even late at night when most other places are closed, you are given a food menu as well as the beer one.

Great live jazz on Wed nights.

4 Jul 2006 12:43

The Thomas Seckford, Woodbridge

The very same, Stonch. That picture was painted by Geoff Pratt, of Woodbridge, originally hung in the Seckford Arms and was donated to the Sekforde Arms by the Seckford Arms on a visit some years ago, I believe (I hope you're keeping track of the spelling!).

Sadly, it's looking less and less likely that the Seckford will ever reopen, it's suffered from bad management over the last year or two and I suspect that Punch would be happy to get rid of it as a private house. That would be a real shame.

9 Jun 2006 20:31

The Fat Cat, Colchester

Soon (next few weeks) to become the Fat Cat, run by the son of the Ipswich Fat Cat owner. Great news!

9 Jun 2006 09:59

Callaghan's Irish Bar, Piccadilly

Good News: all the Guinness in the UK (and, indeed, all of Europe and the US) is now brewed at St James's Gate, Dublin. There is no longer any brewed in the UK.

Bad News: all Guinness (even, shock horror, in Ireland) is now pasteurised.

There is No Difference between Irish Guinness and English, it is exactly the same.

9 Jun 2006 08:34

The Sekforde Arms, Clerkenwell

You see, Stonch, it's you (and all the other 45 users who obviously rate it so highly) that's wrong, only Bombardier is right. But where he gets that name from goodness knows, as he clearly doesn't know a decent pint (or pub) when he finds one!

But if he 'cannot understand why it's rated so highly' and also, in his only other comment, thinks the Crown Posada is a dump, then I fear something as complicated as logic is wasted on him ;-)

9 Jun 2006 06:30

The Thomas Seckford, Woodbridge

Now closed, awaiting sale or tenancy. Will it ever reopen?

28 Feb 2006 21:01

Ye Old Bell & Steelyard, Woodbridge

Great building. Could be a great pub, but loses points with me for: 1) they don't seem to want people to sit down unless they're eating, 2) they have their background music too loud and 3) only have Greene King beers when they could have a guest.

30 Nov 2005 21:07

The Thomas Seckford, Woodbridge

Presently under temporary management.

Characterful old alehouse off the beaten track in Woodbridge.

Three real ales at present.

30 Nov 2005 20:55

The Sussex Cricketer, Hove

I'm told it was a decent pub before the dreaded refurb.

Now a characterless barn of a place with all the usual fittings you expect of a bog standard 'food pub'.

Inattentive bar staff, the usual small range of boring nationally-trucked beers, bland food.

30 Nov 2005 20:43

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