BITE user comments - Castiche
Comments by Castiche
A warning to those (few) who may be tempted by the takeaway option - 1) The order will not be taken correctly and items will be missing. 2) What you do get will not be cooked properly. 3) You will have to wait up to 40 minutes for the pleasure. Although probably a better option than sitting in-house surrounded by the wobbly tattooed creatures that infest this dump.
6 Jun 2012 16:25
This place has improved vastly - the beer was excellent (Jack Frost particularly good), reasonably priced menu and friendly staff. Liked the little alcoves and comfy sofas too. I would agree that drink prices are on the steep side but no more so than the nearby Shepherd & Flock.
5 Jan 2011 12:01
Returned after 2 years to give it another go - same old story - nobody serving at the bar, was initially happy at seeing Doom Bar on hand-pump until it arrived and was badly off. Asked for T.E.A instead but was told that was off as well.
The good points: friendly and attentive waitresses; food came very quickly; nice decor/tables.
Bad points: ales being off; food overpriced and small portions (a bland tasteless burger with ten chips in a bowl is not worth �11!); small wooden plates - they may look trendy but the food falls off the sides, particularly when they're so small!
We will be continuing to use the Parrot where, by some wizard's magic, they seem to be able to serve much better food at a more reasonable price, keep their ales well and actually staff the bar.
19 Nov 2010 11:16
Lived near Guildford all my life but only recently tried this place, a great pub with very friendly landlord/staff, good food & good beer. How a pub should be run. Will definitely be returning - frequently.
19 Nov 2010 10:47
Definitely one of the best pubs in Guildford. Recently closed for refurbishment although in my opinion it didn't need it, thankfully they've kept the place looking much as it was before. Interesting and reasonable menu with a good selection of beer. Staff always seem friendly enough and food arrives quickly. Can't ask for more really.
19 Nov 2010 10:33
Tried this place out after a friend of mine recently moved to Tongham, what a great pub, good selection of well kept beer, friendly staff and excellent cheap food. This is how a pub should be.
9 Mar 2010 16:24
Visited last week and all the hand-pumps turned round (see earlier entry). hardly anyone in there at 9:00 on a Friday night and those that were appeared to be hood-rats. Just walk on by.
9 Mar 2010 16:17
How many Phil Mitchell lookalikes can you fit into one pub? Try this place and you'll see for yourself. No Peggy behind the bar though - in fact for the first ten minutes after entering there was nobody behind the bar at all. The beer (when we were eventually served) was crap as well. Although the food looked reasonable we'd lost the will to live by then, let alone eat, so never got that far.
9 Mar 2010 16:12
If enough people visited this pub on their bikes, wore hiking boots and then requested free glasses of water and plates of chips, it might push the landlady over the edge and hopefully result in her being carted off to the "happy (no pun intended) House". Genuine Fawlty Towers stuff.
23 Jul 2008 09:29
The Cyder House Inn, Shackleford
Definitely "on the up" - new landlords appear to be sorting the place out. Both beer and food excellent and they've got rid of the crap band which "played" on Tuesday nights, can only be a bonus.
23 Jul 2008 08:14
"Aleman" not so much a strange name but certainly inappropriate for a half-pint drinker - wouldn't one agree old "chap". Read my review on the Parrot - if I worked there I wouldn't be critisising the prices. Mr Reasonable got something right for a change when he states I wasn't commenting on your review,although I feel very sad you couldn't find a nice vegetarian dish - not!
30 Jun 2008 12:26
Good pub - plenty of room for drinkers and diners. A very "local" pub but friendly and the Thai food is reasonably priced and excellent. Landlord seems to be in a permanent state of inebriation!
20 Jun 2008 08:55
Agree with the last two comments - now just an overpriced theme pub although difficult to work out what the theme is. Go to the Parrot just up the road, still pricey but 10 times better. Mr Reasonable should be Mr Ridiculous, the road leading out of Guildford to Shalford is not a "horrible stretch". His comment on the parrot also states that "he can't enjoy a pub on such a busy road" (it's not) does he have a road phobia? Two things sum up this individual - he'd rather have an "exotic bottled beer" than the excellent locally brewed T.E.A ale, and his use of the word "one" - i.e. = "How does one get here from Guildford". Says it all.
20 Jun 2008 08:47
The Cyder House Inn, Shackleford
A real shame - present landlords are completely clueless. Took 10 minutes to get served but only 6 people in the pub, only one couple eating but heard the landlord apologise twice for the delay. I agree with the last comment - this could be (and was) such a good pub but these clowns will end up running it into the ground & another great old inn will go down the drain.
20 Jun 2008 08:19
The Squirrel at Hurtmore, Hurtmore
Beer ok and food not bad but told we could not order food at the bar, then waited ages for anybody to provide a menu and take the order. Staff were friendly but seemed a bit confused, asked 5 times by three different members of staff whether we were enjoying the meal - while we were eating it. Once would do!
Would not agree previously that this place had a better atmosphere than the Cider House but probably has now the latter is increasingly frequented by the "up their own backside set". Conversation overheard in the Cyder House recently - "of course my husband and I were thinking of buying a place by the coast, but because of global warming we've decided against it"!? Says it all.
13 Aug 2007 11:50
Been going to the Jolly for years and remember with fondness the legendary giant tacos they used to serve - put them back on the menu! The current Landlord's miserable attitude is unfortunately also becoming legendary. Always seems busy in there though so that's probably why he doesn't give a toss. Perhaps it has the opposite effect on punters and is an attraction for those wanting a "Basil Fawlty" experience. Shame though because it's a decent pub otherwise.
Food is always reasonable and a good selection of beer, which is normally well kept. One thing though - if I do have to take a bad pint back to the bar, I do not want to be told by an (otherwise pleasant)Australian lady that there's nothing wrong with it. I've been indulging that particular ale for 30 years and know when to drink it and when to put it on my chips!
I won't be informing the landlord of my posting as he'll probably "nut" me.
10 Aug 2007 15:33
I agree with the last comments, same thing happened on my visit, queue of people waiting to be served at the bar but only one person serving, while numerous other staff stood around seemingly doing nothing. Also noticed sticky tables and bar.
No other complaints though, as staff went out of their way to accommodate my party of nine and changed meals to suit my fussy kids without any problem. Nice meals and beer well kept. Also liked the idea of seating areas and booths in smaller rooms, giving a cosier and more private feel to the place.
10 Aug 2007 15:00
The Duke of Normandy, Normandy
A good local pub. Had heard one or two negative comments about this place prior to going there but it was fine. Landlady has her work cut out for her, as regulars seem to get a bit wild, but she doesn't stand for any nonsense. On the evening I went there they put out a pot of chilli and bread rolls free for punters to help themselves. Decent beer and looks like a solid menu but haven't eaten there apart from the chilli, which should be on the menu if it isn't!
10 Aug 2007 14:39
The Shepherd and Flock, Farnham
A decent pub with good selection of beer/lager/cider -South African Savannah is particularly good, the only pub I know that sells it. Food above average and staff always seem friendly, very rarely have to wait to be served. Good mixture of punters, a few chavs do find their way in (probably due to taking the wrong turning off of the roundabout) but they tend to be less obnoxious than most.
10 Aug 2007 14:18
The beer's ok and the food is quite good - it should be bearing in mind how long it apparently takes to cook! Disinterested staff took forever to take our order and then had to wait 40 minutes for it to arrive. The order was incorrect but decided not to complain too much as didn't have time to wait another 40 minutes. Check the bill too, couple of items mysteriously appeared on mine that hadn't been ordered, couldn't help but notice a lack of any argument (or apology) upon my refusing to pay for them either. A tip - might not be a good idea to express any derogatory views relating to members of the "travelling Community" - they seem to hold court to the right on entering.
10 Aug 2007 14:06
Nice pub - always found the staff friendly and service ok. Meals are above average but could be better for the price. Always a wide selection of ales and a good garden. Vastly superior to the nearby Princess of Wales.
10 Aug 2007 13:42
The Cyder House Inn, Shackleford
This place has been up and down over the years but much better now than previously. Used to visit regularly until recently, beers seem to be off a lot now (more cider!)and although food is good, the menu has limited choice and rarely seems to vary much. Landlord and staff friendly, great location and garden excellent. Unfortunately a few braying hoorays seem to have discovered it lately, must have strayed away from their natural habitat - the Barley Mow at Tilford.
10 Aug 2007 12:11
Two last two reviews state this place as awful - make that a third. I live reasonably close by and have to say that the abysmal reputation is well earned. It may be a Harvester but that's no excuse for the dried-up or alternatively cold rubbish they churn out here. Been to other Harvesters that are nowhere near this bad and the prices are only slightly less than the many other excellent choices of pubs in the area. I can only think the car-park is used as an overflow for somewhere else because, unbelievably, it always seems full when I drive by!
9 Aug 2007 17:18
Visit this excellent pub on a regular basis, friendly staff and great food. One of the few places in the area to remain consistently good without using popularity as an excuse for upping prices and reducing quantity!
9 Aug 2007 16:55
The Parrot Inn, Shalford
Going downhill - rapidly!
30 Aug 2013 13:08