BITE user comments - Crow_Valley
Comments by Crow_Valley
Been in here a couple of times prior to catching a train from New Southgate. Negative stuff first: it is not the most exciting pub in the world, it is a chain pub with a fairly souless atmosphere, frankly it is not worth going at all out of your way to visit and I certainly would never plan to spend an evening there. However, if you are killing time before catching a train, you could do worse. While there is nothing particularly good about this pub, there's nothing particularly offensive about it either. There are a couple of hand pumps with reasonably well kept ale at very cheap prices (ok, maybe not Wetherspoons cheap, but certainly cheaper than average in London). They also do food which, while not at all exciting, isn't bad. The bar staff are always very friendly. All in all, for a station-side pub, not so bad.
15 Jun 2007 23:50
Another amazing pub just off the Grand Place, and again hidden up a tiny alley. It is vitally important to visit this pub when in the area as it is the only pub in Brussels to serve genuine lambic on draft. Sit on benches at long tables and order a jug of lambic beer - no nonsence, just perfection. Does some pretty decent pub grub too: try their pasta.
7 Jun 2007 23:27
Gone down hill in the days since I was a Cardiff student. Used to be very dim, dark smoky and generally 'olde worlde', with a couple of real ales on tap - now is light, modern, trendy and generally just like the hundreds of other bars in the Cathays area and city centre.
You can only gain entry with a student card in the evenings (Cardiff alumni are eligable for life-long membership of the Students' Union) - however should you wish to go in during the day when it's quiet, nobody will ask to see a card.
31 May 2007 19:11
BRB at The Gate, Alexandra Park
Cracking pub which has been my local for the past year. Ideal place to pop in for a couple of pints (and is right next to Ally Pally BR Station). Does very good pizzas - recommend coming on Tuesday nights when they are two for one. Alternatively come on Thursday nights when they do two for one cocktails. Only one beer hand pumped beer, but it's pretty well kept. Definitely the only pub in the Wood Green area worth going to.
31 May 2007 19:05
Pleasant pub next to the park. Has a good range of well kept ales, including some lesser known Welsh ones, and does some decent food. The pub also has two outdoor seating areas (useful now that the smoking ban has come in).
31 May 2007 19:01
The Hole In The Wall, Waterloo
Looks like a grotty old boozer - but has a very good selection of beer. Not bad if you want a pint near Waterloo Station.
8 Jan 2007 21:06
Decent enough pub. No real ale, but a nice selection of Belgian beer. I didn't eat in here, but the friends I was with who did recommend the burgers. There is a smallish back room which you can hire. Open late at weekends (not sure about week nights).
8 Jan 2007 21:05
The Walkabout, Angel, Islington
Absolutely dire establishment, about as Australian as Douglas Jardine. There are so many really great places to drink around this part of N1; stay well clear of this place.
31 Dec 2006 13:42
Was dragged in here one Friday night. Music too loud to talk over (and not remotely Irish), and full of chavs and tossers. Also has some guy in the toilets trying to wash your hands for you, which I find deeply irritating. To be fair, it was open until 2am; but these days quite a few decent places are also open late, so I really don't see any need to ever drink in here.
31 Dec 2006 13:38
Great pub, one of the best in the area. Unlike the majority of the drinking holes on and around Upper Street, this place has managed to remain a regular no nonsence pub. Always has a couple of well kept ales on tap, and I have always managed to find a seat. Friendly staff and regulars, plus a little (not very exciting) beer garden out the back. Definitely a pub to visit.
31 Dec 2006 13:34
Decent pub very near the tube station, so ideal for meeting people in. While it is true that there are far better pubs in London (I wouldn't go miles out of my way to find this place); it is one of the better options on Upper Street itself, as one of the few (though by no means the only) places to have remained as a regular pub. It has a good choice of beer, reasonable service, and decent food. Can get very crowded in the evenings, but this is Upper Street! Would recommend meeting people here, then heading somewhere off the main drag.
31 Dec 2006 13:31
Good Cuban themed restaurant/bar on Upper Street. They do some good cocktails here - the Mojitos are particularly pleasant - with happy hour offers available. Also have a few bottled beers available, including the rather nice Cuban 'Cristal'.
Food wise, they do quite reasonable tapas, plus nice food from the full menu.
31 Dec 2006 13:25
The Joiners Arms, Denmark Hill
Went into this pub on a Friday night - my first thought was that I had been transported back in time to some point in the mid 70s. Once I recovered, I actually had a great night. They served a good (and lethal) pint of Hobgoblin, had friendly bar staff and good music.
28 Dec 2006 23:08
This pub seems to be actually part of the railway station, so very convenient if you are waiting for - or have just got off - a train. Rather trendy, lots of sofas etc. Beer was nice, but took ages to get served.
28 Dec 2006 23:05
Perfectly reasonable pub, serving the usual Young's beers.
28 Dec 2006 23:03
The Assembly House, Kentish Town
A large pub, with a very interesting interior. The kind of place where you could spend a relaxing afternoon reading the paper, or one of the books they have, over a few pints. Unfortunately there was not a particularly good choice of beer when we visited.
28 Dec 2006 23:01
Bog standard boozer - not too good; not too bad. Wouldn't go out of my way to visit it again, but there are worse pubs in the area.
28 Dec 2006 22:59
A very pleasant pub in an area not famed for them. Sat at the bar, along with various people reading newspapers, and chatted to the friendly bar staff. The pub has a good range of ales on tap, including some lesser known ones. Excellent pub.
28 Dec 2006 22:57
The Old White Lion, East Finchley
Very pleasant pub right next to the tube station. Good range of well kept beers; lots of comfortable sofas to sit in. An old pub that has been recently, and pleasantly, renovated. Definitely one to visit.
28 Dec 2006 22:55
Decent Young's pub only a stone's throw from Oxford Circus tube station. The barstaff were friendly, and the beer was very pleasant and well kept with the usual Young's ales on pump (but sadly, on my visit at least, none of their bottles). Went there on a Friday night, so it was obviousy quite crowded, but soon managed to find a seat. Not worth going miles out of your way for; but certainly worth visiting if you're in the area.
17 Dec 2006 13:06
If you are an Arsenal fan, this is a pub you should visit at least once - it is full of Arsenal memorabilia, old programmes, signed shirts, photos etc. It was also, of course, featured in the the film 'Fever Pitch'. A possibility therefore for your pre or post match pint - or for watching away games on Sky (where the atmosphere is second only to being at the game).
However, if you aren't a Gooner, this pub will have no attractions whatsoever for you. Further more, even if you are a die hard Arsenal fan, I would advise only going on match days: at other times it would be just another grotty boozer with nothing really to recommend it whatsoever. Much better trying the 'Bank of Friendship' a few doors up the road.
17 Dec 2006 12:56
A very pleasant pub with a good range of well kept real ale on draught (which comes served in barrel glasses). Friendly bar staff, and a few different interesting rooms to sit in. Well worth visiting.
26 Nov 2006 20:13
The new Players Lounge, Charing Cross
Not somewhere I would normally consider drinking in - this area is full of great pubs so you can afford to be picky! However, should you wish to continue drinking after 11, the choice diminishes rapidly, and that is when this place comes into its own. If you do want to carry on drinking and don't fancy a club, you could do a lot worse than this place. It's open late on Friday and Saturday (not sure about work nights), with no loud music, just a piano player.
19 Nov 2006 20:22
Great pub: an old coaching in, now owned by the National Trust. As soon as you step into the courtyard you feel like you've been transported back in time. There is plenty of seating out in the courtyard if the weather is good, if not enter the pub itself and explore the long rambling building with its various little cosy rooms. Good beer on the hand pumps. Great place!
7 Nov 2006 23:04
Great little pub hidden down a mews. This place feels more like a little country pub untouched by the ravages of time, than a London boozer. Very nice beer on tap. The landlord seemed very friendly, and treated us like we were regulars. The pub has a "no mobile phone" rule which is strictly enforced - excellent! Definitely one worth seeking out.
7 Nov 2006 22:57
A small pub right in the heart of Covent Garden, so it can get very very busy. Pleasant atmosphere inside, though, and it does a good range of Cornish ale. If you can get a seat out on the balcony it is very pleasant. They also serve pretty good pasties. Although crowded and touristy, this pub's a good bet.
7 Nov 2006 21:03
Doesn't look particularly inspiring from the outside, but is actually pretty good inside. Usual Fullers beers, and not bad food. A tad on the expensive side though. Still you could do a lot worse in this area.
7 Nov 2006 20:57
I haven't been in since the remodel and rename, but by all accounts not much has changed.
Certainly the Head of Steam was always a good bet if your train was delayed; or, if you were meeting someone at the station, a good reason for turning up well before their train arrived. Great range of beers (now including the full Fullers range in addition to a good range of guest ales), decent food, a few screens for watching the sport, and lots of railway memorabilia. As long as all of this remains the same in the Doric Arch, it will be worth drinking in.
7 Nov 2006 20:55
Hidden down a tiny sidestreet connecting Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road, you'll find this fantastic little bar. There are two tiny bars, one on street level and one downstairs. Serves a good range of lagers (at extravagent prices - but this is central London...). Something a little bit different in the heart of the West End.
7 Nov 2006 20:47
Nice traditional pub with a good range of well kept ales. Can be a bit difficult to get a seat at times.
7 Nov 2006 20:42
One of the best pubs in the Temple Bar area. Great selection of beers from all over the world, plus they brew nine beers of their own (my favourite is the Oyster Stout - makes a pleasant change from Guinness). Like the Covent Garden branch, this is a place to come for a relaxing few drinks or perhaps some food during the day, and at night gets absolutely packed. Preferred it to the London one though, apart from anything else it is open later!
30 Oct 2006 19:49
The Porterhouse, Covent Garden
Great pub with a truly stupendous list of beer. You can get a beer from pretty much any country in the world, from well known Belgian names to obscure Indonesian ones. They also brew their own - three stouts, three ales, three lagers. Oyster Stout (not suitable for vegetarians) is delicious.
The place does get very crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, gets a lot of tourists, and is very expensive; but this is Covent Garden, what do you expect? Bands can be pretty dire, but escape to the top floor where you can't hear them so much.
If you come in during the day, it is a nice spot for a quiet few drinks. Had some decent grub here too.
30 Oct 2006 19:44
One of the better bars on Wind Street. Definitely not somewhere for a quiet few drinks - but nice place to go if you're out on the lash.
30 Oct 2006 19:24
Bang in the city centre, nice little pub to pop into for a few pints. Well kept beer.
30 Oct 2006 19:20
Brilliant little bar, with a huge range of Belgian beer. Easily the best Belgian experience in London. Bar staff are very knowledgeable about the beer, and will provide recommendations. Excellent food too - try the wild boar burgers.
29 Oct 2006 18:33
This is a very famous bar, and deservedly so, but the downside of this is that it can be full of tourists. Nice beer, and nice little cubes of cheese to go with the beer.
29 Oct 2006 18:17
A L'Imaige De Nostre-Dame, Brussels
Tucked up another at the end of a narrow alley - this pub is actually next to Au Bon Vieux Temps, but you have to walk up a different alley to get there.
The pub consists of two tiny rooms, you can book the lower room (furthest from the door). Like many Brussels pubs, seating is at wooden benches, meaning that you can end up in conversation with the regulars. One of the barmen (might have been the landlord) entertained us by getting his keyboard out and starting to accompany himself while singing his favourite songs. Odd little place, but pleasant.
29 Oct 2006 18:10
Excellent pub, became our 'local' for our stay in Brussels. Hidden down a tiny alley (as are so many of the best bars in the area) just off the Grand-Place. It is quite small, and feels in many ways like an English pub (the ancient adverts for Bass add to this feel).
All the times I went there, I was served by one of two friendly old barmaids, who clearly had no objection to sampling their own products. Great range of beers that you would expect in any decent Brussels bar. Fantastic place.
29 Oct 2006 18:04
This is one of the gems of Camden Town. Not much to get excited about on tap - but who cares when you have a huge range of speciality Belgian and German beers available? The bar staff are very knowledgeable about the beers as well, and will helpfully answer questions. If all this wasn't perfect enough, the pub is open late at weekends and won't charge you to get in after 11pm, unlike various other Camden places. Great pub.
29 Oct 2006 16:47
Great little pub hidden away down a side mews, but only a stone's throw from Oxford Circus. Manages to get packed on weekday evenings, particularly around the time workers are leaving offices, but quietens down later, and is quite peaceful on Saturday evenings. A Sam Smith's pub, with all their usual beer. Not a massive fan of OBB, but the stout is spot on, and they have a great selection of bottled beers. Nice atmosphere, with two rooms, so the pub is bigger than it looks from the outside. Conclusion: an excellent pub, unforgiveable to miss it.
29 Oct 2006 16:32
One of the most visually pleasing pubs in London, with its incredible interior. Nice atmosphere too, one of the better pubs in the Holborn area.
I have to agree with the comments about OBB. When in Sam Smiths pubs I tend to either go for the stout, or for one of the bottled beers.
29 Oct 2006 16:23
Just popped in for Sunday lunch. Food was pretty decent - for pub fare - and reasonably priced. No real ale, unfortunately, had to make do with Guinness. Bar staff seemed friendly. I've been in a lot worse places than this, but don't think I will be rushing to come back.
29 Oct 2006 16:11
Nice chilled bar. Enjoyed several bottles of Beer Lao here. They do a happy hour two for one offer on cocktails. Luang Prabang isn't somewhere you get big nights out, this is the closet you'll get. Well worth seeking out.
28 Oct 2006 15:29
This pub seems to wildly divide the views of those that drink in it. I have to say, I am always very suspicious of people who post anonymous reviews, far too often they are posted either by the pub in question or by its competitors.
Anyway, I have to say that while I have drunk in this pub a few times, it has always been on a mid-week evening, so I can't really comment on the fabled indie nights at the weekends. For a quiet evening's drink, it seems a perfectly reasonable place to come - great old building, lots of different rooms, so it does have quite a 'homey' feel to it. The beer is well kept, which is always important. I've never tried the food, but it doesn't look too bad. My complaints are that it is rather expensive (but many places in London are these days) and it does seem to take ages to get served, even when the pub is fairly quiet. But for a quiet mid-week pint, it isn't bad.
28 Oct 2006 15:02
The Punch And Judy, Covent Garden
Absolutely vile establishment. There are plenty of good pubs around Covent Garden, why drink here? The only possible excuse I can understand is to get the view from the balcony: but you can get an equally good view from the balcony of the Cove (Cornish pub opposite) which is a vastly superior pub. Avoid this place like the plague.
27 Oct 2006 20:18
Pleasant pub a short walk from Angel tube station along the canal tow path. You can actually access the downstairs bar directly from the tow path. Great views out over the canal. Nice atmosphere, and well kept beer. One to visit.
27 Oct 2006 20:05
The Torrington, North Finchley
Shocking - this was one of the few real pubs in Finchley, with a back room which was almost an institution, the kind of place where you'd go to see your mates' bands play and where they used to have record sales. Now turned into yet another Starbucks. Who the hell gave planning permission for that?
27 Oct 2006 20:01
Only a few minutes walk from the Prince of Wales, a giant Wetherspoons pub, you have the Gatekeeper, a giant Wetherspoons pub. As I have said elsewhere, the Cardiff Wetherspoons do seem to be better than the national average. As such, this place is quite acceptable, and usually serves pretty well kept beer. But having said that, there are far more interesting pubs than this to visit in the city centre.
27 Oct 2006 19:52
Studenty pub, but that is what you would expect from this area. If you want somewhere for a quiet chat and some fine ales, go elsewhere. If you are an undergrad and want somewhere with fairly cheap beer to meet your mates or to watch the sport on the big screens, it's great. Not somewhere I would go to now, but for those that like that sort of thing, enjoy...
27 Oct 2006 19:48
Nice pub, decent range of beers on tap, nice atmosphere, and some tables out the front to sit at when the weather's nice. Does some decent food as well.
27 Oct 2006 19:43
While not a massive fan of Wetherspoons, I am always prepared to make exceptions - and this pub is fine. One of the best Wetherspoons I've been to (in fact, the Wetherpoons in Cardiff in general seem to be okay).
Right by the Central Station, so a great place to meet people in. The pub is buit in an old theatre, so is an incredibly impressive buiding (and being able to sit in the 'boxes' is a plus). Very quiet during the day, but gets packed in the evenings - though I've found that it's nearly always possible to get a seat, especially if you are prepared to sit in the no-smoking section.
Usual large range of beers found in Wetherspoons pubs, though unlike many of the JD chain, these are usually well kept. Not a bad spot.
27 Oct 2006 12:40
Nice pub, friendly crowd, usual range of Brains beers (well kept). Open late at weekends.
27 Oct 2006 12:35
The Bank of Friendship, Highbury
Excellent pub. The pick of the bunch for your pre and post match pint. Unlike some of the other Arsenal pubs, they actually serve real ale (I usually go for the London Pride) and service is quick. Nice to see that, despite the move to the new stadium, it is still full of fans on match days.
I've also drunk there when the Arsenal aren't playing, and it then is a perfect example of what a local should be - an unpretentious down to earth pub. Friendly regulars and staff, and often open after 11pm. Beer garden out the back.
27 Oct 2006 12:21
Not the best pub in London, but far from the worst either. Don't think I would want to spend an evening in here, but wouldn't miss it out on a pub crawl of the area - plus its location means that its a convenient place to meet people.
Has a fair range of beers on tap (I always like seeing Youngs and London Pride side by side) and a decent atmosphere. Music can be a bit too loud for conversation though. Gets very crowded in the evenings, don't hold out too much hope for a seat.
27 Oct 2006 12:12
Excellent pub in a beautiful rambling building. Lots of different rooms to sit in. Usually have about a dozen real ales on tap, some of which are brewed on site. Plus they host amazing beer festivals.
If you're ever waiting at Derby Railway Station there is no excuse for not popping over the road for a few in this pub - well worth missing your train for.
27 Oct 2006 12:08
The Sekforde Arms, Clerkenwell
A nice little pub, very unusual for the Clerkenwell area - in an area full of trendy bars and gastro pubs, here we have a place which feels like the last 50 years or so have passed it by. And I am thankful for that! This is one of an increasingly rare breed in London, if not Britain: honest un-pretentious boozers. Long may it thrive.
26 Oct 2006 21:09
The Jerusalem Tavern, Clerkenwell
I have been intending to go to this pub for about eighteen months, and it was well worth the wait. Don't know if I would class it as THE best pub in London, but it is certainly on the shortlist!
Exceptional range of beers both on draught and in bottles - I tried the Mild (on draught) and the bottled Old Porter. Both delicious. I will definitely be making further trips to this pub to sample the rest of the beers they have available. Atmosphere was also very pleasant - if you arrive shortly after the offices are emptying the pub will be packed (you would have to arrive very early to get a seat), but gradually quietens down as the evening wears on.
Unfortunately it is closed at weekends.
26 Oct 2006 20:52
The Greenwich Union, Greenwich
Cracking little pub, next door to the Richard I (another good pub - I like that kind of distances between boozers). There is a microbrewery so they make all their own beers. and they will allow you to sample all of the before you decide what to buy. I've enjoyed a few of their beers now, and they have all been excellent. Nice atmosphere in the place too, it's far enough away from the town centre to escape from all the tourists and other undesirables. Pleasant beer garden out the back as well. Nice.
25 Oct 2006 18:25
If you want to see what the future holds, visit this pub. The Black Friar has gone completely non-smoking in advance of next summer's ban. Having said that, this is a very pleasant pub conveniently opposite the BR station - good range of ales on tap and nice atmosphere. I've been there a few times both before and after they banned smoking, and can't say that the atmosphere has changed at all. One problem is that on my last visit there was a strong smell of cooking fish around the bar - which in the old days was probably masked by the smoke.
25 Oct 2006 18:21
The Heart Of Darkness, Phnom Penh
No visit to Phnom Penh is complete without a visit to this bar. Definitely an experience! I came here after drinking a fair amount elsewhere and proceded to drink a lot more once I arrived, so my memory is a tad hazy... Varied music, mixed clientele (make sure you don't insult/annoy/"look at in a funny way" any of the rich Khmer kids propping up the bar), hardly any westerners (at least when I was there), incredibly generous portions of spirits, lethal cocktails... It's all good.
The name really does say it all, you do realise you are in post-Pol-Pot-new-money-anything-goes-Cambodia the moment you walk through the door, but it is an institution worth seeing. Had a king sized full day hangover the next day, but well worth it!
25 Oct 2006 18:19
Great pub. Friendly landlord who makes the time to circulate the pub and talk to the drinkers, and shook hands with us as we left. Had a few very well kept pints of Adnams, served in a barrel glass, which is always nice. Very cosy little room, plus a nice courtyard out back. Open late (at least at weekends) - well worth checking out.
25 Oct 2006 18:13
Nice Young's pub, with a variety of interesting rooms to sit in. Usual range of Young's beers on tap (but not their lagers) plus a wide selection of bottled Young's beers. Enjoyed quite a few bottles of Oatmeal Stout which were delicious. Definitely one to visit if you're in the area.
(And yes, Stonch, Oatmeal Stout is also available on keg, but I stuck to the bottles.)
25 Oct 2006 18:08
Gordon's Wine Bar, Charing Cross
Wow, I love this place. A tiny entrance on Villiers Street - if you weren't looking for it you probably wouldn't see it. Then you go down a steep narrow flight of stairs and emerge into a new and wonderful world. No beer, but an excellent wine list (quite reasonable considering this is central London) and a very nice house port. Does some great food as well. There's a long low-ceiling cellar in the back part of the bar lit only by candles, which shakes occasionally when the tubes or trains go by. It does get very very crowded, you'll be lucky to get a seat in the evenings, but they do put chairs outside in the mews running along the side in the summer. If you're in London, you need to go.
8 Jun 2006 19:43
The Lark in the Park, Islington
No real ale, and in a somewhat dodgy part of town (if you cycle, don't even think about leaving your bike chained up outside); but this pub does have a very pleasant laid back atmosphere. Has a nice beer garden out the back. Not worth going miles out of your way for, but if you happen to be on the lower stretches of Caledonian Road, pop in for a few.
8 Jun 2006 19:30
Fantastic pub - one of the best along Upper Street. Decent range of beers on tap, and some reasonable food. Nice little beer garden out the front (at the end of the Camden Passage) with outdoor heaters. Never had a problem with the service - no worse than anywhere else in the area anyway!, and at least this place has some character.
8 Jun 2006 19:25
A surprisingly civilised spot in the heart of Wind Street. Probably the only place on Wind Street that you would actually come to to have a few pints (or glasses of wine) with a couple of friends, rather than come to just get hammered. Though that is always an option as well, of course!
8 Jun 2006 19:20
Ah, the old Albert, full of incredibly drunk gibbering old men, ridiculously cheap beer, and a highly amusing juke box. All that has gone to be replaced by this modern soulless bar. There are still plenty of proper pubs left in the city centre, give this one a miss.
6 Jun 2006 07:48
Long dark narrow pub directly opposite the castle. Has some comfortable armchairs in one corner. One of the better pubs in Cardiff - only complaint is that there is often no real ale on tap.
6 Jun 2006 07:45
Not a bad pub, but not the best in Cardiff. Nice Brains beers on tap. Students don't appear to be welcome in here, which means that this is probably one to avoid if you're an undergrad, but not a bad place for a few pints if you're in your mid-twenties or over.
6 Jun 2006 07:44
Great traditional pub, just off Queen Street but slightly hidden so escapes being over-run by student masses. Has a large number of hand pumps, but quite often none of them are actually pouring any beer. Lots of little booths to sit at. Don't miss this one out.
6 Jun 2006 07:42
Fantastic pub, one of the best in the city centre. All the Brains beers, plus the usual lagers. The walls are covered with photos of goats accompanying the Welsh Guards around various far flung corners of the globe. No visit to Cardiff is complete without a visit to this wonderful place.
5 Jun 2006 22:34
Nice pub with a good range of Brains beers. Quiet and peaceful during the day, but can get packed at night (as I suppose can anywhere in the city centre). Has an upstairs bar where live bands and a few events happen.
5 Jun 2006 22:29
I'm not a massive fan of Wetherspoons, but this one ain't that bad. Clean, lively, decent range of beer (usually pretty well kept) - really not a bad place to come for a few cheap pints.
5 Jun 2006 22:27
What a shame. About five years back this used to be one of the classiest pubs on St Mary Street. It had about half a dozen real ales on the hand pumps, plus a huge range of continental bottled beers behind the bar, not to mention an impressive (for a pub) wine list. It was quiet and civilised, perfect for a relaxing pint or ten with a couple of friends.
All that has changed, it's now definitely one to steer well clear of. It's turned into yet another characterless sh*ithole, with loud music and full of obnoxious townies. One to avoid.
5 Jun 2006 22:26
One of my favourite pubs in Camden Town. Slightly off the main drag, which is always a good thing. Good mix of people in there, and a nice range of Youngs beers and lagers. The recent refurbishment has taken away some of the atmosphere, but it's still a nice place for a few pints.
5 Jun 2006 22:20
Nice laid back pub round the corner from Camden Road BR. Not a huge choice of beers, but very friendly bar staff and confortable sofas. Definitely worth looking in on.
5 Jun 2006 22:17
There are loads of fantastic pubs in Camden Town. This is not one of them. No proper beer on tap, the drinks they have are wildly over-priced, stupidly loud music etc etc. Go somewhere else.
5 Jun 2006 22:16
Great little pub, a world away from 'trendy' Camden. A proper Irish pub, as in a pub that Irish people actually come to drink in. A few decent bitters on the hand pumps, and the usual range of lagers. Very friendly bar staff and easy to get chatting to a few regulars propping up the bar. Definitely one of the better Camden offerings.
5 Jun 2006 22:13
The Sherlock Holmes, Charing Cross
Very near Charing Cross, so a good place to meet people. Very crowded around the time that the offices are emptying. Nice beers, worth going in for a pint or two.
4 Jun 2006 23:30
The Ship and Shovell, Charing Cross
Interesting little pub, with the two bars on either side of an alley. Good range of beers. Well worth a visit.
4 Jun 2006 23:29
Not bad during the day, but turns into a wretched wannabe Yates hellhole on weekend evenings. The only good thing about this place is its late license. Hopefully now that licensing laws are starting to get more liberal these sorts of places will lose their raison d'etre and disappear. We can always hope anyway...
4 Jun 2006 23:27
Bit of a strange place - I can't make up my mind whether I like this pub or not. During the day it's a reasonable place to come for a quiet pint (London Pride seems always to be on tap) - it has a nice little beer garden and is handy for the tube. On Friday and Saturday nights, though, it transforms into some kind of late night venue. Loud music, bouncers on the door, etc etc. It also has some man in the gents who tries to wash your hands for you and expects a tip - which annoys me, especially after a few beers when you are making fairly regular trips to the facilities! On the other hand, it isn't over run by the teenage chavs you get down the road at the Central; so if you want somewhere lively and open late in Church End, this is probably your best bet.
4 Jun 2006 23:24
I first came here in 2003 and was amazed: it was like walking into a proper English local pub. Really friendly customers - a genuine mixture of expats and locals, and a great landlord who is a fanatical Newcastle fan (don't even think about entering this place wearing a Sunderland shirt!). Did quiz nights, showed the footy and felt like a proper English boozer.
Unfortunatley it's now been 'done up' with the result that it looks just like any other western bar in Malaysia. Which is a great shame. Definitely still worth seeking out: it still has a nice mix of people there, still serves cold beer in an air-con climate, still run by the Geordie landlord who is as friendly as ever, but it has lost that special sparkle it used to have. A shame.
4 Jun 2006 23:20
Large modern style pub. No music, no TVs, and has non-smoking areas, but manages all of this without turning into a soul-less Wetherspoon style hellhole. Always has a decent range of ales on the hand pumps. Nice garden out the back (though what is with the chairs being cemented into the ground?). Not somewhere for a big night out, but a very comfortable place to come for a few pints after work.
4 Jun 2006 23:11
St George Public House, Swansea
Nice little pub. Does a decent pint of Worthington's (the decent hand pumped real ale, not the terrible smooth keg stuff you usually get), a quiz night, and is open late on Fridays and Saturdays.
4 Jun 2006 23:07
Not the most exciting pub in the world - typical city centre Wetherspoons. Can take ages to get served on a Friday/Saturday night. But it's very cheap, and a good place to get your first few beers in before hitting the bars on Wind Street.
4 Jun 2006 23:05
Let's face it, you're not going to get too much sophistication in a Swansea city centre pub. If you're going out along the Kingsway, you know what you want, and this place provides it. Packed in the evenings, can take ages to get served, but they do incredibly cheap deals. Not somewhere to go for a quiet pint!, but if you're in a large group then it's a great place to have a laugh.
4 Jun 2006 23:04
Cheap (particularly for Islington) and conveniently situated opposite the tube station. However it is bland and totally lacking in any atmosphere. Lots of great pubs in Islington, why go here?
4 Jun 2006 23:00
Not bad for a Wetherspoons, this is actually a very old pub and it retains some of its atmosphere despite the JD makeover. Uusual Wetherspoons features: cheap beer, good range of ales, curry night etc. Not the most exciting place in the world, but there are a lot worse places out there in North Finchley.
Also, if you're watching a show/concert at the artsdepot next door, come here for a pint in the interval rather than paying a ridiculously expensive price for some rubbish bottle in the theatre bar!
4 Jun 2006 22:57
Wow, this place has changed in the last few years. It used to be one of the most traditional pubs on St Mary's Street: dark, smoky and full of old regulars. Now it's gone all modern - light, airy and, pre-empting next summer's laws, non-smoking. Still well worth visiting, and does a very decent pint of Brains, but has lost the atmosphere it had a few years back.
4 Jun 2006 22:54
The Catcher in the Rye, Finchley
Nicest pub in Finchley Central - gone a bit trendy in recent years, but still has a night atmosphere and a couple of decent beers on tap.
4 Jun 2006 22:48
From the outside it looks like one of those terrible shop-conversion jobs, but go inside and you will be pleasantly surprised. A couple of real ales (including London Pride every time I've been in) on tap, friendly customers, and a fantastic juke box. And it's open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights! Not bad for Finchley Central - and none of the bouncers, dress codes, loud music and chavvy teenagers that you get in the other late night places down the road. Not worth going miles out of your way for, but well worth looking in if you're in the area, particularly after 11pm at the weekend!
4 Jun 2006 22:47
The Elephant Inn, North Finchley
No idea why they changed the name from the 'Moss Hall Tavern' - but that is my only complaint about this nice little pub. Most North Finchley pubs are either grotty boozers or chav infested 'bars' - this is one of the few decent real pubs. It has the usual fullers beers on tap, and an interesting Thai restaurant round the side. Easily the best pub in North Finchley.
4 Jun 2006 22:44
Hidden away down a little side street, you have to know where this pub is - you'd be very lucky to accidentally stumble across it. I lived in Swansea for a year, and this was my local. An excellent selection of ever-changing real ale, served from barrels behind the bar. Pleasant bar snacks included cockles! Decent grub and very friendly bar staff. Definitely one of the best pubs in Swansea - well worth making an effort to get to.
4 Jun 2006 22:41
Probably the best pub in the Cathays area - and just a few minutes walk from Queen Street. Very nice pub which usually has an interesting selection of beer on the hand pumps (though on a few occasions all real ales have been off). Also has a large beer garden - very pleasant to sit out in the summer before launching into a pub crawl around town.
4 Jun 2006 22:39
Unfortunatley most pubs in Cathays have turned into wannbe trendy student bars. The Mackintosh is the only one in the heart of Cathays to have resisted this. Yes, it has been taken over by the Sizzler chain, yes it no longer serves London Pride (just the disappointing HB), and yes a recent refurbishment has removed some of the atmosphere - however it still remains a decent local and a pleasant enough place to come for a few pints. The large back room has a pool table and a big screen for watching the sport.
4 Jun 2006 22:37
The Duke of Hamilton, Hampstead
Lovely little local place hidden down a side street. Usual range of Fullers beers, friendly bar staff - a very pleasant place to come for a quiet pint.
4 Jun 2006 22:33
Dignity (Taylors of Finchley), Finchley
Went in during the day a couple of months ago. I didn't eat there but the food looked good (both on the menu and on other people's plates!) if a bit pricy (but this is London). A few well kept beers on the hand pumps, plus some interesting European bottled beers. Not sure what it's like at night, but definitely a good place to go for a few relaxing pints during the day. Don't be put off by what it looks like from the outside!
8 Apr 2008 13:55