BITE user comments - Earlhamcourt
Comments by Earlhamcourt
The Swan Inn and Lodge, Claygate
Been here twice in the last 2 weeks on different weekdays and enjoyed the beer and the Thai food but where were the people? About 6 on the 1st day and 5 on the second....with such a good position the potential for this place is fantastic. Not too sure who runs and /or owns the pub but whoever it is, he or she has failed. What a pity.
6 Sep 2010 20:56
Attended the beer festival the other week with 3 friends on both Friday & Saturday and would raise ,belatedly,the following points:-
Having a 25 yard bar in the tent with only 2 serving for most of the time on Saturday was a bit of a disaster.
At one point , 4 of the beers requested out of 5 early Saturday afternoon were unavailable.
Ridiculous pricing...would respectfully suggest that the 15p over the �3 could have been given to the charity you were promoting which would have saved me being persistantly requested to buy raffle tickets.
Inadequate seating arrangements in the beer tent thank goodness the weather stayed reasonable.
Next year it will be Friday only for us as we will be among drinkers and not hoardes of kids and pushchairs. Was speaking to a party of guys who had made their way over from Farnham/Farnborough way on Saturday and they agreed that the beer selection was pretty good but they will only come on the Friday as they said it was the first beer festival they had been to in years where there were so many families...I well know that Woodies is very much a family pub so I think that the Camra members who I meet regularly may well stay away.....maybe a good thing?
6 Sep 2010 20:49
Could be that two of us had a pint of Talisman on the same night as previous person and without doubt it was the worst tasting beer I have ever had. I suppose if we all liked the same things it would be a very boring old world. I love Fullers Pride and think its one of the nicest tasting beers around....funny old world aint it?
28 Feb 2010 18:36
Went here last week as we do every week and discovered that some sort of flower arrangement had fallen off the building onto the pavement.
It took 15 minutes for us to be served because of lack of staff behind the bar...even the chef was delivering the cooked meals. Grabbed a second round of Abbotts at 9.10 and was told by guy behind bar that the pub was closing (presumably because of the fallen flowers) and this would be the last drink for us and the manager would be coming around with an explanation. The second load of Abbotts was revolting, no explanation was forthcoming and a guy with a mobile stuck to his ear told us to go. If he was the manager he needs a personality transplant.
Against our better judgement 5 of us were there again last night and although the Abbotts had improved slightly from last week's second pint the service was pretty dire and the place was not that busy. Maybe a letter to Wetherspoons H.O. might improve things at this branch.
7 Oct 2009 15:44
The Princess of Wales, Charing Cross
We had passed this pub many times and yesterday we decided to go in. Very good selection of beers and lagers and the prices were cheaper than we expected for a central London pub. The food was excellent and good value for money. A real "drinkers pub" with no chaviness and we will definitely be going back there.
26 Jul 2009 08:01
The Edinburgh House Of Sounds, Weymouth
Went in there Saturday night for the first time and was impressed by the vocal talent of the singer who seemed to know every rock 'n roll song ever written in the 60's. Pleasant few pints of Courage at a reasonable price and everybody joined in the songs...average age of the guys in there had to be about 50+ and all well behaved. Will definitely go there again but I can understand this would not be a youngsters pub.
15 Sep 2008 00:45
This is what all pubs should be like....no music and no food and excellent real ales and cider with not many locals drinking lager the lunchtime I was there. To the ponytailed git who was loudly telling all & sundry that 5 men on a bicycle made for 5 would go 5 times faster than one man on one bike its about time you mounted yours and rode off into the sunset.
Would have had a higher mark but the loud swearing by the guy on the bar stool let the whole place down.
15 Sep 2008 00:36
Theakstons & Bombadier at �1.95 a pint in good condition. Definitely a young persons pub but staff were friendly to this pensioner.
15 Sep 2008 00:29
The Salisbury, Leicester Square
Every time we come up to London we always come to this pub. The beers are well-kept, the food is excellent and the bar staff are all very pleasant and cheerful...if only my local was as lovely all round as this one.
2 Sep 2008 12:16
The Old Fourpenny Shop Hotel, Warwick
Every pub has one and this pub is no exception...the 5'6" baldy who reckoned he played goalie for England schoolboys..ah! well....he was friendly enough talking about the pub and Warwick in general. Tried 2 of the bitters and they were good..I will be back to try the grub which I have been told is good.
2 Sep 2008 12:09
Surprised that this pub is supposed to be the oldest in Warwick and yet nobody has posted a review so let me be the first. Great little pub which serves excellently kept beers and the food was very good value for money. Worth visiting...friendly bar staff which helps.On my next visit up from Surrey I will be back.
2 Sep 2008 12:04
The New Bowling Green, Warwick
Enjoyed our short visit to this pub which has a mural on the wall of a whole batch of locals. ..worth looking at. Very enjoyable pint of Bombadier
2 Sep 2008 12:01
Was told about this pub by a mate so I went there last week. Lady behind the bar (Anjii?) was very friendly and certainly knew the brewery history.They only serve 2 beers-one bitter and one mild. I tried the Barnsley bitter and it was one of the tastiest bitters I have ever had and I started drinking beer back in the late 50's...when it was 8p a pint (in new money!!)The sanwiches we had were excellent and we will definitely come to this great pub on our next visit to Warwick.
2 Sep 2008 11:57
Visited this pub for the first time last week. Not many in so thats possibly why the service was efficiently quick. Slaughterhouse beer was excellent...wish they sold it in my Surrey local.
2 Sep 2008 11:49
We were at the festival Friday & Saturday lunchtimes and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Stayed in the beer tent most of the time and how pleasant it was to witness a load of beerded (or should I say bearded?) guys with an average age of at least 55 downing a good 6 or 7 pints each with no bad behaviour whatsoever. Just goes to show that those people who want to greatly increase the price of beer to cut down on bingedrinkers should go to a few Beer Festivals to see that it is age that makes all the difference.
18 Aug 2008 16:16
The Salisbury, Leicester Square
Still one of the best pubs in central London...what a pleasure to be served by barstaff who are polite and the eers and food are all excellent.
28 Jun 2008 17:52
Hogsmill Tavern, Worcester Park
�1.73 for a bottle of coke...that's taking the p..s and this pub will never see any of my extendfed family again
28 Jun 2008 17:41
Love Fullers Pride so will continue to use the place. Came in quite early last Friday evening and the only thing to spoil our stay was the extremely loud music which nobody appeared to be listening to...why do pubs have to have the volume so high?
30 Jan 2008 12:10
The Salisbury, Leicester Square
When up in London the wife and I always pop into this establishment. The staff are so pleasant and polite and the place is always clean and tidy. The food is excellent and as they stock my favourite two beers (Fullers Pride and Bombadier) we shall maintain our 100% record of coming here on every London trip.
30 Jan 2008 12:07
Popped in the other evening and paid �7.40 for a pint of Pride & a white wine and then could not hear myself think for the noise coming from 3 TV screens....never again which is a pity for me as I love Pride and the place could be such a great pub without the TVs..not sure if the price was right but didnt want to cause a fuss
6 Dec 2007 11:00
Have been coming here for years and I really enjoy the choice of beers and the friendly customers that I have got to know. A gripe that I have heard a few locals mention is the fact that:-
A) Some days the carpark gets absolutely chocker with cars belonging to footballers who do not use the pub and
B) If people (including locals) parked correctly there would be a bit more room.
Come on shefroger, have you got an answer to the problem?
Lots of love
9 Oct 2007 12:58
Under the Review policy of B.I.T.E. it quite clearly stsates that they are happy for owners and staff to post details about their pub OCCASIONALLY so why oh why does dear old shefroger bombard us every week with an update of the beer menu. We are locals after all and usually drink the same beer so do us all a favour and stop filling up the site with lists...you are the only (and I mean only) pub that I regularly visit on the site that does it). No doubt you will delete this comment of mine as you have done to others that I have posted...it might actually be to your advantage to keep it on so that others can agree or disagree and possibly even voice an opinion as to what they would like to see on the website. See you Friday!!!!!
19 Jun 2007 14:51
This is what I call a PUB. No pretentions about being anything but a place to go to for a pleasant drink . Three of us in there Saturday lunchtime..place was quiet but the two locals we spoke to were brilliant and as for the Speckled Hen...absolute tops.
4 Apr 2007 10:12
Had my stag "do" here back in 1970 and it was a great pub then I've been back a couple of times many years ago and it seemed a bit grotty but I think I will try and organise a reunion of the available guys who are still around and give the "Brickies" a visit.Lets hope its as good as all the contributors here have said it is.We will be the old grey-haired oldies trying to relive the old days.I've rated it 10 'cos thats what it would have got 37 years ago if B.I.T.E.had been in existence then!
20 Mar 2007 10:20
The Salisbury, Leicester Square
Popped in here with the wife Saturday lunchtime..quite busy with drinkers and eaters. Very efficient and cheerful & polite staff and it really is a pleasure to go into a London pub that treats its customers in such a friendly way. I wish this was my local but I will just have to put up with coming here every time I'm up in London...which is'nt too often unfortunately
22 Jan 2007 12:31
Went in there for the first time for about three years....Green King and Moorlands beers are not much to write home about but the young couple behind the bar seemed to be very pleasant and efficient keeping the tables cleared and tidy.....a pleasant change from the usual glass laden tables in the majority of locals. Do they really need all the music and TVs blaring out at the same time? Overall...not a bad little boozer that we will most likely visit again....possibly when they get some tastier bitters.
16 Nov 2006 10:09
Not wishing to appear too pedantic or argumentative as far as Ziggy66 is concerned but on at least 3 occasions I was sitting at the window table in the Allegro restaurant opposite the Flyer and George came out of the Flyer and came over to the Allegro. Knowing his reputation, I do not suppose for one minute that these two pubs were the only ones he had a drink in.....in fact my brother said that he saw George in the Saucy Kettle.
23 Oct 2006 16:09
First time we have been in this pub for 20 years and how pleasant to find a real pubby atmosphere. The 3 different beers we had were all in good condition and the staff and the locals seemed very friendly. One small suggestion...why dont they have a non-smoking area...maybe the first part of the pub when you come in through the door nearest the roundabout? Would have given a higher mark but the smokey atmosphere was bad.
19 Oct 2006 09:05
The non-smoking area was OK for us non-smokers and the food was absolutely great value as all dishes were under three pounds (fish & Chips, scampi& chips and ale pie with fab gravy & chips.) Yes, it is smokey in the main part and maybe efficient extractors could be fitted but the beer and lagers were good and the food was brilliant.
16 Oct 2006 09:57
I would suggest that if the bird behind the bar really is that deaf that she needs the sound system to be turned up to maximum that the guvnor fits her up with a speaker behind the bar or buys her a hearing-aid....hells bells ..the music was absolutely deafening and we had to shout to each other to be understood and we were sitting next to each other!
16 Oct 2006 09:53
Speckled Hen bitter at its very best and very pleasant bar staff. Good value double spirits but watch out for the prices of the mixers...nearly doubles the bill!Brilliant value-for-money food and the kareoke was enjoyable (Put ear muffs on or go to the loo when Tex does his stuff...absolutely terrible but at least he gets up there with the mike)
16 Oct 2006 09:47
This pub must have been a great little local in the past but on going in it for the very first time yesterday , we found that it is basically a chinese restaurant. Language difficulties made ordering three basic sandwiches quite an ordeal, the Guiness was, at best, just reasonable but the Fullers London Pride was good....but there again it always is.
On the wall one end is one of those traditional pictures of Gentlemen very fancily dressed smoking their clay pipes in front of a blazing fire and next to it is a brush drawing in black ink with a load of horses running towards you with a load of Chinese writing on it...what a terrible mix-up. There were no locals in there , just an American couple and their two children and the husband expressed his doubts as to whether the British pub is dying. If this sort of takeover continues then God (or whoever you believe in)help us.
16 Oct 2006 09:38
Went to the latest Beer Festival here (I attended all three sessions plus the indifferent Folkie stuff Saturday lunchtime) the other weekend and enjoyed several good real ales. Was there also for the music which was excellent and provide by a fabulous band the average age of which must have been at least 65 but boy o boy...could they perform. Its a pity that on Saturday night most of the people were there for the hogroast and not for the music but it was a beer festival after all. Super little pub but take a good map to find this hidden gem of a pub.
2 Oct 2006 11:43
Nice pub....beer had been kept well...reasonably priced very tasty food and the young lady behind the bar was friendly and polite. Very much a locals pub but I enjoyed my two sessions there...recommended!
2 Oct 2006 11:33
Stayed in publess Lulworth Cove and consequently went to the nearest pub, namely Castle Inn.Provided you are under 5 feet tall and you are not hungry and you dont mind pretty foul Ringwood Ale then you have my full permission to go to this establishment. I could not believe their food prices and the beer prices were equivalent to top London pubs. I dragged my starving 6 feet 3 inch frame out of this place and drove a few miles to The Weld Arms where I enjoyed a very pleasant pint of bitter and a lovely prawn sarnie with chips at a reasonable price.
2 Oct 2006 11:27
Ye Olde Swan Inn, Thames Ditton
Nearly �7 for a pint of bitter and a small glass of vin ordinaire.....I do not think so!!!!Pity 'cos the staff are so pleasant and helpful.Would have given this pub a much higher rating but at those prices....!
25 Aug 2006 09:40
Took the day off for my birthday and went for a drive with the wife Came across this pub so stopped and went in. One of the nicest boozers I have been in and I have about 50 years "experience" Tried the Sussex and the Ranworth and they were excellent..bar snacks were brilliant and the Bacon/Brie/Avocado was an absolute delight. I will not be waiting for my next birthday to visit this pub again..and what a pleasant surprise to find a non-smoking establishment,,,congratulations to the very pleasant gug'nor.
10 Aug 2006 16:47
Not a lot of atmosphere but the beers are all well kept and you get good full measures. If this pub was good enough for George Best (R.I.P) then its good enough for me.
3 Aug 2006 16:44
Went in there last Saturday afternoon and found the bar staff to be surly and totally non-welcoming. Only about 6 people in there sitting down and we still had to wait at the bar for service. Never again.
27 Jun 2006 09:09
Went in last night for the second time this year.....bottom bar was taken up with the pub version of Deal or No Deal and everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. Ambience was better than the other Bank Holiday lunchtime when I was there last but beer at �2.70 has got to be taking the pxxx out of the customers. Possibly will not go there again as that price is more than Woodies and that's saying something!
22 Jun 2006 11:15
Please be warned and do not go there thinking it is an hotel....it's just a big pub with fairly poor rooms and regulars who break windows and make a lot of noise.
On the other hand, the beer was excellent, the Merlot was very good value for money and the breakfasts were good.
Will not be going back there
16 May 2006 14:26
Have been to three Beer and Jazz festivals here and they have all been excellent. The actual pub must rate as one of the smallest ever but they have a brilliant marquee for the jazz and the real ale bar and the food. A brilliant weekend of drinking and music and I look forward to going to their sixth next year.You will need a very good map of the area because this pub is situated in the middle of nowhere..very popular with the rambling fraternity who all seem to own very well-behaved dogs.
26 Sep 2005 10:06
Leslie Thomas of Virgin Soldiers fame was holding court with a load of his mates here last Saturday The food that the three of us had was excellent but the basket in which the cutlery came in was disgustingly filthy and this was pointed out to the waitress who promised she would tell the landlord...I wonder if she did? Selection of beers OK but the service was a bit slow considering not many people in...worth the wait just listening to Leslie and his mates having an enjoyable lunchtime.
26 Sep 2005 09:58
We did a small pub crawl of Ewell last night (five pubs)and popped in here for a pint...small pub and very typically English..pity about the customers who seemed to be attached to the bar and do not move over so that you can be served...maybe we chose a bad night so we will be back...cracking pint of Bombadier which made the wait at the bar nearly worth it.
14 Sep 2005 09:25
The George and Dragon, Thames Ditton
No Master Brew on last night which was a pity and the Summer bitter ran out but it has been very hot weatherwise recently.Spitfire excellent and I will be back to have a few pints of my favourite bitter (Master Brew)next week. Good sized car-park,pleasant staff, good amount of outside seating, didnt see a juke-box (or any females) and I liked this pub...
2 Sep 2005 09:11
The guy with the terrible laugh which is accompanied by a load of vulgar swearing should be banned from this pub for life...he spoils it for everybody (or nearly everybody as the landlady has yet to get rid of him so she must like it) What a pity as I know a few people who used this pub regularly but dont go there any more because of this guy.
1 Sep 2005 16:40
We should have realised we were on Planet Zod when we entered this place and read the notice on the bar "Ring the bell if you want service" We rang it and a young lady duly appeared and took our food and drink order. I think that the beer I ordered was listed as Smoothies and it was about the most disgusting pint that I have ever tasted. I would imagine that if you put it in the garden to get rid of slugs even they would leave it.The food arrived quickly so I thought that I would eat then and change the beer for a lager (at my expense).My prawn baguette was superb but the missus was not too happy with the baked potato with baked beans filling..there must be a bean shortage in this part of Gower as we counted 30 beans so I would suggest that if you are partial to this snack you take your own beans and ask the cook (?) to heat them up for you.Went to the barto change my drink where two guys were waiting and they said that they had rung the bell some minutes earlier so I went to the loo and passed the barmaid deep in conversation on her mobile. I think this is a pub to be avoided if you like bitter and baked beans in a baked spud
22 Aug 2005 10:10
Considering the village is very small this pub is huge. The staff were very pleasant the lunchtime we were there, the lager was cold and the food was excellent and big on the portion side. Although we were there for an hour only 6 people came in so the place looked empty but I was told later on in the holiday that this pub gets absolutely crowded in the evenings thanks to a large holiday complex next door. Take my advice, if you're over the West side of Gower make this place a must for lunch
22 Aug 2005 09:48
Went in the other evening..first time for about 15 years. Prompt polite service and I really enjoyed the Gales bitter. Could do with an efficient smoke extractor but a pleasant evening's drinking. We will be back.
19 May 2005 15:20
The Fox and Hounds Restaurant & Bar, Englefield Green
The drinking side of this establishment is a bit on the tatty side but they sell a good range of bitters and there are lagers as well. Not very large but pleasant with limited seating but then, who wants to sit when drinking a real ale? The restaurant side of things is superb...beautiful food served by extremely pleasant waitresses (+ very sociable guy). I have been here many times and the standard of the food is always first class.Well worth a visit.
10 May 2005 09:34
A non-smoking throughout pub which I went to last Saturday in a party of 8 and it was absolutely full The food was good and excellent value for money. This is the first pub that I have been in that is totally non-smoking and it was a joy to have my meal without the stench of smoke spoiling the occasion. The one smoker (2 packs a day) in our party hated it and said he would not go there again...all I can say to that is "GOOD".Some friends of ours who live locally to this pub say it always has a good number of customers throughout the week.
18 Apr 2005 10:12
The Salisbury, Leicester Square
Went in on Thursday around 12.45 and ordered the drinks and was pleasantly surprised by the politeness and niceness of the ladies behind the bar. Went into the non-smoking area where nobody was smoking and the three of us then ordered food. Very reasonably priced and served up in good time; and again the lady who served us was so pleasant as was trhe next one who took a repeat food order.
It was an absolute pleasure to meet such charming people working in a London pub and the staff are a credit to the Management I will definately go there again but maybe not in the evening bearing in mind previous comments.
Earlham Court
8 Apr 2005 12:15
Went in there again last night for the first time since being ignored(see previous comment) and things just have not changed...three people who the staff knew had arrived at the bar after me were served as I waited..NEVER AGAIN.
Earlham Court
24 Mar 2005 16:38
Any place that Megs chooses as her local must have something going for it...maybe I will find out on my next visit
Earlham Court
22 Mar 2005 12:14
An English friend of mine who has lived in USA for 20 years comes back to this country every couple of years and on his last visit I took him to the Berrylands Hotel.His comment was that the beer was not particularly pleasant compared to the other beers he had sipped in a large number of hostelries that I had taken him to locally and he said that if the people behind the bar worked in his California local
they would be taken out and strung up.It has never been my favourite pub and I have lived locally for 35 years.
Earlham Court
22 Mar 2005 12:07
I used to use this pub regularly when I worked in Croydon some 10 years ago for a period of about 5 years and I thought it was one of the best little boozers I had been in. The beer was kept in an excellent condition always and the food was great value for money and I have been hooked on Shepherd ever since....glad to see that the comments are favourable.
Earlham Court
22 Mar 2005 11:53
Buy a jug of 4 pints of lager and pay for three...OK until you want a refill...I waited at the bar for 10 minutes whilst the two girls behind the bar served at least 8 people who arrived at the bar after me...complained to the manager who seemed to be amused.. Music far too loud and too many smokers in the Non-smoking area..perhaps the sign should be better situated....
EC
16 Mar 2005 11:32
Back to Earlhamcourt's profile
The Anchor, Wisley
Went there today (4 of us) and requested a table with a pleasant view and were allocated table 6 which gave us a view of 20 yards of muddy water and not much else. A couple were there with their dog soon to be followed by a couple of elderly ladies and their dogs and we were then joined by a couple with their b....y dog which didnt touch the floor as it was permanently on the woman's lap sniffing and licking the table . A t least 2 of the pooches were fondled by a waitress...how hygienic!
Food was good and the Badger & Tanglefoot bitters were excellent....pity this place has no idea about dogs in restaurants as this occurred in the strictly restaurant part of this otherwise delightful pub.Would have given a 10 but the dog situation let it down badly.
26 Nov 2012 17:24