BITE user comments - GRMull
Comments by GRMull
A friend insisted that we should try this place a week or two ago on account of it's purported 'smoking room' - credit where credit is due it's very clever. I for one felt a tad uncomfortable sitting on a sofa in what appeared to be an enclosed area (I'm sure it must be legal!) with a proper table and ash tray.
For this I would award 10/10....now the downside...
The place is a 'happy eater' type of thing. The staff are youngsters who have no interest in engaging in conversation with their customers and the prices appear very expensive. Mind you one must bear in mind that this place caters for the Bure Farm Estate which is well known as being a London commuter area on the outskirts of the town so no doubt they don't find the prices to be that outrageous.
On balance 6/10 - mostly based on the rather unique way they've catered for smokers!
3 Dec 2009 20:47
I have to update my previous assessment on this place. I popped in so as to avoid a downpour after doing a spot of banking recently. It's been transformed as Cathy68 correctly says and I will happily go back. Well done - having left an awful review 18 months ago it's a pleasure to say this.
5 Sep 2009 19:23
Well, the refurb has now been completed and the place looks fantastic - a tad too bright for old moaners like me but I have to say that the wood flooring is great and a darned sight cleaner than the carpets during Mandy's days!
The place has been transformed and would be one which I would be happy to take my wife into (which wasn't the case for the past three years).
9/10 for now - always room for improvement!
24 May 2009 22:43
Well Cathy68 - sadly I disagree with you. The new people are lovely friendly people so far as I and my friends are concerned. The new landlord (Kiron) is a bit dry but nevertheless has a great sense of humour whilst the landlady (Caroline) is an absolutely lovely lady. The place was indeed truly awful but has improved 300% since Mandy left which explains why I've been going back there. A great pub when properly managed as Kiron and Caroline appear to be intent on doing.
8 May 2009 21:14
Still pretty lousy unless you like the company of the winoes who queue up outside to get their fix from 9AM. Not the cleanest of places either and my last visit was fleeting as a result of both these factors.
Cheap beer (almost by sell by date of course) but for this reason alone 2/10 (just!)
14 Apr 2009 21:40
I believe the Litten Tree and Yates are both 'brands' of the same holding company. Went in there but couldn't really tell any difference - staff still seem more interested in discussing their dates than serving customers and the place has all the ambiance of an airport departure lounge. Best avoided although the beer is quite cheap. For this reason alone 4/10
14 Apr 2009 21:22
Time to do a quick update - it's undergone a very recent change of manager which is perhaps no bad thing (lovely chap Wilkie is I think he got a bit bored by the place). I wish the new landlady well and her initial changes (seemingly silly trivial things like insisting on clean ashtrays in the garden) are very welcome.
I just wish the chain would change the name back to "The Bell" which is how most of us 40+ year locals call it.
No food, beer is good, like the no-under 18 year old policy (kids and pubs don't mix in my view), service is friendly as are most of the regulars. Overall 8/10
14 Apr 2009 21:15
Glad it's shut for two weeks - maybe those who visit the Village will be given an incentive to try a couple of better places in the town centre!
14 Apr 2009 21:07
I went in there with the family yesterday for a Bank Holiday lunch - first time I've been back since a recent change in management.
The former autocratic rules on smoking (as they stood in October 2006) are of course now mandatory and universal so this is no longer an issue (sadly!).
This place is clean, the staff are very pleasant and foodwise it's prepared by a professional ex-naval chef who buys in the ingredients himself from local providers. Our meal was truly excellent and I take back what I said in October2006 - I shall be going back and would encourage others to try it.
9/10 - always room for improvement!
14 Apr 2009 20:29
Now under new management who are very friendly and seem to have their eyes on changing things for the better. I believe it might be closed for a while for a long needed re-furb. I look forward to making it my regular haunt again and wish the new people the very best. I'll update the rating after the re-furb so as to be fair to them!
9 Apr 2009 17:25
For a short time this used to be quite upmarket. These days though it's a real dive and best avoided. The last time I went in there you could smell the bogs even as you opened the front door - I walked out immediately! If you would like a drink whilst waiting for a bus or coach I'd try the Eurobar instead.
3 Mar 2008 22:15
I think this place is in need of an updated review. It's very clean, extremely well run with a high standard of service and a good range of (admittedly continental) 'beers'. It used to have an awful reputation when it was known as the Welsh Pony years ago but I use it frequently whilst waiting for a bus home and can recommend it.
3 Mar 2008 22:12
Recently refurbished, friendly and a good range of beers (particularly if you come from Leicester!). Small and like most city centre pubs there's no garden so smokers need to beware of the army of beggers who swarm over Oxford whilst standing outside.
3 Mar 2008 22:08
This remains one of my favourite pubs in Oxford - small but full of character. Also reasonably priced. Tucked away a bit which keeps the tourists out (a plus in my book!!)
3 Mar 2008 22:03
Zena Hinchley (she who won Channel 4's rudest landlady of the year award) would turn in her grave to see 'wot the little bleeders 'av done to my pub'. Thirty odd years ago this was the in place to go in Bicester. These days it's just noisy and full of bods who are just legally old enough to get drunk.
3 Mar 2008 21:54
Sadly it's gone downhill - the landlady gives first priority to having a fag in her kitchen so if you happen to arrive in the meantime you'll just have to wait. Would also suggest avoiding the gents unless you like standing in goodness knows what. Furthermore they often don't seem to have the beer you want. Lovely pub in the old days and I sincerely hope that they will turn it round but until then I'm afraid I shall give the place a miss. For old time's sake I'll give it 1/10
8 Jan 2008 20:37
In answer to slad2blues the terms 'nice atmosphere' and 'child friendly' are complete opposites. Unless you enjoy having a quiet chat ruined by screaming children I'd suggest giving this one a miss.
8 Jan 2008 20:32
It's improved tremendously over the past couple of years - friendly and enthusiastic bar staff, clean and a landlord who appears to take on board what his customers ask for. Having posted a bad review two or three years ago I'm pleased to say that my rating must now be increased. Just one thing - ask them to turn the music down if like me you enjoy conversation (in fairness the staff will usually oblige)
7 Jan 2008 20:38
Maybe The Cider Monster (clearly another local!) has a point. Yes, as a pub in the purest sense I agree that it's perhaps lost a bit of it's character but these days one needs to take an overall view and judge places not only by range of beers but food, ambiance etc..etc..I stand by my 9/10 rating
11 Oct 2006 23:25
The Kings Arms Hotel, Bicester
Donkeys years ago this used to be a really up market place. It's gone downhill over the years although I did pop in there the other day. The range of beers seems okay and the one pint I had was served in a clean glass with good friendly service. The lavatory was also clean (a first for Bicester pubs!) This though was in the afternoon which in Bicester can differ greatly from what town centre pubs are like on a weekend at 10PM or later. From what I saw however 7/10 seems a reasonable rating.
11 Oct 2006 23:16
It's cheap but also filthy in my experience. I went in there a couple of weeks ago and a so-called waitress managed to spill the remnants of a coffee cup over both the carpet and my trousers (I managed to clean the latter myself). She walked off and 30 mins later hadn't come back to clean up the mess. It's a filthy place which seems full of drunks on the look out for cheap drinks with staff who seemingly couldn't give two hoots. One to avoid!!
11 Oct 2006 23:08
Expensive and for it's location too pretentious. Don't like the autocratic rules about smoking. In short I won't be going back.
11 Oct 2006 23:02
The only reason to visit this place it's if there's a decent sports event you want to see on their large television screen (unless you're into a spot of live boxing that is!) The advice under these circumstances is to enjoy the sport and leave immediately afterwards since other than this it's perfectly dreadful!
11 Oct 2006 22:55
This used to be my local - an estate pub but every landlord in recent years seems intent on bringing heavy rock music into what is a fairly sedate residential area. Went in there a couple of weeks ago for the first time in a year or two - a reasonable range of beers, friendly enough service but nothing which would make me rush back there.
11 Oct 2006 22:49
The Highfeild Social Club, Bicester
Unless you fancy having a pint in a creche avoid!
11 Oct 2006 22:45
I went back to this place recently - since my last visit 15 months or so ago it's been sadly taken over by a chain. Efficient, clean but the food has lost it's 'homecooked' feel and we felt generally rushed as though eating in a fast food joint. Previously I gave it 7/10 - 4/10 this time.
11 Oct 2006 22:44
My favourite Oxford pub - just beware of wearing an exotic tie in the place!!!!!
5 Apr 2006 21:08
A typical chain type establishment - mother in law lives locally so I've been in the place a few times over the years. It was a bit grimy years ago and it's fair to sat that this side of things has improved noticeably since Wetherspoons took over. It's also very convenient for having a pint whilst waiting for the train (the station is literally across the road)
Downside though is that the staff are really very slow (painfully so!) and on my last visit a couple of weeks or so ago seemed more intent of having a chat with their friends than actually serving customers.
As for food - yes, I'm afraid that it's typical 'ding, ding' (ie. microwaved) chill cook type rubbish but then aren't all chains like this these days? I avoid food in such places I have to confess!!!
Service 1/10 Cleanliness 7/10 (better than it was but still not 100%) Quality of Beer 5/10 Friendliness (when finally served!) 7/10 - so on balance 5/10 is a reasonable rating.
5 Apr 2006 21:04
Because my usual 'local' was closed three of us went into "The Bell" (as was) for a pint at lunchtime. First time I've been back into the place for a couple of years - I found it rather dingy and, sorry, dirty. Look at the flooring at the front of the main bar and there are dogends in between the floorboards. The gents gives the impression of being unclean. Sorry butI won't be going back in a hurry. The glasses were clean, the reception very friendly and the beer was also good but I can't accept an unclean environment.
24 Feb 2005 17:16
A delightful English village pub. A good range of beers and an extensive wine list (including a Mexican wine!). The food was very good when my wife and I went there (although others I've spoken to have made criticisms about this - as I say I can only speak as I've found). A bit 'foody' for a real pub goer but nevertheless well worth a visit for a good lunch.
24 Feb 2005 16:49
As a old Bicester type I still prefer to know this place as 'The Bell' (it's original name). 15 years ago it was THE place to go but these days it's gone downhill a bit. Still friendly enough with a good range of beers but to my mind it lacks the 'je ne sais quoi' it used to have years ago.
14 Feb 2005 21:33
This is my local so perhaps I'm biased - a friendly place, no grub aside from Sundays but there's a good range of beers and a cheerful ambiance. The pub divides into two - a welcoming fire and good conversation in the front bar, for those who prefer sport on TV, music on the jukebox etc there's the backbar. I'm a frontbar sort myself!
14 Feb 2005 21:15
As a local I can say that this has always been the squaddies' haunt in town. Nothing wrong with the place but as a civvie I wouldn't go in there on a Friday or Saturday night!!!
14 Feb 2005 21:11
As a local I have to say that this is an ugly duckling which has become a genuine 'Swan'!! Years ago this place had the reputation for being a 'spit and sawdust' palace to the extent that I hadn't been in there for 10 or more years. I was recently taken out for lunch by a business acquaintance and couldn't believe the transformation. 9/10 - always room for improvement!
14 Feb 2005 21:09
The menu is of the usual chill-microwave 'ding, ding chicken'variety. I was also put off by the dicatorial non-smoking prohibition and the fact that the place was full of screaming brats with parents who seemed not to care on jot. Basically a bit fat 0/10!
14 Feb 2005 21:07
Yates's, Bicester
Tried it again after a year - staff are still more intent on discussing boyfriends than attending to their customers but the beer is very cheap (and with the turnover on account of cheapness is pretty good it has to be said). Still has the ambiance of an airport departure lounge though. I prefer a traditional 'proper' pub than a chain 'bar' but then that's me I guess
15 Aug 2010 22:12