skip nav  
 


BITE user comments - Hornchurchpaul

Comments by Hornchurchpaul

The Swan, Brentwood

I returned to The Swan on Dec 5th 2009 with a party of 8 friends. Sad to say we were forced to leave by the presence of a 'DJ' playing loud and distorted music, making conversation impossible. I hope this isnt the shape of things to come.

6 Dec 2009 17:08

Huntsman and Hounds, Upminster

I hadnt been in here for many years, since the bad old days untill recently and immediatly spotted by the interior that it was another Ember Inn. Exactly the same fake, 'plastic' interior as Ember Inns nearby it has a bland souless atmosphere, Beer was not overpriced and well kept but the fact that the Adnams was 'off' was not advertised by a bar towel over the pump or swivelling the pump clip. The bar maid who served us looked like she wanted to be somewhere else and we later discovered where, snogging her boyfriend in the outside smoking area. The carbon footprint of this place isnt done any favours by the four electric radiant heaters keeping a mainly empty smoking area warm. The early evening restaurant clientele seemed to be leaving en masse as we arrived, the pub was later largley taken over by loud and boistrous young men. Not a pub I shall be returning to.

19 Oct 2008 14:13

Optimist Tavern, Upminster

Another drab Ember Inn. Beer is well kept but rather predictable and dull (Green King IPA et al) the all female staff seemed to spend a lot of time chatting rather than serving. Had to wait ages in a quiet period, what were they doing? Havnt tried the food but the menu was rather eclectic relying heavily on dishes enhanced with cheese (Im dairy intolerant). I dont think they could cope if there was a rush on. There seemed to be a very low turnover of drinks which meant the 4 fat ladies had plenty of time to converse and put the world to rights.

3 Oct 2008 22:58

The Harrow, Hornchurch

Havnt set foot for years, hated the place. Its one rather noteworthy feature was the view into the ladies toilet from the garden. One could quite clearly observe the pulling down and up of underwear as ladies settled down on the pans in each cubicle. It never put me off my beer. Once observed a woman take down the cubicle curtain , roll it up and put it in her bag. She'd probably nicked all the others, hence the view.

1 Oct 2008 17:44

J J Moons, Hornchurch

Ive never set foot in here. Ive been past it several times at weekends on a bus and there is always a sprinkling of drunken chavs staggering about outside. Probably better to drink earlier in the week.

1 Oct 2008 17:39

The Hoop, Stock

Excellent pub . Ive mainly visited this for the beer festival which is fantastic with huge selection of ales under cover in the garden with good BBQ type food. On other occasions beer is good and there is a good atmosphere. Well worth a visit.

1 Oct 2008 17:33

The Royal Oak, South Ockendon

This is a pub to avoid often doesnt have any beer on tap at all because the landlord is too lax I guess. Full of scarey locals necking lager and smoking outside. At night the green lights make it look like the martians have taken over. Avoid at all costs.

1 Oct 2008 17:28

The Rose, Shenfield

Havnt been in there recently but the last time I think the new owners must have only just taken over as the young people behind the bar didnt have a clue. There used to be a lovely and very efficient lady behind the bar, she may have been the landlady, her name is Stella. If she is still there hope she teaches the rest how to serve their customers. Used to have well kept beers including Adnams, always a good pint. Cant comment now though.

1 Oct 2008 17:24

The White Horse, Brentwood

Excellent pub with good range of well kept real ales and friendly staff and clientele though a bit out of the way. Well worth the effort of getting there.

1 Oct 2008 17:19

The Swan, Brentwood

Dont care about the supposed activities of the landlady and I would rather not see children in pubs no matter how well behaved they are. This is most definately an excellent pub. Usually a large selection of well kept real ales on pump and stillage. With a mixture of clientele with stone flag floor and no hideous fruit machines with flashing lights. very popular pub.

1 Oct 2008 17:15

The Tower Arms, South Weald

I can confirm that Ross Kemp used to sup here, he used to live up the road though I never set eyes on him. I thought the selection of beers was poor with the ubiquitous Green King IPA as a flag ship. If it does now serve ale from local breweries then I would welcome this improvement. The garden game is Petanque and there is an unusual and difficult indoor game involving a horn on the wall and a ring on a cord. There used to be table top skittles as well I think. Great atmosphere in the two wood paneled drinking areas, never eaten myself but looks good. The tower of the name refers to a Tower that used to exist in the country park behind the church oposite, I think there was a tunnel involved. I would recomend a visit to this historic and picturesque boozer.

1 Oct 2008 17:09

Ardleigh and Dragon, Hornchurch

I havnt set foot in here for decades so cant comment but a chap was shot dead outside his house about 200yds down the road a few years ago so maybe this says something about the area?

10 Sep 2008 18:33

The Chequers Inn, Hornchurch

This is my local but I dont drink there that often. The beers have always been well kept and under the landlordship of Bill they were cheap. Bill struggled with owners The Romford Brewery Company to keep Youngs bitter on the Bar despite the fact that he sold 5 times as much of it than the bland old crap the brewery tried to flog. Sadly the inside of this boozer has suffered under the auspices of 'Modification' quite recently with the ripping out of the magnificent above the bar glass rack and the introduction of a giant plasm screen on the wall which is very annoying. The lovely mirrors on the wall have also been spoiled by two lamp brackets being mounted on them... what!!! Still the pub is now under new ownership and seems a bit more lively ...in my manor!

10 Sep 2008 18:28

The Old Dog, Herongate

This is indeed a fine pub with a varying selection of well kept ales on stillage and hand pump. I have also eaten here on the occasion of my mothers 90th birthday and had no complaints about the food. The restaurant was easily accessable by my mother who can walk too well now. Highly recommended.

10 Sep 2008 17:44

Back to Hornchurchpaul's profile