BITE user comments - Keef_Peacock
Comments by Keef_Peacock
Old Chapel Inn, Bigbury on Sea
This place is now called The Pickwick.
Stayed in the area recently but never went it - never got round to it unfortunatley. It seems obvious from the posts below that this place had some "issues" in the past, but it seems to be under new management now so I wouldn't want the past to cloud anyones view.
Is in a handy position to catch passing trade on it's way to/from Bigbury-on-sea, so good liuck to them.
30 Aug 2013 20:32
The Bridge Inn, Upper Woodford
I see that this one hasn't been reviewed for a while, so thought I would add my tuppence worth having been there earlier today.
Loved it.
Beautiful setting, as has been said before. I do like a nice beer garden to sit in quaff away in the sunshine and this place certainly ticks all the boxes in that respect.
We found the food very very good - had a fantastic ploughmans and the kids absolutely demolished their meals too. The beer - 6X - was excellent and very well kept.
I see there have been some commments about the service in the past. Well, all I can say is that the bunch they had in there today were all very friendly, polite, enthusiastic and hard working. When we ordered food they explained there would be a bit of a delay as they were clearly busy - far enough - and I also heard them explain to some other customers that they were out of pitta bread (for a Greek salad - I know!) so were offering alternatives instead. Good communication.
All in all a thoroughly pleasant afternoon - spoilt only by me getting us lost on the way back to London and then getting stuck in the obligatory Friday afternoon M25 tailbacks - and I can't blame the pub for any of that!
8/10
30 Aug 2013 20:23
Decent pub with a deceptively large beer garden to while away the hours in the sunshine. Unfortunately we only had time to stay for one but I could've easily stayed longer.
Didn't have food but it looked good as it went past to other tables. Also, the main bar looked loke a proper pub bar, so although they may have a focus on food - and who can blame them - there were plenty of people sitting around just having a light ale when we were there. I liked the atmosphere in there, relaxed, but helpful and friendly staff.
Gets a decent 7/10 from me.
30 Aug 2013 20:14
I really liked this pub. Took the family and we had a nice meal - tasty, decent sized portions and pretty reasonably priced - sat by the river watching the world float by.
Had a really nice drop of Jail Ale which was well kept and hit the spot. Friendly staff, clean bogs, decent clientele - would recommend it, particularly to those with hungry kids!
8/10 from me.
30 Aug 2013 20:09
The Journeys End Inn, Ringmore
Popped in whilst staying locally on holiday this past week.
Seems to be full of character, but unfortunately we only stayed for one drink as it was a sunday and they weren't doing the kids menu, which is why we had gone in there. Not sure why exactly, but the barmaid wasn't in the mood for chatting and gave us a "take it or leave it" look - so we left. Not criticising (well, not too much) as a pub is a pub and not a childrens playground, but maybe a mention on their website would've saved us a wasted trip.
Beer garden was also a bit of a letdown to be honest, but overall it seemed an "ok" sort of place, but just a 5/10 from me..
30 Aug 2013 20:04
Went in The Lion again for a family lunch yesterday. The food was lovely, the Aspall's was flowing, the beer garden was gorgeous and the service was prompt and friendly. A great time was had by all - especially the kids who played in the river whilst the adults basked in the sun.
This is currently my favourite place to go when the sun is shining. 8/10.
10 Jun 2013 01:19
Not really my cup of tea - a bit too bar like for me and all done up a bit like a tarts boudoir - but the food was ok.
26 May 2013 21:18
This is a great little pub. I found the decor and atmosphere far from "standard" - particularly for the area. This is what I imagine a lot of pubs used to look like, before they had the guts ripped out in favour of the latest fad look.
Good beer, served in pots. Nothing but good things to say about it.
8/10 for me.
26 May 2013 21:13
The Bricklayer's Arms, Marble Arch
It's not really a pub now, more a restaurant that serves beer. Expect to be asked to move on if you're sat down and not eating.
26 May 2013 21:05
This place smells.
Last time I was in they had some crap DJ on playing some jazz/soul fusion shit. God knows who it was supposed to appeal to - although there were plenty of wankers in. All blokes. Sad looking nerdy types.
Much much better pubs in the area, only a short walk away.
26 May 2013 20:49
This place is alright. Can get pretty rammed at times which means service can be slow, but at least the older fella behind the ramp seems to know what he's doing and does his best to serve those who have been waiting longest first. None of that "who's next?" With him - which always annoys me. It's your bar, you should know who's next if you're doing your job properly!
Outside seats/area are a bonus if the weather is up to it.
26 May 2013 20:44
This pub has always been called the Wheatsheaf so why would they change it just because someone else nicked the name and used it around the corner while they were building the bridge over this one?
Have been in a few times since it reopened and am not entirely sure if I like it or not to be honest. I think I may be getting just a bit too old for the type of person Youngs are looking to fill their pubs with these days, which is a shame for me as I've always liked their pubs in the past.
May give it another go to be sure.
26 May 2013 20:37
The Devonshire Arms, Marylebone
Decent enough pub. Home made pies at lunchtime and proper chips - not fries.
Pride was well kept. Not much else to say really - handy for a pint if your missus is bashing the plastic in Selfridges!
26 May 2013 20:26
Agree with the last poster, this pub is definitely better than the rating suggests.
Had a lovely afternoon in the beer garden there today. Food was absolutely spot on and after an ok-ish bitter I had a lovely couple of Aspall's. The kids loved the beer garden, so would heartily recommend it for families.
Can understand what others have said about the decor inside - very modern and not a great deal of olde worlde charm or character, but as we were outside it didn't bother me as much as it might have done otherwise.
7/10 from me.
26 May 2013 20:21
The Bunch of Grapes, London Bridge
This place is alright. Nothing special, but ok.
I use it fairly regularly as it's handy for London Bridge station. The bar staff can be a bit hit and miss sometimes and it can get quite rammed, but there's certainly a lot worse in the area.
22 Sep 2012 21:09
Strange pub - probably as it's a bit of a "station pub" with people largely passing through, which was what I was doing to be fair!
I suppose it does the job well enough, but there are better pubs in the area in my view.
Oh yeah, watch out for the pissed-up tramps who seem to come out when the sun goes down when you're stood outside.
22 Sep 2012 21:05
I work in the area so have been in here a few times. As others have said, it seems to be geared up more for the food market and the layout isn't the greatest.
Staff are usually friendly enough, but it is expensive and they seem to be trying too hard to be "different" with the beer selection, none of which I've ever particularly enjoyed.
Overall, I'm not exactly a massive fan of this place and in my mind there are much better pubs in the area.
22 Sep 2012 20:57
The Thornbury Castle, Marylebone
Popped in the Thornbury for lunch earlier this week. Nice pub - like it a lot. Very friendly landlady/barman and a nice atmosphere about the place.
They had some decent ales on - my pint of Pride was well kept - and do some good hearty pub grub. Had a cracking "Thornbury Burger" and will pop back for sausage beans and chips one day soon.
22 Sep 2012 20:44
Is this place still open?
We were in the area on a crawl last week and it was on our list to try out, but was shut.
Oh well.
22 Sep 2012 20:37
Now called The Duchess. Went in there last week with some mates on a crawl. Looked clean enough - if a little souless - and has got a pool table, if you like that sort of thing.
Did the job well enough, but there are better pubs in the area (such as the Pelton).
22 Sep 2012 20:34
The Plume of Feathers, Greenwich
This has been a decent pub for a good while now. A good range of beers on tap, a nice comfortable "lived-in" feel to it and normally a friendly crowd in.
I just wish they'd get rid of the ****ing Palace scarf and pendant from behind the bar. Yeah, it's probably a bit immature of me, but we only stopped for one last time we were in as it grates handing over my dough with them hanging there.
22 Sep 2012 20:22
The Star and Garter, Greenwich
Popped in here whilst on a crawl last week - didn't even know it existed despite having been visiting Greenwich since I was a kid!
Only stopped for one, but it was alright. Nothing special and I'm not sure I would go out of my way to go back - not with the Cutty Sark and the Pelton Arms on the doorstep - but a solid enough boozer.
22 Sep 2012 20:15
The Cutty Sark Tavern, Greenwich
Popped into the Cutty Sark last week whilst on a crawl.
Haven't been in for years, but was pleased that it still a decent pub. The location is great - particularly when the sun is shining and you sit outside on the river with some great views. Far enough off the beaten track to avoid the worst of the tourist trade but still close enough to Greenwich to make it pretty easy to get to.
Decent range of real ales and on our visit the barman was very friendly and happy to chat about the beers on offer. A big thumbs up from me and well worth seeking out if you're in the area.
22 Sep 2012 20:12
Popped in to the Pelton in the middle of a crawl last week.
Very impressed with he place. It had a great feel to it and a number of real ales on tap. Can't believe I've been past the end of the road so many times and never even knew it was there, let alone been in.
Definitely intend going back soon to spend a bit more time in there.
22 Sep 2012 20:06
This has always been a great pub - just for the look and feel of it alone, as others have mentioned. It always feels like stepping back into Victorian London whenever you walk through the door.
And Youngs too - what more could you want?
4 Sep 2012 20:05
Traditional little pub tucked away round the backstreets. Have had some good nights in here - particularly when the old boy comes in and starts playing the joanna and the punters have a bit of a sing along.
Yeah, that sounds a bit cheesey, but it isn't and seems to fit in perfectly with the whole decor and ambience of the place.
I imagine that there used to be a lot of pubs like thi in London, but there aren't any more (mores the pity). Go along and check it out, before this sort of thing is gone for good.
4 Sep 2012 19:54
Great little boozer just a stones throw from Charing Cross station. Always a good and well kept selection of real ales on and the service is good - once you manage to force your way inside and get to the bar at busy times!
The gents khazis deserve a special mention. For some reason the song "Halfway up the stairs is a place where I s*it" always comes to mind, and they are pretty cozy (but generally clean).
Well worth a visit if you are in the area and fancy a cuff.
4 Sep 2012 19:43
Best pub in Greenwich. Far enough of the beaten track to avoid becoming a tourist trap but still near enough to the park, station, etc to be able to pop in if you're in the area.
Oh, and a cracking spacious beer garden for when the suns out.
4 Sep 2012 19:27
Decent boozer just off Baker Street. They do some food but don't go in there expecting a full michellin star menu or anything - it's a pub, and a decent one.
Personally I quite like my pubs a little "worn" looking - beer mats under table legs are an absolute must! - and this place certainly has plenty of character. The two little booths/snugs at the side of the bar are a throw back to days of old.
Can get a bit busy for a while just after office hours, but worth a visit if you're in the area.
4 Sep 2012 19:23
The Shipwrights Arms, London Bridge
I like this pub. In these days of pubs disappearing at a rate of knotts, or being converted into poncey wine bars or given the stripped back/IKEA look, it's nice to know there's a good old fashioned boozer still plying it's trade.
And I'm clearly not the only one who thinks this as it can get packed to the rafters after work - particularly on Fridays - due to its location next to London Bridge station. Long may it continue.
And as for the toilet thing, see reviews below, I make them 100% right to be careful about who's using their khazis. Given where it is they clearly get loads of people trying to use it as a public convenience every day, so why should they benefit at the expense of paying customers.
Keep up the good work!
4 Sep 2012 19:13
We've been to the Captain Digby a couple of times now - the latest this week - having spent the day at one of the (many) lovely beaches nearby.
It's quite an imposing looking place, perched on the cliff, with fantastic views out to sea. We have always found it to be good value, with good food and service. They had a couple of real ales on at my last visit but opted for a strong continental lager myself as had been sat in the sun all day and was gasping for something cold - job done!
There's an indoor play area for kids and also one outside, although this was shut on ou most recent visit - something about the cliff being a bit dodgy and some strengthening work being needed (which was underway) before it could re-open.
If you're in the area/been at the beach all day then you can do a lot worse than give this place a try.
4 Sep 2012 19:02
We went to the Old Granary a few weeks back when on holiday in the area. Was actually my second visit as had visited once before whilst on business and knew it was a "safe" bet to take the family.
Nice location right on the river, the food was good (maybe a little pricey - but good quality) and the staff were friendly. The beer - Badger - was well kept.
I can understand how thi splace may suffer a bit because of its location at times, and to be truthful it's probably only just about a "pub" - couldn't really imagine standing at the bar having a cuff - but it's decent enough warrants a good rating.
4 Sep 2012 18:53
My life! If you're the sort of person who moans about your parmesan turning up "in dribs and drabs" then maybe you might want to give this PUB a miss.
For the rest of you I can whole-heartedly recommend The Scott Arms. We went a couple of weeks back whilst on holiday in the area and the beer was very well kept, the food was tasty (though a tad expensive), the toilets were spotlessly clean and the interior was decent - not entirely my cup of tea as I prefer things a bit more ramshackle! - but it was smart and modern.
But the greatest thing about this place is THAT view from the beer garden. I've been to many many pubs and sat in many many beer gardens, but this is undoubtedly one of the best views I can remember. Could've sat there all day. Recommended.
4 Sep 2012 18:46
Had a fantastic lunch/afternoon at The Lion today. Absolutely great setting and the kids loved playing in the river. The food was really nice and didn't take too long to arrive, what more do you want?
OK, from the reviews below I can see how the queuing "system" in place could become a bit tedious at times, but surely it's a testament to the popularity of the place that it can often get very busy?
It just goes to show that you can't believe everything you read - see below! - and are very glad that we gave it a try and weren't put off.
4 Sep 2012 18:35
Back to Keef_Peacock's profile
The Star and Garter, Soho
I like this place.
Have met a mate for lunch in here a couple of times now and its always spot on, just what a pub should be. Decent beer - Pride was well kept - and cheese rolls from behind the bar, the perfect lunchtime getaway.
There are a fair few pretentious places in this area, but this certainly isn't one of them.
As someone mentioned before, it's a proper old school boozer and long may it continue.
30 Aug 2013 20:37