BITE user comments - Leone123
Comments by Leone123
Harkers was very similar to Wetherspoons, but with acceptable, low musak, and a better ambiance. The best battered cod I have ever had, and my first mushy peas in 64 years, but the chips were soggy and flaccid. My husband was very happy with his real ale, but the red wines were dire. The friendly staff let me taste several, but they were all sharp and heavy, and very similar. Why don't pubs supply a range of wines from light through to extra heavy - three would cover all tastes? Even the white wine in York was very limited, with the ubiquitous, and to me undrinkable, Chardonney, Sauvignon and Liebframilch only available; and as for Stowells' wines, even in the supermarket they are horrible. I was told gleefully at Harkers that they had a 'Merlot', and told them that the grape is important but what the wineries do with it is even more so; the Merlot was not a nice one! The problem is that many pub staff know nothing about wine, particularly inthe North. The ladies' loos were pretty bad, and several of the locks didn't work. I reported this, and would be interested to know if anything is done. I found that the only decent red wine in York was available at Wetherspoon's, and I do like their Merlot, although there was a vast range of well-kept real ales available throughout the city, so I am sorry that I can't drink anything other than wine. If the supermarkets can provide a range of very drinkable and reasonably-priced wines, why can't the pubs do likewise?
15 Sep 2008 11:24
Why are there no reviews viewable prior to 12 August 2008? This was always a wonderful carvery before it was taken over by whoever in 2005/6. OAPs got a discount so it was always full, but was equally excellent for a family meal or even a corporate lunch. Went there just the once under the new ownership, but walked out without spending anything because standards gad fallen, and I couldn;t understand the rules. Such a shame, as it served all of us for whatever we wanted. Haven't been there since I moved away from Godalming, but I see that things haven't improved. Miss the Refectory - as is used to be!
26 Aug 2008 21:22
The Inn On The Lake, Godalming
The Inn on the Lake used to be lovely until M & B took over, ripped out all the nice bits, and upped the prices for far inferior stuff. Martin, who and his family ran an excellent emporium until he moved on to Amberly Castle, why did you do it to us?
26 Aug 2008 21:04
The Old Crown, Hesket Newmarket
A lovely pub with excellent real ale in a beautiful village location, albeit that the eating rules are a bit strange, the food only just acceptable, and the back eating area horrible and like a transport cafe. We hear that the friendly landlord and his less friendly missus are leaving, so hope that the co-operative finds nice and people-friendly replacements shortly.
26 Aug 2008 20:40
A lovely pub in a lovely village with free parking. But needs a tweak or two. We were in there one afternoon when a lot of walkers arrived, as they do in this neck of the woods. They bought loads of drinks and asked if they could have sandwiches. They were told my the offhand barmaid that they didn't serve food until 6.30 pm. Maybe the organiser should have advised the pub of the imminent massive increase in the pub's profits, but surely someone could have rustled up something as simple as sandwiches within a short while. Unfortunately the lack of entrepenerial skills is endemic up here, and they do like to moan a lot instead of doing something about it and then being nice to those who want to visit this beautiful and unique area in the North West, and contribute to their profits. Not all businesses - just some!
26 Aug 2008 20:31
Are Graham and Liz still running this pub, which was excellent when they took over some years' ago after moving on from their equally excellent pub in Godalming? We have moved away, so haven't been anywhere near the south for a long time now, and there is nothing on the beerintheevening website, which isn't as good as it used to be, and seems to have changed a lot. Where's Ann?
26 Aug 2008 20:19
Why does Ian call himself Syd now? Come up to Cumbria, where living costs are very high (Council Tax and water rates are higher than in Surrey), yet the local pubs sell Guiness for �1.70 a pint and wine is about �1.60 for a large one. There are rip-off merchants here too, but many small local pubs understand that small profits from lots of loyal customers is better than high individual profits from a paucity.
12 Jul 2008 17:28
This is an excellent pub, with great wines and beers. The food is also excellent, although a bit too messed about with for my liking; oh for some simple, not over-done vegetables. And it is impossible to find a pub that serves its Sunday roasts other than well done. The pubs always say that everybody likes the meat well done, whereas I know that it not true.
3 Mar 2008 11:28
Perhaps, as this pub is now open, you should remove the (PUB CLOSED) from its heading.
26 Jan 2008 20:07
Harkers, York
The response to my review from Groinhammer was strange, and from someone who thinks that white wine should be drunk with fish and red wine with meat; that old cherry went out many moons ago. He didn't mention the all-important poorly condition of the Ladies' loos. Does this person, and I assume that he is a Northern chap with little or no knowledge or taste for wine, but that's OK because I cannot drink beer, have an axe to grind? Perhaps a more positive and helpful response from this person with a chip on his shoulder would have been more useful.
30 Sep 2008 21:38