BITE user comments - LooseVixens
Comments by LooseVixens
My most favourite pub ever! Fond memories, whether it's seeing in New Years.... being stranded in a power cut in the winter storms, or just hanging out with friends. Downstairs bar has a very different vibe to the upstairs.
Downstairs - nautical regalia everywhere, stone floors, wooden benches. Generally bikers and fishermen. Occasionally divers.
Upstairs - carpet (!), stain-glass windows, spacious seating areas.
Generally it's full of locals but the tourists explode in the area over summer so you're bound to meet some of them too.
25 Jun 2006 21:09
The Black Rose Tavern, Edinburgh
Had an absolutely fantastic night in here - made by the live music and the musicians bid to buy everyone a packet of crisps. Quality banter with the staff and fellow punters alike (met a man about to change his name by deed pole, as part of a challenge, to "Rubbish Just Rubbish") and with only a little cajoling dancing on the bar was allowed - you're made to sign a disclaimer first.
25 Jun 2006 21:03
Was empty on a Rugby day. Says it all really. Large empty space with no people.
25 Jun 2006 20:54
As part of the Rugby Twic day out, it's a must. Beer poured in advance - check. Bar-b-q - check. Random rugby fans singing a range of songs - check. People climbing the fence to get in - check. Beer on your shoes - check (don't wear good ones!). Hijinks - check.
25 Jun 2006 20:51
Where everybody knows your name... Coach and Horses is a fantastic pub with excellent food and drinks, great sports screens, top atmosphere and very very friendly. Better for Rugby than Football. Our local - no matter where we live! Come and enjoy. O, and say hello to the eighty year old who sits by the door - he's been coming every day for 40 years and has some bonkers stories...
24 Jun 2006 23:22
Interesting beer garden - a concrete back yard. Always heaving in the weekday evenings. Bar staff are unmemorable. White wine was warm... Atmosphere is okay but not vibrant - hopefully, it'll warm up with Summer.
24 Jun 2006 23:16
Ooo, the Bok Bar. One time favourite haunt (great lock-ins, cool bar-staff, great range of drinks, comedy "DJ", interesting bunch of people) seems to have turned into some fairly tedious haunt for miserable Saffers... and always seems empty. What happened?!! Would have been a "9" last Summer now it's a "3".
24 Jun 2006 23:11
Okay - it's in Whitehall, so you're going to meet Tourists. But hey, talk to them and enjoy it!! We met a Dutch guy who spent ages telling us about how he sees "dead people". Sixth Sense has nothing on the Clarence on a Wednesday night...
Bar guys are v nice - quite happily said they'd pay for the dry cleaning of Loose's top as the wall mounted candles dripped on it and said "it happens every day" - erm, remove the candles from the walls, perhaps?!
Good grub. Try the "speciality" sausages.
24 Jun 2006 23:06
We've never had a bad night here! Apart from the odd "we don't serve crisps on a match night" ( I mean, what?!!) and the slightly scary Bar Manager... it's been classic. We've been kicked out at closing time with great charm over and over again... Rugby fans haven. If you love the game, watch a match here. Regalia stuck on all the walls... and normally, present in the flesh as well. Great great pub.
24 Jun 2006 22:59
What a place!! Guys in drag. Girls in punk. Wierd (if I'm not being too conventional) outfits. Occasional beered up suit. Not sure if we'd happened on a fancy dress party the first time round... but nope, been exactly the same every other time. Good to meet some entirely random types. World Cup Free Zone - and very proud of it. Sit outside and great view of the River / MI5 building... Amiable barstaff. Adequate wine.
24 Jun 2006 22:55
The Strutton Arms, Westminster
Crazy, crazy place!! Called in on a Sunday afternoon to catch the late afternoon football match - Loose was offered a seat on a man's lap. Pretty much set the tone. The most amusing thing was watching the American tourists cope with the brewing punch-up from the seven lagered up English boys. Hey, at least they "took it outside".. for about 2 seconds, before coming back in again. Hmm. Great place to watch sport. Great screens. Comedy action. Just don't wear the wrong shirt (or face).
24 Jun 2006 22:50
The Buckingham Arms, Westminster
Love this place. First ever time we came here, the ancient, although lovely, Lab was sick on the floor. No-one batted an eyelid whilst the barlady finally wandered over and cleaned it up. Classic. It also has comedy photos of the Queen Mum pulling a pint on the wall. Opposite the Wellington Barracks so can wave at a soldier on the way in (if so inclined). Peppered with characters (once got offered snuff - didn't even know it existed anymore). Wine and beer is good. Barstaff friendly. Often call here on way home - and why not. It's a small town pub in the middle of Westminster.
24 Jun 2006 22:46
O. My. Goodness. First time we came, I was ushered away from my seat (I was sitting on a stool, at an apparent 'chair only' table) by the barlady, despite only two tables being full and told to sit elsewhere on the appropriate seat. Odd. It didn't get better the second time, with some psycho hammered Civil Servant being totally abusive and finally being removed - about three drinks too late. Odd again. So not sure about food or drink situ, as both times (for the first and second time in my life) left without finishing the drink. However, our Sergeant-Major buddy loves it... apparently. Try it. It's an experience.
24 Jun 2006 22:39
The Sanctuary House, Westminster
Ah, the Sanctuary. Home from home. Has the most varied bunch of characters in it... Bar staff are great (once asked if we could have some bread to feed the ducks in St James Park - barman didn't even blink, just asked if we wanted butter on it). Buy them a drink - they deserve it. Can either have an average night or an incredible one. Never had a bad one. Food is excellent - try the Chicken and Spinach pie. Mmmmm!
24 Jun 2006 22:34
The Swan on the Green, West Peckham
Torn on this one - beautiful pub with fantastic setting. Great range of soft drinks (Ginger with Lime?). However, some majorly grumpy bar staff. Not sure if they were having a joint "bad day" but you'd have needed an ice pick to crack that atmosphere. Shame we didn't get to eat - we were too late for lunch and early for dinner. Also gutted we didn't catch the cricket...
24 Jun 2006 22:29
The Plough and Harrow, Eynsford
Great pub for a Summer's evening - it has everything... small children with fishing rods (it's right on the river), couples enjoying a romantic evening, squaddies (loads of them - not sure why, is there an Army base nearby?!), decent food (steak was tough-ish as were grilled mushroom). An element of stress about taking the "restaurant" menu 20 metres outside the door, but otherwise staff were v. nice, if a bit slow. Wine was v reasonable and ambiance excellent. Look out for the chocolate lab sticking his head over the roof (there's a private roof terrace). Good parking - but make sure you're driving a Merc SLK - everyone else was.
24 Jun 2006 22:26
O'Donnell's, Oban
Long, narrow bar tucked away at the top end of town. Usually decent live music playing. Always a good crack. Try the cocktails - pretty lethal!! Dependant on time of year will depend on the mix of locals / tourists but to find the locals often going there in a small town with alledgedly over 50 bars* then that says it all!!
*can only assume they are including hotel bars too 'cos not sure otherwise where such a small town would be stashing them!
25 Jun 2006 21:15