The Bavarian Beerhouse, Shoreditch

So much potential. Good Bavarian beers (eg Paualaner & Lowenbrau), but whole place is disappointing. Its in a very big cellar so lighting is a bit gloomy. Traditional benches as seating is actually uncomfortable. You cant buy beer at the bar, and instead have to sit at the table and wait to be served, and then you pay at the end. It may be the usual thing abroad, but I am never a big fan of that as it gives major potential for arguments about how many drinks were had and whether the tab has been added to in error.

I was in there early on a weekday with a mate. It may well be better in the evening when you have a big group getting very very drunk.

9 May 2007 14:13

Broad Street Tavern, Wokingham

Has couple of fruit machines & quiz machine. Has 2 large TV screens - 1 of which is in a small secluded area where only a few people would be able to sit/stand in.

Beers are good. Has a couple of random ales, the usual lagers, plus Erdinger Weissbier.
Clean and comfortable pub with friendly bar staff.
They were not doing food when I was there (from about 4 on a saturday) but was told I could bring food in.

All in all, a nice pub to down many of those forementioned weissbiers.

9 May 2007 14:09

The Half and Half, Croydon

So many beers. Not too expensive when you consider other places offering similar drinks � eg Bierodromes.

Great place for those who want to taste quality Belgian lagers, German weissbiers, etc having a civilised conversation with others (and maybe a game of cards or something else) in peace. Definitely not for those who need to be entertained by music, fruit machines or anything else & it can be horrifically quiet. Downstairs is dingy and dark, but I�ve never had to resort to going down there as there�s usually seating available upstairs. Doesn�t do food. It�s difficult to know when it will be open � I�ve been there at lunchtimes and its been closed. I�ve also been in Croydon to find it closed on a Sunday.

Now that Youngs have destroyed Epsom�s Rising Sun, it is one of the few places to get decent selection of beers.

9 May 2007 14:08

The Bierodrome, Clapham

Decent selection of beers but not as many as you may think considering smaller places such as Beer Circus offer more. No entertainment inside. At night, they pump up the music loud as if it is a club. Can�t see why as it seems to contradict the people that they otherwise seem to want to attract (ie idiots who have more money than sense). Not allowed to drink outside in the evening (which would be nice on a summer night especially to avoid the music inside & the overcrowding). Lacks any personality. Ridiculously expensive, but the DeKonninck on tap is fantastic.

All in all, this is a total disappointment and could have been so much more. That said, i'm sure i'll be back, cos, well, the beer is great.

9 May 2007 14:02

The Fest - Octoberfest Pub, Fulham

Great place. Good Munich beer (3 varieties of Paulaner) � available in 2 pint steins. Good atmosphere and friendly bar staff. Shows sports on the big scream. Also has pool table.

Havent been in there on a big night, but apparently, it can get very drunk. And surely that's the way it should be.

9 May 2007 13:59

The White Horse, Parsons Green

Not a bad place. Always seems ridiculously busy. Decent selection of lagers, including a weisbeer or two on tap.
Last time was in here, it was in the evening and they had a bbq. Burgers looked nice and was really hungry. But� �8 for a burger !!!. Get real. Just seems rude to charge stupid money in a place where they know they�ll prob get the custom later on as people get more drunk.

9 May 2007 13:49

The Feathers, Merstham

Decent selection of well kept beers, the usual ones, plus others including Kirin, Leffe, Erdinger & Frulli on tap. Also sells some bottled beers including the almightly Aventinus.
Large beer garden which is nice in the summer.
Food is good, but probably more expensive then it should be.

9 May 2007 13:44

The Dog and Bull, Croydon

Dark, dirty pub on the inside. Bog standard beers at stupidly expensive prices, as per usual Youngs.

...but... one of the nicest beer gardens you�ll find (if you are able to get a seat - it gets busy in summer). Decent barbeque food when it�s on, but not particularly cheap.

9 May 2007 13:36

The Greyhound, Carshalton

Pretty much the same as the nearby Young's Duke's Head, but without as nice a beer garden.

Stupidly expensive for offering nothing special

9 May 2007 13:29

The Coach and Horses, Carshalton

You can't see what this place is like form the outside. When you walk in you do get a few stares and sense tells you to walk out, but pride makes you take that extra step to the bar to buy a beer.

You buy a beer, tastes a bit off, but acceptable. You look for a seat. You then realise you are in the weirdest pub ever. They have a big screen against the wall showing football. On either side of this screen, against the wall, is a bench attached to the wall. Not just does that mean you cant see the TV without seriously damaging your neck, but also makes it difficult to talk to your mates, who are all sitting along a line quickly trying to finish their drinks so they can get the hell out of there.

9 May 2007 13:26

The Fox and Hounds, Carshalton

Usual lagers. Fruit machines & darts. Sky Sports on various TVs. No longer has bar billiards or pool which is a shame. Nothing to write home about, but one of the best pubs in Carshalton.

9 May 2007 13:18

The Dukes Head, Wallington

Large pub in a nice surrounding. I�ll never understand why Youngs feel the need to charge about �3.20 for a pint of badly kept Carling. But I guess that they do.

You can be sure that this (or a different Youngs) will be the first in the area to charge �3.50 for a bog standard pint.

9 May 2007 13:16

John Jakson, Wallington

Always seemed like an expensive duplicate of the Wetherspoons opposite but with a different colour scheme. They actually redecorated the place a while back which made everything seem cleaner, and put in a pool table.

Unfortunately, the landlord�s son and his mates seem to always be occupying pool table & other areas. Can�t blame them as it must seem great to have a dad who owns a pub, but it does ruin it for everyone else.

9 May 2007 13:13

O'Neill's, Wallington

Nice pint of Heineken can be got here. Has everything you expect from this chain. Sometimes has a musician in. Has been known to have bouncers on the doors even when there arent any customers.
Rather lame attempt of a beer garden at back (couple of benches in a carpark with a view of a fence) but at least it has one. Also couple of benches at the front for those who like to enjoy watching the traffic in Wallington.

9 May 2007 13:11

Whispering Moon, Wallington

Standard Spoons setup. Cheap and cheerful. Actually neither of those two things now that the draught lagers have gone up in price.
Food is probably the worst I have experienced in any Spoons I have visited (and I�m afraid to say that there have been quite a few). The portion size, and the inability of the chef to microwave the meal for long enough often leaves you with an icy middle to your main meal.
The main entertainment offered is a regular fight club � which tends to meet pretty much every night and ends with the police being called in.

9 May 2007 13:07

The Windmill, Wallington

A couple of years ago, this place was a dive, and had a reputation for trouble. Think it's harsh to still describe it as such. It�s been under new management for a good few months now (or a year?). The barstaff seem friendly enough and it has an almost locals feel about it. Can be quite quiet during the week, but that isn�t necessarily a bad thing. Traditional pub, with good quality Kronenbourg at just �2.50 per pint. Best pub in Wallington.

They can have entertainment on, and have a back room for bands. Also must be one of the few pubs who celebrated St George's Day in style (only went in for a couple of pints but then stayed for many hours). They deserve extra points for that.

9 May 2007 13:05