BITE user comments - TheBeerMonkey
Comments by TheBeerMonkey
Now apparently re-opened as a gastropub called the Portman.
I haven't visited yet but I presume the fantastic interior has been ripped out.
I hope I'm wrong.
12 Oct 2010 16:36
I sat outside and had a couple of beers in the sun which was very pleasant.
The barman was both friendly and knowledgeable and let me sample one of the beers. Both beers I had were in excellent condition.
I didn't try the food although it looked OK if you like everything to come with a chip mountain.
8 Jun 2010 13:59
It's not just you Deggo - every time I have been in this place there has been a shortage of beer. The staff aren't the friendliest either.
Nice beer garden though.
5 May 2010 15:37
I visited for the first time last Saturday on the way to seeing Hayes lose at the Abbey Stadium.
It's a great pub with a wide selection of beer - the IPA was very nice indeed.
Both the girl serving and the fellow customers (and dog) were very friendly.
I would definitely visit again next time I'm in Cambridge.
23 Apr 2010 12:49
This pub seemed the obvious choice on my first trip to Ledbury and I wasn't disappointed. A very good selection of beer - I plumped for the Hobson's Mild which was very pleasant indeed. I also had the beef baguette and chips which was also very good. Friendly bar staff, nice ambience, etc etc.
Top drawer!
16 Apr 2010 14:45
We paid a quick visit after leaving the SS Great Britain and only had time for the the one pint each. Fanatastic small pub, great beer, knowledgable and friendly chap serving. Just a shame we couldn't stay for longer....
16 Mar 2010 09:43
This pub is worth seeking out if you are in the area. Small but perectly formed so it gets vey busy at peak times. Lovely old interior. Beer was good. Staff always seem a bit solemn though.
16 Mar 2010 09:31
The beer on tap is the very bland Greene King IPA and Abbott Ale. It was in average condition but far too cold. Got the 'tut' when asking the barman to top up my pint. My friends drank the Peroni - one pint came in the nice fancy branded glass but the other one didn't. At �3.80 per pint I think the effort should be made to at least make sure it's served in the correct glass. They did say it tasted nice though! Haven't tried the food. Absolutely dreadful toilets.
2 Feb 2010 13:08
Went into this pub last Friday, the first time since it's makeover and I thought the new decor wasn't particularly to my liking - a bit too bright for me.
However, I drank the Seafarers which was very nice indeed. The pub was busy although not packed and bar staff seemed friendly.
Overall a pleasurable experience!
19 Jan 2010 14:40
The Hamborough Tavern, Southall
Not the worst in London by any stretch of the imagination. Sticky carpet style pub re-built in around 1980 which has both friendly customers and staff. Only the one beer (Bass) on tap of variable quality but good Guinness apparently. Not worth going out of your way for but probably the best pub in the area.
22 Oct 2007 16:54
The Salisbury, Leicester Square
I have to concur with topdogandy, this is the best pub in Covent Garden. Lovely surroundings, good selection of top quality beer, good service etc etc.
4 Oct 2007 12:28
Lovely old pub with good beer served in pint jugs. Top drawer!
4 Oct 2007 12:12
Lovely St. Austell Tribute unfortunately served by probably the worst staff in central London. Completely uninterested, slow, unhelpful and rude - customer service doesn't seem to exist in this place anymore. My gran could do a better job and she's been dead ten years.
3 Oct 2007 13:51
This pub is consistently good with fine beer. I think I have only ever had one bad pint in here over the years and that was changed by the barstaff without hesitation. Gets far too busy but that's just because it's such a great place to drink.
3 Oct 2007 13:40
Went in for the pub quiz last Thursday but it had been cancelled due to the P.A. system being broken.
Both real ales were off along with the cider and they had run out of two of the wines my friend wanted.
Very poor management - must try harder.
17 Sep 2007 11:47
Fantastic old pub with character. Good beer, pleasant bar staff, nice little outside seating area....what more could you ask for?
14 Aug 2007 16:35
Didn't think the conversion was too bad although it's a while since I was last in there. Beer was on good form although the food was very poor. My friend had the fishcakes which were tasteless, overcooked and then microwaved - has to be one of the worst meals I have seen served and they charged eight quid for it! To be fair the staff were apologetic and gave a refund - stick to just the sandwiches if you are hungry.
9 Jul 2007 16:50
The Duke of Devonshire, Balham
Fine big old-fashioned Youngs boozer. great beer, great decor and a nice beer garden. Didn't try the food though. What a pub should be like.
11 Jun 2007 15:49
Great riverside location although it means that it's always packed on a sunny day. Beer was good but had better.
11 Jun 2007 15:44
The pub is in the Good Beer Guide. Have to say the pint of Tribute I had was very good. Had the roast beef which was OK if nothing spectacular. Very bland and uninteresting looking pub inside though but great views fron outside. Bar staff had very poor English. Overall a 6 out of 10.
11 Jun 2007 15:30
Handily placed near the platforms. Good beer and friendly barman.
7 Mar 2007 14:34
The Theodore Bullfrog, Charing Cross
Went in here on a Friday about nine and it was full with office workers who must have been drinking heavily all day. A noisy, smokey, badly furbished pub with average beer. Suffice to say that nearly everyone was drinking 'cider' with ice in it. The world is full of sheep.
14 Feb 2007 12:45
The Princess of Wales, Charing Cross
Been in here a few times on a Friday for a last pint as they have a late licence. Very busy and all the beers were available and pleasant. Top Drawer.
Unfortunately I made the error of going in last night to watch the second half of the football. After waiting ten minutes to be served on a quiet night by the slowest barman in history, I was told that none of the beers were on although none of the handpumps had been turned around. No beer and no apology even though the surly gentleman in question realised that I had been waiting a while.
A pub with no beer - didn't the Dubliners sing about this place?
14 Feb 2007 12:10
The Duke Of Wellington, Marylebone
A very old man's old man's pub and I like old man's pubs. Beer is usually good. Always think the place could do with a bit of clean though.
22 Jan 2007 16:11
Nice old Youngs 'locals' pub. Always found it to be friendly and the beer good.
Usually nice and quiet if that's your thing.
22 Jan 2007 15:56
Interesting, old-fashioned, quirky, characterful, friendly.
Just a shame that the beer is never that good.
22 Jan 2007 15:53
Have to agree with the post below - what on earth have thay done to this place? The new interior is absolutely dreadful. This place used to have character which has now completely gone.
22 Jan 2007 15:49
The Marylebone Bar and Kitchen, Marylebone
Currently closed. Only been in once or twice and it was pretty awful.
22 Jan 2007 15:38
Great little pub, only real problem is that it gets too busy at certain times.
Beer is always good - only remember having one bad pint in here over the last few years which I took back to the bar and they happily exchanged (I even got an apology). The bar staff are trained properly as they are always friendly, quick, efficient and know how to pour a pint.
Watch out for the steep stairs up to the gents though. Can be a tad smokey.
18 Jan 2007 11:42
Still a great little pub. Good selection of beers, friendly etc. etc.
18 Jan 2007 11:27
Went in on Saturday for the first time in about four years - couldn't believe how busy it was. As mentioned below the place has been refurbished since my last visit - I remember there being some lovely old glasswork panelling which has now unfortunately gone. Can't remember much else about the new decor though as I'd had one too many. Seems to now attract a younger crowd and the atmosphere seemed friendly. The beer was good and we got served quickly enough.
Swings and roundabouts.
18 Jan 2007 11:23
Just had a refurbishment but they don't seem to have ruined the interior. The pool table has gone and the rear area is now dedicated to food. Beer is of average quality.
27 Nov 2006 16:29
Top Mews pub in Belgravia. The beer is always of fine quality. How a pub should be.
27 Nov 2006 16:20
I do like this pub - it's quirky, the beer is usually good and the customers always seem friendly. Does get a bit crowded sometimes as it is only small.
27 Nov 2006 16:05
The Railway Bell, Crystal Palace
Nice old-fashioned unspoilt boozer. Good beer and friendly bar staff.
27 Nov 2006 15:41
The Only Running Footman, Mayfair
Visited last Friday evening for the first time in a couple of years. The pub used to be run by a jovial Irishman who's name escapes me. Unfortunately he's no longer there and the people serving were, like the previous comment, surly and also poorly trained. The beer was still good although every pint I bought was short by a good inch - the bar staff seemed offended when asked to top them up.
27 Nov 2006 15:29
Lovely old fashioned pub, great beer, friendly bar staff. Marvellous.
16 Nov 2006 10:58
Another old pub which has been poncified for the middle classes with brown leather sofas and olives and Jamie Oliver types drinking over-priced lager out of bottles.
17 Oct 2006 14:13
The Carpenters Arms, Marble Arch
Hmmm....a bit hit and miss.
Usually a good atmosphere with a mixed bag of interesting customers.
Not sure how the place gets the cask marque though as I have had a few poor pints in here. A friend had the lager (Becks I think) which was as flat as Norfolk.
27 Jul 2006 09:54
Lovely old pub. Good beer, friendly bar staff, no young hoodlums! Marvellous.
27 Jun 2006 12:22
Ten pound (plus a booking fee!) to watch the football.
Ha Ha Ha, Ha Ha Ha.
26 Jun 2006 15:51
Watched the England v. Paraguay game here.
Three pounds to get in - couldn't see the big screen because of the sun. Couldn't get served inside because there was only about two people serving. Told they were serving beer outside but could only be served if buying a rip-off hambuger.
A joke of a pub.
26 Jun 2006 15:47
Nice quirky little pub. Bass is the only beer on tap but is always in excellent condition. What more do you need?
2 Jun 2006 15:05
The Ship and Shovell, Charing Cross
Always get a good pint in here and the bar staff are usually very friendly.
Don't know what the chap below is on about. Strange man.
24 May 2006 17:36
The Princess of Wales, Charing Cross
This pub isn't too bad - the beer quality is usually good. However, I have lost count the number of times I have been in this pub midweek and most or all the beers have finished. Considering this pub has a cask marque and also a board outside advertising that the establishment is on the 'London Ale Trail' defies belief when you can't usually buy a pint of old and filthy.
31 Mar 2006 15:27
The Ship and Shovell, Charing Cross
Nice pub, good beer, friendly bar staff....marvellous.
31 Mar 2006 15:17
The Magpie and Crown, Brentford
I usually visit this pub before I go to a Brentford game (which is only about once a season though).
The beer is always great and the atmosphere is friendly - what else matters?
The only downside is that the place could do with a spring clean but at least the pub has character, something that is becoming increasingly rare nowadays.
7 Oct 2005 17:06
The New Queen Inn, Christchurch
I used to visit this pub to eat when visiting friends in Bournemouth.
However, although the food is still good and hasn't drastically changed, the pub has now been refurbished and become more or less a chain restaurant.
The old pub had a traditional atmosphere with a fantastic cosy feel. This is no longer the case as the place now has lost almost all it's character and we now eat elsewhere after frequent visits for over fifteen years.
It is very sad that a lovely old pub has had it's heart ripped out in this way.
7 Sep 2005 17:27
Back to TheBeerMonkey's profile
Westow House, Crystal Palace
I went last Sunday to watch the Chelsea v Liverpool game - my first visit for about five years.
Upon entering, I was glad to see a few real ales on draught - I drank the Young's Ordinary which was fine and was also served in a nice old-fashioned tankard which you don't often get.
We managed to get seats in front of the screen for the game and the atmosphere was good without being too packed.
The downside? Not too much. The staff were quite slow but to be fair a lot of people were ordering food. It seems to be the sort of place where the customers pay using credit cards. Well that's young people for you - try cash, it's a lot simpler. We also had to ask twice for the commentary to be turned on once the match had started. Unfortunately the sound went off as soon as the game had finished which was quite annoying.
Overall a good pub and would visit again if I was in the area.
9 Feb 2011 16:27