BITE user comments - The_Cider_Monster
Comments by The_Cider_Monster
Without a doubt the worst pub in Bicester - give it a wide berth. They have a karaoke night on Thursdays which is very poor, and not a patch on the karaoke in G's on the same night.
I found the staff to be unfriendly as well. What a shame - in the mid 90's this was one of the friendliest and welcoming pubs in Bicester. What a difference a decadce makes.
4 Dec 2007 18:33
This actually stopped being Bar 28 and turned into a chinese restaurant (a very nice one) about 4 years ago.
10 Jan 2006 15:30
The Kings Arms Hotel, Bicester
This pub has been going downhill for some years. It seems to lack a sense of identity. Hence the frequent changes to the layout. They have experimented with focusing on food, on attracting the youth element with pool tables (now disappeared) and karaoke nights a few years ago. Now they seem to have settled for comfy chairs, and a quiet (i.e non existent) atmosphere.
A shame as a decade or more ago it was a vibrant part of the Friday night circuit - those old enough will remember when there was a bar on the left hand side. Those were the days. Now it is almost becoming a forgotten pub.
It needs livening up that's for certain. Go in on a Friday night now and you could be forgiven for thinking that's it's a wet Tuedsay night in January for all the custom that's in there. Still looking on the bright side, you shouldn't have any difficulty finding a seat, in fact you can probably have an entire sofa to yourself.
10 Jan 2006 15:28
Ahhh...The White Hart. A tremendously underrated little gem in my view.
Yes - it can be a little dark and dingy and the ashtrays aren't emptied very often. But it has one thing that many pubs don't have these days and that is character. The place feels steeped in history.
The landlady is very young, but what she may lack in experience she more than makes up for in her youthful enthusiasm and welcoming nature. I am always made to feel welcome in this pub. And best of all - it is the only pub I know anywhere that shows the evening horse racing on its screens - both UK and USA, which is developing a following in this country. With a large Corals almost next door what more could you want?
So it's a big thumbs up for the White Hart from me. Mine's a pint of Strongbow! Cheers!
10 Jan 2006 15:22
Boring, no music, no atmosphere, however people like it because of the cheap drinks. Personally if cheap drinks was my only criteria I would rather buy them from Tesco's than drink in this boring hell hole. Do yourself a favour and go up to the Hobgoblin instead.
I can however recommend one plus point - the gents toilets are ideally situated just inside the front door in case you get taken short whilst out shopping, and as pub bogs go they are pretty decent.
23 Dec 2005 12:38
Has always had a reputation for being a "rough" pub, however, this dates back to its days when it was called "Leos" over 10 years ago. These days it is a lively and fun venue, and has been pointed out before, the staff are always very friendly. A change of management is due soon, hopefully it won't lead to a down turn. Recommended.
23 Dec 2005 12:35
I do not agree with the previous posters, I believe that the pub was much better before the refurbishment. Like so many it has lost its charm. Do yourselves a favour and walk past and into the Six Bells next door which is a real old fashioned local - the type we need to support before they old disappear.
23 Dec 2005 12:32
Used to be my local back in the 90's - what a great place it was then! Since then has died a slow death and is in fact now closed, though I am led to believe the last occupants are now squatting there!
23 Dec 2005 12:30
This used to be a great pub when it was called The White Horse, under Jill's management. Then Greene King decided to ruin it.
An attempt was made to turn it from a cosy local into a "young persons venue". Might have worked had it been in the centre of the town but it is on an estate. Now it is a soulless hollow shell. Once it was a local where "everyone knew your name". A year after the changeover I still do not think the manager knew my name - in fact I do not think he even cared. I understand there have been changes of management since, I am not surprised.
They also stopped the Sunday quiz, the highlight of the week in the old days. When I asked why, I was told "quizzes don't appeal to the type of clientele we are trying to attract".
Now two years later I see that the Sunday Quiz is now back on! But I will not be going. The damage has been done. I will stick to the Sunday quiz over at the Bull in Launton, where I am guaranteed a warm welcome.
Avoid this place at all costs until someone sees sense and puts it back to how it used to be.
23 Dec 2005 12:28
I think it is a little unfair to have a go at the current management, the Hob is still a great pub and I frequent it on a regular basis. Whilst I agree that it is not as good as in the heyday of the "legendary" Pete Thornton, it is still the best pub in Bicester. Pubs have their ups and downs and regulars come and go - from my point of view there are a lot of people in there these days I do not know, but that is probably my own fault for not going in as often as I used to.
For me the dinginess, and smoky atmosphere is part of what gives the Hob its unique atmosphere, even though I no longer smoke myself. Yes the furniture is a bit old and grimy but so what, it is not as if they are serving food. There are far too many chain pubs these days telling you what you can and can't do and where you can and can't do it, such as the bouncers you pay an extra 30p on your drinks for in the Litten Tree to tell you not to lean on the arms of the chairs. Or no smoking near the bar in the Penny Black where there is no music and no atmosphere. In the Hob, anything goes.
If you like rock music and live bands you will like this pub - ironically I do not like live bands and give the place a swerve when they are on but it is only once every couple of weeks or so. As with all pubs, the thing that makes the Hob is the locals and I have made many friends there over the years. Of late I have not enjoyed the busier nights so much as there seems to be a "townie" element creeping in.
To summarise - great pub, but don't tell too many people. I am getting on a bit these days and I don't want it getting so busy that I can't find a seat!
20 Dec 2005 15:18
Back to The_Cider_Monster's profile
Ye Olde Pioneer, Bicester
Has potential but the management changes so often it never has a chance to establish itself. Keep trying different things e.g. strip nights, DJ's etc, karaoke all of which were good but they keep chopping and changing all the time and don't promote things or give things a chance to get established. 3 or so changes of management in as many months doesn't help.
A pub that lacks a sense of identity, a large venue with lots of untapped potential, until people see it as "the place to go" and know what to expect on certain nights e.g. karaoke every Saturday etc they will continue to pop in for a pint on their way to the Litten Tree or G's
14 Mar 2008 14:18