BITE user comments - The_Speckled_Hen
Comments by The_Speckled_Hen
This is a hidden gem. Possibly not to every one's taste nut if you like friendly, cosy, traditional, bit eclectic then well worth settling into.
It is small (almost tiny), though has amazing leather chesterfields to snuggle up on, and the books, prints, stuffed fox all work for me. The bar maid was great, and best of all no music! The clientele was mixed, though clearly local - ranging from arty bohemians to couples enjoying glasses of wine.
The beer was standard Youngs, but had run out of food when i washed thru
11 Feb 2014 14:49
I'm slightly surprised by the the low ratings this pub has attracted, though many were some years ago, and i presume it has changed significantly since then.
I found it a pleasant corner pub, away from the hub bub of the King's Road. It is a bit gastro, but no shame in that. Food is pretty good, useful selection of wines, and decent beer. Seems to attract a nice mix of people, and well worth holing up in a for a few hours
11 Feb 2014 14:42
The new look Whatsheaf is actually very pleasant - good food, and good beer, and seems "genuine" (esp compared to the "resting on its laurels "Market Porter " down the road). Clearly catering for the new look Borough market clientele, I think it still works, and the food is slightly above the average gastro pub offering. Worth a visit, though can very crowded on Saturday.
12 Nov 2013 21:50
I commented on this pub earlier in 2013, and am pleased to say the initial quality has been sustained, and its ongoing popularity seems to endorse this assessment. Good beer, very good food (possibly better than the nearby (dare we say it, now slightly tired) Brula (a notable local restaurant), and very pleasant atmosphere. Perfect for settling in, or just a passing by couple of pints.
One slight quirk - they seem to serve a "quality street" with their Irish coffee - surely a pub of this calibre would make their own after dinner "choccy"!
But otherwise a welcome haven from the rigours of modern life, and a welcome improvement to the slightly gothic Tavern.
12 Nov 2013 21:38
This is not a particularly pleasant pub. Poor beer, slightly squalid, gloomy environment. There are far nicer pubs nearby
12 Nov 2013 21:27
At last - a really good pub in the St Margaret's area. After an excellent make over, this airy, well designed, spacious pub looks to be a real game changer in the locale. Good selection of ale, at least 9 malts, open fires, good, solid menu, good quality food with helpful staff. The beer garden is huge and very well designed. This is a pub to settle into and with huge leather chesterfields huddled round roaring fires i suepct many will be doing so!
If they sustain the service / food quality over time, this will be a destination pub par excellence. We can only hope that the other local pubs (esp Tavern, also recently refurbed) take note.
As a point of principle, i never rate pubs as a 10, but this is a serious contender!
22 May 2013 09:21
The Hung, Drawn and Quartered, Tower Hill
Completely pleasant pub with broad Fullers offering. I wish more pubs sold "Chiswick". Only had the one as absolutely heaving but decor / vibe did seem reasonable. There is some space outside, but you're very aware of the traffic....
12 May 2011 09:37
The Walrus and Carpenter, Monument
Good selection of well kept ales and pleasant decor. Not too "city" (considering its location) in its clientele. Standard pub grub - though sadly my ribeye was a little burned and the chips soggy. However, it has to be said, i did feel there was a slightly gloomy air to the place...shame
12 May 2011 09:34
This a super pub to relax in; one with good character with well kept ale. Perhaps reflecting its affluent clientele, it's not a budget option, but well worth settling into.
3 May 2011 13:50
A traditional styled pub with an abundance of portraits staring down at you. A perfect oasis from the crass lager fountains of the west end...great for a quiet afternoon pint watching the world pass by - esp if windows folded back.
This really works
3 May 2011 13:47
The Churchill Arms, Kensington
Lovely traditional pub with a good clientele, lovely Ozzie bar staff, and plenty of well kept ale. Food looked nice as well (though Thai in an absolutely classic English pub seemed a little contrary; personally would have favoured pie and mash, scotch eggs and the like). Bit of a "patriotic" vibe and possibly the paraphernalia is a little over done, but well worth popping by.
3 May 2011 13:42
I'm not a fan of the pubs along the King's Rd - typically a little uninspiring - but this is reasonable. Only 2 ales, but very pleasant to sit outside and watch a bit of the world go by. A welcome peaceful hide away from the King's Rd. The sarnies work, and the staff are friendly !
21 Apr 2011 15:40
The Northcote, Clapham Junction
This is now a really good pub; decent selection of ale, good - if slightly predictable - grub, and a great atmosphere, with a pleasant , varied clientele. It works.
1 Mar 2011 09:33
The food is very good and it attracts a nice mixed crowd. The beer (Tea, Junction) is kept pretty well. The decor is a little whacky but it works. My only complaint is that the service is a little haphazard, but the charm of the place more than compensates. Worth a visit.
21 Jan 2011 16:26
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham
this pub is somethign really special - perfect for settling in for a leisurely saturday afternnon session...
2 Aug 2010 12:08
Gordon's Wine Bar, Charing Cross
A subterranean haunt dating back hundreds of years (used to be part of the cellars of a palace now occupied by charing cross station). Bangs of character, unique, no electricity in back room (lit by candles), low ceilings. Perfect for a quick one and / or a monster session! Of course, it's a wine bar, so no beer, but after a few clarets, who cares!
27 Jul 2010 14:50
This is a bizarre place that has been around for ages. Not a budget option, but good range of spirits and the quasi gothic theme / garlic beer (complete with grated garlic) makes it fun to take "out of towners" there ....but if you're the wrong side of 30ish , then probably not quite your scene ....
27 Jul 2010 14:45
this place really works - good atmosphere and service.
The only down side is that it's relatively small, which means a) can get extremely busy and b) not much scope for sitting....
15 Jul 2010 14:10
The Express Tavern, Kew Bridge
a bit of a "stap back in time" feel to it, and all the better for it! Friendly local with good selection of good ale. A bit of a hidden gem...if you a decent pint / conversation..
8 Jul 2010 13:46
large , child friendly, slightly anonymous pub that under exploits river location. Reasonable food. Totally acceptable, but nothing special.
8 Jul 2010 13:41
Completely inoffensive, welcoming local with a pleasant, helpful service. Decent Chiswick (which i wish more Fuller's pubs would serve) and perfectly acceptable (though perhaps not inspirational) thai food.
8 Jul 2010 13:36
Perhaps the Barmy Army land lord and lady are indeed a riot; the key phrase "when you get to know them" says it all. They are in the hospitility business - the onus is upon them to be hospitable. Without this, i will never get to know them...and nor will any of my drinking friends.
The inference that "i am not friendly" is missing the point - i am a customer, and i have a preference for a degree of cleanliness, politeness etc.
Frodos_mum is clearly a fan; i am not. The average rating of 4.1 speaks volumes to me!
7 Jul 2010 09:27
Given the depth of feeling expressed below, i'm almost wary of commenting. I'd heard on the grape vine that the restyling had been a disaster, but actually, having popped in a few days ago, i didn't think it was too bad.
The character has changed somewhat, but it is certainly cleaner and airier, and remains cosy and welcoming. There is no harm in a bit of a change and freshening up: i'm sure in a few months we'll all wonder what all the fuss was about.....i shall certain remain a regular, albeit infrequent, habituee.
2 Jul 2010 16:29
a superb quirky little bar...with good service and an impressive range of malts...nice "local" vibe...and a few characters...
as the name suggests there's a bit of a french thing going on (good wine, and small measures of rubbish lager) so perhaps not a surprise there's no bitter, but it works rather well...both for a session and a quick one...
2 Jul 2010 15:53
This is something a little special - fantastic decor...good choice of beers..if only every pub was like this...
2 Jul 2010 15:41
The Fox and Anchor, Smithfield
Good food, interesting ales, decent range of malt, great staff and a fun decor (zinc bar - how often do you see that).
It's not a budget option, but , get real, this is on the fringes of the city and owned by the mal maison chain of up market boutique hotels...i think it offers value
2 Jul 2010 15:29
this place works...civilised friendly crowd with a decent range of wine. The no doubt "faux" ye olde worlde vibe works, and it's a useful refuge for when the market becomes a bit too frenetic
2 Jul 2010 15:12
perfectly satisfactory watering hole in an area dominated by sad , featureless "bars" populated by undiscriminating young city types....
2 Jul 2010 15:06
small and cosy pub - particularly if you can sit ouside; can get quite congested
2 Jul 2010 14:54
The Bloated Mallard, Teddington
quirky place that may not be to every one's taste, but if you like eclecticism, good service, and a good atmosphere, you could do a lot worse....
2 Jul 2010 14:52
a consistently unpleasant experience can readily be experienced here - there are far far better pubs in the locale
dirty, appalling manager with no concept of customer service, really needs to up its game
2 Jul 2010 14:49
Excellent "ordinary"; good quality food, usually good and attentive staff, nice mix of people..... A good place to settle in for the evening, especially when the river is "up"...
If they dumped the Gordon's and Schweppes for Tanqueray and Fever tree, (and expanded the range of malts), it would get the 10!
2 Jul 2010 14:45
Back to The_Speckled_Hen's profile
The Aleksander, East Twickenham
The Aleksander is a perfectly reasonable pub, but doesn't quite work for me. In fairness it has a good range of unusual German lagers and other beers, and i have heard the pizza is pretty awesome. However, i found it a little lacking in atmosphere, and not particularly cosy. I could imagine it being packed at the weekends tho, and very popular (and probably aimed at) families doing Sunday lunch
11 Feb 2014 14:54