BITE user comments - jeremyb
Comments by jeremyb
A great pub and constantly changing ales...but �3.70 for a pint of 4% Mild (very good admittedly) is a bit OTT don't you think??
26 May 2011 22:24
oh dear...Sunny September Saturday and the Ram can't cope. Went in for a drink only (and needing a stamp for my CAMRA South Downs branch passport) and had to wait 20 mins just to get served. Two of the three handpumps went out of service whilst I was there and there were unhappy people all over the place. The Ram seriously needs to decide what it is...otherwise all I can see is unhappy punters, I imagine stressed staff and an owner raking in the money and taking the p....Shame..it could be so much better
25 Sep 2010 16:25
down to earth locals pub with a good range of 3 beers from Welton when I went in today (range changes). Pub itself nothing spectacular so it's the beers which make it worth a visit
19 Sep 2010 17:13
Pretty busy on a Sunday lunchtime, mainly with youngsters but had a friendly feel and three real ales as well as very competitively priced food. The TVs are still there but it still seemed to maintain some character..by the way beers were Harveys Best, Youngs Special and Hobgoblin since you asked..
19 Sep 2010 16:44
not sure what to make of this one...went in fairly early on a Sunday lunchtime...not many in there (in contrast to Cinque Ports) but good to see tw Otter Ales on. A real trhowback (1930s?) decor wise too...wonder what it's like at other times. In summary probably only worth a passing visit for the beer...
19 Sep 2010 16:41
first visit here tonight and left with mixed feelings...on the positive side good to find an unspoilt back street pub and a very well kept Harveys best...on the negative side I can recognise some of the earlier comments about load locals and an uninspiring welcome.....
17 Sep 2010 00:16
The Duke Of Wellington, Shoreham by Sea
I guess I always go at the wrong time (Sunday afternoon?) but for me not up to the standard of the two other Dark Star pubs. Nowt wrong with the beer though!
5 Sep 2010 18:06
The Buckingham Arms, Shoreham by Sea
the previous review is fairly accurate, I have to say. Definitely worth one whilst waiting for a train or rail replacement bus. Also the most expensive of the three I visited today....all in the Brighton CAMRA passport trail...
5 Sep 2010 18:03
There are pubs you would never return to, pubs that are OK and pubs that you would be delighted to have as your local. The Stand Up is one of the latter and seems to have a healthy number of customers right through the day and evening....
28 Aug 2010 13:47
does seem to be a little underrated, always some interesting ales on. It's no architectural gem and you wouldn't spend all night there...but perfectly adequate for a quick pint or two.
28 Aug 2010 13:29
sorry but one of the poorest pubs I have visited for a long time in Victoria/Belgravia. Loud, no character, Tv screens, really expensive and just one real ale (Deuchars IPA) which went downhill and off in the space of a couple of hours. Aviod!
26 Aug 2010 20:55
despite the garish exterior, seems to serve its purpose. Unremarkable, standard beers, Sky Sports News on 2 TVs when we were there....not sure it deserves such a high rating....
4 Feb 2010 23:59
at 1.94 a pint, it would be churlish to find fault...and it makes the crowds worthwhile!
4 Feb 2010 23:56
previous postings say it...unremarkable but does the job! Bonus point for having Brains Bread of Heaven on (2 days before the Welsh hit town for the rugby!)
4 Feb 2010 23:54
Visited on a very busy Friday lunch...apart from the food taking quite some time to arrive...I was reasonably impressed by the pub...it felt "right"..and as others have commented, a good alternative for the area. Beer range is solid and dependable...
21 Nov 2009 15:13
very welcoming on a wet Monday lunch! Great beers and really tasty burger and lasagne ..you can taste the Sussex beef! Recommended!
5 Oct 2009 16:43
visited on a beautiful Sunday just after 1330 ..surprised it wasn't busier. After a slight wait served a perfectly adequate pint of Badger plus the drinks my less enlightened friends wanted! The pub looked in decent nick...only slightly disconcerting thing was that the landlady seemed to stare at me when she arrived rather than asking what I wanted!
29 Sep 2009 00:28
Visited circa 1600 on a beautiful Sunday afternoon...we sat in the garden and it was just fine...I guess we hardly put the pub through its paces but the service was fine and the beer was Hophead...it all looked in good nick and certainly didn't out you off wanting to return!
29 Sep 2009 00:23
I say long may this survive...there are scarcely any pubs in the immediate vicinity and the Rose and Crown fills a gap pretty adequately. With Spitfire, Pride and Greene King IPA on tap (Sept 28 2009)..it is a decent selection if not the most imaginative.
29 Sep 2009 00:19
having now read previous reviews I feel somewhat guilty at scoring this at a modest 5. But the beer (always Adnams and Spitfire) was undistinguished when we visited which was probably the main reason, and I couldn't help but think how long this back street pub will survive. We visited at lunchtime and it was pretty quiet whilst a modern cafe a few doors down was full with office workers......
15 Sep 2009 06:12
I have been in on quite a few occasions, usually to watch sport. It can be a bit hit and miss but given the competition, is about the best offering in Haywards Heath, the beers (all Greene King) are competitively priced and well maintained. They sometimes seem short-staffed. Have never eaten here but the food doesn't appeal for some reason!
12 Sep 2009 11:55
First visit after all this time working in Hammersmith and a pleasant one - not sure why they have three handpumps with Pride though...(and one with seafarers). Attractive front, nice seating space at back too and what looked to be pretty good value food. A bit off the beaten track but worth checking out, especially for Fullers fans!
12 Sep 2009 11:51
fascinating seeing previous postings. This is an attractive pub with a lot of potential but a feeling of something not quite right. Aside from the prices (3.50 for a Bombardier), there is something on the arrogant side about the service which different members of our group sensed at different times on Friday lunchtime. For one thing the Doom Bar was not available but the handpump clip was not turned round and when its availability was queried there was no sense of concern or urgency as to when it might reappear. Then I was charged 10% service on beer as well as food...that was a first for me. It was taken off but somewhat grudgingly. In short, as previous posters have indicated, not one to engender feelings of lingering...but it should be! As it was in the Cross Keys on the other side of Black Lion Lane and the Carpenters further up...
12 Sep 2009 11:49
There are some generous markers in Maidenhead. Rebellion certainly gets good marks but I didn't really see much evidence of anything else deserving of some of the high scores! But then lots of music and screens is not my default position!
8 Jul 2009 19:04
Just back from a pleasant week in the IOW including 10 of the 22 pubs listed in the Good Beer Guide...but when eventually found this was closed on a Thursday lunchtime in the Easter holidays...judging from previous comments this is not unusual..but if so CAMRA times are wrong and from the outside it looks as if the owner is running the place down...shame on him!!
11 Apr 2009 14:14
The previous reviewer summed it up perfectly...and this is a great one for a quick pint between trains...if only every station had something this enticing nearby
3 Apr 2009 00:39
a pretty pleasant place...not cheap but not gastro-ish/prententious either. Both house beers were good and the roast beef was decent though bit on the steep side at �12. Worth a visit overall though...
1 Mar 2009 17:48
First visit ever on a Friday evening after work...pretty popular and the food looked tempting...tried a NZ malt lager instead of the unappealing (at the time) Greene King IPA and Old Speckled Hen
certainly a younger oriented post work crowd at that time...nothing really to growse about in summary!
21 Feb 2009 16:10
The Old Parrs Head, Kensington
OK pub- disappointingly only one real ale on (London Pride) when we went but a decent array of continental lagers. Not sure it knows what its market is...but nice to see some games available to play eg Scrabble...not worth a detour but acceptable enough...
18 Feb 2009 07:35
The Old Fire Station, Hammersmith
A nice space and recently reconfigured, we approached with some trepidation but discovered two real ales on and supped a decent Batemans XB. It was only a Tuesday early evening but it looked as if it could have staffing problems when busier and food prices appear rather high...overall though worth a visit if you are in the area...
18 Feb 2009 07:29
The Brook Green Hotel, Hammersmith
It's a lovely airy pub but not quite living up to its potential or its past...it seems much quieter on a Friday lunchtime than it used to be...two beers managed to become unavailable whilst we were there and the customer service is rather casual. That said, the beers we did have (Ordinary and Bombardier) were perfectly acceptable albeit �3.15 for a pint of Ordinary is incredibly steep!!
Could do much better guys and I fear for its future if it carries on like this...
14 Feb 2009 12:00
the last pub of a 7 pub Greenwich excursion. We had tried earlier in the day but it wasn't opening until 3pm because of refurbishment. But it was worth coming back...very smart, well-patronised with a good mix of patrons and a fine pint of Ordinary. What's not to like about a street boasting 3 pretty decent pubs, bakers, butchers, candlestick-makers (Ok cheese sho) and fishmongers!
13 Dec 2008 08:57
The Greenwich Union, Greenwich
You have to go...and this is really one which might be best experienced as an outing in its own right rather than as part of a pub tour....staff friendly and we were offered samples..always a good sign. Didn't really get to experience the negatives hinted at in other postings and if you are a beer lover you just have to visit the Greenwich Union
13 Dec 2008 08:53
The Cutty Sark Tavern, Greenwich
One of seven pubs visited by 6 of us over the course of as many hours....and elected the best overall for the combination of welcome, cosiness (we didn't want to leave..a cold miserable day outside and good music within) and a good beer (We had Tribute). Yes expensive pint but you didn't feel you were being ripped off....Definitely one to revisit
13 Dec 2008 08:47
plainly the Trafalgar divides opinion. We visited in the middle of the afternoon on a cold damp December day. Managed to get some good seats and therefore the view was great (despite it being cold, damp etc). But the pub itself was cold, literally and metaphorically. We enjoyed Sharps Doom Bar but there were too many beers off for my liking and I was shocked to see the food special of steak and kidney pie advertised at �10.95!!
One to visit - but infrequently!
13 Dec 2008 08:41
The Plume of Feathers, Greenwich
Visited late friday lunchtime...warm and welcoming and an excellent pint of Harveys Old to boot..food not sampled but so close to the National Maritime Museum it would be rude not to visit again!
13 Dec 2008 08:35
Fairly quiet for a Friday lunchtime but a solid-enough boozer with Landlord on offer and chips to keep hunger pangs at bay. Lots of interesting memorabilia to look at on the walls. Welcome could have been warmer but hopefully it has enough going for it to survive the tough competition just down the road!
13 Dec 2008 08:10
The Ashburnham Arms, Greenwich
group of us turned up around 1145 in the morning to find a kids' birthday party going on! Despite this somewhat surreal start to the day a very pleasant pint of Master Brew and comfortable sofas by the fire....am sure this would be worth visiting again!
13 Dec 2008 08:06
popped in for a couple before attending an evening Aldershot game (not as a home fan!). Pleasant surprise with a couple of good beers including Hobgoblin - and friendly staff.
26 Nov 2008 01:04
The Plough and Harrow, Hammersmith
Yes indeed patrickjsm a Spoons is a Spoons but during the recent Wetherspoons International Real Ale festival they managed to maintain a great selection of ales and got rid of some of the usual ones to accommodate them. Attracts a real cross section of people...
21 Nov 2008 06:28
Likely to be working along the street next year so checked it out the other day - prime concern was real ale...CHECK. No food sampled...AWAIT VERDICT....but seemed clean.popular and well appointed so worth another visit...beers on included Doom Bar and Hogs Back RIP
21 Nov 2008 06:25
Real ale drinkers heaven really...pretty basic for everyone else but always a good lively atmosphere and and a snug feel to it....and of course an unbeatable location to recover from or await the train journey!
21 Nov 2008 06:21
went in on a Saturday lunch pre-football on the basis of its Good Beer Guide listing and had a good cheap pint of Tetley (a rare find) for �2 so can't complain...but at the back around the pool table was dismayed to hear some fairly crude and racist banter which really spoilt the experience...if I was the landlord or manager I wouldn't put up with it!
21 Nov 2008 06:18
visited on a Saturday lunchtime. football on Sky..certainly an excellent selection of beers and an unspoilt pub...only criticisms is that it could have been more welcoming to a stranger and the back was dominated by (landlord's) family with prams, kids and dogs and a little too much "effing".
But if I am ever back in Kettering then a must for the beer..in the evening!
21 Nov 2008 06:13
Solid and reliable..good Fullers beers...manages not to be dominated by one particular customer group....excellent garden too an oasis in Hammersmith
31 Oct 2008 10:54
found almost by accident as was heading for Thorold Arms Harmston only to find it is closed on Tuesday lunchtimes (and Monday too). But this made up for it...good beer range (I had Batemans and Robinsons) and really good food..hot and good helpings!
Recommended
31 Oct 2008 10:51
Good beers..interesting memorabilia...friendly staff...sure my comments would be different later at night..but you know what to expect with Wetherspoons!22
31 Oct 2008 10:49
No real ale at all but otherwise seemed a friendly local with board games available..always a good sign.
31 Oct 2008 10:45
Most people using this site know what to expect of Wetherspoons and even more so of a city centre one in a place as popular as Brighton..so even the biggest real ale fans (e.g me) wouldn't go for a nice pint at ten o'clock on a Friday night...however 1845 on a Thursday and the first day of the Wetherspoon beer festival was perfectly adequate! And the Curry Club offerings smelled tempting too...
31 Oct 2008 10:01
having found no real ale at the Albion, we retired to the Beaconsfield and found London Pride (and Greene King IPA),,Cask Marque Accredited and pints voluntarily topped up too. It's an airy place with good provision for outdoor seating and certainly served its purpose on the way back to Olympia station!
9 Sep 2008 06:42
Oh dear! Having psted the previous review, we thought we would pop in and see what was on real ale wise after a gruelling Monday back in the office..and the answer was nothing! They were all off..guys that's just not on at 1730 in the evening!What's happening?
9 Sep 2008 06:39
visited on a Sunday mid-afternoon, still quite busy...was a little wary that it wouldn't be welcoming to a non-eater but OK on that score. The Harvey's Best though was one of the best pints I have had in a while (and I've had a few!) Really well kept!
7 Sep 2008 18:03
The Elephant and Castle, Lewes
First port of a call on a mini Sunday afternoon excursion and a pleasant surprise. I'm not always a fan of pubs with sports, music and machines but this one carries it off..aided by good beers, a nice spacious feel to it..not too modern a design..and what looks like v good value food....
7 Sep 2008 18:00
good traditional pub, quietish late Sunday afternoon but certainly worth a return visit..don't go if you want music and sports!
7 Sep 2008 17:57
Very quiet on a rainy Friday lunchtime..needs to feel a bit more welcoming when the weather isn't working in its favour. Good to see Doom Bar on tap. Has promise...need to try the food out next time!
6 Sep 2008 10:29
Revisiting after quite an absence and just for the one, can only confirm previous postings, good vibe, a young barman who knew about ales and what seems like a promising selection of music (as well as advertising live acts). Will be back en route to Olympia station!
5 Sep 2008 07:35
Despite knowing of its whereabouts, a first time visit. Impressive architecture and interior and impressive beer range too. They just need to concentrate on keeping the beers a little bit better perhaps and this is an absolute winner and a good stop off to avoid overcrowded trains at the Junction!
5 Sep 2008 07:29
it's still Mango beer as the guest but I think it's great to have such a contrast to the regular pub experience so more power to their elbow...came in with a group and all the beers got the thumbs up..
11 Nov 2006 11:10
twice in one night..it's so tempting..within a few minutes of Temple Meads too...Gem on great form...excellent pork pies...a real treat
11 Nov 2006 11:08
mythical food selection seems right I asked on a Saturday lunchtime and was told food would be coming on at 2.15 (rather peculiar time don't you think?)
Anyway beer selection is great and welcome change from Greene King everywhere!
I was also given a 1938 halfpenny in my change!
9 Oct 2006 00:05
The Duke of York, Kings Cross station
Tuesday lunchtime ..pint of Pride �2.80 guess you have to get used to the price although it is a fairly old-style station bar. Would have had Discovery but it was not available...shame they hadn't turned the handle round. If anyone knows somewhere better before getting the train....???
23 Sep 2006 10:29
Early weekday evening 1730..fairly quiet..began to fill after 1800...we wanted decent beer before getting a train...and for that this fits the bill (all Brains range) but can understand the "soulless" comments
23 Sep 2006 10:26
The Mad Bishop and Bear, Paddington
Visited on a weekday lunchtime..pretty quiet...good to have the train indicator boards...beer on good form including a guest. I reckon they could do with lowering food prices a tad!
23 Sep 2006 10:20
The Frankland Arms, Washington
29.9.11 Welcome pitstop on the South Downs Way between Upper Beeding and Amberley...the only pub en route. Time c 1500 Weather Outstanding. Sat outside with pint of London Pride �3.35 (Flowers and Doom Bar also available). Didn't eat but extensive menu and open all day. Bar staff filled up my water bottle for the next leg of the walk.
30 Sep 2011 08:33