BITE user comments - mafiosi
Comments by mafiosi
Been here couple of times. Previously the food and service had been good. Yesterday, however, although prefectly good when it did arrive, the food took ages for no obviously discernablereason. Seems it would be best to order lunch at breakfast....
Redeeming feature, other than the spring weather, was the presence of Larkins bitter: a good pint and at only 3.4% ABV it goes down well for a lunchtime brew.
20 Mar 2011 20:08
The Jolly Brickmakers, Redhill
A friendly pub, usually with three real ales on - mostly Brakspears, but with others from the wider Marston's range from time to time - a rarity round Reigate/Redhill area.
Running a bit of a beer festival with a forecast of 11 real ales from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 May.
20 Mar 2011 19:44
This is a classic pub to visit during the winter months - a nice roaring fire, an interesting interior and exterior (although the trip to the conveniences can just be a little too interesting in adverse weather) and a cracking menu.
Beer is Wadworth - primarily 6X.
15 Mar 2011 20:51
Recently visited here after a gap of 22 years. Remarkably, the same landlord and lady were in residence, although the pub cat was clearly of a younger vintage and the layout of the bars was distinctly different.
A useful range of beers in evidence and the Sharp's Doom Bar was in good and smooth form.
Would recommend as a venue for some convivial drinking.
Further visits may not have such a gap between them.
15 Mar 2011 20:25
Open.
A useful venue to meet before or after a visit to the neighbouring curry house. Never going to win prizes for beauty, but it is a better environment inside than the exterior apperarance would suggest.
Usually one useful beer on - most recently Hogs Back TEA.
15 Mar 2011 20:18
Visited this pub on Saturday, having been tipped off about the presence of Goacher's Real Mild. The Goacher's did not disappoint and the rest of the roster of 5 real ales (mostly local) looked impressive.
Just to balance the comments about friendliness/helpfulness of staff, I might note that the barman took a little time to help me deliver the four glasses to my colleagues.
Would happily visit here again.
15 Mar 2011 20:03
An interesting internal arrangement of bars, that one can only hope survives for many more years. The locals seemed friendly and chatty and the beer was perfectly good Shep's.
Worth a visit for a pint on any Faversham crawl.
15 Mar 2011 19:57
Reading through the various comments on Faversham pubs, it appears that many are from Kentish locals who have a jaded palate from over-exposure to Shep's beer. Those of us from foreign parts (Surrey) can perhaps be more objective about what is usually a perfectly good pint.
Given that the Sun is Shep's flagship pub, the beer choice had little opportunity to surprise. However, it was pleasing to see that Late Red has ceased to be purely an autumnal beer and far from hibernating, seems now to be surviving through to spring.
Apart from the beer, the rooms are perfectly good and clean, the breakfast is splendid and the staff friendly and helpful enough - can recommend as a place to stay.
15 Mar 2011 19:53
A pub-restaurant with rooms. The food doesn't seem to interfere too much with the diligent drinking of some of the locals.
Usually three real ales on (currently London Pride, a Butcombe XMAS ale and a local Sixpenny Handley offering). Didn't try the Pride, but the other two were in good nick.
Also usually Addlestone's and Stowford Press cider.
Pretty extensive menu. The food seems pretty good (especially the breakfasts).
9 Jan 2011 22:26
Perfectly friendly place, but not really having any "must visit" credentials against the other three pubs available within 30 metres.
Only London Pride and Spitfire available at the time of visit. Although these are fine and seemed kept well enough, it would have been nice to have something a little more local.
Prefer the Union for drink and basic food, and either of the two "Whites" for a more splash out food.
6 May 2010 19:15
The Union Inn, Moretonhampstead
Unless you are after up market food, this is the best of the four pubs in the middle of Moretonhampstead.
Locally brewed beer (under the "Union" brand) and locally produced cider predominates. This is all available at �2 per pint (generally �2.70 and upwards in the other three pubs).
Marvellous entertainment is provided by both the local collie dog playing pool (it jumps up and nicks the cue ball off the table) and the uncoordinated humans ambushed by the "farmhouse" cider.
Take a look at the historical exhibits in the corridor down to the gents. Apart from making clear that this is a long-held family establishment, there are archaelogical items. These now include plastic ashtrays which "reasearch suggests" were used to put out cigarettes in olden times.
Well worth a visit.
6 May 2010 19:05
A classic rural pub.
Mode of transport used by frequenters of this establishement seems roughly equally split between muddy landrovers, muddy boots and (relatively) clean horses.
Beer is dominated by the Larkins (ideal for lunch at only 3.4% abv, but a good taste).
Food is less Michelin star and more Michelin Man - large portions of dead animal and chips - and none the worse for it.
Decor is towards the mediaeval, but with the curious exception of the gents, where the expected garderobe is actually rather 21st Cent.
I rate this highly and would like to spend more time here, but alas it is a fair walk from anywhere with a train home.
25 Apr 2010 15:26
The George and Dragon, Houghton
Stopped for a quick pint here on St George's Day, appropriately enough. Cannot comment on the food, but not a bad pit stop off the South Downs Way/Monarch's Way to top up on fluids.
Reasonable choice of 3 bitters. Ringwood was in fettle.
An odd photograph on the mantlepiece above the fire of an elephant outside the pub - with no explanation given.
25 Apr 2010 15:07
Traditional pub in a beautiful village.
Beer choice not great (I am not a fan of Greene King), but Harvey's was on form.
Nice beer garden, perfectly acceptable food.
Could not see what drove the negative postings below.
25 Apr 2010 15:01
Three Horseshoes Inn, Sidlow Bridge
Turned up covered in snow on a Saturday lunchtime, but could not have been made more welcome. Happy to produce a great vegetable curry (even though not on menu). Spot on local bitters (Shere Drop and a Westerham one, as well as the more mainstream breweries.
Looks a little down at heel on the outside, but well worth a visit.
10 Jan 2010 16:19
Mmmm. Definitely NOT a traditional pub. More a hotel/restaurant with a bar. Service certainly not quick, however, it has to be said that they were serving two cracking local beers - including a West Berkshire Brewery offering. Leather chairs were just too comfortable and there was a danger of missing the train home.
1 Nov 2009 13:31
The Perch and Pike, South Stoke
A really traditional village pub in a traditional village. Brakspear beers - which were just fine. Usefully on the Ridgeway walk. Dog friendly - a dog mat and bowl next to the bar mean that quadrupeds are served before us humans.
1 Nov 2009 13:17
As others have mentioned this is really a (expensive) restaurant bar. Best option beer-wise is the (bottled) London Pride, but in reality crossing the road to the John O'Gaunt is the better bet - even for pretentious millionaires.
27 Sep 2009 22:04
A great back street pub. Apparently has been licensed premises since the early 1800s. Great service: beers from Three Castles (Pewsey) and Ramsbury.
27 Sep 2009 21:59
The John O'Gaunt Inn, Hungerford
The bad news is that it is tied to Greene King. The good news is that it had two decent guest ales in last w/e that weren't bad.
Good friendly service and a good chat Fri and Sat. Late licence
27 Sep 2009 21:56
Only ales on tap this w/e were London Pride and Greene King IPA - but it is a pleasant enough place to have a couple: the 18th century coaching house origins are noticeable and the service has a slightly eccentric air that can be quite entertaining.
6 Sep 2009 20:39
Had a couple of beers here this weekend: one from the Marlow and one fro mthe Gloucestershire brewery. An interesting range on offer and seemed well kept - although not all the pumps were in active use and my first two choices turned out not to be available.
Pleasant enough for a quiet tipple and prices good as usual (rare to have pints less than �2 down in the South).
6 Sep 2009 20:36
Like many others, this was a convenient place to recuperate after a wet walk up Blencathra.
Welcome was warm and the ruby red Cameron ale tasted fine. Sadly limited to one by the need to drive away from there. Indeed, this is the main drawback to this pub- it is a fair walk to most places to stay.
1 Sep 2009 20:15
The Brackenrigg Inn, Watermillock
Spent four evenings in this pub this month.
The real ales on offer were different each day - some from Tirril's, Dent, Hawkshead as well as the more omnipresent Black Sheep. Also Westons cider on tap. All tasted fine to me after extensive testing.
Food in the evening is upmarket of usual pub and is priced to match, but similar to many local places and I have no complaints.
1 Sep 2009 20:10
The King George IV Inn, Eskdale
The previous review suggested that more reports were needed.
Location is at the junction of the road up Eskdale (and on up the Hard Knott pass) meets the road over to Ulpha and the Duddon. It is about 5 mins walk up the valley from Eskdale Green Railway station on the Ravenglass and Eskdale (10 mins from Outward Bound) and about 5 mins walk down the valley from the Fisherground campsite.
It was previously (pre war !) known as the King of Prussia, and perhaps some locals might still know it as such...
Building is traditional old country inn, but with various extensions over time, some of which provide B&B accomodation.
The management changed around end 2009/early 2010. Since then it has been run by locals on a rather more enthusiastic basis than before. The 30/10/2008 review below mentioned a "subdued and seemingly disinterested barman" - one would really struggle to use that expression now. On a summer weekend, nine pumps were on for real ales; many of which changed over the weekend: almost all were local Cumbria/Lancashire brews from independent breweries (one did creep over the Pennines from Black Sheep, but we'll tolerate that). There is some of the usual shiny metal dispensing fizzy tasteless stuff, but the emphasis is clearly on proper beer. Beer festivals do also occur...
Food is more down the line of pub grub than gastro, but a fair choice and it comes quickly. Walking/welly boots, dogs, rugrats, etc seem welcome.
1 Sep 2011 19:05