BITE user comments - nightsmoker
Comments by nightsmoker
I visited this pub on a random day and spent the best part of the evening drinking Otter Ale.
Random people. Insane.
30 Sep 2010 11:19
Very well. I'm glad you had a good time there citypoolrg21.
Seems as if there are a mixture of opinions on the Barley Mow.
I've spoken with many and it has been a concern for a long time about how this pub should be so much better.
The food here seems to be a local joke.
Very often you can hear the microwave go... and I think it's too pricey for what it is...
Dog hairs in your food... Along with Jenny's hair.
Kevin is drunk from 16:00 and has to retire to bed by 20:00...
(It's a long time when you have to listen to him make sexist and degrading remarks).
I will never step foot back in this place.
The heart of the village... And I think it is also the oldest part of the village... yet they let one side of the pub be dominated with drunks and fools... a sticky floor which has suffered because of spilt Zambucas and careless drunks.
A pool-table cramped in to the corner... Where you can't even enjoy a game of pool.
The other-side has a very somber and dull atmosphere.
It makes me angry... How they haven't thought about anyone else in Oakley Village... and only cater for the regulars.
There's so many people... Respectable people that don't go there and for very good reason too.
How about using some experience and using the location and building as a tool to lift this pub up? Just like it should be...
The sooner this land-lord and land-lady are gone... THE BETTER.
17 Jun 2010 17:28
Firstly this is not a pub, but a drinking-hole with the latest cheese-music.
It really is a dive and full of young (and under-age) people drinking bright blue shots in (what looks like) test-tubes.
I would say that this place could also be for the bored house-wife trying to get a younger lad, whilst her husband is away lorry-driving.
I wouldn't waste my money in here and would sooner be drinking White-Lightning Cider from what is now 'Budgens' on the corner.
I've seen many sites outside the front of this place. So many different varieties of aggression, from obese women rolling around on the floor fighting (with their tops pulled up and their stretch-marks on show)... To skinny lads with spikey hair and blonde high-lights trying to take on a group of homeless and less fortunate beings.
On walking past this establishment, it's always nice to see some foreign 'bouncers', with their illuminous SIA arm-bands, pumped up and giving every person "the evil"... as if they are set to invade Poland.
I don't recommend this place and urge you to spend that little more time walking to a decent pub than waste your money, time and life in here.
Let me sum this up and leave it here...
It's a joke and full of clowns... anyone who takes to this style of lame & cheap form of entertainment is nothing more than a lost donkey.
7 Jun 2010 18:14
I never liked this place... and glad that it is now shut down. What a horrible and manky place to be drinking. I don't rate this one-bit.
7 Jun 2010 18:01
Went through Oakley yesterday (Saturday).
It was around 13:00, the sun was out and it was a beautiful day.
Yet there were no tables outside occupied and the car-park was empty.
Ginger, I can not wait until the land-lord and land-lady leave.
Give the village of Oakley something it deserves.
7 Jun 2010 02:10
Food is good here... although I have been many times and there have been ups and downs. In general, it is good.
The atmosphere is nice and there is a small but nice area outside in the back (nice in the summer). I really like this place and will mark this as a 7. It's maybe one of the better pubs in this area.
7 Jun 2010 02:04
The Birch and Pines, Sheerwater
First of all, I am not an ex-manager or barred customer. Although what I am is someone who has frequented this place many times and have an opinion on it.
I have not stated any "LIES" and stick by all that I have said.
I'm also not questioning what could be a fact, the customers and staff like him.
Although I am saying that this pub is a dive. No questions about it.
It is liked by (local) customers and staff only.
You don't get many new-comers frequenting the place, as it is appalling.
And yes, the garden has been looked at and there have been few and small changes. Although this still doesn't seperate the fact that this place is a dump!!
Put it this way, and please don't try and dispute this. I could walk in to the Birch and Pines and buy myself some crack-cocaine and heroine. Simple as that... and I'm sure that explains what the Birch and Pines is to anyone reading.
Many Thanks
7 Jun 2010 01:48
The Beach Arms Hotel, Church Oakley
It's very cheap and you get what you pay for.
I'm not a big fan of these places as they put smaller pubs/restaurants out of business.
Only down the road from the Beach Arms is the Deane Gate Inn.
Now this is really a lovely place that has some very nice food. It used to be PACKED and busy and it still has it's regulars. Although thanks to the likes of the Beach Arms and it's huge and all day running buffet, it's out of custom and slowly and painfully going down the drain.
The Beach Arms has a buffet that runs all day and the best part of the evening.
The vegetables aren't of the best quality and it's not great, but this is expected with a place that caters for so many. Like I said, "you get what you pay for".
If you're driving by and could do with some quick food (provided the que isn't massively long), then yeah... a few quid for a meal is alright.
Not really a pub atmosphere... Just cheap drink and a lot of people eating.
I wouldn't really recommend this place to anyone.
7 Jun 2010 01:23
The Birch and Pines, Sheerwater
This isn't a pub... It's a place for people to come together and sleep amongst each other's friends and associates of their families. The alcohol is of poor value, it's dirty and if and when they are serving food, I would advise anyone to stay well-clear. The garden is neglected and the location is next to pathetic. The management make no effort to bring in new custom or to greet new guests. This truly is a horrible place... Good luck.
3 May 2010 23:25
Watership Down, Freefolk Priors
This is a good pub with good vibes. I've been there a few times, and the Land-Lord and Land-Lady are funky people!! I think the Land-Lord's from Soho or Notting Hill... Either way, it's nice to have a bit of that strange blend there. When I'm next in the area, I will 100% go back there. Great place for great times!!
9 Feb 2010 13:06
Don't worry Gingerbiscuits... Surely anyone could do a lot more better with that pub. Maybe 80% of the village don't use this place... Although, I do know that it is in the pipe-line, that they are leaving. Lets hope it happens soon.
9 Feb 2010 12:59
Rob_19... The pub-staff are people of low hygeine-standards. I know this, because I know of several staff who have worked there previously. Your kitchen staff and majority of bar-staff are only fit to work in a dive of a pub such as The Regent!! I don't doubt for a minute that anything has changed. The microwave jobs are a JOKE... And don't even question me on that. The knives and forks, I would reccomend to anyone... To double-check and check again to see if they are clean. I've known this pub for years... all my life I have been in and out... and only too glad to be exiting the doors of a scummy and horid place. OK, maybe the "16 - 17 year old staff" is in-correct... but they're still spotty teenagers making that food, smoking roll-ups at any given chance and not caring about the state your food arives in... or what state the glasses a customer's drink sits in. You disgust me for even trying to defend this ill-mannered shit-hole.
3 Dec 2009 19:53
The Mayfly is pricey... but in such a lovely location. It can get very, very busy in the summer-time. The interior of the pub is very dated... although they do get away with this with regards to the layout and style. In my personal opinion, the staff are very friendly... Maybe this is a little bit of a biased opinion... being that the Land-Lady is a fair-bit senior than me in age... I really do fancy her.
19 Oct 2009 00:41
The Mayfly is pricey... but in such a lovely location. It can get very, very busy in the summer-time. The interior of the pub is very dated... although they do get away with this with regards to the layout and style. In my personal opinion, the staff are very friendly... Maybe this is a little bit of a biased opinion... being that the Land-Lady is a fair-bit senior than me in age... I really do fancy her.
19 Oct 2009 00:41
In all honesty, I am a fan of this place... Although, I do think it is a little over-rated. In the summer-time, of course it's by the Thames and is a lovely location. The food is standard in my personal opinion. Overall, I have had many good times here and would reccomend it to anyone wanting a pub in a lovely-location.
19 Oct 2009 00:35
They've done a good job on this place, compared to what it used to be. Good food, drinks' are a little pricey... But then again, this is Weybridge and this is a very trendy place to both eat and drink. Nice seating area outside with heating. When in the area, I stop in as much as I can. When I'm not completely pissed out of my face and my nose isn't dripping, I really do absorb the detail of the building. It was built by a Lord... Lord King, given the title 'Baron of Ockham', origianly built for him and his family. I mean, seriously... Look at the building!!
19 Oct 2009 00:31
You'll get a quick service with your food, being that when you make your order, your food will be at your table within (and around) three minutes. Very literaly microwave jobs. The glasses are some-what dirty, the language used by locals is of another nature and the 16 - 17 year old staff-members have a unique way of making you feel welcome. I know this pub and know it well... infact 'Pub' is the complete wrong word for this establishment. There is no Pub-atmosphere here at all. On week-ends, it's nothing more than a quick stop for everyone to sink as many cheap drinks as possible, before heading off onto their next destinations. I don't reccomend this Free-House what-so-ever.
19 Oct 2009 00:22
It's a brillaint location and always lovely to vistit. Especialy when the weather is right. I would reccomend to anyone to visit here. As Basingstoke only has The Basingstoke Canal... it's always nice to chill by the water and drink in the Summer!!
12 Oct 2009 01:03
Just to back-up Cosmogirl... You're seriously right!! Rumour has it, that Kevin was running the pub into the ground, before he had the lease... so he can get it cheap. He was saying for ages before he and Jenny got the lease... about all the Tapas-type food he was going to do, how it was going to change... But this never was the case. Robfrancis... if you honestly beleive that The Barley Mow is a good pub with good service, it means that you don't have any idea what a good pub is... OR... You're one of Kevin's crowneys... sitting there and cracking dirty jokes torwards women. This place REALLY is a DIVE. Now beleive me, 90% of people that drink there would agree. Majority of people go there for conveinience. The place is gone...
12 Oct 2009 00:58
Pub is the name for this place. It really is good. Just a pub, a decent pub with always a positive atmosphere in there. The beer is nice... and the food is ok... but who cares... It's a PUB!... If you want a pub... just a Pub... but a bloody good Pub... THIS IS THE PUB... (Good Pub).
12 Oct 2009 00:53
It's not a bad pub in this area... You have The Barley Mow within almost walking-distance from The Fox (although I would never reccomend going there). It's not bad customer service, the food is not bad with fair prices, the beer is always lovely and refreshing. They have a big garden and nice shelter for smokers, they've really done a good job. It really is, just a pub... but a good one.
12 Oct 2009 00:48
The Barley Mow, Oakley
Yes. Kevin and Jenny have both left The Barley Mow.
Lets hope that the new owners will now make as most use out of the location and character of the building, as possible.
Maybe they may seduce the other 95% of the village to frequent the Pub.
11 Mar 2011 22:50