BITE user comments - quietriot
Comments by quietriot
I'll try not to sound like the advertising manager for this place (ie the other reviewer so far).
Visited before Christmas last year. The food was painfully slow in arriving, and could have been hotter. I correctly assumed that the duck breast on the menu would be ruined by over-cooking (why do pubs insist on cooking like that, it's already dead?!) Sadly, my better half opted for the duck.
I went for turkey and it was pretty good- cooked properly, retaining its juiciness. The vegetables were a mixture of barely cooked and boiled for hours. Oh dear.
On the plus side, it was very clean and tidy, with friendly staff. Well kept beer.
1 Apr 2011 01:07
Would agree with 'Kev_And_Jo' s review apart from the completely false comment on microwave food. One of the other pubs does better business on the food front than the Crown, and for very good reason. The other pub didn't actually do food last time I looked. Hope you continue to enjoy the fine ales there...
1 Apr 2011 00:59
After a highly successful period being 'managed' this pub has now completed the transition from a clean, friendly place to one where it takes ages to get served, the staff don't appear to know what's going on or who's in charge and poor quality beer.
4 Jul 2009 12:02
Walked by on Saturday evening. The place was open, but the only two people in there were both behind the bar. This was about 10pm. Not looking good.
19 Jun 2009 00:51
Enjoyed their fish and chip night on April 20th. Delicious. Every Monday.
25 Apr 2009 18:40
Open again as of April 23rd. Being 'managed' by friendly family.
25 Apr 2009 18:39
The pub has been closed for four weeks now- Greene King have made absolutely no attempt to let the people of this village know if or when their pub will be open again. Typical of them- yet more proof, if any were needed, that they have zero interest in their customers.
21 Apr 2009 09:52
This pub closed as of two hours ago.... another landlord bankrupt with next to no support from Greene King. How they can still get away with charging such astronomical rents is beyond me.
Assume they'll be finding someone else soon.
26 Mar 2009 01:16
The Eight Bells, Saffron Walden
Visited on Friday March 13th 2009.
I was in a party of eleven, celebrating a birthday. I was looking forward to going, as I'd never been in before and, having driven by for twenty years without stopping, was keen to see what it was like.
Perhaps I benefit from not knowing it as a boozer. Quite frankly, I'm glad about that as some 'boozers' in Walden are thoroughly unpleasant places. It's not always the prices that put people off....
I had cream of mushroom soup, sea bream and sticky toffee pudding. The others nearly all had something different from each other. All of it was beautifully presented and cooked properly. The staff were attentive and friendly. The bill was just �275, which, for eleven diners (a few skipped dessert) is very good.
I'd urge those who weren't sure to give it another go. It's a place to enjoy great, reasonably-priced food, not to swill cheap lager. Walden has more than enough of those places.
23 Mar 2009 09:15
Walked by the Alma this evening and was surprised to see it was open, with a Greene King banner outside and two customers inside. The board advertised a 'credit crunch' menu from �2.50, with Sunday Roasts from �3.95.
Anyone been in yet to check it out?
1 Feb 2009 01:32
The Three Horseshoes, Cockfield
We were enjoying a leisurely drive when we popped in for a 'quick half' at gone 2pm on a Sunday, expecting them to be closing shortly, only to discover they were still taking orders for lunch.
Taking a seat by the fire, we ordered food and enjoyed a fine sample of Adnams.
We were very warmly greeted on our arrival, and were well cared-for during our meal. Nothing was too much trouble. I had a traditional roast beef lunch; my other half had chicken. Both were delicious, generous plates of home cooking. Even the vegetables were perfectly presented- hadn't been kept warm for hours like some places. And what luxurious, rich gravy!
All-in-all, a very pleasant time. Found the landlord and landlady to be very attentive and friendly. We will definitely be returning, even though it's a bit out of our way.
According to someone else drinking at the bar, the current managers have only been there two months or so.
26 Jan 2009 09:50
This pub had some ups and downs.
It began to improve in the very late 1990's and early 2000's, but it's location and it's neighbours AND, more importantly, the council were always against it.
A shame it as gone. A lot of people put a lot of hard work in to this pub. It had loyal following. A lot of the 'locals' came quite a distance to support this pub.
20 Jan 2009 10:13
Beer average, landlord friendly enough, service INCREDIBLY slow.
I'm an infrequent visitor to this pub, and ordering one or two drinks at the bar can take forever.... after the faces they recognise have been served.
20 Jan 2009 10:06
This pub, with it's "we're really important, so we sometimes have a fat man outside deciding whether we're full or not" attitude, needs to sort itself out.
It has long been a popular place to go for people of all ages, but at busy periods, they still serve all the pretty girls with the revealing tops before anyone else.
I am only ever in here because people I know are, never through choice.
One tip at busy times- as soon as you get your beer, start queuing for another one.
Poorly managed, profit-driven place. Beer adequate.
17 Jan 2009 10:13
My wife and I were lucky enough to book a table for Christmas Day lunch. What a truly wonderful meal, served by friendly and attentive staff, and washed down with great beer. Well done to all. They were good enough to 'squeeze us in' at rather short notice, which was really appreciated.
The last time I visited Elterwater was in 1986 with my father, so it was wonderful to be back.
13 Jan 2009 02:08
The Black Bull Hotel, Coniston
Popped in to sample the Old Man and Bluebird beers on December 26th. Friendly staff, lovely warming fire to sit by and... fantastic beer!!
29 Dec 2008 09:24
The Wasdale Head Inn, Wasdale Head
Visited on Boxing Day.
It was a freezing day, so it was lovely to see welcoming log fires burning away. The beer was sensational and the food (Steak and ale pie, and beef lasagne) was delicious and hot. The staff were generally okay, but the older one serving us clearly did not want to be there. However, his demeanour did not spoil an otherwise enjoyable visit.
29 Dec 2008 09:20
Have been in again, and had a fabulous meal. I chose pretty much the same dishes as last time and, on this occasion, it was as good as before but served on warm plates.
21 Dec 2008 18:43
Had a meal with some colleagues here this week. It's my first visit for about five years.
I had roasted plum tomato soup to start- totally delicious, with two pieces of baton bread.
My main course looked fantastic, tasted wonderful, BUT was cold when it arrived at the table. Served on a cold plate, I had slow braised blade of beef, with confit of glazed carrots and parsnips and mash. The mash (strangely) was piping hot. The rest was cold. The serving of vegetables amounted to two pieces each of carrot and parsnip.
Deja vu! Last time I dined here, it wa exactly the same. Good food, pretentiously presented in small portions, on cold plates.
It would be so easy to rectify. The chefs obviously know what they're doing, but to let their own cooking down in such a fundamental way is not good enough. The dessert of Christmas pudding with brandy cream was lovely.
We all enjoyed our meals, even though only one was at a sensible temperature.
Great, well-kept beer in the bar.
6 Dec 2008 08:55
Good food, but place was empty apart from us. Staff hinted that the lack of custom wasn't a one-off. Locals noticeable by their absence. Doesn't look good to visitors when this happens.
3 Nov 2008 10:16
Hasn't this place been renamed the WHITE LION?
Stopped going here for food two years ago when the organisation of the kitchen and staff became nothing short of appalling. Has anyone been in more recently? Would like to know if it is safe to return...
3 Nov 2008 10:12
Well, tiffiny2008, while I don't doubt your account of the meal, I can't believe anyone would admit to asking to have a rack of lamb WELL DONE!!!???
3 Nov 2008 10:05
I used to visit almost daily for about three years, but stopped circa 1999 when a certain rude person got just too snotty for words.
It sounds, from the recent reviews, that the place has refound its character and charm, so I'm really pleased. One of the problems facing pubs these days is keeping people interested, and it sounds like they're doing just that. Glad to hear the beer's still as good as it was.
29 Oct 2008 10:40
Always known as the spit and sawdust pub of the village.
20 years ago, the standing joke was that once you were eighteen you were too old to go in. These days, it's a noisy haven for a certain type of male drinker that prefers lager to a real drink. That said, the IPA isn't bad, although I was put off by someone I took to be the landlord, wandering around with his backside hanging out of a pair of tatty jogging bottoms.
Great jukebox. Friendly bar staff.
29 Oct 2008 10:26
At the start of this decade, this pub was run without any love or care. The tables could be seen being wiped with the same cloth that had cleaned a floor spillage.
A couple then took it over, and they transformed it onto much of what we see today. It was always meticulously cleaned daily. The quality of the beer increased hugely, as did the food.
They left late last year. The current landlord is now taking things a step further. The new restaurant serves a varied, exciting menu.
The pub is a happy, friendly place to while away a few hours with a good pint and some delicious food.
14 Oct 2008 10:21
I'm staggered by the last person's review. It is certainly not the pub I know called the Black Bull in Balsham.
To say the new people have made little improvement is incredible. The place is now spotlessly clean at all times. It used to be the kind of place where you wipe your feet on the way out. It now looks cared-for and well maintained.
The food is excellent, always cooked fresh. The menu is perhaps different from a standard pub menu, but it retains many staple items while offering something different also. Will have to take your word for food being undercooked, but that has NEVER been my experience there. It was also never experienced at their previous pub, which I frequented. I know their chef to be highly-skilled and perfectly capable of passing quality food every time.
The service is always excellent. Indeed, I believe awards have been won in this area. Nothing is ever too much trouble.
There are usually Four ales on offer. I know the landlord takes a lot of pride in serving a first-class pint, and that is what I always get. It's a shame more landlords in our area don't know how to keep beer as well as he does. Although I haven't had cause to complain about the beer, I know he will willingly exchange it if I did.
All-in-all, the Black Bull is a pub with a friendly face and a warm welcome.
24 Jul 2008 18:15
The Dog and Duck, Linton
After more upheaval caused by the brewery trying to squeeze every last penny from their landlords, a new guy has been installed. Food is apparently really good, but the I.P.A. is freezing, so won't be drinking there any more until that's sorted. They seem very eager to close early each night- the clean-up of the bar starts long before what most people would expect.
18 Nov 2011 21:17