BITE user comments - thebunster
Comments by thebunster
Went here on a recommendation of the food, but was sorely disappointed. For the price I would have expected gravy that did not taste like it was fresh from a packet.
Friendly staff, but not a winner for me.
25 Jun 2010 19:50
Came across this pub and was impressed with its riverside location, but the place looked so filthy on the inside and outside that we didn't dare stay to eat or drink there.
Just as well given the apalling reviews on this site. Sounds like we had a lucky escape!
25 Jun 2010 19:44
Visited this pub following recommendation in the AA Good Pubs guide. I must admit I fell for the hype about Kate Winslet having her wedding reception here and other notable celebrities who have frequented this haunt.
Perhaps I was expecting too much, but it didn't live up to its star billing. Food was not vastly overpriced (�13.95 for two courses on the set lunch menu) but was certainly very over-salted.
As I was driving I ordered a bitter shandy - deeply unpleasant as it was served at near room temperature on a very hot day.
The staff were friendly and the food was OK, but in no way did this pub live up to the hype that surrounds it.
Pleasant, but definitely not worth a special visit.
25 Jun 2010 19:40
The Lamb Inn, Great Rissington
Having stumbled across this pub on a drive round the Cotswolds and being tempted in by the charming and well kept exterior, we abandoned our plans for the day and spent a lazy afternoon in the grounds of this fantastic rural pub soaking up the summer sunshine and unwinding.
This place is full of rustic charm, with very friendly staff, a cosy bar (plenty of books to read) and pleasant restaurant area. The food was also very very good and the coffee delicious (ordered coffee for 2 and was treated to a huge cafetiere pot giving us 5 cups worth).
The Lamb Inn also does accommodation - it will be top of my list for a visit if ever I'm back in that neck of the woods.
25 Jun 2010 19:37
Redesdale Arms, Moreton-In-Marsh
Spent an enjoyable afternoon here watching England in the World Cup. Comfortable pub - staff could do with smiling a bit more, but that would be my only complaint. Food was decent and there is a pleasant outdoor seating area at the back of the pub.
25 Jun 2010 19:33
I used to frequent this pub in its 'Albert Arms' days, when it was a loveable but slighty tatty 'home from home'. I recently paid it my first visit since it has been 'made over'.
The interior is very smart, but this pub is in danger of disappearing very rapidly up its own backside. It has been transformed from a comfortable local to an uncomfortably pretentious establishment which tries to be both pub and restaurant at the same time yet manages to fail at being both.
The food is very expensive (�11 for fish and chips) and the beer is not cheap either.
The pub used to be a favourite haunt of staff from Kingston Hospital, across the road. I almost feel as if they have deliberately tried to price out their former patrons, in a bid to try and lure in the 'Richmond Park' clientele.
I enjoyed my pint and my meal and the staff were pleasant enough, but it was a slightly empty experience.
I miss the friendly Albert Arms of old - the cost open fire, the buzz of the regulars and the traditional pub feel that the place had.
The makeover has robbed it of all the old character and it is hard to muser any kind of affection for its new soulless existence.
5 Dec 2009 23:12
Nice old-fashioned exterior, but inside it has had all the character destroyed by a predictable modern clone-pub identikit refurbishment.
Considering that the pub is geared much more towards eating than drinking, the food was very disappointing - soggy, tasteless battered cod and chips.
Popped back for a drink but the staff started cleaning before closing time - the smell of cleaning chemicals hardly enhanced the drinking experience.
Not sure why anyone would really enjoy this pub.
17 Jun 2009 20:57
The Prince of Wales, Wimbledon
Not impressed with this place. Very crowded on Fridays/weekends so very hard to get a seat. The blaring loud music makes it impossible to have a decent conversation. If your idea of a pleasant evening is drinking standing up whilst shouting into your drinking companions' ears then this is the place for you.
6 Jun 2009 10:23
Not really a pub now - it's a gastropub with the emphasis on the food. That said, the food is superb - somewhat on the pricey side, but you definitely get what you pay for in terms of quality. I would recommend this pub for an informal dining experience, but not really as a drinking hole.
11 Jun 2008 21:16
As others have said this is restaurant with a small bar attached, and not a pub. The restaurant offers tremendous quality seafood (Bryce's reputation preceeds it in this respect). As a restaurant, it is highly recommended, but if you're after a 'pint & crisps' pub then this isn't for you - besides, the place gets so packed out with diners that there often isn't much room for boozers!
17 May 2008 13:01
The Cricketers, Kingston Upon Thames
A very disappointing choice for some Bank Holiday Monday sunshine - they have a speaker outside the pub so there's no escaping the music. We moved into the back to the beer garden, but there were two blokes in there using a noisy power tool so we had to go and sit at the front seating area again. Toilets had a fair smattering of graffiti tags on the walls. Uninspiring and starting to look very run down.
5 May 2008 19:23
The Old Tea Warehouse, Aldgate
Fairly decent for a City pub. Pool room with two tables downstairs, quite a small bar area and another larger lounge room which can be booked for private functions (a pain for other pub-goers when it is, though). Decent patio area outside. Nothing overly special but worth a passing visit.
23 Feb 2008 12:04
Refurbished to a very high standard, the pub has a luxriant feel and a reel open fire which is excellent in winter. Food is pricey and disappointing in quality for what they charge, but the ambience is good and the pub is sumptuously appointed. Well worth a visit, and I imagine this must be a very good pub in summertime thanks to the good location and excellent outdoor seating area.
26 Jan 2008 22:31
A long wait for food, which when it turned up was edible but not terribly hot. The place was understaffed, and the youngsters barely able to cope. Atmosphere wasn't too bad. I wouldn't say it merits such a low rating as others have given it. Not spectacularly good, but then not spectacularly bad.
6 Nov 2007 20:20
The major attraction of this pub is, let's face it, the stunning views over the river to the City of London. That said, the pub is reasonably decent inside as well, service OK for a city pub and not a bad atmosphere (you'll spend most of the time looking out at the view in any case!). Prices a little on the steep side, and it's a tourist trap so it does get extremely busy at times. Food is averagely decent. On a hot summers' evening, this place takes some beating in terms of location. Worth a visit.
28 Aug 2007 13:21
Went in here for a meal as we had a discount voucher. The steak was surprisingly good - tender and tasty, not the cremated remnants that many pubs serve up these days.
As for the atmosphere - well, there wasn't one. This is otherwise a sterile, cavernous town-centre clone pub, with no character or real appeal. It's functional, at least.
25 Aug 2007 18:57
The Waggon and Horses, Surbiton
OK, but the pub has never been the same since Joe Riley retired. A refurb has robbed it ot its old character, and you no longer get the feeling that the staff care too much about the place or the regular drinkers. Decent enough place, though.
22 Aug 2007 23:13
Enjoyed another great Beer Festival (minus the summer weather). A fine selection of real ales, ruined by the tuneless strumming of the idiot band who insist on driving away the punters with their pathetic wannabe act (were they warming up or playing??).
22 Aug 2007 23:05
The Exmoor White Horse Inn, Exford
Disappointing lack of atmosphere in this place - despite being in a village, has a 'chain pub' atmosphere to it. Appears to cater mostly for tourists - being in such a lovely village it's a shame to find something so sterile and devoid of character. Try the bar of the nearby Crown Inn Hotel (not listed here, yet). Despite being attached to a hotel, the Crown Inn has a real villagey feel, and food to die for.
15 Aug 2007 06:47
Soulless cloned chain pub - zero atmosphere, zero charisma. OK for a quick drink, but if you want somewhere with charm or character then keep looking because this ain't the place for you.
15 Aug 2007 06:45
The Fox And Hounds, South Godstone
Decent country-feel to this pub - landlady and staff were very welcoming. Excellent place for a leisurely lunch in a traditional authentic atmosphere. Small but welcoming and well worth a visit. Food quite pricey, but definitely good quality and worth a visit.
15 Jul 2007 12:52
Thanks shefroger for the BBQ information. Can't wait to come to Woodies now that it's smokefree at last!
4 Jul 2007 21:07
Popped in for a BBQ burger last Saturday lunchtime only to be disappointed. Why oh why does the Woodies weekend BBQ start at 4pm?
Do the good folk of New Malden really want burger and beer as a late afternoon/evening meal?
Very weird. Very Woodies. ;-)
21 Jun 2007 20:21
Retains some of its character despite Ember Inn's unfortunate clone-dressing of some parts of it. Went for the Adnams Broadside - which was actually one of the best tasting pints of Broadside I'd tasted anywhere, which was a really pleasant surprise. Food was overpriced, with sausages slightly red in the middle. Great beer, average surroundings, below average food.
25 May 2007 21:09
Retains some of its character despite Ember Inn's unfortunate clone-dressing of some parts of it. Went for the Adnams Broadside - which was actually one of the best tasting pints of Broadside I'd tasted anywhere, which was a really pleasant surprise. Food was overpriced, with sausages slightly red in the middle. Great beer, average surroundings, below average food.
25 May 2007 21:09
The Albany, Great Portland Street
Dirty, grubby and grimy feel (and smell) to this place, which didn'd inspure confidence when I got there. Seating had a worn and ropey feel to it to. Food was equally disappointing - the 'chef' hadn't mastered the art of frying eggs, as both arrived broken and dried, chips were saturated in oil and the gammon was paddling around the plate in a pool of its own grease. When we complained that the chips were far too oily the lady shrugged and told us "That's England" and walked away. Well, pardon us for eating in our own country, madam - it's just that France was a bit friggin far to go in our lunch hour. Clientele was young/trendy and somewhat studenty. Beer was reasonably priced, but that didn't make up for the grubby experience of this place.
8 May 2007 16:45
The Green Man, Great Portland Street
Ventured in here with a work colleauge who was giving the place a second go despite receiving a half-frozen pie the last time he ate here. Waited ages for the disorganised staff to serve us, but gave up in the end and went elsewhere.
8 May 2007 16:01
This is a hidden gem in what is a rough and ready area in all respects - pubs included. Tucked away in a back street, this has all the advantages of a friendly 'local' boozer which belie its central London location. A great homely feeling - not posh, polished or classy, but down to earth and honest and a welcome change from the clone pubs you find in London, packed with suits and with prices inflated. Enjoyable venue.
3 May 2007 16:40
Decent boozer - nice beer garden which is perfect for a sunny day. Prices were decent, service and atomsphere good and food not bad at all. Would recommend for a pleasant drinking experience!
3 May 2007 16:34
A dive of a place. Terrible food - cooked straight from frozen, clearly. The only good thing about this pub is the exit.
22 Apr 2007 19:00
Edgey, dodgy, chavscum pub. Great place for to take your 14 children to watch numbskull chavs rearranging each others faces. Saturday night's alright for fighting. As are all other nights, apparently.
25 Feb 2007 19:07
Pleasant experiences in this place - small, but relatively quiet and unpretentious and first rate pizza.
25 Feb 2007 19:05
Popped in here after stumbling across it after a country walk. Lovely atmospheric old coaching in. The old dear behind the bar was genuine and friendly, and poured a taster of the bitters so I could choose which one to have. No packets of crisps here, no no, it's a bowl of hand-made crisps (hand picked from the tub as well!). Lady behind the bar mumbled away to herself and asked somebody what day it was - evidently she was not joking, as the till proved to much for her so Lord knows what we ended up being charged for. Endearingly mad, though. Lovely old interior with cosy real fire to sit by. Then a gentleman called the pub saying he'd left his Blackberry behind. "What's that" said the old dear "..is it a type of hat?" A charmingly off-beat half hour spent in here. Quite pricey though, but the entertainment was unintentionally good.
25 Feb 2007 18:57
Soulless, atmosphereless clone pub with faux-old fittings. Yada yada yada. Once you've drunk in one, you've drunk in the lot. Semi-decent garden for the summer, and the food is dependably average. Like I say, it's a clone. Next pub please....
25 Feb 2007 18:51
Love it, love it, love it. Woodies has unique charm and character and may not be everybody's pint of bitter, but if you want a trouble-free, friendly 'real pub' then this is a pub for you. Off the beaten track, it's a locals pub, but not (I feel) in a threatening or alienating way. A good choice of real ales and guest beers and a fantastic beer festival in the summertimes. The staff here try really hard to make build the character of the place. In a world of clone-pubs, this place is unique, well worn, lived in, friendly and downright bloody brilliant. If Woodies were a person, I'd marry it. Mind you, I'd insist that it washes first.
25 Feb 2007 18:48
Bishop Out Of Residence, Kingston Upon Thames
Not a bad pub as Kingston goes - pleasant for a mid afternoon catch-up. I booked a private Xmas party here last year and the food was unexpectedly good, however popped in today for Sunday roast which was a �9.50 school dinner, complete with soggy Yorkshire pudding, packet gravy and seemingly watery reheated veggies. Mind you, whilst Kingston remains so devoid of decent town-centre boozers, the Bishop will remain my pub of choice.
25 Feb 2007 18:45
The North End Tavern, Worcester Park
Dreadful staff on duty when I was there - surly man behind the bar seemed annoyed that I wanted a drink and cursed under his breath whilst pouring it (badly).
Not a pleasant experience.
25 Jun 2010 20:22