BITE user comments - trouble1
Comments by trouble1
This pub has changed for the better.
I have to say I had plenty of similar experiences to other reviewers in the past with this pub. Overpriced drinks and food, rude and surly staff and a soulless atmosphere. The only good thing going for it was that it was local and you could walk in there in a muddy state after a good walk.
So how has it changed? The staff now look at you and listen to you when ordering drinks and food. The drinks themsleves have come back down to normal pub prices and whilst still not the cheapest in the area, they are competitive at last.
My wife and I had a nice couple of drinks and some homemade soup for lunch one day over the Christmas break and it was all very pleasant. The beer was well kept (although I can't recall what it was) and the soup was warming and wholesome.
Therefore, if you are in the area and fancy a drink after your walk, give it a try, it is now much better. They are definitely trying to improve so let's see how they get on.
8 Feb 2015 19:37
What a delightful find this is. We met some friends there on Saturday 7th Feb for a meal and what we found was very different form what I expected. This is to say that it works on all levels. It is clearly a trendy place but this did not make us (slightly) older folks feel uncomfortable or out of place.
The bar is very busy in the way that pubs use to be like a number of years ago. Plenty of friendly banter going on and people drinking and enjoying themselves in a very social environment. There was a band playing in the corner who appeared to be good with an eclectic playlist for all types.
We ate in the lounge area which is divided from the bar and therefore a little quieter and more intimate if that is what you are looking for. The food was excellent and there was a good range of meals to suit all tastes. The prices were ok, for the quality and amount you get.
The beers are provided by Dark Star of Horsham and Surrey Hills Brewery, just round the corner at Denbies wine estate where they are now based. As always with these breweries, they were excellent.
I would also like to compliment the staff here for their attention to detail and for looking after us like we really mattered to them. This was shown when I made a big mistake early on. I had thought I had seen on a web site, earlier in the day, that one of their regular beers was Harvey's best. When asked by the waiter what I wanted to drink I just said a "Harveys". Imagine my surise when he came back with a "nice" glass of Sherry! After much mickey taking from my friends and a joke or 2 with the waiter, he very happily changed this for a pint of Shere Drop. Such dedication is sometimes hard to find but here, the customer is "always right".
I can't recommend this place enough! Enjoy
8 Feb 2015 18:56
I thought it was time to update you on this pub. Since my last report we have been visiting on and off for the last 4 years and we are consistently pleased with the serivce, the beer, the food and just about everything else. We often reserve a table in the bar on a Friday which they happily keep for us. We nearly always eat and the food is always well cooked and presented and very tasty and for the area, reasonably priced.
My wife and other friends have also eaten there in the dedicated restaurant area and we were all really impressed with the food and service.
The beers are still great quality and rotate frequently so that you can try new beers, whilst still being able to revert back to your old favourites.
The staff are friendly and attentive and make you feel welcome.
ALl in all, therefore, I am still happy to recommend this pub either for a quiet beer or a full blown meal. in fact my rating has gone up since my previous post.
8 Feb 2015 18:27
The Sportsman 'Time Well Spent', Mogador
I was hoping to keep this gem a secret but alas others have come before me with their praise. This is a great country pub and if you are in the area it is definitely worth a visit. The beer (varied) is very well kept and the food is superb. The location, whilst remote from the main drag is fantastic with its excellent walks through the rambling Surrey country side.
If I had to vote for my pub of all time, this one would probably win hands down.
Please try it for yourselves, but make it an evening I am not there so I can get to the bar. 10/10
27 Jan 2010 14:13
Have visited a few times and nothing bad to say about the pub. The beer is well kept and lots of variety to choose from. We have eaten here a while back and it was good food at a reasonable price.
We heard a band on a Friday night, who were a bit louder than we hoped, having gone there for a drink and chat. However, now we know, we will check to see if there is music on before we go. The band were ok though so that made up for it.
The atmosphere is friendly and the waitress service is a real positive that is to be encouraged.
All in all, a decent pub in Coulsdon at last.
27 Jan 2010 14:06
Would like to reiterate the comments of previous visitors. This isn't my local but I do visit once every month with a group of mates. The prime reason for our visits is to have a good chat and of course enjoy some decent pints. The pub fulfills these needs very well and we cannot fault the real ales served in here. The Landlord really knows how to keep a pint and on the very rare occasion one is not quite right (normally bottom of the barrell) he is very quick to replace it with something else with no quibble.
As with the other visitors' comments, the prices are high, but i guess you pay for the quality, although I would say, as others, I can drink beer that is just as good in the City of London for quite a bit less. Perhaps a lower price would entice more people in resulting in more sales and better turnover!!!
That is my only gripe, otherwise a great pub.
Note, we haven't tried the food, although it does look and smell good.
27 Jan 2010 14:01
Something has happened in Chipstead and from my perspective it is going the right way. Visited last night with some mates and we just had a few pints and a good chat. We cannot therefore comment on the food although the fish and chips for the couple on the next table looked and smelled good.
However, on to more important things, and lets face it that is what a good pub is all about, the beer. There were 6 real ales on offer. Doom Bar, Pride, ESB, Cumberland, Harvey's best and Youngs ordinary. We tried most of them except the ESB and other than an end of barrel Harveys all were good and clearly well kept. my favourite was the Doom Bar.
The staff that we encountered were friendly and we much appreciated the complimentary (small) bowls of nuts. One of them even ran after us to give me a cd I had left in the pub.
overall, my experience of the pub as a drinking venue good and I can recommend it if you like your real ales. I can't comment on the lagers because I didn't really notice them, but I'm sure there is a suitable selection. They also said that when one of the Ales finishes that they would be getting a cider in, Old Rosie, i think they called it.
Give this pub a try, i think they are working hard to get it right.
5 Dec 2009 10:00
My father-in-law and I spent a few pleasant hours over a few days in this pub where we happily drank the Forty-niner, which we both found very well kept and particularly tasty. The bar staff were very friendly and joined in our varied conversation topics when they weren't serving. We also decided to eat in the pub on our last night and we weren't disappointed. The food was good quality and good value.
Although the pub is in New Swanage, near the North beach, it is well worth a visit and if we are ever back in the area we'll definitely be going there again.
20 Oct 2009 14:02
The Woodman, Woodmansterne
If you were to compare this pub from 2 years ago, you would struggle ot recognise that you are in the same pub. I a not sure what they have done, or how they have done it, but at last it is back to somewhere near where it should be, namely a good local village pub with great beer and good food.
We never used to go near the place a few years back and when we did venure to it we found the food was appaling and the beer only mediocre.
Now all that has changed. They have beer festivals occasionly which are well supported. There is a great beer garden and the festival beers are set up outside in the warmer months. The bar staff seem to know their beers as well and sometime the brewers themselves attend to help with the tastings.
We have eaten here as a group a few times now and have not been disappointed, including 2 Christmas meals with a local community group. Very tasty and great value.
Welcome back, The Woodman, you had been gone too long.
Please visit, you will be pleasantly surprised.
8 Feb 2015 19:47