BITE user comments - zeanard
Comments by zeanard
Well, I'm moved to post another comment after the one just below this one.
Turns out the staff were off again sadly. OK they were busy, but on a recent Friday night we came in, sat down at a table (no reserved sign) and went to the bar to order drinks and find out about food.
Barman (appeared to be the owner or manager) was quite abrupt, and when I asked to order food, it appeared we had broken some kind of unspoken rule that we hadn't booked. Was told someone would take our order sometime in the future.
After waiting 20 minutes for someone to take our order, we asked once, then again, and both times were told we needed to wait our turn and someone would deal with us eventually.
We were hungry and didn't want to leave, but although the beers and food (in the end) were very good, I will not be back as I don't want to be treated as a problem that the staff have to deal with. Disappointing.
2 Dec 2009 20:46
Now called The Foragers.
Excellent fresh, local food and good beer too (Harvey's plus one/two others). Has a gastropub feel but that doesn't take over the place and there appear to still be regulars in here for their pints. Shabby chic decor and furniture suit the place. Had a comedy night on whilst we were there in the back room which seemed to be quite popular.
Staff weren't particularly welcoming, although not sullen enough to put me off returning when I am in the area again. Surprised to see the pub scoring so low.
9 Sep 2009 09:52
Been going to this pub on and off for 20 years now since camping in the area as a kid. Always been very welcoming (well, except once about 15 years ago, I'll let them off that now). Harvey's and a couple of others on tap, well kept. Good food and occasional live music (acoustic influenced though so doesn't overwhelm the pub). My favourite in the Arundel/Amberley area. Good atmosphere and beer garden to boot. Hope to keep coming here for the next 20 years.
9 Sep 2009 09:46
Excellent gastropub. There's just about enough separation for me between the drinking area and the eating area, so good place for a session or a meal. Top quality food - agreed it's not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Friendly, warm feel with top staff. Never seen the brown dog although I am assured it exists! Beers not to my liking, although they are from local breweries which is a plus point.
9 Sep 2009 09:44
London Pride served ice cold. Run out of Guinness every week. Some lagers taste decidedly dodgy. Need more bar staff on a Friday afternoon/evening. They do some table service which is welcome. Let's face it, it's convenient for the hordes who work nearby, which is why it has no reason to pull its socks up, so it won't.
9 Sep 2009 08:04
Top rural location and beer garden. Good split between dining and drinking area. Staff have been fine on the few visits I've made here, I'm not a fan of Donnington beers but that doesn't put me off visiting this pub for the place itself. Food was excellent (game casserole) when I tried it.
9 Sep 2009 07:55
The Duke of Cambridge, Islington
Can't understand why the rating is so low for this pub, although it seems that the negative comments/ratings are driven by "organic = posh and expensive" chips on shoulders (including the comment below about publicly educated people). The food's not cheap, but you get value for money with top quality food sourced in an ethically-driven way.
The building and interior is great, there's a buzz to the main room on evenings and weekends and the restaurant area is very separate to the main room so it is a good drinking as well as eating pub. I like the SB on tap, although a hardened real ale drinking friend of mine isn't too keen.
Never had an issue with the staff here, found them to be friendly and welcoming.
9 Sep 2009 07:52
The Charles Lamb, Angel, Islington
Cracking pub not too far from the hustle and bustle (and increasingly chain-dominated) Upper Street. Quality food, 2 or 3 real ales including the odd microbrewery. Very cosy inside although I prefer the main bar area to the more restaurant-type room on the right. Avoid sitting near to the toilets though as the smell of the urinal cakes gets a bit overpowering. I've not had any issues with the staff on the several visits I've made here.
9 Sep 2009 07:46
The Fox and Grapes, Wimbledon Common
Good pub, particularly for the location near to Wimbledon Village. Good character inside, with friendly staff. Beers good although not a huge selection, Doom Bar and Harveys seemed to be available most of the time. I tried the food here a couple of times but wouldn't be tempted again. A good place for a session as long as you get there early enough to bag a table in the evening, although gets too full of prams on Sundays to interest me in a visit then.
8 Sep 2009 20:04
Good selection of well kept real ales, and reasonable wine list as well. Doom Bar, Tribute, Brakspear to name a few.
Over the last year or two the food started well, slid downhill a little but picked up considerably again in 2009 and definitely recommended.
Cosy inside, particularly if you can get the little room with the fireplace just to the left of the bar.
Beer garden great for a summer's day or evening. Upstairs is very impersonal so I'd avoid unless you're a large group who is going to eat. Ideally get a seat in the bar area if you can.
8 Sep 2009 20:01
Beer's always been good, I usually go for the Harvey's here. Top location nestled in the South Downs below Goodwood Racecourse, great views from the beer garden, good courtyard with huge bench tables out front. Lovely village.
Bar area inside has good character, staff have always been friendly.
Food has been top quality the few times I've eaten here.
I brought a stag do here once (we were mountain boarding nearby) and they dealt with the large food and beer order in an efficient and friendly manner.
8 Sep 2009 19:56
Food's cheap and at around �3.50 a meal it probably represents OK value. Not a pub for a pint of real ale. Inside is lacking in character and the beer garden isn't great being next to a roundabout.
8 Sep 2009 19:49
The Oystercatcher, Littlehampton
Food poor and not particularly cheap. I'm guessing the staff are quite transient as they were on the whole sullen. Beer not great.
This place was pretty good when it first opened a few years ago although after my recent visit I won't be heading back.
8 Sep 2009 19:46
The Crab and Lobster, Sidlesham
I was disappointed with this pub. Really it's just a restaurant with a small beer garden out back, which doesn't make the most of its views over Pagham Harbour. One beer, not well kept, at a tiny bar.
Staff were fine, particularly as the clientele were of the kind that think they own the world and were not treating them very well. I got shouted at despite driving very carefully down the road as a posse of them were walking towards the pub all over the road.
I am sure the food is great, but I will not be back to check that out.
8 Sep 2009 19:44
Excellent food, one of the best meals I've had in ages whether it's been in a pub or "real" restaurant, urban or rural location. It's not cheap, but it's of a high enough quality that it is still excellent value.
Beer selection was good and well kept, happy for me to try a few before making a choice on a pint. Not so much a boozer, it's definitely a foodies pub, but if that's what you want then great. That said the beer garden could be good for a session on a good day.
Staff could be a little more friendly and welcoming, but no real concern on that front.
I will definitely be heading back regularly for the food here.
8 Sep 2009 19:36
The Plough Inn, Bradford Leigh
Very friendly owners. We camped just down the road and they were flexible with us being a bit late for dinner, and they were even more flexible for a couple who arrived even later than us and tried to put something together for them.
The beer was good (Doom Bar, well kept), the missus enjoyed her veg lasagne although the fish I was served wasn't cooked very well and had a strange consistency.
8 Sep 2009 19:31
Cavernous, chain-type pub. If you're OK with that, no problem, but I prefer a more personal experience. Probably great for the families with kids who want to let them loose in the beer garden, but this pub wasn't for me. What they do, they do OK though.
8 Sep 2009 19:29
Good pint of Ringwood, friendly staff. Most of the pub given over to dining tables although a reasonable area if you're just there for a drink as well. Fairly priced, traditional food. My favourite of the Ashurst pubs.
8 Sep 2009 19:26
Surprised about a couple of negative comments about the locals as we were made very welcome by staff & locals in this pub, and that was over the Bank Holiday weekend too when the place is overrun with tourists.
Great location, walking distance from one of the NF campsites (Ocknell/Longbeach), lovely old building and simple but comfortable and authentic inside.
Food was superb - simple meals such as pies and ploughmans, but the four different ploughmans our table had were all excellent, fresh and good value.
Great real ale selection, served from the barrels kept behind the bar. Particularly enjoyed the Royal Oak brew, which proved to be an excellent session beer!
One word of warning - if you've an addictive personality, keep an eye out for the old chap with snuff sitting at the bar, or you might get sucked into that as well...
Definitely one of my top ten pubs.
8 Sep 2009 19:23
Great location on the edge of Bledington village green. Outside tables out the front and back in the beer garden are a good spot. Nice building, didn't spend too much time inside though as it was a nice day.
Beers fine, food reasonably priced although the staff were a little off - forgivable though, I think this was as they'd just had the joy of serving some obnoxious locals who were obviously back from university from the summer and being very loud about it.
8 Sep 2009 19:17
Definitely a foodies pub, not a session kind of a place. Not a problem though - food is not cheap, but you get what you pay for as the food is excellent. Nicely done up inside, staff friendly enough. Not a great fan of Hooky, but there's usually another beer or two on tap.
8 Sep 2009 19:13
Excellent pub. Good selection of well kept ales, great views, very friendly and welcoming owner and staff. Food is reasonably priced, good portions and well prepared.
Open mic night was a bit cliquey, but I guess they're not used to newbies.
8 Sep 2009 19:11
The Plaisterers Arms, Winchcombe
Good place to sink a few drinks, although not a huge selection of ales. Friendly staff and a few locals too.
Food was fine, although probably �2/3 overpriced in my opinion.
8 Sep 2009 19:08
Great beer garden in the middle of Winchcombe, although that's the only positive I have for here. Only been in a couple of times though. Bar tender didn't seem to know how to serve drinks, served up Baileys straight with no ice, and got my scotch in a brandy glass. Never appears to be many people in here except for Sunday lunchtime.
8 Sep 2009 19:03
Excellent reasonably priced, local food. Only a couple of real ales on tap although well kept and the best place to get a pint of the locally brewed Jouster. Attached wine shop has an excellent selection, which you can drink in the pub for �5 corkage which is a great deal.
Not so much of a boozer, more of a place to head for a meal with friends or a few drinks with your other half.
Music was not great - quiet enough but very bland - seems to have improved with new staff recently though.
8 Sep 2009 18:59
Incredible views by far and away the best thing about this pub. Beers by Donnington are not my favourite although in good condition. Only been in during quiet times, never been a problem getting served and staff friendly enough. Interior a bit hodge-podge, but ideally you'll be sitting outside on a nice day.
8 Sep 2009 18:54
As other reviewers - great beers, building, interior, location, music, even morris dancing - wholeheartedly recommended.
8 Sep 2009 18:51
The Castle, Bradford on Avon
Recently moved to Bradford-on-Avon, and spent our first night in the town in The Castle as our new local.
We'd been here before, and were glad to see that on our second visit the beers, wines, friendly welcome and food were as good as the first time we came here.
I like the separation of the (mainly) dining area from the (mainly) drinking area, as well as the local, well kept, ales available. The food is excellent - although not cheap, definitely good value for money as the quality and freshness is very high.
There was a good buzz to the place without being overcrowded or too loud to have a good conversation. We were made to feel very welcome by Tori and her colleagues, and look forward to heading back regularly in the future.
2 Dec 2009 20:52