please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Now known as The Ale House (see separate entry for that pub). Well worth a visit for quality real ales.
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Pauline is a top landlady. Bar billiards, darts, beer and lager.
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Been in here a couple of times now and its always dead. Had a few good and a few bad pints, they seem to have a lot of ale on but no customers to buy it. They're always happy to change it if the barrel has past its best and are very apologetic. No food but the do have a dart board now and the staff are friendly (overly so at times). Nice clean toilets (this might be from lack of use) and a covered smoking area. Not a bad pub just maybe in the wrong place.
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I have been in once since it re-opened. It has been thoroughly stripped of all character inside, the central bar replaced by a long bar on the north wall. My first thought was that the counter and back-bar came from Ikeas budget range, rather bland looking.
The pool table had gone, dart board too. No jukebox, though the lady behind the bar said they let people plug their iPod/MP3 player into the sound system. No more "you pays your money, you take your choice. If you don't like the music selection, put your hand in your pocket".
It was a quiet time, so I can't comment on atmosphere.
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Such a shame that Andy the Landlord is no longer there top bloke, still boarded up I believe, not been in since Andy went. Was a brilliant pub, good home made food, good selection of ale & lager!
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Pub closed and boarded up, passed by on way to Fat Cat today.
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Visited on 28 December. Three Adnams beers, Bitter, Explorer and Old and Everards Sleigh Bell. Be careful of the step down into the toilets. Generally ok.
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Very unfriendly staff. Good selection of ales.
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About to be sold by Adnams as part of a 9 pub East Anglian clearance. This and The British Grenadier are the two in Colchester that apparently no longer fit the Adnams profile. I think that the profile now is larger pubs with an emphahsis on food and possible rooms to stay overnight in.
Andy the landlord was always going to retire after CUFC's stadium moves. You just wonder if a pub co buys this in the bulk deal if another good pub may disappear. With the Fat Cat just accross the road you worry that this may turn into a house or get knocked down for more flats.
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Proper pub feel unlike sometimes how it feels at the F/C across the road. Unfortunately a more limited choice than what's available over the road. This is a tied Adnams house usually serving about 4 ales. Andy the landlord welcomes home and away fans into his pub on match days in his own way. There are public and lounge bar areas. A large screen TV (Terrestrial or Freeview) is available in the public bar with a pool table and gaming machines. The lounge area where you can sit down and eat is far from this area.
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Very good real ales. Friendly if mocking regulars and staff. A home from home.
Yevad - 14 Jul 2007 14:49 |
As you walk in off the main street you are in front of the bar and are usually greeted by andy the landlord asking what your tipple is always helpful and very chatty. To the the left is a pool table far enough out of the way so as not to be a nuisance a couple of gaming machines. To the right of the bar there is a small seating/eating area where you can enjoy some home made grub. Football rates high in this pub but as long as you choose non c u f c home gamedays its as good a pub as you'll get
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Andy the landlord is always trying to give punters freebies . Don't be shy to ask !! Great pub !!
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A must for CUFC fans on match days, but excellent at any time. Good plain food served including a wicked Chilli. Beers mainly from Adnams, but with guests from Brewers such as Timothy Taylor's & Black Sheep. Friendly Landlord and staff and nice atmos all round.
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