please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Black Horse appears to be the only real ale pub in Sudbury. It's an Ember Inns establishment and was empty apart from the bar and kitchen staff when I entered this morning. Typical Ember Inns layout with a focus on dining. There is plenty of seating. Ales were Adnams Broadside, Fuller's London Pride and Black Sheep Ember Pale Ale. The guest was St Austell Proper Job. Bog standard, but ok in an ale desert.
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havent been there for a few years, but have always enjoyed my visits.
mrbee - 10 Feb 2011 17:29 |
Since most of the reviews here are on the bar staff, I don't feel out of place in adding one about the Polish girl in the kitchen. Young Katie has been running the Alexandra in Kingston for the last three months and has given it a proper home from home feel, she keeps the beer in top condition, cooks a Sunday roast that can only be described as perfect and still has time for a bit of banter with us regulars.....What else do you need from a pub?
razor - 13 Dec 2010 19:46 |
Went back there recently.
manager okay, but the beer...
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A much improved pub in recent times - 3 guest ales on tonight at very reasonable prices, friendly service, nice atmosphere, and the food looked good from what I saw. Check it out, even if you've not liked the place under previous regimes - I think you'll get a nice surprise.
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I'm writing this review in response to that horrible criticism of this pub by oohlala. While the black horse isn't great it has improved tremendously since the last manager left. A short, horribly spoken man properly named Dick. He seemed to have no concept of managing a pub and his idea of working was sitting in the pub on his lap top. Humorously enough he still came in to the pub regularly to sit on his lap top even after being fired, his management skills may be in doubt but he clearly is nothing but a low life and loser. Further shown by his constant sexual harassment of the young girls working under him which made it very uncomfortable in the pub itself. As for the "blond girl" one would be lucky to see her there do any work. Every time I entered that pub I'd see this mousy, flat-chested, disgustingly fake haired, chavy girl cradling some worn down designer bag sitting down while the Polish girls worked there arses off. Or she was out smoking a fag every 5 minutes, it's ridiculous. And to say you could have a chat with her, Oohlala. She's the rudest thing in all of bloody England. Many a customer would here complaining of foreingers taking English jobs, I'm not surprised with her work attitude.
The manager at the blackhorse,the so called, "flagpole" actually gets things done, there's actually a selection of bitters on these days, there are staff who seem genuinely interested in giving you a good time, drink and meal. And for his wife, she's one of the most charming people I've ever met.
As a regular there for two years, I can say the long standing regulars love the manager and love taking the piss out of the previous one.
And that comment about the one polish girl is ridiculous. That girl seems to devote most of her time to that pub and has really come a long way since the current manager has given her the chance to move on. I'd easily say she's the most attractive girl to have ever worked or still working there, not like some skinny, common tart who seemed to have some desperate need to suck any boy or man she found to be, "cute." Apparently, the staff tell me, that she did just that in pub's cellar.
The black horse is a quality run establishment and especially for the amount one's paying, you certainly get your money's worth. Good drinks, good food and good service.
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re: last comment. the pub may not be perfick - but we have got rid of the 23 year old muppet who thinks he's black "innit" and the landlady who made pat butcher look sexy. The latest guy is ok . he is dealing with everything from wannabe gangstas to middle age fuddy duddies and making a go of it. the polish girls are really efficient and look like women not schoolgirls. The garden is now dog poo free and hey the "flagpoles" other half is a SMF
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what the hell has happenned to this pub?! where have all the english staff gone?!! its full of poles now! I only went there to have a laugh with the barladies, went in there a while ago to find out the petite blonde has left!! and then the brunette left not long after! Im not suprised they left with a manager like that flagpole! he knows sod all about anything,not only do you have to listen to his fake polite attitude but you have to endure his girlfriend/wifes cackle!
Im just waiting for the chubby polish girl..you know..the one with the rotten teeth,bad hair and spotty face to leave. You would think someone that works in the kitchen also would look a bit more hygenic!
This pub has gone downhill bigtime! you cant even get a drink without having to repeat yourself 8times.
BRING BACK THE OLD AND GOOD LOOKING STAFF!! the rest of them look like they want to kill you. The staff are moody and rude and think its fine to speak polish behind the bar...last time i checked we were in England. Poor show manager.
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Considerably better these days - had a good pint of Greene King IPA tonight for a bargain 1 99, and they also had Abbot and Bombardier on handpump. And the garden is nice to sit out in on the rare days we get good weather. Worth checking out.
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Saw the young bar manager BEHIND the bar for over 10 minutes the other day - can anyone beat this?
anonymous - 28 May 2007 19:55 |
It gets worse!
Yesterday, I was told there were no (handpulled)bitters available as they were having trouble with the gas.
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Carlsberg dont do situation comedies in badly run establishments - basil did that, but if they did I have the perfect location........
anonymous - 20 Apr 2007 15:53 |
This pub is so erratic. On Monday the beer can be very good, on Tuesday YIKES. The fierce looking and sounding landlady is moving to another Ember Inn pub in Southampton.
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Potentially a very nice pub, and I've had some agreeable visits here, but it's let down by poor management. Yesterday I popped in for lunch, and all three real ales went off in succession. Moreover, nobody seemed inclined to do anything about it, like putting another barrel on. I run a bar myself, and if I ran it like that I'd be out of a job.
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I believe drinking up time here is 20 minutes after the last bell? In case there is any confusion there is a nice Polish lady who will transfix you with her cobra like stare and insist you leave immediately or she will break your legs. Ah traditional English hospitality, you cant beat it - WRACAJĄ POLSKA
anonymous - 17 Jan 2007 16:51 |
I was recently returning from a weekend sabbatical in Oxfordshire with my good lady wife when we came across this hostelry conveniently situated on the route back to our pied a terre at Harrow on the Hill. Whilst the group of hooded youngsters outside puffing kali were initially intimidating, my wife greeted them with a friendly cry of �Walk Good� and in we went. Luckily my time in Europe had not been wasted and after offering the bar staff a cheery �Dobry wieczor� we were served almost immediately. I soon realised that the handpumps were for decorative purposes only and asked to see the extensive wine list. My partner selected a fine Amontillado whilst I plumped for a full bodied Courvoisier XO Imperial cognac. Both were unfortunately unavailable but we both remarked on how unusual it was to be served warm pinot grigio from an unmarked bottle.
All in all a great pub and a truly memorable afternoon.
anonymous - 24 Dec 2006 12:59 |
in the middle of a cask real ale festival and on my visit they had none of the 36 advertised beers available - there is London Pride or so the tap says, best drunk by those looking for a day off work. Staff friendly and helpful, if overworked and then there's the management as well....
anonymous - 15 Nov 2006 18:05 |
Have visited this pub often and found it to be a great place for social meetings at anytime of the day, the atmosphere is very relaxing and the staff are very welcoming. It is always tidy (which is rare in a pub). I have noticed there is a new member of the management team who has come out of uniform and to be honest it was about time he got a promotion! he is enthusiatsic, obviously enjoys his job he is polite and professional and seems to work every hour God sends! The food is great and so is the beer garden.
Whoever wrote the above posts is obviously bitter about something.
Overall, great pub!
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Still rubbish and still being reviewed by the assistant managers family by the looks of previous comments. Avoid at all costs, unless you want to get stared out by the (big) landlady!
anonymous - 22 Mar 2006 16:07 |
Well shall we start... The pub is run by a young male assistant manager who is polite and welcoming. {he seems to do most of the running of the businness} The staff team are fantastic, very efficient and often entertaining!! The food is at a very high standard, and also of good value for money.Ale's are always on and are deffinately recommended by me! The manager is often around of a night time drinking and causing trouble, by shouting at both staff and customers. It concerns me that the managers dog is allowed free roam of the pub, when she is around. Also very worrying that friends in the company of the manager type lady are allowed to help themselves behind the bar, which on busy occassions gets under and in the way of the hard working staff. Apart from these minor set backs, the pub is a lovely place for either relaxing or catching up with friends, Also a quiet atomosphere for meetings with clients during the day.
anonymous - 16 Jan 2006 14:02 |
Really nice pub with great food. a great young assistant manager who is keen and enthusiastic, very helpful and pleasant. music low and at a nice level. Rarely see manager around but when she is around she is usually socializing and drinking but pleasant to speak to.
Willi - 29 Dec 2005 23:02 |
fantastic staff team friendly and willing to help. Nice atomosphere in pub from both regulars and staff especially assistant manager who works extremely hard. Spoilt slightly by manager who shows her face on very brief occassions and only seems to shout at staff in front of customers and drink - which seems a great shame as the pub is so lovely. Food is also amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
anonymous - 29 Dec 2005 22:51 |
