please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Gastropub, eclectic decor, guy on piano struggling through pop standards. Currently £4 for pint of Badger, bring plenty of cash if you plan to eat. Worth a visit if you're in the area.
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I popped in just before Christmas to see if the reviews are accurate. I was asked if I'd come for dinner as soon as I approached the bar (or is it a piano storage area?) which is always very irritating for a man seeking a pint at the end of the working day.
I asked for a pint of Badger First Gold. The (French?) barman drew off a hazy pint, placed it in front of me and annouced, 'That'll be �3.80 please.'
For the first time in my life I challenged the price and he told me it was designed to keep out the local 'riff raff!'
It will keep me out as well, for ever. I'll be going to the Winterbourne Arms in future.
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Agree with edb543. I live locally and have only popped in once since the relaunch to see what it was like. Excellent service, nice atmosphere, emphasis definitely on food.
Now known just as "The Halfway". The "Inn" part was dropped when they repainted it!
Also for info re posts below, The White Hart at Hamstead Marshall has closed.
With a large amount of bias (as it's my local), go to The Downgate in Hungerford for superb beer ...
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New management.
New style of bar.
Now strong emphasis on a good menu. Nice restaurant area. Piano player in the corner. Maintains a very nice beer garden for beer drinkers, always a good local lager on tap (rare).
I love it, well worth checking out.
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Anonymous' comments are irrelevant given this pub has changed hands twice since he/she/it went in 2006.
Come on Mr Woodhouse, get someone who knows what they are doing here and don't over rent the pub so they make no money - easy isn't it!
As for recommending other pubs and cynicism, well Mr Dazell Piper at the Dundas is probably the rudest licensee in Berkshire so make up your own mind.
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Now under new management (again). I have never known a pub to change guv'nors as frequently as this one. there seems to be a new one every nine months or so.
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There's not a lot of difference between the Halfway & the White Hart & frankly I wouldn't use either of them. If you want food, you'd do better to go to the Red House at Marsh Benham or Dundas Arms at Kintbury & if you want a beer, go to the Blue Ball or Prince of Wales at Kintbury.
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The thing with anonymous reviews that slate a pub and specifically recommend another pub nearby is that it's difficult not to treat them with cynicism. Could the review below (27 Sep 2006), I wonder, have been contributed by someone connected with The White Hart?
My first time visit there (family get-together over the Easter weekend) featured excellent service, good food, interesting range of beers and a lovely garden to enjoy the sunshine in. There are open log fires inside for the colder months, and an overall friendly vibe.
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This is the worst pub for miles! Absolutely crap service. Saw some people get up and leave one Sunday because they were ignored. Food was below average too. Won't go back again until they get taken over by some decent tenants. Go to The White Hart, Hampstead Marshall instead.
anonymous - 27 Sep 2006 18:38 |
