please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
We visited 3 of the 4 pubs around the courtyard yesterday, starting with Rigby's. It was busy with people watching the North London football derby on TVs. There were also plenty of Red and Blue Santas who had been doing the annual Santa dash. Ales were Okell's Bitter & IPA, Fuller's London Pride, Pogue Mahone's Irish Bitter, Thornbridge Strawberry Lucaria & Ossett Yorkshire Blonde. Still a decent pub.
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One of those 'all human life' is here places albeit with a heavy bias towards the male of the species. Good ales from both sides of the Pennines and friendly punters, it sums up what Liverpool is, a hard drinking, sociable, non nonsense and characterful city.
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Popped in on our mini crawl. First time Shandy Chica had heard the bell for last orders. Still as good as I remember with the unusual Mann ales.
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Good place to eat if you're doing a crawl in this area. But I'm yet to have a decent pint! Courtyard is the Mecca of Liverpool in summer.
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A decent selection of ales last weekend but eye-wateringly expensive for Liverpool. £4:30 for a low strength pale ale is far too dear.
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Over the years have been in here many times. Was rather disappointed on this visit. Although the welcome was friendly and atmosphere good, the ale quality was just about average. I ate here for the first time and found the food just average and the ''hand cut chips'' very feeble. 6/10 on this visit.
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Rigby's was one of 4 pubs we visited yesterday afternoon, along with the Lion, Ranelagh's Tavern and the Sanctuary. The latter two are not listed on here. It's been a while since I've been in here. But little has changed. It was packed on our Friday visit, with little space to manoeuvre in the bar area. The courtyard at the rear was also busy. However for the first time, we sat in the room at the back, where there were spare tables and where it actually feels quite quiet, compared with the rest of the pub. The ale selection wasn't the best. Okell's Bitter & IPA are the 2 regular ales. They also had Castletown Ale from Okell's and 3 other guests - Kirkstall Pale Ale, Lancaster English Pale Ale & Exit 33 Thirst Aid. With no dark beers or ciders, there was nothing particular to suit me. So I resorted to a Thistly Cross cider from a bottle. Still fails to hit the spot.
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Decent pub, excellent ales but needs to turn the central heating down!
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Split between the lounging/eating area and the public bar, with a large outdoor seating area, coat hangers on the bar which is a nice touch. 6 ales on, 3 from Okell's and at least one local beer, a few American craft berrs in the fridge including Firestone brewery from California which I have never seen before in the UK. I went for a pint of Okell's IPA at 3.10 that was well kept and quite nice, bar maid was friendly. Not really a proper pub or anything, feels a bit dated but not in a scruffy way, quite interesting to look around at. Quite a friendly bar but I don't think it's worth hanging around for more than one. Seems to reserve tables for groups (presumably eaters) which is a shame.
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Not as crowded as I remember it a few years ago. Still a good range of ales and a range of ages amongst the customers. Worth a visit if in the city centre.
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After visits to the Ship & Mitre and the Vernon, we continued along Dale Street to Rigbys. It's been a while since I've been in here. We rarely get this far along the street. Having met the owners a few months ago in Ukraine, I decided to try it out once again. Inside is still quite nice. But it's always difficult to find a seat. Yesterday was no different, as many were in to watch the live football. We retreated to the outdoor courtyard, which also has a TV screen and was also packed. But we found a corner to stand. Had a quick look in the Lady of Mann that shares the same courtyard. But the ale range in there wasn't the best. In Rigbys itself they had Okells Bitter, IPA & Saison, Jennings Dark Mild, Purple Moose Snowdonia Ale & Odyssey Bootlegger. Real cider is no longer stocked. Ok for a quick drink if you're down this way.
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Plenty of character. Good ales, Okells Isle of Man excellent. Helpful friendly bar staff.
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My first try of Okells beer and I enjoyed it. Good vibrant atmosphere at tea time with a mixture of football fans before the Everton game and workers. A bit quieter after 10pm on my return when I tried the excellent HB Dunkel, even if it was £4.50! Friendly lads behind the counter.
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Decent selection of ales in good condition. Lively atmosphere and bar staff were quick off the mark and knowledgeable. I'll be happy to return next time I'm in Liverpool.
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I like the Rigby, perhaps it's the spit and sawdust feel to it which seems a little out of place in such a "posh" district, or perhaps it's the honest well-kept Okell's beer, or then it could be the staff who are very professional. Mind you it can get a bit roudy, but then it is a pub after all. Apart from the aforesaid Okell's, there was a very good Buxton Bitter.
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First time back in ages. Glad to say nothing much has changed.
The Okells IPA was good, but other hand pumps seemed to have a little German theme going on. Very pleasent curry as well.
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Hadn't been to Rigbys for a while. With the Ship & Mitre, Vernon and the Lion nearby, it rarely gets a look in. Nevertheless, I ventured there yesterday. The place was just as busy as ever on a matchday and the interior is still the same Rigbys. Beers were also good - Nutbrook Responsibly, Clearwater Devon Dympsy, Okells IPA & Bitter, Jennings Dark Mild, Lancaster Blonde & Bays IPA. Although sadly they no longer serve a real cider, having scrapped the Thatchers Cheddar Valley due to lack of sales.
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I went for Sunday roast only to find there where no Yorkshire puddings on it.
After it took me ten minutes to pull the waitress away from the weekly horoscopes magazine of the Sunday Mirror I asked where's my Yorkshire pudding, answer "Oh the chefs off today so there is none". So if your thinking of going it seems you need to check who's working,You may get what you pay for or you may not!
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Strange how a CAMRA GBG listed pub refuses to give a taster of their ales.Bar man said they were not allowed to do this.Not a very good way to encourage customers when all other real pubs are happy to. See the Lion for how a bar should be run. Having said that there was a good selection of beers and mine was well kept.
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A bit disappointed as they seem to have a set of new staff, went in a week or so ago and asked the young lady for a pint of Amstel and was met with a blank expresson, "Whats that, I dont knowi if we sell it?!" Enough said...........
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Decent enough beer and liked the way you can move between this pub & the Lady of Mann without having to buy another beer!
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So it's not just me who has noticed the "tormented staff" !
Anyway, I came here last week when it was very warm outside and on seeing the packed beer garden down the alley I thought it would take ages to get served, but once inside I got served straight away and had the whole Admiral Nelson room (or whatever it's called) to myself.
Not as many guest ales as they have in the other Okells pub in Liverpool, the Fly In The Loaf, but I always get a pint of Thatchers Gold when I come here anyway which is now sadly more than �3.00 a pint. :-(
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An unchaging pub, which is a good thing here. Go on a dinnertime its full of banker types and folks in suites, its always been this way. Beers quite good and plenty of them and always changing. Yes the staff seem a bit fed up, but you get served ok. Seating not changed for donkeys years, wooden in parts, thats what makes these places. How many different bank notes can you spot behind the bar? Enjoy while you can. A dying breed of pub unfortunatly. Well worth a visit to this historic pub.
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Not a bad pub.It's starting to look run down and maybe its time for a full refurbishment but the ale is not bad, you get served fast and the food is excellent.
It's the best pub on Dale Street and it's close to the train station so i like it.
As some have commented it is quiet an expensive pub and it is better then the Ship & Mitre.
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Whenever I've been there, the staff don't look too happy but I have been served in a prompt and timely manner. I had dinner there once and the poor bar guy kept tripping and dropped a condiment tray. There were sachets everywhere. It's very spartan. It's all hard wooden stairs, floors and tables. No-one ever smiles.
You can get away from the tormented staff by going into Rigby's beer garden. It's quite a magical experience, as suddenly you notice there are two other pubs sharing the same space.
Overall, it feels a bit like a train station but the garden makes up for it. Nowhere to escape to in winter though.
.
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There are quite a lot of pubs like this in Liverpool. Not really my taste as you feel like you are at Butlins but they had a wide choice of ales and ciders.Obviously an employee isn't going to spend much time on public relations,so a very impersonal place. As others have commented there are better places only minutes away
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Long bar to the right as you go in with dining area the other side of it and a few rooms to the back. Was quite busy when we went in. Tried the Okells IPA which was drinkable but nothing brilliant. the place has a thorughother feel to it and not somewhere to linger really.
anonymous - 3 Jan 2011 15:48 |
Rigby's is still very much an essential part of any crawl of the Dale Street area. But I feel it has gone ever so slightly downhill over the past year. The atmosphere yesterday was a little muted, with far fewer customers than on recent visits. Beers on were Blackwater Boogie Woogie, Grafton Jazz, Teignworthy Levitation & Bristol's Ale, Holdens Mild and Okells Bitter & IPA. Westons Traditional Scrumpy was the real cider. A wide range of bottles is still available. Everton items can still be seen behind the bar, giving a clue to where allegiances may lie. I'm sure I'll be back. But there's definitely several better pubs in Liverpool.
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The pub is a good pub selling good beer and good food.The staff are great but are always very nervous during the day time,i think this has something to do with the hag of a manager who always stands at the end of the bar.She even can put the customers off there pint.It's not a cheap pub in fact it is very expensive for a run down city centre boozer.
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Based on a half hour spent here one Saturday lunch time my impression was that this is a fine pub interior wise, but underwhelming when it came to service. I was served briskly, but with nothing more forthcoming in the way of personality. Assembly line came to mind. However the Okells was well kept, and there seemed an interesting range of other ales on offer - though not cheap as previously commented on . Perhaps it has hidden depths during busier periods, but the atmosphere was lacking somewhat.
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Well worth participating in if your taking in Dale Street's finest - The Vernon, The Ship.
Staff really friendly and good at their job - despite being packed with the office crowds at times, you rarely wait more than a few seconds to be served.
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Went here last week for my usual pint of Okells IPA. Had my �2.60 ready and the land lady said "that'll be �2.70" and blamed it on Alistair Darling!
Not long til the �3.00 pint in Liverpool!
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Myself and 7 other people including family went into this pub hoping for a full english breakfast which we were told was still being served. After we were given our drinks, however, we were told that there were no more breakfasts available, we explained that we wouldnt have ordered our drinks had we known that we wouldnt be having a breakfast, the barman just shrugged, we promptly paid for our drinks and left. I do not recommend this pub if you are looking for a breakfast as chances are theyll be none left
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Great choice of real ales and efficient pleasant service. Nice and tidy inside - well maintained and workmanlike. Reliably good.
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Two Okells plus offerings from Newman, Saltaire and Hadrian & Borders. Decent selection of foreign beer on draught and in bottles including 10% N'Ice Chouffe, "Green" Duvel and fruit beers. Screens showing diffent games, we stayed in the first room but looked like there was plenty of space in rooms further back. Excellent.
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Spent most of last Friday afternoon in the back room here with a bunch of mates where we enjoyed a three course Christmas meal which I washed down with 6 pints of Okell's Bitter. The whole visit was excellent.
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Second visit here, still a great place. Good beer choice inc bottles from far and wide. Ate here on first visit & was good.
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Large open Okells pub, and at 11.50 there were already a few fellow Colchester fans here. Had a pint of the Okells bitter which was pleasant, and the staff were very friendly, the young lad serving asked if I wanted the sparkler off as one of my fellow fans is a stickler for non-sparkler beer � but my motto in the North is when in Rome.. Landlord (presumably) an Everton fan had a chat about our 5-0 defeat in the cup in 1971. Good pub and 7.5/10. Visited 26/9/2009
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The best of 4 pubs we tried last weekend in Liverpool. Real ales on during our visit were Okells Bitter, Okells IPA, Saltaire Rye Smile, White Horse Village Idiot, Brew Dog 77 Lager and another called Darling Bud. Westons Traditional Scrumpy is available and a Thatchers cider was also listed on a board. But I couldn't see this one. A good choice if you are in this area of Liverpool.
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One of my favourite pubs in Liverpool and always my first or second call when enjoying the Dale Street crawl. Rigbys is a multi room pub, smaller than the outside would suggest. To the right when entering is a panelled dining room with the tap room proper to the left. The bar counter runs down one side and there is a more secluded room with a vaguely nautical / Nelsonian theme at the back, a raised alcove like area to the back left and a large courtyard which is shared with the Lady of Mann. As this is Liverpool there are the inevitable sports screens of various sizes. Unusual wood and leaded glass bar and pretty grape mouldings over the front leaded windows. Good quality Okells bitter and IPA always on sale plus up to six changing guests from regional and micro breweries. As with the larger Fly there is a wide range of European bottled and keg beers, and of course the UK keg drinker is also catered for. Although like the Fly it is run by Okells there is a definite difference in style between the two pubs, Rigbys being a little rougher in every way to the well polished Fly, here the punters are a bit older and sometimes include obnoxious suits, the staff are a little less on the ball, but definitely still a classic.
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This is an Okells pub, so it�s a sister pub to the excellent Fly In The Loaf. This pub is also very good in its own special way. There are three rooms, the one to the left is where the main bar is situated, this was packed on out visit at about 6 on Friday. Good selection of ale with Okells bitter and IPA being offered alongside 4 guest ales. Some tables and chairs in this room, but it seems to be aimed more at the stand up drinkers. The room at the back is small and comfortable and filled with dining tables and chairs. The room to the right is also aimed at dining but we managed to find a seat and were told that they were happy for us to sit in here as long as they didn�t run out of spaces for diners. This room is table service even for your drinks and has some good looking wooden panelling and some stained glass. I tried a pint of Holdens Thigh Bones and a Wooden Hand Cribben Ale. Both were excellent. I wish Okells ran more pubs on the mainland judging by the quality of the ones I know. It�s a really good pub.
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Top pub
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Not a bad place at all, can get packed during weekday evenings (office people) but there is a courtyard out the back to sit out and chill. Staff are friendly and attentive and the beer is good. Only downside is the food is too expensive, but aside from that - very good indeed.
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Just like Liverpools other Okells pub, the Fly in the Loaf, Rigby's offers a wonderful range of draught and bottled beers.
Before Okells took over, this pub was a dump now it is one of the most popular pubs in the city centre. Nice wooden panels on the walls and a courtyard at the back of the pub. Can get very busy at night.
I have only eaten here once and although the food was very good it was expensive,
Well worth a visit.
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Pleasant pub with a garden out the back. The beer was good and the staff friendly. Only wish we'd have had time to eat there but had to dash for the train. So many good pubs in Liverpool - note to self - must go back and stay longer.
chick - 17 Sep 2008 12:40 |
This public house is fantastic,one of the best pubs i have ever been to.The real ale is great but the food is out of this world.The local dish "Scouse" is on offer a bargin at �9.95 a bowel.I was informed by head chef David Lee that it is all made with fresh local ingredients.The steak and Okells pie is nice and it comes with hand made proper chips.Sunday roast is served every sunday.The roast beef is the best it comes with homemade yorkshire pudding,fresh locally sourced vegetables,homemade roast potatoes and proper red wine gravy.pastry chef David Hassell makes all the desserts in house including homemade apple pie,spotted dick,sticky toffee pudding and locally sourced blackberry crumble with English custard.FANTASTIC!!!!1
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Good range of beers, reasonably priced. Can get very busy in the evening though. Large terrace out the back. Best to visit in the afternoon if you just want a quiet drink.
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Very large pub situated on Dale Street it is difficult to miss. We had a meal in the restaurant section which was very expensive (�2.75 for a small plate of chips!). Overall for a club sandwich, chips, glass of wine & half an IPA it came to over �15. Staff were friendly & the place is clean but I doubt I could afford to visit on a regular basis.
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Think the front bar, which is more atmospheric, should be open again now. Excellent food place, serves delicious food all day from a decent and varied menu, with good service too. Easily the best pub for food on this side of town.
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On our visit, the front bar is being done up, so we could only go in the back, which is a little drab. The beer is good though and the service happy and smiling with a decent choice. I hadn't been in here before, but will visit again, hopefully when the front is re opened.
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Landlady reckons Real Ale " Costs them money" so won't give out a taster glass. " You wouldn't go into Tesco and ask to taste something" (I have on the deli counter) And she says "No other pubs do round here except the Ship & Mitre" I named four other pubs within yards that do. " It's company policy not to give tasters" ( I'll be checking with Okells) The only taster had been requested by the ONE of us out of four who don't drink real ale so he ended up with his usual bottle of p*ss with a lime in the top. ( He enjoyed the pint of Cains he drank after they gave him a taster in Dr Duncans!). Not her fault that the kitchens were shut that night for refurbishment and we could'nt eat there and the food is normally great but I've spent a lot of money in there over the years and won't be going back because of her attitude. Shame really!
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Had a nice last drink of the night here on Saturday. Can't remember what I had but it was very good and almost certainly an Okells beer.
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Intersting multi-roomed pub serving Okells beers and guests from micros. Staff were fiendly, and some of our party had food here. I enjoyed the real ales from Barum and Hornbeam breweries.
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Fabulous pub serving IoM (purity law)beers, the food was pretty good too.
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Called in while doing a crawl of Liverpool and enjoyed the Gales beer I had here.
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After 6 or 7 over the last two years, I'd agree with "anonymous" that it does have a bit of a plasticky atmosphere, especially when full - and it gets very full! The friendliness does seem a bit practised on occasions. I prefer traditional pubs to be that way naturally, not have "tradition" manufactured and installed with the new decor. I call them MFI pubs! However, beer quality is usually excellent, so I still visit occasionally for that reason, but reluctantly.
Also, some staff seem to have picked up the apalling habit of assuming that they are entitled to keep the odd 20p or 30p change from a tenner, or similar, without it being offered. This has been on the increase in Liverpool, not just in Rigby's.
7/10 for beer quality, 3/10 for atmosphere.
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quite a pub actually, yet to try the food but the beer is nearly always on top form, and even if they don't serve one you want, some of the bar staff will actually reccomend a pub that does. top place to go for a pint in the middle of the day, just don't try squeezing inside on the Mathew Street Festival, you won't!
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I tried to get something to eat here at abt 7.02pm & was told they stop serving at 7pm. Grrrr. Being called "darlin'" by the cute Southern barmaid didn't make up for this annoying service. The place has a bit of a plastic chain & tourist pub feel to me. They're getting rave reviews & awards for their food though (beer & food matching, etc) but I've yet to eat there yet . . . harumph :~)
anonymous - 23 May 2007 21:02 |
This is a great old Liverpool pub with really good cask ales and a big selection of bottled continental beers. It has a non smoking room and very good quality food. You might complain about the prices but everything is top quality so dont expect to pay coppers for a beer which has been imported from some obscure place in eastern europe The house bitter is Okells but there is always a selection of guest ales, all immaculately kept and in top condition. The lunchtime trade is mainly suits but as the day progresses real people move in. I asked the barman Ian for a recommendation and he gave me a smoked beer. I wasnt sure but it proved to be very interesting. Will it be on sale after 1 July?
anonymous - 6 Mar 2007 15:32 |
This pub is great! Going to Liverpool once a year, we ALWAYS have our lunch (fish & Chips + red wine (!)) here. Absolutely friendly staff, especially Gerard. WE LOVE YOU!
Roger and Morty
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the other facilities we offer are not displayed on your web site. 40 = continental beers availablle, 8 cask and food served 11.30 - 7pm. very large courtyard area at the rear of the pub.
anonymous - 5 Feb 2007 12:37 |
This is a very nice pub, with a great range of ale. However, if you plan on a night out here, sell your house as it aint cheap.
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Busy, friendly pub with good range of real ales and mainland European beers.
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I am not keen on this pub really. It reminds me of one of those pubs from the 1970's. In fairness though it is a popular pub and the beer is okay.
anonymous - 17 Nov 2006 23:56 |
Its a good pub this, nice food and great beers. Rear yard is nice for sitting out in. Waitress service for your ale in the back room which is handy.
Downsides - can get packed as the city workers all make a beeline for this place, also can get a bit smokey / dusty sometimes. But overall - good outweighs the bad.
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Busy pub, nice atmosphere, outside area at the back with good level of "talent". Reasonable pint of Okells bitter. Will visit again
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I rather think that Rigby's is overrated. Unlike its sister pub 'The Fly', it always feels dirty and untidy. The floor is frequently sticky and the toilets are grim indeed.
In mitigation the quality and selection of beers on offer is good, and apparently there is a smoke-free zone. Perhaps someone forgot to turn the air-filters off when I visited last.
If ever a pub was in need of a 'bloody good clean' it is this one. Nice beer, shame about the place!
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Conveniently just down the road from the Ship & Mitre. nice refurbed type of pub, good food im told and a smoke free zone for the those not wanting to breathe in the toxins. A nice mild was on and will sup again here when back in the City.
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Excellent beer selection. 1st class food (before 1900h!) and very friendly staff. Top class
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i like this pub - unlike the ship and mitre down the road its smart inside so you can take yer mates that like to stick to corporate lager and still enjoy a more unusal beer yourself.
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Fabulous pub if you like real beer.
Kolsch and Erdingers are fantastic beers which go down very easily, especially in the summer.
There is a no smoking area, but it's not very big.
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great refurbishment of an old tetleys house, 8 cask ales, over 30 world beers - 7 draught and the rest in bottles. beer courtyard protected from the main road, lots of plants and herbs giving it a lovely outlook whilst enjoying your many pints! the food is available til 7 every day and is all freshly cooked on the premises. really traditional pub with great staff - they are efficient and friendly too.
stephen watkin - 14 Aug 2004 14:43 |
