please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Please refer to communication below to Greene King for my latest opinion;
I have visited this pub several times. Due to it being just about the only pub within walking distance of my workplace, I unfortunately don’t really have an alternative. The building up of angst over several years and it’s achievement in never failing to disappoint has finally compelled me to write
The “pub” has a dartboard. In order to play darts, the following items are generally needed; a dartboard, darts, lights, chalk & a cloth. I’d say this is quite basic knowledge, especially for a landlord. However, the likelihood of all these items being available at the same time is akin to that of Halley’s Comet being visible from Earth
Chalk seems to be a particular problem. Despite repeated requests, it’s high cost (64p for a box of 12 sticks on Amazon. 64p!!!! Can you believe it???) and it’s scarcity in Berkshire (it must be nearly 100 yards to the nearby shop I tell you) precludes a stick from ever being held behind the bar
Not many people play darts, so bring your own, the ever helpful staff behind the bar say. Thanks for that. If there isn’t that many people drinking wine, will I need to bring my own wine glass to enjoy a drop?
It might be worth considering that not many people play darts there because they simply can’t. I reckon there wouldn’t be that many people playing pool either if there were no balls or cues or if they had to play in the dark
The budget for its “refurb” at the back of end last year also appeared to fall just short of the cost of 2 light bulbs. The cost of the garish wallpaper in the darts corner which makes you feel slightly queasy was well within but 2 new bulbs to light up the board? No chance. That’ll take an extra 2 months. Until then, you can just play when the sun’s out
If they don’t want people playing darts there, then get rid of the board. I personally very much enjoy a game of darts and disposing of the board gives me one less reason (well, the last reason to be frank) to visit said establishment
I have a long list built up over the years of how this pub has failed and disappointed me. On my most recent visit, the person serving my drink referred to it as “disgusting”, which was charming. I wonder how they’d react in a restaurant if a waiter referred to their choice of dish in the same manner. The dart board though remains a particular bugbear. How I yearn for the husband and wife team that were running it back in 2009…
Yours sincerely,
D.Gruntled (Royal Berks.)
P.S. Amazon deliver as well
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Yet another makeover...still has it's problems but the barmaid Katie makes the place. Best barmaid they have ever had.
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This pub used to be great until just before Christmas 2010. There used to have a well-liked husband and wife team running it who actually knew how to run a pub! They went during the autumn of 2010 to be replaced by another couple who were very good but didn't stay long. Since their departure I'm afraid that The Bridge has really gone downhill again.
It's never very busy. We went in there on a Friday evening to eat and despite posters outside advertising that food is served until 9pm everyday we were told that the kitchen had closed at 8pm due to the landlady running an Ann Summers party in the pub! We struggled to find anywhere to sit because the pub had been set up like a tacky street market with clothes rails and racks everywhere displaying bras etc. Ridiculous!
I've tried this place a couple of times since but there's been no improvement. I think a lot of people have given up on it. Shame really, it used to be very good.
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A lunch stop the day before Christmas eve. IPA was on good form today and the food was good. I'm not a regular in this place but my experience is that this place has improved compared to where it was a couple of year ago.
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Management has changed again unfortunately. Early days yet but judging by their first Friday lunchtime going back towards bad old days of stupidly long waits and general chaos when trying to get served. Let's give them a chance though
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I too got a message through this site from the Landlord indicating the change in management and beers. There is no doubt that the place looks smarter and the service / welcome is much better. When I arrived there seemed to be a Greene King guy sampling the beers and ticking boxes so I was expecting a great pint. The comment I put last time was "A bit cloudy but drinkable" and dissapointingly the IPA I had this time can be described in exactly the same way. Food on the other hand was good. The pub is certainly moving in a better direction and I hope the beer quality and consistency does improve because Central Bracknell is so in need of a good boozer,
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Have been frequent critic of this place but will say is worth giving it another go. New husband and wife team running it and as well as being genial and helpful, also actually know how to run a pub. Has had a 4 day refurb and while not massively different, is a definite improvement. More attention being paid to the real ales with the promise of traditional cider to come. Landlord knows his ales too and took the time to send me message on here to outline his plans for improvement
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Dying on its feet.
Empty most nights.
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Went in The Bridge for a Friday lunch pint. Had a pint of green king IPA which was a bit cloudy but drinkable. The food was average. Not the sort of place to be making a special trip too but OK.
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OK. Have criticised this establishment before, twice, so feel it only fair to give it a bit of credit when due. Dartboard was somehow stolen without anyone noticing which I thought was typical of this place. However, it was quickly replaced, unlike the nozzle previously mentioned. The bar staff have definitely improved and are much more friendly and attentive to your needs and do remember your round now. Only frequent it at lunchtimes but friend who goes in evenings says it's not as bad as I make out. Not sure of that and heard of at least 2 reports of trouble in evening. Still not my cup of tea really but is improving
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Have already reviewed this establishment but felt moved to update. It doesn't get any better. Posters advertise buy one meal, get one free, all day Mon-Fri. They neglect to say they don't serve food after 2. They have one nozzle (still) for both the normal and extra cold Guinness which they have to keep unscrewing and moving depending on the order. When entering pub, we were only customers and there was one barstaff. As we approached the bar, they decided to make a phone call. Continue avoiding. Only go here for the dartboard since the nearby Royal Standard sadly closed down
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Rough and getting a bad reputaion. Member of staff badly attacked last year.
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Is awful. Gormless, slow staff with memory of a goldfish who can't even get the basics right. Always bizarre but mostly bad music pumping out of speakers. Usually frequented at lunchtimes by locals eager to spend thier benefits with thier offspring alongside in prams, apart from Fridays when inhabited by irritating office types. Has dartboard but even this is in poor state of repair. Drive the extra 5 minutes to Binfield
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Quite simply the worst pub i have ever had the misfortune to visit. Absloutely disgusting. Ignorant slow staff. If youre not eating the processed microwaved shit that they sell then expect to be treated with disdain. Cant really be called a pub. Horrid.
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The Bridge has it's good days and its bad. As you enter the pub you do get the feeling that everyone has turned to look at you, but that 'western saloon' syndrome is by no means exclusive to The Bridge. The bar staff are pleasant enough, although sometimes service is a little slow. The range of beers is fairly standard for Bracknell boozers, and caters predominently for the tracksuited, lager swilling idiots who inhabit any new town. The Bridge actually claims to be a real ale pub (or as near as a Bracknell pub can be) and I have indeed had many a decent pint in there over the years. However, the ale often runs out quickly, and is sometimes not looked after that well. The choice is also limited to just two beers (not including bog standards like John Smiths or GK IPA)
The food is pretty good. Their 'Deluxe Burger Menu' is excellent, as is their Steak and Ale pie served with mash and peas, although the pie is better in the afternoon, than it is in the early evening, by which time the meat resembles Pedigree Chum. They have a curry night, and a weekly poker club. Generally, the Bridge is ok. I dont like the banks of TV's pumping sport at you all day long, but I accept that many do. Not bad. Best visited at lunch time IMO.
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Had the misfortune to frequent this disaster one lunchtime with a few work collegues. Wisely I didn't order the food like them which was not only late but the initial order wasn't even available. And to make matters worse the barman/manager who is straight out of a carry on film took the p*ss about the food not being 'on the menu'. A very strange pub which also attracts the typical Bracknell crowd - thirty/fortysomething/male/likes football/yob/self employed/idiot. Nope I won't be buying that for a dollar.
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Visited on Thursday 15th December 2005 on the basis that it is a Cask Marque establishment only to find that no real ale was available at all!
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Decent pub. Dunno what it's like at night, but a great place for lunch. Close to the Western Industrial Estate, so pretty popular for lunchers. Food can be ordered over the phone in advanced and is a good quality. Staff are friendly and the landlord is a good crack. It's also pretty good for football, with one large screen, with good sound and several small screens. There's 3 pool tables for those who like a game of pool and a 'comfy seating' area too.
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Interesting pub, London Pride is the only proper beer, they seem to run our on tuesdays... Has Bar Billiards, several pool tables, darts and Big TV.
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