please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Revisited yesterday, as it has been refurbished. What an improvement! The refurb has been sensitively carried out, retaining much of the original character. The beers were Spitfire Gold, Bishops Finger and Whitstable Bitter, all in good condition but no Masterbrew or Spitfire Bitter. The staff were friendly and the food very good. We had burgers but the fish looked good as well and was being praised by our adjacent table. The pub seems to be moving towards a table service but the prices were reasonable for this type of location, adjacent to the harbour. Will definitely return soon.
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Revisited this pub recently and were a little disappointed. The food was pretty awful. Bottled beer from the chiller was warm, although the Masterbrew was O.K. This pub seems to have lost its way which is a shame as due to its location it could be little goldmine. Shepherds Neame management need to take a close look at the pub as I think they are missing an opportunity.
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To misquote the excellent 'League of Gentlemen', you do get the impression that this is 'a local pub for local people'. Walking in with assorted relatives, it wasn't quite like the Yorkshire pub in the film 'An American Werewolf in London' - but was close, with various local 'characters' monopolizing the bar.
The pub has a pleasant nautical theme, with assorted knots and charts on the walls. The range of Shepherd Neame beers was good. I had the Bishops Finger, was was tasty and reasonably priced. They even served my wife a cup of coffee! Although the landlord sneered when I asked if they served Latte.
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There were 2 barmaids behind the bar, one chatting to a customer the other serving. I sat at a barstool, put my money and keys on the bar and waited to be served.
No eye contact or acknowledgement from either barmaid, then a local came in, stood next to me and barked a drinks order as the barmaid finished serving. Still no eye contact from either staff or customer; the customer seemed to notice me looking at him but carried on regardless, ordering a very long round and having a very long conversation with the barmaid in the process.
I eventually got fed up with waiting and, even though I'd driven 10 miles or so to get there, decided to take my business elsewhere and went to the Two Sawyers in Pett, where bar staff and locals alike make a point of welcoming and respecting visitors, which is probably why they are very successful and the William seems to be struggling to survive.
I went hoping to see a band, but came away just feeling angry...beware!
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The interior is slightly shabby and dated, but in a characterful way. Visited last week and had excellent fresh crab sandwich with good bread. Beer was very good too. Really enjoyed the visit.
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Crikey, what bad reviews. We arrived during the very first warm and sunny Sunday afternoon in January and the place was buzzing. Lucky to find a seat, there were plenty of dogs (mostly well behaved) and children. Too late for the crab sandwiches though which was a shame. Nothing DULL about the wonderful Shepherd Neame beers. We shall return one lunchtime midweek when we'll have more time and space to enjoy the place. Tatty? I've seen worse. The nature reserve and harbour was terrific.
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Pretty dire type of place. Nothing going for it apart from the harbour location. Surly barmaid and odd clientele. Not worth the bother to be honest.
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Beer (usual SN range) was OK here & nice situation on the river, but pretty basic inside & I was overcharged for the drinks. Also overheard a diner complaining that her pie was cold inside. Don't think I'll be coming back.
Floyd - 30 May 2010 17:06 |
Tatty but about to be decorated when I visited last week. Not a bad pub at all really in that friendly, down to earth tatty around the edges manner. Beer was good, usual dull, dull, dull SN range though and though I never ate the food coming out of the kitchen looked very good indeed.
Rye Harbour is a great little spot to sit and watch the sun go down (especially with the wildlife reserve right next to the harbour and the marvellous walks around the area) whilst enjoying a beer and this is the perfect spot to do it.
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best pub in rye. friendly staff, good food. great atmosphere. great music in summer evenings. brilliant friday nights, spend most of my weekends in there. its a proper fishermans pub. just watch out for bernies football trivia (he makes it up)
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I like this place - in a tatty, run down sort of a way.
It is the ideal antidote to some of the Abigails Party type establishments (in Rye proper), that cater for the pink polo shirted and grey slip on shoe brigade who take the place over on summer weekends.
Long may its shabbiness continue.
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difficult one.it is tatty and has lino floors,but bernie the gaffer does no frills stuff here and i accept it for that.ive found the beer ok,the wine is cheap and ok when youve swallowed the first mouthful{it never fails to make dad and i shudder} and is as cheap as chips. we adore the crab sarnies and the fried "bish and bips" are good.i wouldnt venture to much more.i dont think berie professes to be a chef.at the end of the season bernie longs for it all to be over so he can start closing in he afternoon.dont expect much and i would tend to go when its sunny so you can sit outside.bernie always maes kids welcome and when my very young terrier disgraced his-self in the bar,the owner didnt bat an eyelid,just passed out a mop and said thats why hes happy with lino.im not going to say make sure you go here,but im drawn here for some reason and really dont feel its as bad as a 2.4,im going to sit on the fence and say i dont know.if your down in the harbour bird watching in the reserve it will get you out of trouble.
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Basic Neame pub, little tatty round the edges. BUt thats good - I like my pubs to look like pubs and not like a hospital waiting room (take not Puzzle Pub Co.). Barstaff were excellent and friendly. The 'Boom was awful and flat. I didn't stay for a second pint.
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A few years back a nice old couple used to run this place, Ken, i think was his name, hers I forget. Visiting this pub way back then it was busy and on a weekend absoloutly packed... so what has happened now?
Not that I blame Shepherd Neame entirely, but WHY!!! Exensive beer, kept reasonably well, but still Shepherd Neame. Why do they destroy pubs so?
Graced only by it's location!
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A dump to say the least with rubbish food, enough.
anonymous - 25 Oct 2006 07:35 |
Shepherd Neame pub right at the end of the village, appears to have originally been a beach hut so no marks for interior decor. But very well kept and food menu extensive & reasonably priced. 6/10.
Darren in the City - 9 Nov 2004 10:12 |
