please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Very good ale of what appears to be their own concoction. Lovely atmosphere of an evening and set far enough back from the sea front that you don''t get so many plebs in there. Friendly staff. Essential pub for visitors to Hastings.
|
The FILO brewery offers distinctive, high quality beers, including the ultra hoppy Churches Pale, the classic Crofters bitter, Cardinal porter, premium Gold and the ginger infused Old Town Tom. The pub also offers some of the best home cooked bar food in Hastings - none of your heated up freezer foods and the goujons of cod are especially recommended as an upmarket version of fish and chips.
The decor is quaint but the ambience manages to make both the diners and the beer drinkers feel comfortable.
|
As mentioned by previous reviewers this is the official Filo Brewery tap.
The wife and I visited here late afternoon on a Saturday, it’s another busy pub in the old town area no spare seats so it was standing room only until someone left.
An older style pub with a large fireplace / well in the middle of the bar near the toilets, carpeted throughout in a 1980’s family home style!
5 of their ales on, this is a new brewery for me so I had a pint of Churches @ 4.2%, in addition to the 5 FILO ales they also had Adnams Broadside on.
We only stopped for as long as it took us to drink our drinks, a nice enough pub and maybe on my next visit I’ll work through the taps and spend a bit longer here.
|
I had high hopes. Yes, range of ales is good, however they were very badly kept (I tried three). Cannot make up my mind if interior irks because they couldn't be bothered to spend money on an update since 1972, or if they have spent a lot of money on the 'retro' look. Either would be slovenly and unimaginative. Never mind. Many better pubs in the locale to decide from.
|
Very friendly, a good range of real ales and good food.
The first time we were there, they had a couple of superb guest ales on, one from Darkstar (Revelation?). The second time they only had their own beers (brewed just down the road) but we found at least three of them very drinkable and interesting.
|
A star with excellent range of beers and a guest.
|
Best pub in Hastings by a distance. Brilliant bitter, brewed at their brewery just up the road. Good food also.
A couple of the regulars are painful, particularly a guy who insists on loudly doing the Daily Star crossword at the bar all day, but that is the only downside.
Great pub.
|
Brilliant little pub and outstanding ale that is so unique and with so much taste than so many of the bland hoppy ales around at the moment. If only it was my local!
|
A Hastings institution that continues to please. Great mild, great IPA sampled by yours truly who left wanting more, and the usual other beers on tap. Doesn't do food on Sunday lunchtime so is idea for a quiet pint. Not just the best pub in the Old Town but one of the top five in Sussex.
|
Surprised at the last review, whatever was happening on the 27th wasn't apparent to us, as by the early evening of the 30th the bar service was excellent. Good range of beers from the Filo brewery and elsewhere in what is a nicely turned out pub tucked away in the old town part of Hastings.
|
Perhaps we caught the landlord on a bad day but he was a grumpy old *** when he served the seven of us yesterday. When we came to ordering another round it was a question of 'do we want to give him any more of our hard earned cash'?. The answer was 'no', so we left! It really isn't difficult to be nice to your customers is it?
|
Do try the TAPAS here. It is incredible. Beer was warm, as it was in my heydey, but this is to be avoided.
|
Monday lunchtime, three customers plus us two. No food Monday lunch times not even a sandwich which was a shame. I am told the food is excellent and can be busy. Churches IPA was superb as was the Porter. It was a shame that the place had so little atmosphere but well worth returning to.
|
The Cinque Ports and the FILO are in my opinion the best 2 pubs in the Old Town.
MSE12 - 20 Dec 2012 14:52 |
Good choice of real ales but wasn't to happy afterall.
My beer was warm.
We aren't in the 80's anymore and ales should be drinkable. I don't want my beer icecold but this one was roomtempature...
|
This is a great pub. I popped in here twice over the Jubilee weekend and on both occasions drank the Churches Pale Ale (I sampled the golden ale and that seemed good too). The beer was the best I had in Hastings (hence the return visit) and the whole atmosphere is just spot on. I only wish I'd seen the brewhouse itself.
|
Went in for a pint at lunchtime on Xmas Eve and stayed for several more! Good mix of people, friendly staff, warm atmosphere and a very warm fire! There were four FILO beers on - Crofters, Gold, Ginger Tom and Cardinal and complimentary bar food. The kitchens's being re-sited now that the brewery has moved up the road, so there won't be food for a few weeks but don't let that keep you away from this great pub.
|
I confirm the hair in food thing is true unfortunately, collis and I had lunch together, we were so narked off he felt the need to post a review too, nowt interesting about it I'm afraid.
|
Same complaint from two peps in two days, one of whom has never posted before.
Interesting.
Not visited pub so no rating given.
|
DO NOT EAT HERE. Found hair in our food, shocking hygiene, I wouldn't normally make such a song and dance about it, but the Landlord had the audacity to say we planted it in our meal! Cheeky bounder.
|
Absolutely disgusting place and attitude. We have eaten/drunk in this pub several times before and its been ok but it is apparent standards have slipped. Today we visited for lunch and was absolutely disgusted when we found hairs in the risotto (2 x risotto - BOTH with hair). The managements response was to suggest that we must have planted them there and effectively question are honesty. I will never be going back and would urge others to give this place a wide berth.
|
Only 1 FILO beer on our visit plus 3 guests, pleasant enough
|
Now has a bright sunny non-smoking extension at the back.
|
They brew their own ales in this establishment, with the Gold ale at 4.8SG being the best ale in our view. The pub is well managed and cater for the rugby fraternity with a flat screen TV in the extension at the rear. Good pub.
|
They have about 3 homebrews on which are nice.
There is a open fire in the middle of the pub which makes the pub very hot, too hot to my likings. Especially when you add the heat of the open kitchen mid October...
They seem to be serving more food than beer.
|
A bit of a walk from central Hastings, but worth it. Splendid pint of their home brew at a reasonable price too. There was a beer festival on, but didn't have time to sample any of the beers.
|
On Bank Holiday Saturday, found a car park so we could have a look at the Old Town, wife and I were thirsty, looked in GBG and saw that FILO had its own brewery - "I wonder where it is?" - looked up and it's right next to car park. A very lucky find - exactly the sort of town pub I like - no frills, friendly service, a mixture of locals (some quite eccentric) and tourists, and most importantly, excellent beer including their own brew (we tried the mild - very good). The icing on the cake - lined glasses so you get a full pint! (Though I didn't realise at first and asked for a top-up - they must get tired of that ...). Highly recommended.
|
Based on the good reviews and entry in the GBG we just had to visit on a day trip to Hastings and were not disappointed. Beer including own brews were very good. A comfortable and friendly pub and would recommend.
|
Had an excellent pint. The landlord & locals made my 9 year old son very welcome. He highly recommends the organic apple juice, was on his third before I had drunk even half of my pint!
|
Support your local micro breweries.......
This is just far enough away from the front to avoid the tasteless
tattooed braindead kissmequick retards..
Beers are good ...but just cannot bring myself to order anything Ginger !!
Tiny corner of bar is reserved for cooking a small selection of excellent quality food while you watch .. or look through to the brewery behind... Garden now open....
Not one to miss .....
|
Brilliant pub! 'Ginger Tom' was on sale, as was Brewsters Hoghead(?), we had a short visit but the pub was friendly and welcoming!
|
Superb pub with it's own micro-brewery. Friendly staff compliment friendly regulars. This pub is always busy & it's no surprise. Shame I don't live a bit closer.
|
Glad to see nowt's changed since my last visit, well apart from the fact there was no Ginger Tom on which was a shame - boy is that a great beer! Still, the Gold I drank instead was just as good and went down a treat.
as per what brightonbrawler said, just wish I lived a lot nearer myself. A cracker of a pub and easily Hastings finest!
|
Absolutely superb pub but a shame I don't live nearer to it!
I miss you "Ginger Tom" but hope to see you very soon x
|
Very nice pub, great atmosphere and friendly staff who kept my group and i laughing however i must disagree with hastingsph - i didnt find the young man in the kitchen hot at all!
|
Great pub, good beer, nice atmosphere. Can be crowded, but it's worth it.
|
Popped in for the Xmas beer festival - still the best pub, not only in Hastings, but for miles around.
|
This pub has got to be the best pub in Hastings! It now brews 6 beers in its micro-brewery and has regular beer festivals. The food is amazing and the pub has a wonderful atmosphere. Oh and the young guy that works in the kitchen is pretty hot!
|
This was my local when I lived in Hastings. Definitely the best pub in the old town. When I visit occasionally I have the Crofters which is always on top form.
|
Popped in on a wet and windy November afternoon. Sat by the fire and had a nice pint of Gold and the nicest salt beef sandwich I'v ever had.
Lovely place.
|
i visit about once a year, i've never had a good pint in there, but i'll keep trying
|
love this place...small, often ram packed in the evening but i would never change anything about it.
Micro brewery with excellent home beers, wonderful beer festival a few times a year.
We end up here every single time we are back in hastings.
|
Cracking little pub hidden well enough away from the maddening crowds. Ginger Tom was superb on my 2 visits and a really great atmosphere here.
|
The FILO is tucked away down a picturesque street in the Old Town and is probably the first pub on the list for many of Hastings more discerning pub tourists. The building itself dates to the 1500�s although the carpeted single room interior doesn�t give many clues to its great age. That said, everything is neat, tidy and quite cosy with a series of settles down one side and an unusual central fireplace at the rear with large hood. A mix of old photos, paintings and posters adorn the walls and a large clock that probably moves too quickly for most visitors. The main attraction is is the beers, selections of which are brewed in the small microbrewery at the rear of the pub, visible through a glass pane at the end of the bar. Steps lead down to a secure covered courtyard with additional seating. There were 4 ales available on my visit (FILOs own Crofters and Mikes Mild as well as Isle of Purbeck Fossil Fuel and Caledonian Deuchrs). Prices were very reasonable and the quality justifies the pub�s glowing reputation. The FILO is definitely one for the �real pub� enthusiasts with no jukebox, TV or fruit machines although they do have occasional live music. The customer base is welcoming and friendly and the staff efficient, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I don�t think too many people would complain at being first in and last out here, me included.
|
When I visit from my home in Scotland, I have found that this is my favourite pub in Hastings. Why? It has good beer, food and a warm welcome from the owner ( when he's there! ) The lady who does the excellent food is nice too. I have been visiting this pub for 20 years and suggest you do the same
|
An unusual brewpub in the nicest part of Hastings (probably too far up the hill for the chavs), which is the home of some decent beer, there was (as I recall) Crofters Best Bitter, Ginger Tom (yes, it is very gingery�) and Gold which were all cheap and served well. There�s also a fair selection of real cider as well.
The interior is quite dark as it doesn�t seem to catch the sun that well which makes the lavish 70�s d�cor (dig the carpets attached to the upper and lower portions of the strip-lit bar) seem even more wacky in summer, though in the winter the big open fire in the middle of the room makes it all seem rather cosier than your average boozer might feel. The best place to get a seat is one of the booths at the side but you�ll need to get there fairly early for that as the place fills up quick. There�s a rudimentary beer garden for the smokers down the steps at the far end of the pub.
Perhaps the only drawback was that I found the welcome behind the bar a little bit surly � cheer up, you�re working in one of the best pubs in Sussex!
If you�re down on the East Sussex coast, you�d be mad to miss it.
|
I miss Crofters !! Another pub that's great in the winter with a fire going.
|
Splendid little real ale pub and microbrewery at the far end of Hastings - hence the name? Worth another visit as is the rest of the town. Beer festival over Easter was most welcome.
|
THE only pub to go to in Hastings.
|
What a fantastic welcome yesterday from Mike the landlord and his lovely wife. There were 3 of his beers on (Crofters, Gold and Porter) plus Dark Star Saison.
Even though the pub was reasonably busy with afternoon drinkers, Mike was very willing to chat and gave me a guided tour of the brewery as well which is also visible through a window from the bar.
Thanks Mike and I'll see you again in April!!!
|
Popped in today for a crafty half whilst on the way through. (OK - we took a ten mile detour to pop in). Smashing home brewed beer and an excellent bit of stilton soup. There's a beer festival there next weekend.
Oh - and Mr jgurney1 - the place now has three real ciders on tap :o)
|
A very fine pub in a truly great street (all of Hastings Old Town in fact). Great mix of characters and very traditional feel. Ginger Tom was an acquired taste though - go for the other one !
|
Best pub in Hastings by a mile and the food doesnt look too bad either, Recommend Mikes Mild as well
|
I think I had the same barmaid on my last visit. I asked what she recommended in the beer selection and got told they were all good. I would have expected a CAMRA pub to have staff who know their beer. But the beers they have were good and the ambiance pleasant. Well worth a visit when they have a beer festival in the small beer garden outside.
|
Excellent for real ale, and good food, but real cider drinkers may prefer the Biddenden cider down the road at the Duke of Wellington to the Addlestones semi-real cider at the FILO.
|
Excellent beer, friendly service.
It takes over an hour to get there, and it's always well worth the trip.
|
An excellent pub, the best in Hastings for the real ale drinker. 4 ales on tap, 3 of them brewed on the premises. Friendly staff and a good atmosphere make this a fine place to drink in.
Floyd - 22 Dec 2007 15:07 |
Looks nothing special from the outside, but looks can be deceptive. With four home-brewed beers on the hand pump, excellent food and friendly bar staff, I just keep going back to the place.
It's a shame it's thirty miles from home, but it makes for a good day out every so often.
|
On an impromptu crawl around the town I made a point of coming here on the basis of BITE and a strong personal recommendation - to be honest, I was a little disappointed but it was mid-week during the day. You can see the brewery in the back and watch your food being prepared in the kitchen that is more an extension of the bar. The beer was in good form but not to my taste and - boy-o-boy - what a miserable 'barmaid'! I would expect that evenings & weekends are far, far better but it's a bit quiet during the week.
|
There's not many places that you can phone up and ask for a box of beer and they sort you out with one. This place goes from strength to strength.
|
Totally badger!
anonymous - 30 May 2007 15:31 |
This is a very cosy pub and a must visit if in Hastings.
Situated towards the end of High Street (keep the sea behind you and walk up past the Antique Shoppes) and this little Oasis awaits you on the right.
A fine choice of alea waited me (all brewed on site) and after sampling each I settled on the Porter.
This pub is a VERY welcome change from the usual tied Brewery pubs in Hastings.
Negatives? Perhaps better ventilation as it can get a bit smokey.
|
This pub is wizard, man.
anonymous - 13 May 2007 11:28 |
Ok pub,beer festivals are good,boss man is good,miserable git behind the bar though.
anonymous - 13 May 2007 10:05 |
Went back again today - every bit as good as my visit of a month ago. Excellent home brewed beers & excellent home cooked food. Will jsut keep coming back !
|
briliant pub,lovely beer, staff friendly and they know their stuff
re 3 mar post... beer brewed on premises so you probably smelt the hops n mash.. the head brewer is a cider drinker by choice so as he brews the beer well done him especially as he invented the Gold
we live 120 miles away and are still treated as locals when we go into the pub
that fire is wonderful on a cold winters day even if the stones does get your beer a tad warm
|
Heard there will be a beer festival over the Jack in the Green May bank holiday week-end. Look forward to it!
|
Annual visit after the Hastings Half. Still love it. Food appears to be served on a Sunday now - or at least some form of nibbles. There was a meat raffle taking place which just adds to the eclectic charm. The old cat is still alive, and still ignoring the dogs. The pub brewed porter is glorious.
|
Visited it mid week lunchtime - the barman/brewer couldn't have been more friendly. Beer excellent, food really good. Will definatly be going back
|
What with the brewing and that you'd expect a little bit more of a welcome, but forget it stranger. Don't show any interest either, you won't be rewarded. Maybe the brews'd taste better if the pub conveyed some pride in what it does. Smells a bit, too.
|
Unfortunately the barman picking his nose put me off what I, until then thought was a very good pint. Better ventilation is needed to remove the smoke from the open fire in the bar.
|
Been to the FILO for a couple of weekends running and enjoyed the different beers brewed by them both times. Nice roaring fire in middle of pub was great on the cold days but the young guy behind the bar was not the most friendly the second time and the first time the lady of the bar didn't speak apart from asking for the money but then I went for the beer not the chat.
|
I cannot add anything to Silk Tork's most accurate description of the pub.
I paid a visit on Tuesday, my first for nearly two years, and passed a few very pleasant hours quaffing "Crofters". Friendly and efficient staff and a mixed nag of local clienetele make this a very pleasant, Chav-free environment in which to while away the time.
The lunchtime nosebag is good, with nothing over �5-10/-.
Apparently, they hold a pub quiz on the first Sunday of the month, and regular ( but not too regular ) music nights. An excellent pub, which in my book warrants a worthy 7/10.
|
Loving this pub, well done
anonymous - 18 Jan 2007 15:26 |
Well worth a visit. Real ale brewed on the premises and it's not bad.
I found the locals un-friendly (not unexpected) but the staff could have been more welcoming. Like the best pubs in the South there is an increasing likelihood that you will be served by some surly tattoed youth keen to let you know that meeting you is the lowest point of their miserable life and that it's all your fault.
We are not worthy of them.
|
excellent pub that brews its own beers, has occasional beer festivals, next I believe in January. Always worth a visit when in Hastings
|
As I was spending the weekend in Hastings I followed the recommendations below, and wasn't disappointed. We got there early on a Friday evening, which meant we had a good table (it did indeed fill up very quickly) and sampled the range of beers. Not one, but two porters, which is always a plus in my book.
I didn't particularly notice the carpet, but it didn't spoil my visit.
|
A truly great and independent pub. My regular hang-out for the past five years, and it keeps improving.
All four home-brewed beers are decent and are well priced (even though they have gone beyond the �1.80 mark I remember when I first went here!). They range from the best bitter Crofters, which is a solid beer, its interesting derivative cousin Ginger Tom (does exactly what it says on the tin, and my personal favourite), and the seasonal and slightly stronger offerings of the light-coloured Gold (summer) and the Porter. For real ale lovers there are frequent themeatic beer festivals in the covered beer garden at fairly regular intervals, featuring around a dozen types. Best time for these and similar events would be Hastings week in mid-October, Old Town Week in August and the May Day bank holiday. These events also often include some rather good live musical acts, which make for an especially good summer's evening when the front windows are latched down.
The food is also excellent and well-priced. Added to the rather unique wooden booths, open fire and friendly staff this makes the FILO the best pub in Hastings by some distance. The only problem as other reviewers have pointed out is that the carpet is rather knackered, but the rest of the decor is fine for a traditional style and busy pub which is of good size.
|
First rate brew-pub, recommended if in Hastings.
|
Charming ancient pub in Hasting old High Street. Church pew seating, brewery visible through a window at the back, pub cat curled up on a bar stool, open fire in the middle of the room, a relaxed friendly atmosphere with the warm buzz of conversation all add up to a great pub. Beer is fresh and tasty and unique to the pub. Three own beers and a guest. The downside is the decor. The bar is a huge embarrassment - like something from Abigail's party. And there's artex and fake beam's and other hideous things. Don't even think of looking at the carpet. All in all, this is a must visit pub if you're in the area- and is so good it is worth planning a visit to Hastings just to see this place and drink the home-brewed beer.
|
Great Pub, Brews its own great beer and has a raised fireplace right in the middle of the bar that you can walk around. It gets very busy at the weekends so getting a seat can be hard. Also Chav free!!
|
A well looked after and fabulous pub in the nicest part of Hastings. No undesirables in this part of town at all. Lovely beers from their own brewery, friendly staff too. The booths at the side are where to perch on a saturday afternoon/night, if you get one - keep it ! They regularly hold beer festivals at the filo and the last one I went to back in October was perfect with the atmosphere of the `Hastings Festival` procession going on outside the door.
|
Used this pub for the last three years or so. A true freehouse. It's a shame that they no longer sell Leffe Blonde on draught
|
Excellent pub with small brewery at the end of the bar. Enclosed Garden.
Music at times, and it's a cut above yer 'pub band'.
|
