please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Now a restaraunt.
|
Well it was a pub once, but is now a bar, as in Censobar.
|
Now called CENSO
|
Absolutely...Well, where it matters Winch!!
|
Yes, wort and i got good odds on us both sending rubbish reviews for the forseeable future!
|
You didn't try to place an each way in a pub Winch??
|
I thought they looked at me funny when i asked where the Ladbrokes had gone!
|
No, it's a tesco's, Winch.
|
�2.35 a pint!! so the Bass House is still open then?
|
I should have said ..two 35 a pint
|
Exactly..you can't live on 35p a pint!!
|
Even i have to agree with you at last "wortman"!!
Can"t live on memories for ever i suppose.
i"m off down the Bass House for a pint :O()!!
|
Not called McCarthy's Bar anymore. Now called Censobar. Let's not get confused here. Definitely a more up-market place,but never as convivial as the the Hop Leaf.
|
No wortman never headed a glass in the Nightjar but i was bitten by their Dobermann and thrown out at 9pm when they used to close !!
So that mean"t i got to Martines way to early!!
(happy days eh!)
|
No, it's not a shocker of a place compared with what, Winch? Course they do plastic glasses (EU law demands it). So you never headed a pint glass in the Nightjar, shame on you!
|
Come on "wortman" it"s a shocker of a place ! if i did"nt know better i thought you"d have been hit on the head by one of the pint glasses
But then again there plastic!
repent and turn back from the evil!
Mind you mother knows best :O()
|
After the rip out /refit and the rename to 'Censobar' i think it looks pretty good inside. I was impressed that they've not only kept but visually improved the old interior wooden beam work; even exposing some that were hidden. My mum liked the big sofa seating in the front bar and how the whole place seemed fresher and bigger. I think it has retained it's character..just.
|
I expect it will be served on a plastic plate if they do "wortman" so it matches the glasses !
|
Is this a night club cos it wasn't open today at 12:30 pm today.. do they do midday food here?
|
It IS like drinking in a passage and �2.00 for half a Fosters top, someone call the police I have just been mugged!
|
HA HA we"ve both slated the place and it is"nt even open yet ,we may be proved wrong? and it may turn out to be a classic pub.(think we will be alright though)!
|
Lordy lordy another extension of the flippin town BARS..aint we had enuff o them? Get som real pubs back in the town..all we got left is wetherspons!!!
anonymous - 30 Nov 2007 13:53 |
Well it"s going to become the Censobar! as from the 30th november Basingstoke"s new bar and lounge experience!.Looking at the logo and flyers don"t think they will be selling a lot of real ale though!
Well at least it"s another bar to moan about in the town!! too small, too expensive, too many chavs and no entry after eleven.
thr hopleaf is dead
long live the hopleaf!
|
Been totally renovated the old girl now looks ship shape and ready for action,to let sign in the window
any takers?
|
Been totally renovated,looking through the window even looks like the old fireplace has gone!!
(i thought if that got knocked down the pub would come down with it!).Anyway someone has seen something worth saving in the old girl.looking forward to seeing how she does!
|
Has been totally gutted will hopefully stay as a pub and not become a cardshop,poundshop,or as "wortman" said another bloody estate agents!!!
|
Looked through the window today the place is now totally gutted and hopefully ready for refurb as a pub! as wortman said another property agents PLEASE!
|
Yes agree with you anon
Hope someone buys it and calls it The Hopleaf again!!
|
It's the HOPLEAF and will never be known as anything else.
anonymous - 21 May 2007 14:53 |
Enterprise Inns have a wall sign outside advertising the propery as a pub business. There might be hope for the oold place yet, but please, not another property agents!
|
This pub could never be the same as it used to be because times have changed. Ok, it was once a bon homie pub, but, people have changed and they don't need the old style pub anymore where the landlord sold the odd packet o crisps and a pint of ale.
|
Anonymous- Brookvale FC Mainly used this pub after matches on a sunday lunchtime,in the late 80"s to nineties.Although a few of the team drunk there all week.
Hope we both agree it"s still a shame to lose a pub like the Hop Leaf and all the good times that went with it!
|
full of all the pubwatch in the town just before it closed. shame its shut- all the other pubs get their rubbish now.
anonymous - 10 Apr 2007 15:51 |
Blimey "anoymous" how far you going back in time!
You did get told off for swearing,and you would"nt get served if you were wearing a leather jacket i seem to remember!! ahh the Dave and Margaret years.
Shame it"s closed the last proper pub at the "top of town".Hopefully someone will take it on and Brookvale FC can come back to there spiritual home!
|
It might not look like much, but it was ok. Draught beers and you got told off for swearing. You could take your mum in there.
anonymous - 13 Mar 2007 15:35 |
Closed! Not surprised really, it wasn't doing much trade.
|
used to be my and many others fave pub at weekends for the craic, music and friends....but dull as dishwater lately and pretty empty ...needs to get back to what it was
anonymous - 4 Dec 2006 17:28 |
Under new management and it could be off to a good start. One draught beer, 'Courage best bitter'. Started serving hot food again. Seems cleaner in the place. Could have done with a few more peeps in there though - 12.30pm.
|
fantastic little pub to sit at the window with a pint in your hand and watch the world go by
just one query
hoe come nearly every passer by is on a motorised wheelchair?
|
Amazing! An Irish pub that actually has Irish customers!
|
Courages Best Bitter..that's about it for draught beer. I went in on sept 15 at 17:10 and asked for a pint of aforementioned beer but what came up was a pint of cloudy cloudy vinegar (drip tray stuff.) Scenario: walk in pub, ask for beer, barman goes into back bar and comes back very quickly with vinegar cocktail, i refuse pint, barman doesn't bat an eyelid and takes beer away, barman pours really good pint in front of me from front bar. Hmmmmm. Safer with lager.
|
a nice example of the vanishing breed of traditional old pubs that keep vanishing to make way for wine bars.
please dont let them do that do this one!
anonymous - 21 Sep 2006 13:22 |
certainly improved since new management
absolutely jumpin on Friday night
Toni best lookin pub manager ever
anonymous - 19 Sep 2006 12:10 |
best pub in town for crack
nice to find a pub that still does real ale
|
grab a pint, light a fag, sit at the bar and people watch.....oh my god you see some sights in there! i'm a particular fan of, crazy guns n roses lady (stick it on the juke box and watch her head bang!) token irish man (well now it can be called and irish bar can't it?) and jeremy clarkson lookalike!
|
What's happened to this place lately?. First it was non-smoking then half smoking now it's smoking throughout..that's when it's open. The last time I went in there, the real ales had been taken out, there was no John Smiths,no coffee,no tea and it looked like no one had attempted to put a broom to the floor. It was much better as the 'Hop leaf'.
|
Changed name from the 'Hop Leaf'. Nothing has changed really, they do great food and some Bass draught beers. The fire place has a real open log fire. Small pub with friendly attractive bar staff who can't wait to serve you. No pool table. Couple of fruit machines. Give it a try.
anonymous - 6 Jan 2005 16:06 |
Terrible service,
It was guiness, but you shouldn't have to wait that long BEFORE they pour it!!!
SMW - 17 Nov 2004 12:48 |
Had a nice pint there once and enjoyed the Irish music. But were then rudely turned away the next time for not being over 21. I'm sure the drinking age is 18 in this country. A terrible decision by what is now another crappy pub on the Basingstoke scene. Bring back the HopLeaf.
Dan - 19 Oct 2004 15:13 |
I thought this was going to be a total non-smoking pub, but, smoking is allowed in the back bar.
B Sharp - 3 Sep 2004 18:39 |
No smoking. Thank god.
anonymous - 9 Aug 2004 15:51 |
hopleaf dead after 40 plus years.
Now called McCarthys Bar. 'Irish' pub-very Irish-no smoking !stand-up area for smoking in yard.To early to make a comment.
|
The pub is currently closed for a refit. Nice pub for a quiet pint
Max - 26 Jun 2004 20:19 |
A nice place for a sandwich and a pint at dinner time. I found it quite friendly. Beer was nothing special but service was fine and bar food was excellent.
|
Hard to believe that when I first moved to Basingstoke this pub was packed lunchtimes and evenings. Now a sad shadow of its former self, dingy, smoky, cliquey, plus a good chance that they'll have run out of 'Bass'.
Moz - 24 Feb 2004 21:46 |
I have been in there once. It is very old fashioned and the beer is reasonable. The wooden seating is in some places quite uncomfortable and if you are under the age of 25 the bar-lady probably won't talk to you. I have to admit it's not one o my favourites. Try the Soldiers Return at Oakridge.
|
One of the last original pubs in the town. Great beer, great home cooking. Well worth a visit.
B Sharp - 4 Nov 2003 22:13 |
This is a proper old mans pub! Dusty, smokey, and dark. Ate there once - wouldn't do it again!
Nicky too - 29 Apr 2003 11:01 |
A friendly pub run by Mary, a landlady in the traditional style. Likes you your in ,no ? your out !
Good food all prepared by Mary,no packages heated up.For those who like to talk over a drink not shout.Not a twenty year old pub.
John Andrews |
