Grapes, Aylesburyback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Awful as Stars, and more reminiscent of a similarly-named mid-90s nightclub in Weston-super-Mare. Now renamed The Tap & Barrel and part of the Artisan Tap chain with much focus on the brews. Disappointingly enough, the 3 (out of 4) available ales comprised GK IPA, Old Golden Hen and Doom Bar, so minus points there, but the décor is much improved, and there's enough on the crafty front to warrant a return visit. Also, the 'sinks' in the Gents are novel and worth a look.
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Now called STARS BAR, it has set it's sights on being a venue for pre-pubescent boys and girls. lots of noise!
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This place is a disgrace! Me and two friends decided to pop in on a friday afternoon; there were only two others in the pub but none of the bar staff came across to serve us. We had to ask to be served and the young ladt behind the bar raised her hands in the air and declared that she wasn't old enough to serve us. The 'landlord' was having a chat with the other two guests and basically ignored us. We decided to leave without having a drink. The pub is a joke - I will never return.
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A year is a long time in the pub trade, and could this now be the vintage one that The Grapes was crying out for? The whole place has changed in the last 12 months since my last visit; it�s cleaner, the beer�s better the staff are very good and it now has a landlord (manager) that actually wants people to come in, have a drink and have a good time.
There seems to be more organisation there now and more reasons to return. I was in there on Saturday from early afternoon to early evening enjoying the �12 Bands in 12 Hours� marathon that was organised, whilst enjoying good company and reasonably priced beer.
It was a courageous event to go with considering the times we live in; and for all involved, I hope it reaps rewards.
In my opinion, and all things considered, The Grapes has become a very agreeable stomping ground.
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Absolute crap!
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If the Beijing Olympics capture your imagination this summer and you are able to catch a glimpse of the pool events, you will not see a bigger dive than this place.
It looked like a student bar without the education, with surly youths swaggering around the empty shell of a former great pub. Once frequented by working farmers from the market, it appears they have long since gone, but the livestock have returned.
I would never criticise bar staff who are up against it, but all I can say is The Bates Motel had better customer service practices in place than what was on offer here.
After managing to peel my arm off the sticky bar, I was able to hand the barkeep my note. Unfortunately it was bank note rather than my preferred sick note excusing me from any future visits. On receiving my handful of shrapnel, I was rewarded with two flat pints that I can only assume thought they were going to a fancy dress party on Shrove Tuesday.
The welcoming, and leaving committee were fallen idles, littering the pavement wondering, 'Where am I?', 'What am I doing here?' and to be honest, the same interrogation was going through my own mind as well.
All in all, this place should be avoided. It has all the worldly charm and charisma that would probably make Ken Dodd feel depressed. The Samaritans are only a phone call away; a taxi rank is even closer. A Shame really, as this has gone from a very decent pub to a descent pub.
Hail the credit crunch and put this place out to pasture for a year, for these Grapes have become very sour.
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Used to be a good pub! It now resembles the waiting area of a provincial French airport!
Expensive drinks, uncomfortable chairs, smelly lav. and surly staff!
P.S. Take a torch with you!
anonymous - 28 Mar 2007 08:05 |
Quite expensive, comfy seats, good atmosphere apart the bitchy blonde barmaid
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Overpriced, surly staff, the feeling that I had just walked into someones sitting room and the general feeling that it made no difference what I ordered, it was too much trouble.
I agree that the decor has all been done before. The gents are absolutely dreadful, the smell indescribable, even taking the hot weather into account.
The lager was OK, hence the one point. Shan't bother with this one again!
anonymous - 29 Jul 2006 19:22 |
Very pleasant surroundings and comfy chairs upstairs - not the best service but not by any means bad. Over priced drinks (�3 for a WKD and �2.95 for Guiness). Overall pretty average and nothing to write home about.
anonymous - 27 Jul 2006 12:00 |
True this is more a bar than a pub but there's comfy sofas and as all the chavettes prefer to stand leaning over the balcony it's not as hard to get a seat as you might think. Pleasant but unexciting.
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A modernish bar, with low lighting and the usual wooden strip flooring common to all such places. Hence, not really a proper pub, more of a bar
TheGP - 31 Dec 2004 10:57 |
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