please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Finally being put out of it's misery on the 16th.
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Great pub good atmosphere inside staff are nice and make you feel welcome locals are nice too overall a great visit
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So as expected Gerry has changed landlords again, Monday is the start day for the new lambs to the slaughter.....wonder how long they'll last?
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So Gerry Dolan is threatening to close the Birch again, telling the landlord they have to get the turnover up because its costing him money (the usual excuse) so it looks like there will be a change of management there soon, watch this space!
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Christ86....what a load of rubbish!.....a selection of ales???....there is ONE and only ONE hand pump. The people frendly?? The customers and insular and ignorant who resent anyone from outside the estate coming to 'their' pub. The management will only last as long as Gerry thinks he has no one better or thinks they have started ripping him off, they will go overnight like all the others.
The place is a dump and no amount of paint and varnish will help that fact!
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A real lovely genuine pub! People who are running the pub are great! Really friendly! And passionate about delivering a friendly professional customer service . It's reasonably priced! Great selection of real ales! Live music! Pool table. Good old juke box! And a lovely summer garden! Massive positive improvement!!!!!:)
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New management have re-introduced real ale, which is proving popular amongst bitter drinkers who previously were restricted to keg Courage Best & John Shit's Smooth *shudder*.
So far Brakespear's Bitter, Skinner's Betty Stoggs, Otter Amber, Woodford's Wherry and Wadsworth's 6X have guested, all in great nick thanks to Geoff.
One drawback is that Idiot Gerry has INSISTED that there must be a karaoke once a week, despite both management and customers not wanting it, indeed it actively drives the punters away - good business decision there you genius!
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A new couple are trying to right the mess of the idiot Healys, but it is going to be long struggle so good luck to them.
Real ale has been re-introduced on rotation on one handpump. So far both the Breakspear's Bitter and Woodforde's Wherry have been excellent.
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Seems like they got real ale and food going now... Place looks clean and tidy... Beers good too... Is the birch finally saved? Looking good so far.
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Well done healy7browning for running this once good pub into the ground!
Oh, VerminWatch, apparently you havn't left a comment? Think I'll match your rating though...
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Flashharry the name says it all,Why are you the only person who has anything to say about this pub.You are obviously not a customer but you should have more respect for the late manager besides making a comment .Very Very sad person flash harry you need to get a life and see outside your little box
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New manager found dead in bed after less than a fortnight.
RIP Mick Clarke.
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Well, well, well, a new low: the "Manager"'s son is probably the worst bar person I have come across in this place since I started drinking here in 1974!
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I wouldn't reccomend this pub to anyone. There is nothing nice about it. There is no other way to describe the features of this pub, other than with the word 'ugly'.
Beer is horrible and I've never felt as if I've enjoyed a pint every time I have visited the place. People aren't the most friendly -
No one really cares about the place (including land-lords, of which there's been a ridiculous amount over the years).
I'm trying to think of a conclusion, a way to sum this up really. Dull, Depressing, Dirty, Ugly, Sickening (at times) - a complete dump?
Given a rating of 0...
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New owner and new manager. Food advertised at weekends and, unfortunatly, a karaoke for Saturday night.
Unusually the price of beer has been reduced, across the board, by 10p per pint. Though welcome this stil leaves Guinness �3.30 a pint :o(
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Mick Clarke has bowed to the inevitable and walked already. Temporary manager in but the place is dead. I am afraid that the writing is on the wall for the Birch.
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Rumour has just reached me that Michael Clarke, who used to run the Birch in the '90s, is taking back over today. I think this can only be good news.
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Always has been a dive! No surprises the manager has walked! Should be turned into flats!
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The current situation of this pub is all up in the air, as the manager walked away yesterday morning! Yet again, watch this space...
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First of all, I am not an ex-manager or barred customer. Although what I am is someone who has frequented this place many times and have an opinion on it.
I have not stated any "LIES" and stick by all that I have said.
I'm also not questioning what could be a fact, the customers and staff like him.
Although I am saying that this pub is a dive. No questions about it.
It is liked by (local) customers and staff only.
You don't get many new-comers frequenting the place, as it is appalling.
And yes, the garden has been looked at and there have been few and small changes. Although this still doesn't seperate the fact that this place is a dump!!
Put it this way, and please don't try and dispute this. I could walk in to the Birch and Pines and buy myself some crack-cocaine and heroine. Simple as that... and I'm sure that explains what the Birch and Pines is to anyone reading.
Many Thanks
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Who ever you are you must have visited the wrong pub as Nigel has made the garden really nice and welcoming.And as for being dirty well The birch and pines has just won Bar Excellence from enterprise Inns.maybe you are a jealous ex manager that could not get it right or maybe a customer that Nigel barred and i guess for good reason.Please give reviews that are positive and not LIES as Nigel is a nice man who is liked by his customers and staff so leave the birch alone and let him get on with the excellent job he is doing there.
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This isn't a pub... It's a place for people to come together and sleep amongst each other's friends and associates of their families. The alcohol is of poor value, it's dirty and if and when they are serving food, I would advise anyone to stay well-clear. The garden is neglected and the location is next to pathetic. The management make no effort to bring in new custom or to greet new guests. This truly is a horrible place... Good luck.
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Well the roasts and pies didn't last long!
Guinness here is now �3.30 a pint which, for a scruffy estate pub, is absolutely discusting. One point docked on the rating - now down to 5/10 unfortunatly.
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Now doing nice cheap roasts on a Sunday (need to be booked in advance) also Aussie Vili's pies are avaliable all day.
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As said below, Nigel, ex of the Goldsworth Arms has returned, as manager, to the Birch. Since his return he has put a lot of effort into tydying the pub up, weeding the front car park (the first time it's been done in a couple of years!) and blitzing the beer garden at the rear. As a result of his efforts, and some better weather, punters have been flocking back in the last couple of weeks, though a few too many of those have baseball caps surgically attatched to their skulls!
Wheelchair access is in the process of being built at the front of the pub and the dreadfull, tatty smokers tent at the back was pulled down before it fell down.
There are barbeques all weekend weather permitting, live music is planned for Sundays and discos are being lined up for alternate Fridays - fortunatly this won't involve Roland Rat, who has buggered off over to Sandhurst with Kevin and 'Trina.
It won't get back to it's great days in the '80s and early '90s, but Nigel must be congratulated for the enthusiasm and effort he is putting in.
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Kevin and Trina have now left! They have been moved to a pub in Sandhust and so we await another new manager.
Rumour has it that Coco the Clown, late of the Goldsworth Arms, will be returning - watch this space....
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Kev and Trina are doing a great job and the recent renovations makes the place a whole lot better and inviting.Never any trouble there just local community enjoying themselves.Give it a try you will be pleasantly surprised and food will be available very soon.
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How rude? Yes this has changed hands and what an improvement! Yes there are some odd locals who use it - what local pub doesn't have its' characters. It could do with a refurb but other than that this is a pub where I now feel safe to have a drink and an evening out. The landlord is great as is his wife and make old friends and new feel welcome. They are open to suggestions for improvement and new ideas. I suggest if previous commenters doesn't like the place then dont bother coming back. There are plenty of bland,get a life places a bus ride away that you can use. Give me a pub with character any day!
mypub - 19 Jun 2008 04:23 |
This pub has been improved massively since coming under new ownership before xmas. Sky sports and excellent smoking facilities make this a must. Very friendly and warm.
Current landlord doesnt tolerate trouble and as locals are now looked after, they seem to behave whilst still enjoying themselves.
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I think that last comment sums this pub up - if you don't like it you will get a smack! Charming, well put me in line for one cos this is definiately not my type of boozer, too old for fighting!
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This pub is well wicked boss, full of top notch geezers any 1 got a problem with it deserves a smack, word up massive the great scum!
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this being the only pub in sheerwater means its
full of chavs withb attitude if you dont know anyone inside then dont bother beers well kept and the staff are friendly enough its just the punters a previous landlord booted the scallies out and it improved for a while but he sold up and now THEY'RE
BACK
anonymous - 9 Mar 2006 19:48 |
