please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Shepherd Neame pub that has 3 rooms and is in the centre of town. You can watch the local youths doing youthful things from the front bar. 2 ales were on - Shepherd Neame Spitfire & Mighty Oak Rex. The lady behind the bar offered me a taster of the Mighty Oak beer. But it wasn't my kind of beer. Ok pub. But lacked atmosphere. There were only about 3 other customers.
|
The landlady has about as much charm as cancer, The beer is bloody awful....served the dregs from a barrel of Spitfire, when returning my glass of 'vinegar' I was given a pint from another pump that was as flat as a mill pond....no other beer availble!!!! Crap pub....avoid at all costs.
|
Popped in recently and seemed very friendly. Nice mixed clientale. Maybe pub has turned the corner?
|
I haven't revisited yet and doubt that I will.
On saturday night, a man was about to board my bus at 11.20pm outside the pub and was followed on by a guy looking for a fight. The assailant was pushed back off the bus a couple of times by the victim and the driver took the opportunity to drive off fast. The assailant bashed the windows in annoyance that his victim escaped so may have retreated back to the pub to fight somewhere there! Luckily the driver said that the incident had been captured on the bus CCTV so the police will no doubt be making a visit very shortly with a photofit.
Would never have happened in Ian's time here so I agree with Pondland99.
|
Well, they've got a new landlord - and we're back to the "good old days" - TV, Karaoke, enacing atmosphere ......no thanks
|
Pub has been left in the hands of someone who opens and closes depending on her mood rather than time of day. When it is open, it's pretty hard to tell.
Well done Shepherd Neame - another community pub ruined
|
Good luck to Ian who left here last Sunday. Pub was closed the following day and last week but we hear a local lass may be opening the doors from Monday 5th July.
Shepherd Neame haven't let the grass grow under their feet on this one and we hope she does well. Whether the bands will be as prolific as before remains to be seen.
|
Well - with Rochford beer festival on just down the road you might have thought that they'd have made a bit of an effort. The only good thing that I can say is that the taped 70's/early 80's music was very acceptable - unlike the beer. I'm not, and never have been, a fan of Shepherd Neame beers (especially so far out of their area)but these were terrible. The 2 of us each tried a different one from the choice of 3 and neither was vaguely OK - not sure if they'd been in the pipes too long or they were just off. Not exactly a friendly welcome either. Might be good in the evenings when there seems to be live music most nights - assuming that the beer quality improves.
|
What a great night I keep having in this pub. Weekends great live bands and a complete showman sunday nights. During the week when I've been there, there is acoustic stuff in the Saloon and a woodburner that gives a warm and friendly feel to the place.
Beers good too
|
Friendly atmosphere, good beer.
|
A little grim, but been in worse. A bit starey if you're not local, and a little bit grotty. Not *awful*, but not that good.
|
The positives are, good real ale lively during music nights.
Downside, lagers are tangy with an unpleasant after taste.
Staff are unhelpful and seem more interested in sitting in the corner doing crosswords or suduko. Failing that they are outside smoking oblivious to customers walking out due to lack of service.
Apart from music nights this place is desolate and quiet. Nice quiet drink in the afternoon you might think ? No chance the eccentric landlord will then turn on his music equipment blasting a 110 decibels of rock music and Mic feedback.
|
Quite large Shepherd Neame pub we used last Saturday post football. Spitfire, Bishops Finger & Kents Best on Saturday. It was a pretty miserable day and the wood burning stove in the lounge was very handy for drying out. This made it very cosy in the lounge area and it was regularly checked to ensure enough wood was burning. The landlord was friendly to us during our visit. The pub has a stage area for holding entertainment. During our stay various 60's cd's were being played. Towards the rear of the pub is a red pool table.
|
This place continues to go from strength to strength much to the sheer hard work of the publican. It's a shame that his efforts aren't always rewarded by certain official bodies who lack the vision that he has.
Fast becoming a real ale mecca and the "hub" of the square.
|
Excellent Beer - Good Service - interesting mix of music, something for almost all tastes.
Landlord has transformed a previously unfriendly location into a fun and lively venue
anonymous - 5 Nov 2007 11:49 |
Ian, the landlord, has really turned this place around. Not for me - the loud music but the place has to pay its way. Well done for the well deserved place in the 2008 Good Beer Guide - I knew he could do it! Lovely quiet evenings on monday and tuesdays. The pub does bed and breakfast so if you want a good place to stay with a whole village full of good pubs then this is for you. The 23.15 last bus outside the door is handy too!!
|
Quite fantastic!! Lots of real ales and unusual (for Essex) lagers. Live music is top whack. Dave Woodcock on a Sunday evening is well worth a visit ...
|
Well worth a visit - 4 shepherd neame ales (best,spitfire,bishops finger & a seasonal)
good lunchtime food.
a good bunch of regulars to talk to.
live music wed,friday, sat & sunday (a great piano player, well worth seeing)
anonymous - 18 Jul 2007 14:48 |
Excellent pub - one of the best in town with good management, regular locals and ale of high quality. Service is usually first rate. Well worth a visit.
Mcloj - 25 Aug 2006 13:28 |
