please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Under New Management - fruit machines and sky sports all gone. Now a decent proper pub - four real ales on plus a load of different gins. Well worth a visit and a welcome change to the spoons and dross in town.
|
Not a bad pub but only had Doom Bar on during our visit to it, it was quiet at the time but the landlord was a friendly convivial chap.
|
I had a meal in here yesterday. The food was 10/10 - home cooked and wonderful. In case you're wondering by the way I'm not the landlord. My previous comments should confirm this for anyone who is interested.
I believe that Stuart is a Michelin trained chef and his cuisine is absolutely wonderful. I have never given 10/10 before - I'm a great believer in allowing for higher standards but have to say that I could not fault it - nor could a friend (ex Royal Naval trained chef) who bought Stuart a drink and told him how great his food was which is really saying something.
The food is reasonably priced, of great quality and is clearly prepared by someone who not only knows what he's doing but has a passion for food.
Graeme
|
A recent change of landlord prompted me to go and have a look at this place again. The chap (Len) is a jovial Scouser with a great sense of humour. He's clearly already invested quite a lot in the place and it's undergone a complete renovation (there's still some snagging to do by the look of it!). Personally I'm not absolutely certain about some of the changes - for example the dark oak beams have been painted in a cream colour which for me anyway rather ruins it's character but this is only a personal thing of course.
It's clean, bright and it's clear that Len knows his trade. Still early days but I'll upgrade my rating to 8. I understand that the kitchen has been ripped out and is shortly to be refitted so as to enable food to be served which will be good.
|
Still not clean - although it's cleaned out of customers, me included!
|
How does this place get or keep customers, there is ALWAYS a band practising somewhere out the back, I agree they need practice but come on, I just want a quiet drink
|
Sadly my initial hopes didn't come up trumps - although I'm assured things will change it's not as clean as it should be and I intend using the Bell (Hobgoblin as non-locals call it) as my local from now on. I still have found memories of the place and will certainly go back once it's been cleaned up etc.
6/10 in the hope that the next time I go in I can add to this
|
Would or wouldn't?
|
For a small town pub this could be a jewel, if it had an oldie world pub atmosphere. Dropped in for a drink on a Saturday night and found outselves in a disco with load music, flashing lights and no one dancing!
It's the sort of place you walk in as a stranger and everyone stops and stares at you, like we are the ones with two heads! Rather unfriendly. No place to sit so huddled at the bar. Just a couple of young girls serving.
Didn't look like it had been refurbed, looking rather tatty. Car park across the room but even charges 70p to park in the evening. Didn't feel safe in the area with gangs of kids messing about.
Would go back any time soon.
|
Small pub with L Pride and Brains on draught and a couple of outside benches, nothing to write home about though, 6/10
|
Well, the refurb has now been completed and the place looks fantastic - a tad too bright for old moaners like me but I have to say that the wood flooring is great and a darned sight cleaner than the carpets during Mandy's days!
The place has been transformed and would be one which I would be happy to take my wife into (which wasn't the case for the past three years).
9/10 for now - always room for improvement!
|
Well Cathy68 - sadly I disagree with you. The new people are lovely friendly people so far as I and my friends are concerned. The new landlord (Kiron) is a bit dry but nevertheless has a great sense of humour whilst the landlady (Caroline) is an absolutely lovely lady. The place was indeed truly awful but has improved 300% since Mandy left which explains why I've been going back there. A great pub when properly managed as Kiron and Caroline appear to be intent on doing.
|
Awful since Mandy left, new landlord unfriendly, and although they still have karaoke on Sunday, it's not a patch on the old nights when Helen & J did it. Don't open late at weekend anymore either, which is the only reason for going there. The new people won't last long that's for sure, with this attitude.
|
Now under new management who are very friendly and seem to have their eyes on changing things for the better. I believe it might be closed for a while for a long needed re-furb. I look forward to making it my regular haunt again and wish the new people the very best. I'll update the rating after the re-furb so as to be fair to them!
|
Hi, just wanted to say that I was in this pub last Sunday night and had a great time. They have started doing karaoke in there (which I love) and the atmosphere was superb. The DJ was fantastic and really friendly, he got me up to sing twice although it was busy. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Not only that but the best singer wins �20 (not me this time - some guy doing Elvis songs - he was good though).
I have been to several other karaoke nights in Bicester and they are not a patch on this. Either the DJ's are unfriendly and patronise you, or there's no atmosphere, or all the other singers are taking it too seriously and are really up themselves. Clearly the agenda at The Angel is about everyone having fun and this was spot on. The highlight for me was 4 guys singing Christmas songs in the middle of August - hilarious.
I used to think the Angel was a bit dull, but this has really livened it up - the drinks are reasonably priced too and the bar staff friendly. I will certainly be going back next Sunday.
Cathy
|
Sadly it's gone downhill - the landlady gives first priority to having a fag in her kitchen so if you happen to arrive in the meantime you'll just have to wait. Would also suggest avoiding the gents unless you like standing in goodness knows what. Furthermore they often don't seem to have the beer you want. Lovely pub in the old days and I sincerely hope that they will turn it round but until then I'm afraid I shall give the place a miss. For old time's sake I'll give it 1/10
|
Decent Sunday lunch and a proper traditional local, but too smoky for me.
anonymous - 19 Oct 2006 18:21 |
Friendly place. Has a few wino's but they're harmless. Music nights are good but deafening. Very smokey place. Quite a nice character place. Has the feel of a real pub. Beer is good and not badly priced.
anonymous - 26 Sep 2006 15:32 |
Bit of useless information my great grand father was the last landlord to brew his own beer at the Angel.
|
Nice pub. Matt the landlord is friendly and they take their time kicking you out. Actually.. they don't. Good old pub this. Bit of trivia for you. Dates back to the 1600's I believe and used to be called the "Plasterers Arms" At one point I believe it was called "The Green Man" as well.
anonymous - 24 Aug 2005 16:37 |
This is my local so perhaps I'm biased - a friendly place, no grub aside from Sundays but there's a good range of beers and a cheerful ambiance. The pub divides into two - a welcoming fire and good conversation in the front bar, for those who prefer sport on TV, music on the jukebox etc there's the backbar. I'm a frontbar sort myself!
|
