please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
As with the other two Mitchell & Butlers pubs in the vicinity (The Starting Gate & The Maid of Muswell), enough is done to put the ambience well above other pubs in the area but there is no impetus to make them reach any higher and the starting baseline of the surrounding competition is low. There’s a small rotating menu of guest ales, but it takes some disregard to turn Dark Star’s Hop Head into a boring pint. I’m no gastroboy, but the food is an average waste of an appetite but, hey, the place is thriving in the absence of any real competition and a well-heeled clientele seem grateful.
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Bounds Green is unspeakably dreary. The Ranelagh is a decent refuge from the unremitting greyness. Limited range of ales but very pleasant ambience and friendly service.
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A polite middle class pub where you might take your other half on a date if you are a little past your prime but want to get out the house for a change, or if you just met them on the internet but don't know their taste well enough to risk anywhere too niche. Alternative use would be if your office is having a leaving do. So a safe option, but still they have a good selection of drinks and polite staff so I'm not knocking it too much.
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Much improved from my last visit had a few pints of Doombar & Pride which were both in good condition and service was quick and polite. There is a nice Beer garden in the summer if its not overrun with kids but it was constant raining on my afternoon visit so never used it. Overall its a much better Pub now. But much more could be done on the Ale front I feel there missing out big time especially as there's not a decent Ale Pub around here for miles now that The John Lawrence has gone Northern Star has gone The Turrets has gone The Bank has gone even The Orange Tree the only pub just hanging on is the Springfield and that's half closed and run down.
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Very popular pub and deservedly so. It seems to be aiming for the slightly up-market crowd, but whilst the prices might well have been designed to keep the likes of myself and the other riff-raff out, it's actually a lot more welcoming and comfortable to fans of a more traditional local pub than the majority of that ilk. A comparatively broad range of draught lagers and real ales are on offer, and I've yet to have a bad pint here. Particular favourites are Sierra Nevada Pale Ale which is always a treat on draught and the beers from the local Redemption Brewery in Tottenham. The pub quiz on a Tuesday night which is my main reason for visiting the place is more entertaining than most and of a fairly high standard. A decent sized pub in a very nice building and the outside area is very pleasant on the few days of clement weather that North London gets every year. Service is always courteous and rarely takes too long. Well worth checking out if you are anywhere nearby. Haven't tried the food yet, and it is a bit of a gastropub, but what I have seen and smelled from neighbouring tables does seem very appetising.
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This place is Mitchell and Butlers, make your own choice, but they are the Tesco of pubs if you ask me . I would rather have a pint in any number of boozers round here than give my hard earned cash to that cynical lot, especially as their beer has the familiar taste that suggests they don't look after their pipes too well. Or perhaps us folks in the suburbs should be grateful we have an M&B Gastropub on our door step rather than one of their Toby Carvery's, All Bar One's or Browns?
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In the last 8-10 months this pub has really improved. Firstly, it is much easier to get served, and the service is more friendly and less surly. Secondly, the food is definitely on the up - the menu is a bit samey and needs to change more often and respond to seasonal ingredients a bit more, but on the other hand, portion sizes are better and whilst it is not a real gastropub, neither is it Wetherspoons. Things I don't like about this pub are that sometimes every table seems to have a 'reserved' sign for half an hour ago on it, and no-one sitting at it. Also sometimes the tv or music can be very noisy in the back part of the pub and make the entire pub unbearable. Other than that I can really see that the management are working at trying to improve this pub, and for that reason, I will continue to give it a go.
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Newly refurbed in anonymous gastro style, the patio is now fully enclosed by canvas prioritising diners with smokers banished to the garden that closes at 10. Remains woefully understaffed and this obviously impacts on bar/kitchen service.
I heard diners complaining about portion sizes and also heard one of the staff bragging that they had taken �6K on one of the recent BH Monday's. No surprise given low staff overheads & top dollar Soho drinks prices. The young professional crowd that have niched into Bounds Green (because of the comparative property Bang you get for your Buck) deserve better. I'd drink here more often if it weren't for the resentful feeling of the owners taking the piss out of a captive audience.
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This having been my local since before I could drink, I know what it used to be like. It was ok but slowly regressed to being a bit of a hole, although one with a couple of pool tables at least. It was taken over and given a quick once over (to resemble the Maid of Muswell - the same chain no doubt), the vagrants moved on and decent beers put on. And suddenly, from a cheap �2 a pint we've since had to pay near on �4 a pint since (and �4.25 a pint just a couple of nights ago). This is Bounds Green, not Upper Street. The prices are not justified either by numbers of staff (as people have said, there are hardly ever many), or by what must be low overheads. However, there are no other local pubs. The Springfield up the road is what the Ranelagh used to be, and if one day someone decides to decorate the place and keep the prices sensible then i'd rather go there. For such a large catchment area there are NO local pubs. The Maid of Muswell would be the next one, and that's just a copy of here - although it's a better pub and i've no idea what the beer costs because it's not an issue.
I can't say I use this pub very often now. If i'm going to spend that sort of money i'd rather go somewhere decent. It's just been redecorated too, and I can't say I like it. It went from dark and moody to a bit tacky and bright - it looks more like the old ranelagh. As I say, it's a shame, this is my local...
ton11 - 27 May 2011 11:04 |
I'll join the list of disappointed drinkers at the Ranelagh, the waiting at the bar to order anything on a Thurs,Fri, Sat is about 15 to 20 mins. Don�t expect to see more than 2 staff serving drinks and one of them loading/offloading the glass washer� expect a quick rinse (half clean glass)!!
Not writing this to discredit the place because I agree that it�s quite nice but don�t really fancy the idea of waiting around too long AAAAND�the work in the kitchen needs some attention too as well as the size of the portions.
Needless to say�not going back.
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I am popping in tonight for a drink in the beer garden - haven't been here in a while so hope its improved. Really hope its worth it!
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haha that 'colostomy' bag was is in fact the handsoap for the dispenser! the keys had been misplaced so we were not able to change it over - it does have initial antibacterial soap written on the side of the bag - but guess some people are a little too quick to judge. the cigarette bin will be removed soon (keys for this were also on the lost set so it will just be getting removed as there are ashtrays on all patio tables)
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Had a pint in here last Sunday and I must say the management do need to address it's housekeeping duties. The cubicles in the mens toilets do not look, had no soap in the 2 liquid dispensers and to top it off someone had left a full colostomy bag sitting on the radiator. I would expect this sort of thing down the road in the Springfield but this lack of hygeine awareness is simply not on in a pub that prides itself as a gastropub! And one that charges top dollar for everything as well. Also the garden area is a complete mess with the wall mounted cigarette bin overflowing with butts and litter strewn on the floor.
Still nice pint of Sierra Nevada :)
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The beer was decent enough (Sambrook's Wandle in this case) and the staff freindly enough but the complete pricks who seem to hero worship Harry Enfield's 'loadsamoney' character that clog up and infest the bar area tend to be off putting.
anonymous - 13 Nov 2010 12:16 |
As before, this pub could be so much better in terms of food & quality/quantity of service, but with no competition locally, the motivation to turn this into the kicking venue it's dying to be still isn't there - yet?
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The staff work really hard and are under huge pressure - on a busy Friday there were only two bar staff on. Standards are not good- the outside could be fantastic but no-one cleans it - there are full ashtrays from either lunchtime or the night before, old paper napkins blowing about. Food tonight was really poor - everything was burnt, sometimes though it can be fine. Good selection of wine and good buzzy atmosphere, could be a fantastic pub but seems to be run on a limited budget and it shows!
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The food at this pub is great. Personally I think that it could be more for your money especially on a Sunday. My favourite dishes are the nachos, gammon and eggs, the steak and the wedges. I have not been dissapointed with the food at all.
The staff seem as though they are stressed out even when the pub is empty! You do get your two servers which are very friendly and make you feel right as rain on a hectic day. Then you get your arrogant bar staff. This is one of those pubs where your afraid to see who serves you as it might be the wrong one.
They have a great amount beers in which I love to drink and can never make up my mind.
The selection of drinks that The Ranelagh have are impressive.
The design of the pub inside and outside are attractive.
This is my favourite pub. I would not go anywhere else.
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Potentially great pub. Really good decor and feel, quality beers, nice garden - a cool local bar - slightly out of the way - which prevents it getting uncomfortably packed. The formerly good food is on the slide however - very thrown together and inconsistent. Service is patchy - long waits for drinks, not enough bods, general lack of interest shown. Still better than the few local alternatives - but someone needs to stop the rot. I still find I like it - and hope it picks up.
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hi guys, just thought i would write a little response to what, disappointingly, are a few bad reviews, but hopefully what i have to say should show that we are attempting to work with our customer feedback... first of all i can happily say that our rear veranda area is fixed, sturdy this time, and re-heated, it took a long time i know, but ive had to battle with the company (oh, they do love to part with money, or not) for a few months (so near to xmas time) to actually get them to spend the money on the place that we actually needed!! as have the toilets been re-looked after - seats fixed, alongside little things like the toilet roll dispensors and the handsoap dispensors which sometimes not so pleasant customers have repeatedly ripped off the walls. On the food front our kitchen team is also changing in an effort to improve on some of our reviews, if you know anyone, we are hiring... and hope that the difference in standards should be starting to show.
the issues with the staff sometimes... i shall be addressing that... 'ed in london' i had seen your review on our feedback forms, thank you, your comments were noted, but i have been unable to contact you due to the way the feedback system runs and the data protection act...
i am disappointed that some of our standards did slip, but hope you all realise we are trying to rectify the issues. we do value our customers, and will always try to work with their feedback.
now, on to that staff thing....
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I have eaten at the Ranelagh on five separate occasions and it was a disappointment for my partner and I on each visit. Poor service, long and unnecessary wait for food, wrong meals being served and when they've been right they've been cold are among the list of complaints that I've made.
On the other hand, the Ranelagh has a nice atmosphere and attracts a nice and varied clientele (most probably because it enjoys the luxury of minimal competition). My friends and I like the decor and the drinks are reasonably priced. The quiz on a Tuesday is great fun and well run. I think that's why I've given it five attempts as far as food is concerned.....
The staff are, at best, competent. At worst, they are uninterested and appear transient... not caring about engaging with the customers.
It's a shame that the food quality and service has been so poor on my visits. I would recommend anyone to have a drink at the Ranelagh if you're not too bothered by uninterested staff. But, if you're thinking of having a meal you will be disappointed.
I've completed a review organised by the owners / brewery associated with the Ranelagh - hopefully they'll heed the feedback.
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It's a shame to see this nice pub slowly deteriorate. The awning over the outside veranda was ripped off in the high winds late last year and still hasn't been replaced. This is one of the pub's unique selling points as it allows the smokers to pop outside and not get wet while they fulfil their sordid little habit. Also, in one of the two male toilet cubicles, the toilet seat has been missing for over two months, which unfortunately speaks volumes about the attitude of the licensee and the holding company. I'll still give this place a 6 out of ten rating as it is the nicest and most vibrant in Bounds Green but it's on the slide.
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The food is quite decent, however I am not sure if the people working behind the bar are familiar with the words "customer service". Yesterday lunch time there was no soap in the boys' bathroom so I popped in to the girls' to find both soap containers empty. After I told staff they said they would sort it out. Eventually one of them went out to an off licence to buy some handwash. When she returned she casually put it in my hand and asked me to take it to the bathroom. I thought I was a customer who should be respected but instead of apologising to me, I had to take the soap to the bathroom because I wanted to wash my hands before eating. We ordered bangers and mash and a steak (which was quite chewy). It took about 40 minutes to get the food. In the mean time two members of staff were chatting to each other rather loudly about shifts and other work related issues that I had no desire listening to and thought it was inappropriate and quite unprofessional.
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I pop in this Pub around Once a Month on my way home and I find its best after 20:00 in the Evening as you get no kids in then. I find it a OK Pub with A few good Ales on Tap But its A bit too food orientated for me it has that feel like your drinking in a restaurant instead of a Pub. Its OK for a few Quick Pints but its not a Pub you can have a all Night session in.
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I've lived in the area 19 years, back in 1990 the Ranelagh was a dullish pub with an Irish feel, not unlike some places down Holloway Road. Separate lounge and bar, darts. Sort of pub my mum & dad used to go to.
The years in between were a bit awful - in particular the era when it had only about 30 seats in the whole place, going for the Male Vertical Volume Drinker, I think. So its current refurb has been a blessing. Garden's now pleasant instead of fag-ash and old crisp packets; verandah perfect. I was initially a bit miffed about the no-kids-after-7 policy but I've come round to it - kids in pubs are a bit of a pain (I've got 3), if you can't let your hair down a bit and swear a bit, what's a pub for?
Yes, the service could be quicker at the bar, there sometimes seem to be too few staff, at other times there are plenty but half of them appear to be doing anything but serve. Some also do that most annoying thing, asking the customers "Who's next?" I think if you work behind a bar you should have a good idea who's next, doesn't have to be perfect but asking the punters means putting the onus on them to fight it out, you get elbowed aside by some rude bugger & then you have to decide whether you're going to make anything of it. Not relaxing, not what I come to a pub for. But the staff seem nice people and the beer is well kept.
Thursday nights are really good. It's not quite open mic, is it? - but then who wants a bunch of half-cut X-Factor rejects giving everyone an earache? The regular crowd who play and sing certainly know their stuff, so top marks for that.
Nice looking place, good garden, good music night, pleasant staff, get the drinks across the bar a bit quicker and it's a winner.
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Wiccaman, do you ever think your drinking in the Wrong area?
Squalid and Dismakl in Bounds Green?
You should go for a bevvy over Tottenham mate, you'll soon realise BG aint that bad at all
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Popped back recently early on a Monday eve. Only one bod in the kitchen and one behind the bar (who also had to serve the food). The quality of the food and the service suffered hugely as a result.
This pub (along with The Gate & the Maid o Muswell) have pitched themselves just above the other squalid & dismal offerings in the area, and then stopped as if thats enough effort - well it ain't!
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Spent a relaxing Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. The beer was good (two ales Pride and Bathams) and the food was good although slow to arrive. The pub is child friendly or at the very least child tolerant. Would certainly drink here again the next time we are visiting friends in Bounds Green
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Still a bit of a missed opportunity and the mixed reviews are justified BUT - the smoking patio/beer garden on a weekday evening is a great place to meet people (old friends & new ones)
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chucknorris - I know this internet thing is very complicated, but your overly repetitive posts aren't being removed by staff. They are simply moving on to the next page. If you click "see more reviews" it'll show you all of your lovely reviews and you can read them over and over again to your hearts content.
Anyway, the Ranelagh, yes..... it's a bit average really, isn't it. It COULD be a fantastic pub, it's certainly got the potential. Unfortunately the food is far too inconsistent, the staff are below average at best, the landlady never seems to show her face at the bar and, well, it just all comes across a bit half-assed to me. Oh well.... at least we've got the Springfield up the road!!
Joobs - 25 Mar 2009 13:26 |
I tried to warn eveybody but my comments keep getting removed by the staff. This place is a joke. They are taking the piss out of you. They have a sweepsteak on who will wait the longest for a drink and not complain or go to the offie next door and bring that in. Bring back all my old reviews.
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I really want to rate the Ranelagh highly, I know some people haven't welcomed it to the area but it is the sort of pub I like. It looks good, the music is interesting and they are trying things out like the MC night. The Ranelagh really should succeed. But it just seems to lack a steady hand of leadership or management. Sometimes, like this Saturday, you'll get a lovely bit of food and served straight away but more often than not the service leaves you hanging around for far too long and frustrated. The service is always friendly but all too often it is inefficient and inexperienced. Sometimes I've waited ten minutes for a pint when there has only been two or three people waiting. The Ranelagh could be an absolute diamond but to be honest I'm more likely to walk a bit further up the road to the Maid of Muswell, and work up a thirst. I know these two pubs are in the same "chain", as it were...perhaps the staff could spend a couple of days in the Maid of Muswell and learn a few simple tricks on how to keep an averagely busy bar ticking over?
anonymous - 29 Jan 2009 15:35 |
Was in here for our Annual Christmas day drink
The place was packed and had a good Atmosphere.When i went up to get a last drink though, i was informed the bar had shut.No bell or nothing.Thats the difference between this an old school boozer and these new breed pubs.If it had been in the pub ,not a million miles away,the barstaff would have let the punters know in good time that the bar was closing.
The only downer on a good session as it goes
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Got to be honest - been here once in Summer for a drink, so it was with trepidation that I met a couple of good friends for some grub, drink and chat. No idea what the past reviewers were doing, but the two bar staff were extremely attentive, making sure they knew who was next in line (unlike many other pubs), and making sure you were happy with any 'strange' drink, allowing tasting. Foodwise, we had the burger, venison burger and sausage dishes - all were excellent and arrived in good time. Guiness and any coffee was brought to the table to avoid hanging around the bar, and all in fair time. One of our party owns a restaurant and was very happy with all, and would come again - isn't that what you want to hear?
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Such a shame about this pub - I would come here so much more if they pulled it together. Really slow service, understaffed, half the menu is never available, poor value for money (tiny portions), sometimes the food isn't cooked properly...
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Whilst this is the best pub in the area, and I too welcomed it when it was gastro-pubified, I can't help but feel that the Ranelagh has never lived up to its true potential. I am prepared to pay that bit more for drinks in a pleasant surrounding, and I can't complain about the Ranelagh's offerings here. The service is usually pleasant, but can be a bit dozy, and at busy hours it is understaffed. The food, however, is variable in the extreme. I have been served with potato wedges that look like they have been reheated over the week, and are a deep brown/black burnt colour (they went back), fish finger sandwiches that are one day served on really fresh bread and accompanied by lots of salad, and the next are on a soggy bap with no salad, and burgers that are enormously variable in quality. Why do I go back? It is the nearest pub to my home, and I am always hopeful that it will have somehow been improved....if the landlord/landlady is reading this - I would visit the Ranelagh ten times more than I currently do if you attended to the quality of service and the food!
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Well Betty. Negative is a bit unfair. I try to find the positive in everything and would dearly love to be able to drink in the Ranelagh, as it's the nearest pub to my house, but find it impossible to do so. I just can't condone the poor standards and slapdash service. Sorry, I don't like to feel ripped-off.
I'm not alone it would appear as a rating of 5.4-odd from over 40 users isn't too great, is it? Even the much reviled Springfield Park Tavern gets a better rating.
You ask the type of place I would like to drink in? I would have to say that it would be something akin to the Ranelagh, but with much higher standards and better value for money.
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Wow. You are funny. I thought this site was to give opinions, thats what i did so no need for your 'witty' replies. We clearly see from your posts Mr goat_boy that the ranelagh is not your type of place to drink in, well in my opinion that saves the rest of us that drink their from your negative presence. Id be interested to see what type of establishment you do drink in. In any case i gave my opinion, thats all i wanted to do.
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Bettyleroux
That open mic night? Is it for comedians?? Enter, you'll walk it:0)
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Nice advertorial Betty. ;-)
Wild horses couldn't drag me and many others back however.
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havingjust movedto the areas.I was pleasedto see such a greatestablishmntsocloseto my house. When I decided to try it out, I aske a member of barstaff about the area and the pub itself and she was more then happy to tell me off all the amenities in the area and close by and of course the entertainment they provided in the pub (quiz on Tues, Open Mic on Thurs etc)
I enjoyed the atmosphere of the pub (it was a chilled out Weds when i was there-Wine for a tenner-NICE!) I Since then i have returned many times and have been there on every night of the week,yes it has been busy at times but the staff always try their best and do it with a smile...More staff might be a solution but for now at least they try, so what more can you ask. I have eaten there afew times and have never had any complaints about the food or the price. I feel you get what you pay for. Over all Im glad i love near such a friendly pub, that has a great atmosphere, is frequented (mostly) by nice friendly people and has hardworking staff that smile and have a bit of banter with tehe customers rather then serving them with a scowel and banging the drinks out, like some pubs ive been too.
All in all...If you live in Bounds Green, go to the Ranelagh, we're lucky to have such a nice pub on our doorstep!
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The only decent pub in the area, with a lively quiz night, great open mic night, and a decent sunday roast !! what can I say I LOVE it !!
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I like the way the Landlady was prepared to step-in & bar chucknorris on line (3rd Dec '07) but not prepared to step in to try and defend/explain the complaints about the woeful food & service.
Come on love where are you now?
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Goatboy has it right.
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a
All my bad reviews seem to have dissapeared. This is a crap pub. Why have my reviews gone ?
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I hadn't darkened the door of this establishment for about two years, but was convinced by a friend to attend against my better judgement.
Sad to say, even though it did the wonderful Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on draught (albeit at the stratospheric price of �3.85 a pint) the service was shambolic - a hot, busy night at the height of summer meant that the two (yep, two) overwhelmed barstaff were besieged on all sides by punters desperate for drink - waiting far longer than neccessary (average wait for a drink was about 10mins). I noticed a few give up and walk out in frustration. Not good.
Food orders were also dealt with at the bar which led to more confusion as the staff were left hanging about waiting for the clueless yummy mummies who'd forgotten who wanted what, how and whether or not chunky fries or salad accompanied the uninspiring-looking fare on offer.
A dedicated food ordering area would make this far easier for us poor sods who go to a pub for umm... beer.
A quiz night made this experience even less pleasant as we were regaled by a series of largely banal questions belted out at maximum decibels over the PA System as you waited patiently for service. OK, I concede that people like this sort of thing, but if you're trying to have a quiet drink and have been ordered into the bar as the garden and patio close early it's a bit trying as there was no getting way from it.
I welcomed this pub when it was converted to pseudogastro back in 2005, but unfortunately feckless management and evidently poor standards have meant that it's nowhere near as good as it could be. Many friends from the area have regaled me of tales of bad service and inedible overpriced food.
If there was competition, people would desert it in droves. It has a virtual monopoly as there's little or no serious competition for the gentrified pound which has come into the area in the last 10 or so years. I can't imagine many of the clientele checking out, say, the Springfield (which is a far better, less pretentious boozer where I recently got a very decent pint of Courage Best for a stuning �1.90) As it stands, the people who use the Ranelagh get poor value for money.
Maybe head office should send a mystery shopper to check it out as it could make far more for the chain if run properly. Or maybe the chain is happy fleecing the clientele? God knows what will happen when the credit crunch begins to bite.
I don't think I'll go back.
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Did I say Hampstead? I meant Highgate.
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Had the worst burger in here I've ever eaten. Overcooked, dry and generally vile. The salad was going rotten. I really should have complained.
The only other place in which I've eaten a worse burger is the Flask in Hampstead. Same owners, funnily enough!
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the last time we went in they had bbq in garden and my partner ordered the bbq chicken burger with salad which they forgot to tell the bbq man to cook and arrived 15min after my meal. the chicken had no seasoning or sauce, was poor quality meat and left half eaten for fear it might be a bit off. the 'salad' was a few leaves of iceburg and a bit of tomato. now considering that the bbq chicken burger cost a couple of quid more than the burger off the usual menu which also comes with nice fat chips and the same boring side salad, i think they are taking the piss. Also, the dirty glasses are washed in seconds using those bar level glass washers which make the beer taste of cleaning fluid.
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This sunday gone the weather was good so we decided to go and have a quiet pint in the very pleasant Garden. The pub were doing a BBQ which I thought was a great idea so went to the bar and got two drinks and ordered 2 steak sandwiches from the BBQ, I was a little suprised it came to �22.20 but assumed it must be good-I don't mind paying genuine money for good value- instead what we received was 2 scrag-ends of hidiously chewy meat a small piece of corn and a few salad leafs. There were others in the garden moaning but like most Brits probably didn't complain. Avoid the BBQ at all costs- put simply its a bloody rip-off.
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As I left this pub I thanked the Lord that I was given a short measure on my pint of Star.
The barman was offish when he served me and he was arguing with another member of staff during the whole of my 15 minute stay. The beer garden was heaving with families so I sat inside at a wonky table that was bouncing up and down as the two little brats behind me jumped up and down screaming at the tops of their voices. The parents of said children were oblivious as they tucked into their bottle of white and discussed soft furnishings.
On the plus side there is a wide variety of premium lagers alongside London Pride, Deuchars IPA and Outlaw Wild Mule.
I would sum this pub up by saying that it is a dark and unwelcoming.
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Mixed feelings about this place. Been in a few times since moving into the area. Has a good selection of beers but it is very expensive. Service is not very good. Food is expensive. Typically middle class punters who enjoy sitting on strange looking chairs! This may appeal to some people but it's not me.
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When this place was first refurbished it was superb for the area, and it remains a really nicely fitted out gastro pub with a beautiful big garden. However it has slipped in the last 12 months in terms of service. The last few times we have been there and wanted some food half the menu was unavailable. It has great continental beers but the Maid of Muswell a bit further away is far better run pub.
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Great garden, however far too expensive, not really a real pub, and not my cup of tea, horses for courses I suppose. The guy that did the quiz put me off too- a bit of a pleb.
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Not a bad little pub at all actually. I've lived in the area for a few years now and this pub is the best of a bad bunch, and I mean that in a nice way. A nice friendly bunch of regulars and no tv makes for a great atmosphere, and in the main, the staff are really good. Got to give a thumbs up to the Irish chap who works behind the bar (don't know his name), but he's always got a smile and is always full of chat. Pulls a great pint of Guinness too - one of the best I've had as an Irishman in London and I've lived here over 20 years.
It's not all great though - the food can be hit and miss but it's improved radically recently, and the yummy mummies with their kids can grate a bit, but all in all a decent little boozer.
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We went into here Last night in the early evening whilst waiting for a few of the other Woman to turn up before going on to the west end. Seems to be another nice Female friendly Pub that�s not full of your usual sports mad Drunkards and Lager Louts. Good for meeting up in before catching the tube. Good selection of Wines & Bottled Beers Little expensive for bounds green but nice surroundings.
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Not my favourite pub,as my previous posts on here show, but had a blinding day in here on Christmas day.
Probably a combination of the company i was with plus the fact alot of the old regulars return for the xmas lunchtime session.
It goes to show that you can still have a decent pub without isolating the old locals.
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Barred from a boozer over the internet LOL!! Thats got to be a first!
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get a life chuck!
"excuse me,can I have the same please?"
get your fat arse to the bar and get bloody drinks yourself!!!
and with all the respect..u do not seem to be a person who says please and thank u!!!!
by the way- comment about scafolders-CHARMING!!!!!
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Chuck
Hi there, landlady here.
Seeing as, even though we've met and chatted a couple of times before, you don't have the decency to talk to me in person about any concerns or problems you have with your visits to The Ranelagh, I thought I'd let you know via the internet that you are barred.
The vast majority of people who drink in this pub are lovely, good and friendly types. You, unfortunately don't fit into that catagory.
You have no respect for anyone else or indeed the pub itself and to top it off you are now threatening members of my family and the team that work here.
I will not tolerate that behaviour so if you try and step foot in my business again I will call the police and also inform them of your original threat.
Hopefully now this site can be used by genuine customers who have informative and useful feedback rather than read your spiteful drivvle.
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Chucknorris
For the record I have nothing to do with this pub, I am not responsible for any aspect of its management, its upkeep, the calibre of staff or food, unruly customers or security. I am an Engineer not a pub manager. I am merely someone who happens to live with and be in love with one.
I seldom have the opportunity to drink in the Ranelagh due to work and family commitments, and if I do, the furthest thing from my mind is attempting to offend anyone, I am just filling time waiting for my true love to finish work.
I haven�t seen you since the evening we were initially introduced, and therefore having been introduced wouldn�t ignore you.
As for a Grant Mitchell pose, I can�t help having a big fat head, it is my curse, but that is where the similarity ends. I would much rather look like Brad Pitt but it isn�t gonna happen!
Shout me next time you are in and see for yourself that I�m a decent bloke.
Cheers for now.
Tom
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Not sure if it's because the landlady worked out I was Chuck or if they thought I was someone else who'd done a terrible thing but i haw an odd experience in there the other day. I was in there with my disabled mate and one other customer and my mate asked the barmaid "excuse me, can we have the same again please ?" from his seat ten feet from the bar. Barmaid said in a sharp resentfull way "no, you have to come to the bar", my mate said "I wasn't asking you to bring them over", she' walked off. My mate hobbles to the bar and is reluctantly served. Landladys partner sees all this and comes to lean on the bar doing a Grant Mitchel pose. This must have been coz me and my friend were discussing how stuned we were at the rudeness. Very odd behavior. If I ever go back I'll take the football team of scafolders from Tottenham that my mate sponsors and see how they react to rudeness.
Very odd behavior.
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Just wanted to say how much of a good night i had on tuesday. It was the first time my wife and i had been to the quiz and really enjoyed myself. Its a real shame it was the last quiz one, wish i had descovered it earlier!
anonymous - 24 Oct 2007 23:46 |
Well just wanted to say I love the Tuesday Quiz Nights. They are camp but the quiz hosts, especially richie, are very endearing and great entertainers. Did you know Richie also hosts online roulette? He's so talented. But bar him, the Monday night live music is also fun and a really nice atmosphere. The food could be better however and also some of the people that drink in there, especially the new locals, are a bit unbearable. I think the landlady of the pub should be thankful for the Tuesday quiz nights and the great hosts and should maybe think about livening up the Friday nights too.
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I went in here for a quick Pint on leaving Bounds Green tube Station the Beers not too bad but far too expensive for a backstreet Pub in the Bounds Green area it Seems to charge the same prices as City of London Pubs around Liverpool Street or even More. This is more of a foodies Pub than a Beer Pub like the Maid of Muswell or The Old White Lion. There mainly interested in selling food than Beer it even feels more like a back street restaurant than a Public House. Its OK for a quick Pint But I would not want to spend the Evening there.
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Love the live music they have started to do, its a good crac! Quiz is funny too.
anonymous - 21 Sep 2007 16:48 |
I just want to respond to the comment from 'chucknorris' - the North London Redneck! Ive read all your reviews of various pubs in North London which have been far from positive. Your obviously a hard man to please .. my suggestion is get some friends (and life) maybe then you may enjoy yourself a bit more.
In regards to Izzy Wizzy - my wife and I really enjoy the gameshow. As for being GAY (is their anything wrong with this?) yes it has a camp host but so does the National Lottery ... Does that make it a gay programme! We love Izzy Wizzy, its the best thing about the Ranelagh so give them a break and as I said .... get a life!
anonymous - 17 Sep 2007 11:52 |
The Ranelagh is a pub for people that don't like pubs or the people that frequent pubs. It's a restaurant that sells beer, basically.
In the summer it's intolerable as it serves as an ad-hoc cr�che for free-range children and their daft parents. Am I being unfashionable in thinking that pubs should be an adult pursuit?
It takes bloody ages to get served when there's even a handful of people at the bar. And as Cockney_Hammer says �3.30 for a Guinness is shocking out in the boondocks. The food has got progressively more dreary and unoriginal. If there were any other competition for the gentrified pound in the area they'd undoubtedly suffer. And deservedly so.
Oh and Mryumyum - it DOES feel like a chain just one cynically designed to fleece you and your ilk. The "different" feeling is engineered in all the chain's pubs. Establishments like this are becoming increasingly and depressingly prevalent. I'm amazed that people would use the existence of such a place as a criteria for choosing where to live. Each to their own, I suppose.
As it happens the pub you and others allude to (The Springfield) is a pretty decent establishment, but just happens to cater to residents who have lived around the area for longer and don't wish to suffer fools and foolishness. You can get decent beer and food there. Quickly and cheaply. Last time I was in there I was talking to a veteran of the Spanish Civil War. Is that the type of fighting you were referring to?
And before you ask my middle class ponce credentials are probably more impeccable than yours. I've just been in the area far longer.
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Full of middle class tossers and pretentious wannabes. Bring back the old pub, spit in the sawdust, pool tables and football. Thats what pubs are all about, if you don't like it, get yourself down all bar one or something. I'm giving this place a big fat zero because of the prices alone. �3.30 for a Guinness?? This is Bounds Green mate, not Green Park!!
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Its true its a part of a chain ,but it doesnt feel like one and surely thats the point.I moved to the area a year ago and The Ranelagh was one of the reasons we moved . Unlike some chain pubs it seems to be aiming at and getting a clientele that spans all ages and backgrounds. Yes its a bit different ...but if you still want a Stella and a fight you can always pop down the road!
I've noticed they've even started Live music on Monday nights.
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Only place around without carpets and fruit machines. Nice beer garden but how much would it cost to go round it with a garden vac from time to time ? Uncut grass and strewn with fag buts.
This pub could be the best for miles around but for a few things : I have never in my life had to wait so long for a drink in a not that busy bar. If that skinny blonde bloke is the manager he is hopeless. Than bloke is a joke. You WILL have to wait an believably long time for a drink. The other staff are mostly cool. The new black geezer should be running the place, even says 'Hello' and 'Goodbye'.
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A year later and I still like going to the Ranelagh. We mostly sit outside as it's such a nice area to relax in. Becoming more popular and lots of families come in - the garden area can be full of kids roaming and exploring but they all get scooped up early evening and taken home for bedtime. Food still not great in terms of size of portions and lack of veggie choice. They don't serve the standard lagers any more - no carling for lightweights like me or stella for my partner. Not mad about the ones they sell now so we've wandered down Green Lanes recently to a new pub with better food and our choices of drinks.
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My first venture into The Ranelagh was over a year ago, met with intimidating, mismatching wallpaper and chairs, I found the pub a bit awkward. Strange and unheard of beers, obscure music and oozing with modernism, The Ranelagh was the complete opposite of its local rival The Springfield. Perhaps that�s why I like it?
I recall being shoed a few times by bar staff at what seemed an unlikely closing time of 11:30, particularly by one member in particular, I decided I didn�t like that person... I was wrong to be so hasty, the bar staff are not only friendly, they have personalities reflecting the pubs cheerful atmosphere, combined with the crisp, fruity taste of a pint of Belleview, the weekly pub quiz and the general high spirits of the place, makes The Ranelagh an enjoyable place to be.
Go there!
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Its nice, that much it true.
*But* its a chain. The 'interesting' decor and menus are identical to about 10 other pubs in North London. They all serve exactly the same 'interesting' beer too
The pubs are:
Edinboro Castle - Camden
Flask - Highgate
Angel - Highgate
Washington - Belsize Park
Roebuck, Hampstead
Old White Lion - East Finchley
Island Queen - Islington
Ranelagh - Bounds Green
Maid of Muswell - Muswell Hill
Kings Head - Crouch End
I'm sure there more. Seems all a bit cynical to me and because of this, rather less interesting.
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Have to agree with the comment below, the one barman is dreadful. I went to this pub a couple weeks ago for Sunday lunch with family and he banged plates about, no apologies for forgetting things and then when we were asked to vacate the table for a reservation, we got our table cleared as we sat there with no apology again. The bar manager then came across and was very sweet, and found us a new table plus offering apologies as she could see how rude he had been.
This is a great pub, great food, nice atmosphere, all but one of the staff are always really nice and chatty.
Bobo1 - 20 Dec 2006 10:27 |
Dear Anonymous
You left out The Ranelagh's major redeeming feature (of so many) - I now go there regularly, and I'm very much a local! What's your prob with good food, very drinkable wine at reasonable prices, friendly staff who ALL speak English - mostly 'cos it's their first language and, of those who aren't natives, interesting accents being accompanied by enthusiasm and willingness to please? Flies? Maybe it's you they're after - I've never seen any there.
As for smokers being squashed into a corner (which is actually half the pub), well - boo-hoo. I'll go there with my smoking mates, but admit that I've got sore eyes and a sore throat after a couple of hours. Even in the non-smoking bit the bad effects seep across after a while. Sorry for you smokers, I used to be one myself, but get with the program. Much as I agree with you about your right to kill yourself, I really don't want you to take me with you. The Ranelagh is doing it's best to please us all and the non-smoking bit is just as full as the smoke pit.
The food has had it's dodgy moments but is much improved.
My only criticism at the mo is that they tend to put the (not bad) music on too loud, when the clientele are obviously locals who have gone for a drink/nosh/natter, not teenies out clubbing. Tone it down a bit and the place is my idea of a perfect local. (And bring back Quiz Night and all the other sillinesses they used to do for a laugh, but with the comment about loud music taken on board).
I think the new Ranelagh has been the making of our neighbourhood - if you don't like it, go
somewhere else!
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Came across this pub a while ago, and I've been going on and off for a while. I like the layout and the decor - very retro. I've not had the food much recently but it used to be OK without being very special. Great lagers and beers that I've never heard of (I'll have to try them all some day) and the beer garden is great in the summer for a relaxing evening. I've always found the staff quite helpful and friendly, and the female ones are great to look at (shame the best looking one is apparently going out with the old manager).
It's nothing special but quite a nice local boozer compared with the rest of bounds green.
anonymous - 2 Nov 2006 12:51 |
I moved to Bounds Green in February 2006 and The Ranelagh was a happy find (The Washington on England's Lane used to be my local). It has a great selection of beer (yes, they're expensive but they're good quality) and wine too, including a great Palena Sauvignon Blanc.
The bar staff are actually very friendly and the pub has a relaxed atmosphere. I had dinner there on Saturday, which was great and by NO means expensive.
Also, as a non-smoker, I'm really glad to not have to go home at the end of a good evening stinking of smoke. To find a pub with a decent no-smoking section, which they police fantastic.
I can also highly recommend Kebabish near the tube for a post-Ranelagh kebab :)
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I used to drink there years ago and loved the place.
Great local, no hassle, good beer garden....
Apparently the place has changed a bit since then...
A shame...
anonymous - 20 Oct 2006 11:55 |
Let the populace of Bounds Green be the judge of whether they want a so-called �trendy bar�!
If one requires a lesser venue serving cheap unremarkable beer, a myriad of choices presents themselves.
I find the staff pleasant and cheerful, demonstrating sound product knowledge, delivered in perfect English, at times with a delightful European allure.
The beer is pricy by common standards, yet the cost is synonymous with quality products and the clientele associated with the venue. Look around you, it�s a great mix and worth paying that bit extra.
Food is reasonably priced for an establishment prepared to go further than most in relation to presentation and quality of ingredients, the portions are fine too. If when in the comfort of your own home gnawing on a leg of lamb is your thing, then in truth you may be disappointed with the serving size.
The number of seats is fine as I don�t have any friends!
Haven�t seen any flies or bugs to be honest, but I will take an hour out of my evening next time in an attempt to spot and identify, posting my findings on this message board. If you don�t hear from me again I haven�t been successful in locating any.
The Ranelagh is a great pub. I�ve been in enough crap ones to spot a good one!
P.S. The Bejoy next door is a top Indian!
Fitzy - 13 Oct 2006 13:07 |
The last thing Bounds Green needed was a so-called "trendy" bar. Never mind making the locals outcasts; the staff are mostly rude or have limited English language skills, they've removed more than half the seating, squashed the smoking area into one corner with five tables (great on a weekend evening when the smoking area is packed and the rest of the pub is empty! What were they thinking?!), the beer is overpriced, the food is astronomically-priced (big plate, tiny portion) and largely tasteless, and their chalk-boards are riddled in spelling mistakes (can anyone say "Dictionary"?). Oh, and if you get a fly in your beer, don't bother taking it back to the bar for a new one - if it wasn't in the beer when they served it to you, it's not their fault, apparently! The flies are everywhere. If you're going to the Ranelagh, bring some bug spray. It's only redeeming feature is... well, I can't think of anything...
anonymous - 12 Oct 2006 11:43 |
A nice friendly pub in a wasteland for pubs.Has been done up recently although this hasnt turned it into a gastro pub like others have commented
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A sorry tale of a decent pub trying to be a fashionable bar. Too little seating, 'funky house' music in the background (at least it wasn't too loud) and too much focus on selling modern cuisine.
Beer's not bad but you wouldn't want to stay all night.
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Was passing by, so tried this the other Saturday.
Inside was a kind of retro 70s scene, but with some obscure beers on tap. I tried the cherry beer. Really nice though it was �3.80 for a pint.
Outside was a nice enough garden, and you can forget you're near a busyish main road. Forgot about those pesky wasps in beer gardens. The barbecue was starting up but had to go.
Would definitely go back.
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I love this pub. I never knew it before the refurb but the pricey drinks are worth it as it keeps most of the chavs and all of the riff raff away. Tonight we decided to sample the food there. The prices are a bit steep for what you actually get and being a regular at the Bejoy Indian a few doors away, I can only say that the Ranelagh actually sends people there as their portions are absolutely abysmal with NO vegetarain option on their regular menu. I had the haddock fishcakes - 2 smallish cakes on a spoonful of wilted spinach, 6 "home made" (and pretty tasteless) wedges with a lemon wedge. 8 quid - and I still considered going to Bejoy. My partner had the 8 oz burger with 6 wedges - a few pence under 8 squiddlies. He was still hungry.
The BBQ is also overpriced - he could have had a burger with salad leaves from that for a fiver. Go to Bejoy after a few pints in the Ranelagh. I still love the Ranelagh but won't eat there again. I'd give a 10/10 rating if the food was better. Service IS slow these days but hey, it's a sight better than Wetherspoon's!
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Hmm...
Firstly, I welcome the fact that a pub of this sort can exist and indeed thrive in Bounds Green. I never cease to be amazed that folk will pay �4 for a pint of obscure wheat beer.
However, they need to try harder. Service at busy times is unbelievably poor and has no cohesion whatsoever.
Last summer I waited an unbelievable 15 mins to get served. Yes, it was busy, but I've worked in pubs where things have been mentally busy and 15 mins is an absolute outrage. If there had been anywhere else to go we would have gone - but maybe this is part of the Ranelagh's problem - there's no serious local competition. I believe from a recent visit that come the summer things will be just as disorganized as last year.
They also run out of real ale far too often (last three times I've been in there) and lager is lager whether it's obscure and expensive or not.
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love it. problem with this area is the minority of locals who are not open to change, different lifestyles and different people. its about time this area had a pub that doesnt allow its locals to ostracise new people in the pub with their aggression or cliqueness. im new to the area and feel uncomfortable in the Springfield but welcome in here. staff are wonderful and i do enjoy the quiz on weds. i do find some things rather expensive but guess they are still paying for the furniture.
anonymous - 23 May 2006 17:09 |
fabulous quiz? yeah 'fabulous' darling. it is the best word to describe the gay atmosphere, the gay host and the gay audience. good service though and the lager is nice. impressive outdoor section and food is ok.
anonymous - 19 Mar 2006 17:25 |
Nice place, has some rather interesting belgian beers too, with unpronounceable names but jolly good.
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used to be a bit grotty. really nice now since its been done up. its lost favour with the old locals but i still think the change was for the good.
got rid of the pool table though!
a nice place.
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Fabulous pub. Went to the Quiz last night - it was a Game Show! Very slick and close attention to detail. The compere was funny and slick however the quiz was slightly difficult. Well done guys!
anonymous - 3 Nov 2005 13:24 |
sssshhhhhh...... stop telling everybody about it! I didn't know the pub pre-improvements. It's my new local and costs a bit more than most but it's worthwhile as it attracts the right age group/mentality which makes it "grown-up" and at last Wood Green pubs no longer exist for me (does a backflip).
One thing though - I tried the bbq - it is a wee bit pricey - a fiver for, well, not very much really - that's the only disappointment :o( Drop the price of this guys and you'll be perfect. No chance of a music licence I suppose.... (dreams on)
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Once there were three rubbish pubs in Bounds Green. How theres two. If you're nostalgic for rubbish stinky beer carpeted pubs, the lovely Springfield Park Tavern and The Prince await your custom. Why shouldn't there be a pub aimed at the 25-30 demographic in an area with lots of young people? You talk of homogenisation, but ironically theres hundreds of pubs which look like the old Ranelagh (ie: early 90s refit pubs with yellow flock wallpaper and heavily patterned carpets), but not many (almost none) that look like the new one. Also ironically, Crouch End currently hosts about five old Ranelagh style pubs and only one "nathan barley" trendy pub - its not some trendy person utopia. Saying that, the demographics have widened since its revamp. Before: old men and geezas watching football. Now: Men AND women, young and old, all mixing peacefully. The garden is about 1000 times better, theres a larger, better range of beers and the food is great. The Ranelagh isn't trying to pretend to be anything. It is what it is: a clean, warm modern pub aiming at people who want more choice and more quality in Bounds Green.
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The Ranelagh is my local pub and thankful as I am for somewhere in the area that's got the right vibe, the service is the only thing really that lets it down. I go there a lot and unfortunately, every time I do, I know that with minimal patrons waiting, I will still be standing there for 10minutes or more. I would have rated this, my local and favourite pub, an 8 or 9 but alas, the service - although fun and friendly, is appaulingly slow! Hopefully they will read this and do something about it.
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I used to go and sit outside at this pub as it has a garden and we could sit quietly with our dog (a pedigree Afghan Hound, not some unruly chav mutt) and have a pint after work. I've been doing that for over 11 years. The pub was grotty and the beer was rubbish but at least they weren't trying to pretend to be something they're not. Now we can't go because they've trendified it up (not in itself always bad, but then again have you seen the Maid of Muswell recently - urgh!)and now they won't let dogs in the garden. Of course, they'll let vile "Crouch End" wannabee mothers and their even more vile offspring run riot but not a civilised 30-something media lawyer and her partner and her dog. I'm not some old stuck-in-the-mud but what I really detest is this homogenisation of all pubs into places that the magic "25-30" year old Nathan Barley's want to go to.
Says it all really doesn't it - this is Bounds Green, not Crouch End, however much some people would like to think it may be.
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what a fantastic surprise, last year this was a grim boozer, now it's stunning inside and out. The beer garden is fantastic - there's a large wooden decked area loads of seating and outside gas heaters. The staff were brilliant, despite being really busy they were still smiling and happy to accomodate our demands.
The weekend we visited, there was a barbecue running which was perfect for a sunny day. Even though children are allowed outisde it wasn't overun with screaming kids! The atmosphere of the whole place is genuinely friendly and relaxed - not what I'd expected in this area. For a decent drink, food and nice surroundings this place is hard to beat.
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The last time i was in the Ranelagh was just before the refurbishment and it was a bit of an old locals boozer, not particulary bad but not good also. But now it's the preverbial dogs bollo7ks! The beer garden is multi leveled with ample seating and the interior is contemporary. Didn't try the food menu cos we weren't hungry but judging by everyone else's plates the food looked great. They serve a wide range of Belgium beers ( just try the cherry beer & forget the rest!)and you can smoke nearly anywhere which will be unpopular with the non-smokers. The only minor whinge that i can think of is that the day of my visit (Sunday) the German? bartender's english was just passable and he nearly overcharged us by double for the round we purchased, but that was just a honest mistake. All in all another great pub that improves the area by leaps & bounds..
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I'm afraid i cant agree with the above comments. What was a friendly local, has now become an arty pretentious horror! totally alienating the local residents, and the old locals! This is bounds green, not Hampstead.
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Great new beer garden. A cool place to spend a lazy summer Sunday afternoon maybe. Covered area outside so you can enjoy the outside even if it isn't the best weather.
Excellent food and good service. Friendly bar staff - a great improvement on what this place used to be. Hope it succeeds as there's nothing like this in the area.
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What really was one of the worst pubs in London has had a complete refurbishment and now is very sleek and stylish. Has Belgian and other beers on tap and also offers interesting food. The garden has been improved; a lot of decking has been added - maybe they should have put a bar in the garden, as most of the people were out there. Word of warning though: the floor has some unexpected uneven bits.
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