Phoenix, Bayswaterback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
GK IPA and London Pride cask ale in this Punch Taverns pub. Still has Sky Sports. 4.1 average? It's better than that certainly.
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Well you'll never believe it...but this pub in the mid 1980's was the place to go.It was called the Moscow Arms then.On a weekend it was full of punks..suits..goths..you name it..they were there.Many a band were also seen here..UB40..The Alarm..Two Minds Crack....it was a great place to come and pull...great atmosphere and rarely any trouble...also had good looking Aussie barmaids.Glory days !
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Unremarkable except for the cheap beer, usual Spirit Group pub, no atmosphere and very bland. Alright for a once in a while visit but there is no chance of anyone ever treating this as a local.
Staff seem obsessed with having either sport or MTV on the telly, always loud even when no-one is watching it.
One to be avoided methinks.
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Unremarkable pub that does no real ale. Not much going for it as far as I can see. Not for me.
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Quite nice place when it is sunny. Cosy place off of the main drag, a little pricey but it is a tourist area. Would come back for the beer only as the food looked a cat had regurgitated the contents of its stomach.
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Luckily I visited when it was dry, given the below review!
This and the next door King's Head are a nice illustration of the importance of a good manager to the pubco model: both are, I suspect, under similar ownership (if different pubcos), but whereas the KH appears to be a decent and welcoming boozer, the Phoenix is a lot more down-at-heel: the inside does look rather dilapidated, service was not good when I visited, and all told one feels it is being badly run, and must do better. But if the pub can't even mend a leaking roof, I doubt there's much potential here for it to become much better.
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To put the world to rights, you sometimes have to shame a few people in to action. So welcome to my new section where I have a public pop at people, organisations and pubs that have annoyed me.
We start with The Phoenix pub, 51 Moscow Road, London W2 (formerly Bar Oz and before that, The Ashes)
The complaint is as follows: the roof leaks! In fact when its raining heavily as it was last Sunday, you might as well not have a roof � considering the amount of water that was pouring into the place.
The staff had placed a metal bucket under the offending area but it was having little effect since the water appeared to be coming from at least three areas and they only had one bucket?
Intrigued as to how long this problem had been going on, and the fact that the damage to the ceiling was extensive, I approached the manager.
�I�m just the relief manager,� the guy said, �but I think it�s been like that for a while. The permanent manager has complained.�
The guy then shrugged and told me that if I wanted to complain I should contact the owners: The Spirit Group.
Now I�m not the type that normally gets temperamental about such things, I mean roofs' leak, pipes burst � shit happens. But here�s the thing, the leak was big and the ceiling damage extensive. Which makes you wonder, that if the owners can�t be bothered to sort out such an obvious and very public problem, what else can�t they be bothered to sort out in the areas the public don�t see, like say the cellar or the kitchen? Not nice to think about is it?
Well someone has to step up to the plate on this one; after all if no one complains guys, nothing happens. So after perusing the companies website and finding that the pub wasn�t listed � I wonder why? I got on the phone. Initially, having spoken to a very nice and helpful young lady � she sounded nice anyway, I was hopeful that action would be swift. I informed the young lady that the pub and company would be mentioned in this blog and she promised that she would pass on the details to the relevant manager and an investigation would be started, the result of which would be sent to me in about ten days.
�No problems,� I told her, �we will be happy to publish your reply on the blog.� A day later and I received this email. Now remember this is from the manager that will be investigating � please try not to laugh.
8 December 2008
Dear Mr (name withheld)
Reference: Phoenix
I am writing with reference to your complaint regarding the Phoenix and I am pleased to say that I am now investigating this matter.
Please rest assured that your comments have been taken very seriously and I have spoken in detail to our Maintenance Department regarding this issue.
I can confirm that, while we have continually reviewed the problem with the roof, the building is grade 2 listed and so we can make limited amendments. The rood (sic) has been reviewed and, when it is not raining, there does not seem to be any visible leaks however, when it rains there are leaks although, for health and safety reasons, workers are not permitted on the rood (sic) whilst it is raining to see where the actual leak is located.
This is something that we will continue to monitor and action will be taken once the area in need of repair is highlighted. I would like to thank you for contacting us and to assure you of our best attention (sic) at all times.
Yours sincerely
Eddie Hall
Business Development Manager
Well I don�t know about you, but it seems strange for a manager to start investigating something he already knows about? Also I think it�s pretty obvious that if you have a hole in the roof, then when it rains you�ll get wet and when it doesn�t you won�t � doh! As for �taking action when the problem is highlighted�, err� I thought it already had, your roof leaks! Finally I don�t know about Health and Safety issues regarding people walking around the outside of the roof when it�s raining, but I imagine that�s a pretty dumb thing to do anyway � might I suggest you look for the water from the inside? All in all, it�s a leaking roof - not exactly rocket science guys, (here's a helpful link to do with roof leaks). But apparently all that�s going to happen is that the maintenance team and managers are going to stare at the ceiling whilst the public stare at them � progress not expected, but I will keep you updated anyway. I�ll also be taking a camera next time, since my bloody camera phone has packed up again!
But for now, all I can say is, The Spirit Group: shame on you.
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Pretty miserable place. Wandered in there ona crawl last night and was hit by the smell of chips. People eating everywhere. Personally I prefer pubs which have the eating areas segregated. The Kings Arms next door is 100 times more atmospheric and enjoyable....and does not smell of food!
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This was originally The Moscow Arms
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It's been over a year since this pub was given it's refit and thankfully it's got its popularity back (though not over crowded) and remains a place in Bayswater where you've no problems in slouching around for the afternoon or evening (not that the benches or chairs give much chance of that with their posture rectifying regidnes).
Decor is clean and simple, and clientel easy going.
Pub grub price has gone up a little since Bar Oz days which doesn't excuse the new poor quality choice of chips served, nor the lack of a dollop of coleslaw with my burger (comes with poor quality chips). However, food is varied enough for the price and a hearty dish can be bought for �3-�5.
Beer choice is standard chav (Stella, Carling, Fosters, Kronenburg) but the Fostors is �2.15... nice.
A small but satisfactory number of ales available too.
Used to have some of the finest looking barmaids, but new grumpier set have been brought in with the change. Though they're gradually learning what a smile is.
New flat screen TV's for the No.1 place in the area to watch the footy... or well most popular (Upstairs in the former Redan next to Whiteley's is a fantastic setting) so the almost useless projector screen is no longer a hassel. Though if it's not one of the 'big' four playing on Sky expect the occaisional request to be placed to the barmaids for the game to be turned on... running the gauntlet to then ask for the sound to be turned on instead of THEIR bordom busting music is easier than their look of disgust may let on.
Clientel during the lunch time period is a mix of College kids on a quick grub and fag break, straight through to elder citizens looking for some cheap hot food. All fine.
2 Pool tables given their own area and are good quality. Not so are the queues, keep searching the limitless amount on offer for best results. Good place for a few games as the evenings turn into 'winner stays on'. Sometimes just singles matches but often one table for singles, one for doubles.
Never going to win pub of the year, but it does what it sets out to and it's all fine, attractive and friendly.
If you could sit back rather than just upright, it would make a difference to the score!
anonymous - 19 Sep 2006 12:02 |
This pub was resently changed from the old Bar Oz brand. It still offers great food at great value and has consistently low pricing on certain beers and other products. Live sport is shown on plasmas and a big screen and there are 2 pool tables in their own section. Great atmosphere all round for both dining and watching sport.
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