please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Decent choice of ales and a decent matchday atmosphere in this pub, which gets crowded for the bigger matches. Plastic pots too last time I went in there, not sure whether this is police advice or not, but I have switched to the Railway now. Doesn't show football any more and they've taken down the SUFC memorabilia since the refurbishment, which is sad to see.
Sad to say, gone downhill but it's still a decent enough pub.
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Refurbishment has tarted the place up a bit but I must say I preferred it before, the Blues shirts and memorabilia seems to have gone which is a shame.
My main bugbear with the Spread is they give you plastic glasses on a matchday. I'm not sure whether the police enforce this, but it's really off-putting.
No decent continental lagers on but they do have ales.
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good pub for live entertainment and fun nights
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Well, this is a really nice pub, we visited this on several nights and they have a great singer called East Beach Dave who sings so many different songs really well its amazing. The guy is a proper entertainer and creates a great atmosphere for everyone.
The beer is great, Directors bitter is well worth the money, a very good pint and the wife was happy with her Vodka n diet tonics. The bar food is home cooked if you come in during the day and the soup is the best in town. The management really try and every one is so friendly. Clean loos too with soap a plenty.
We thoroughly recommend a visit at anytime for a good pint and for a good night out Friday or Saturday when the live music is on is well worth a visit. Great pub, take your friends along.
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Well this pub has had a lovely refurbishment, the place is clean and fresh looking but has retained its pub charm that so many locals love.
well worth a visit and very welcoming staff.
I would say that the new d�cor and styling will be very popular and its just what the place needed, would highly recommend.
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Tried to visit on Saturday ,but the pub is currently undergoing a refurb and is shut,it certainly needed a big clean up,it was very shabby,hopefully when it reopens the real ales will also be improved.
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Well, a lot has happened to this pub over the past few months, and as I understand it, a lot more is to come!
The old landlord (referred to in a previous review) has finally been give the boot, and a new manager has taken over who actually cares about the place and brings a new level of vitality to the atmosphere that has been missing for a long while..
This is a traditional old pub the kind that�s hard to find anymore. The kind that doesn�t rely on a fancy refit or the best looking decor to survive, nut just makes you feel welcome and gives you the feeling that you want to return.
The new manager is trying to keep the evenings eventful and entertaining, whilst still maintaining the pubs traditional feel, and has introduced some great new nights like The Sunday night music quiz! A fun, not to intimidating quiz on a relaxed Sunday night about Music with something for everyone! (They even feed you little titbits!) Thursdays they have Live (But not too Loud!) music to give you something to listen to, Wednesday is the Scottish Quiz! (You will understand why I heard one of the regulars call it that if you attend!) And again this is a friendly general knowledge quiz.
A friendly welcoming approach has been introduced and everyone is welcome whether you are an old regular who has been going in the place for 30 years, or a new customer popping in for the first time, you will be greeted with the same friendly warmth.
This is a social place where people of all walks of life from your local postman through to your young entrepreneur can meet and interact like old friends even if they have never met before.
I would recommend this pub to anyone who is looking to find a friendly welcoming place, the sort of pub where you pop in for a quick beer and find you stayed to long, where being a regular is appreciated by the manager and you always get welcomed back, and visiting for the first time does not feel like you are walking into someone else�s pub where only regulars are welcome but makes you feel comfortable from the first pint.
If you are new to the area or visiting for the day this is a great pub to visit.
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I'm a little concerned at what is happening here. I'm a fairly regular visitor often starting my friday sessions here before going to Rochford. There's been a change to the management which some would welcome. BUT ..... this has resulted in disco music on several nights of the week. The place is so noisy that there is a danger of driving the older patrons away. Plus the friday drunks who stand at the rear of the bar physically jumping up and down to the music.
Needs to be swiftly nipped in the bud before the place joins others in the area and closes down. I for one DON'T want that to happen.
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Does not admit away fans.
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This pub needs a complete overhaul from the dirty decor to the manager who is the most un-friendly and most inhospitable publican I have ever encountered. He was even banned from another local for trying to poach customers. He knows nothing about real ale and the pub has gone right downhill since the previous landlord moved on. Gave it a 2 rating as it's only redeeming feature is that it sells beer -- albeit at exorbitant prices. The pub to avoid.
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This was my other half's local for several years and where we would go for a couple of beers on a Friday or Saturday night. It doesn't, to be honest, look much. It's a bit shabby and could benefit from a spot of redecoration But the beer's usually good, with a varying selection of decent ale. It's not normally too hard to get served, either.
Gets absolutely HEAVING when Southend are at home but they get extra staff on and if you can stomach the plastic pots and not having a seat it's OK. I was in there the night they hosted Chelsea and it was a good atmosphere.
The karaoke nights aren't to everyone's taste but we didn't mind them too much. The other half's now moved to Rochford (so we have a wider selection of decent pubs) and on our farewell visit thay had a band on in the car park. I rather enjoyed it
Royed - 23 Nov 2009 19:32 |
This pub used to be one of my favourites but unfortunately a change of landlord has seen this place slide. It used to have a good atmosphere and choice of beers.
I stopped going here a while ago but decided to give it another chance. This was a mistake. It is now dead and never seems to have enough staff even for modest numbers of customers. Although there was a couple of decent bitters the second one I had was off. Told who I believed was the landlord and he was far from gracious and although he replaced it just threw y change on the bar!
Will never go in this pub again while he is the landlord. Shame as this is place used to be great place to go for a pint.
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I agree with the butchegg that this is now a great pub. The addition of the varying real ales has made a big difference. I've always found the landlord to be very welcoming and keen to talk about his beers and even gave me his forthcoming attractions poster.
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New landlord, Mick, is doing his best to encourage real ale drinkers. Not a real ale man himself he has however made an excellent start with his beer of the week which once extended to four on the Bank Holiday!
Certainly deserves encouragement although his technique of friendly one minute and cutting you dead the next could be his downfall. That said, I have nothing but the utmost praise and will certainly be a regular for the beer factor alone.
Well done!
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A great pub - my local infact - not sure why there has been a comment made stating that beers are �2.80 min - I pay �2.50 per pint or a four pint pitcher for �7.50 (�1.88 per pint!) A friendly "blues" pub..
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great atmosphere great service and a traditional pub..not sure why all pints are at least �2.80??!!
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