please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Now closed ....and it's really not hard to see why !
|
It's OK. I think I mainly like it from the olden days... it's the crowd that makes this place more than the service/decor/lager/cleanliness/toilets.
|
Poor. As in poor beer selection, poorly kept beer when there is anything actually on. Poor atmosphere, just poor in general. There are far too many better pubs in the area. Don't bother with this one.
|
I've visited this bar and the beer is not nice. It doesn't taste 'right' and a couple were served in dirty glasses. - Surely the most important thing for a pub is to get the beer right??
There are other pubs within minutes walk with far more reliable quality so probably best to avoid...
By the way, when (and only when) the beer is sorted, the place needs to decide whether it's an Irish bar, a tapas bar or a sports bar (the current slightly odd mix of the 3 doesn't seem to be working!) and refurb the interior accordingly.
|
spanirish (11 Mar 2008 17:14), as you're so bent on promoting your own place here, why don't you point out it's now called "El Ryans"? Perhaps because it sounds silly?
I've been here a few times as I've some friends working across the street who are too lazy to go elsewhere (their words). I have seen it pre and post 'refurb' (Yes, it really does look the same).
It's a massive underutilized undecorated space with despondent eastern European bar maids; owner's a nice guy; but I truly don't really 'get' the whole Spanish Irish thing. Is it because you wanted to serve tapas but everyone wanted you to still serve the same beers? In any case, it doesn't work, and besides, the place doesn't visually reflect the theme. Though I'm not certain what a Spanish Irish place would look like anyway.
Beer selection nothing special; EXTORTIONATE prices as well; I cannot make out where the extra � is going to.
|
not been here for a few years, but used to be my local when i worked nearby - was in the area so popped in for a quiet one last week...
the guinness was OK but was quite pricey (even for a city pub)... three screens for sport
there didn't seem to be enough tables for the space available - they were spread out far too thinly and it all looked v weird
can't say i'd be rushing back
|
Was there on Friday night, bought a round of 8 pints for �28, which is dear, even for this area.
Unfriendly crowd, some anonymous tw@t was throwing ice at me, so we left.
|
Wonderful job done at this old irish pub, where now the Guiness tastes as similar as in Dublin and where the job done by the new management has brought into us the most authenthic and tasty Spanish food. Congratulations.
Only one thing: The pub must be decorated. Will probably one of the best places in london to enjoy beer, first branded spirits, great Spanish wines and a wonderfull atmosphere created thanks to the highest quality food and the combination of the Irish and Spanish wet and dry trade.
|
On last review I said this could do with a refurb, but the refurb that has taken place has actually made a bad place worse, I'd say. We're down to one real-ale now, and diet coke was from a can, which is never a good sign. No crisps either. The look is as basic and stripped down as one can imagine. To be honest, it's a rubbish, rubbish place with few redeeming features. Avoid.
|
the place was closed for about a month over the Christmas period for what looked like an extensive refubishment (Why do that at the busiest time of the year ?)
It has now reopened ut I can't help noticing it looks exactly like it did before. Weird !
|
I was passing this place at lunchtime and popped in to watch a bit of the cricket. Good for sport as there is one big screen and lots of smaller ones dotted around the bar. Apart from that, it has to be said that this place hasn't got a lot going for it. Beer was average but nothing more. Pride and Bombardier on tap with the usual array of lagers and Guinness. Didn't try the overpriced food which was probably a good thing as what I saw looked distinctly unappetising and was served up by staff who clearly wished they could be somewhere else. It could do with a lick of paint and a few new pictures on the wall as well.
All in all, not the most pleasent experience but at least England were doing ok for once !
|
Popped in here last night at about 6.30pm. It was almost empty and quite depressing. An air of grubbiness and unlovedness pervades it - no atmosphere at all. London Pride and Bombardier available on top although the Pride was not on when I was there. This could really do with a refurb, I think, or even with being taken over. Head to the nearby Cockpit instead.
|
Beer in here recently has been AWFUL. Flat, and makes you feel minging the next day. Pints are always replaced if you complain... but the replacements are just as lifeless. Disappointing, as it is a great place for after work drinks, and watching sports.
|
What a shame that the excellent young karaoke presenter with his female assistant on Thursday evenings with their contemparary hit range of music have been dumped.
The much older "Kojac looking" geezer with his extremely old list of songs (it could be the 70's or 80's!) is a poor replacement.
No wonder it used to be jammed packed for the karaoke, but now almost no one attends.
anonymous - 27 May 2006 13:52 |
Went there for Champs League Final last night. We went downstairs for pies and beer. Nice pints of Guinness, and a great view of the match. We will certainly be returning for a few of the World Cup games, and maybe even Ireland games in the autumn.
The pies were pretty tasty, too.
|
Yes the barmaids are pleasant enough but one does miss the Polish lass that ran the show for a while.
And always order the shared dips.
|
Good ole Ryan huh!,..yeah not bad at all this one...sports boozer really,..but hey,..if sport don't wax your canoe,..just get a pint and watch the barmaids instead,..lovely friendly foreign selection,..who make eye contact with you and smile,..as opposed to the usual english brand of "simmering resentment" eye contact that is so prevalent thesedays!.
I reckon ole Ryan must find the whole recruitment process one of the most satisfying aspects of his work,... he probably auditions.
|
The 'Cheeky Gir' barmaids are wonderful.
Karioke on Thursday evenings is good for a laugh.
anonymous - 18 Mar 2006 12:22 |
Rough and ready.... thats applicable to the beer and the ladies.
Goes off on a Thursday, Friday night. Good clean(ish) fun.
Oh, and landlord is a top man.
anonymous - 23 Jan 2006 13:45 |
First found this place on Saturday - was given a flyer outside St. Pauls tube. It said 'St. Paul's best kept secret' and I tend to agree. Big screen football, �2 a pint and two lovely barmaids. What more could you ask for?
|
Wow what a change! 2 real ales, ice cold fosters @ �2.50, new screens and more space. Downstairs sports bar is awesome and the quiz on monday night was the best fun I have had for ages, cant wait for the footy season to start, this is the place to see it for me!
|
Well-run place. The shared plate of nibbles is a winner, just what you need when you watching the footy with your pals.
They get in Cheeky Girl type barmaids when there's a big match on so you can't really go wrong with the service.
One time I even won a Fosters mitt. Gotta be a lucky bar, this.
|
Good beer, reasonable food (both in price and taste) and quite a good atmosphere. Not bad for watching sport as if you can't see the big screen there's a couple of normal tvs around to watch. In the evenings when there's a DJ it's pretty lively and can be quite a laugh. The last time I stayed there until closing, I had a great time... as far as I can remember.
|
Not the same as the old place. When Ryans opened it was a great place to go, real shame it was sold off, but thems the breaks!
Aidan - 4 Jun 2004 12:21 |
had party downstairs, great spot, but ended up at the up-bar with DJ, outrageously great! Daniel Beddingfield was there, great selection of beers
mike - 9 Nov 2003 19:48 |
great fun on thurs and fri dj evenings-till late, new chef and food fantastic.
peter - 9 Nov 2003 18:57 |
Pool table downstairs, only one for miles, great A/C and 95 degrees outside, Draught Stella and Heineken added since my last visit, fantastic DJ on friday and open late too!
w dysson - 7 Aug 2003 12:34 |
under new management, a breath of fresh air, disco back on thursday as well as friday. Pub much cleaner and a much needed new menu makes this bar close to St Pauls and the wibbly wobbly bridge a fun find
mike - 29 May 2003 21:12 |
