please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A bit rich looking at the drivel you post
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Snarling - as childish, as ever.
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Dying for a pee I ventured in here to use the toilets but just couldn't face the grief of trying to get served in a relatively empty pub - it's long been dead as a pub but still has some use as a public toilet.
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My wife and I arrived at this establishment just before 8.00pm. Our first impression was of a pub in last death throes with most of the customers looking like corpses slumped in their worn out armchairs. Still, having enjoyed a good brisk walk we thought we deserved a drink. The bar had about eight customers waiting to be served by two young guys. They were slow. Having made eye contact with the bartender at the pumps where I was waiting I made the assumption that I would be served next. At this point, two men walked in and the barman walked the entire length of the bar to serve them. I thought this was extremely rude as he served their drinks and chatted to them. The other barman finally seeing me served me with a pint and a tea for my wife. The tea arrived quickly and he was very polite. Before we sat down, we had a wander through the pub to see the best place to sit and saw one of the alcoves closed with a red rope barrier due to a leak from the toilets above. The fluid which looked like a bad sample at a urologist was foul smelling, perhaps “eggy” (my wife’s words) and worst of all being caught in two plastic jugs which I assume would normally be used for Pimms or jugs of beer on a scorching day. I could not believe this as it flies in the face of all health and safety regulations. Anyway, moving to the other side of the pub we sat and enjoyed our drinks. A while later I went up to the bar and ordered a pint and a glass of prosecco I was told that they only sold prosecco by the bottle. This was weird as I have never been to a pub that does not sell it by the glass and trust I have been to many. I told the barman to hold the order and I would take instructions from my boss. She decided that she did not want anything and we would go. The barman appeared and said he had poured the pint and… I told him that we did not want anything and he disappeared. Seconds later, the other barman, probably just old enough to serve alcohol appeared and started to go on about the pint that had been poured. Now having asked the other barman to hold on and not gone back for a substitute it was clear he had jumped the gun and poured my pint despite me not going back to the bar. After a brief exchange during which I reminded him how rude he was serving his mates and that the fact that due to there being no drink my wife wanted we were asked to leave,The pub is a social experience, people drink, talk socialise. If what you want is not available then you have the choice to move on. My first pint was a previously poured pint which I saw put on the side but was OK with. To be dealt with by an adolescent with no people skills and really not suited for the hospitality sector is laughable. I have since read reviews here and the glib replies from the pub, my reason for this review is for the benefit of others so they do not waste their time eating or drinking here.I will never set foot in this deplorable establishment again.
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Service has improved unfortunately this seems to be at the expense of quality as even the lager was awful.
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Unusually these days, the recent refurb has actually improved the place. Now well decorated and still smelling of paint when I was there. Drinks are relatively cheap (at least for Mill Hill) and bar staff are pleasant and attentive. Does get very busy at peak times, but definitely worth a visit.
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its quite pleasant and its definitely cheap...got served ok but I was the only punter at the pbar in the middle of a sunny afternoon
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I have been drinking in this pub on and off for several years but have noted the gradual decline of this once great landmark pub. It's not the decor, and it's not the punters. It's partially the staff who could not be slower in serving, and it's partially the way the pub appears to be almost deliberately run into the ground by Ember Inns management. Ten years ago this was a thriving pub with busy Wednesday nights with the Jazz Club and then for whatever reason the Jazz Club left. There have been times when no hand pump beer has been on sale and sometimes even no crisps!
I hear rumours that this pub will close; the land is apparently owned by Mill Hill School. If they do close the pub down then the vested interests in Mill Hill will once again screw us locals. We should be used to that by now...
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We only visit this pub once and year and have had no complaints before, but the latest experience was awful. Despite there only being a handful of customers early evening, we waited over 40 minutes for two sandwiches. When they eventually arrived (after we'd reminded them) there was minimal filling in one and it looked like it had been thrown onto the plate from a distance. The price did include chips, but we'd already been told the chip fryer wasn't working so we'd get extra salad in lieu. We didn't. The excuse for the long delay, was that a delivery had arrived. Will be writing complaint to Ember Inns.
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Tried again for the New Year - and for old times’ sake. Fourteen minutes to get served. Counted six people in the pub and two of those were comatose by the bar! At this speed I have no idea how they achieved it. Perhaps they had been there for several days or possibly brought their own drinks! The barman was serving tea to someone in the very back of the pub. Japanese tea ceremonies pass quicker than this chap attempting to use a semi automatic espresso machine. As customers here are treated as a mere inconvenience to the staff, perhaps a sign outside saying "BRING YOUR OWN DRINKS" might be appropriate! The mens toilet was interesting. An overflowing bucket under one of the urinals and a window open and hanging on one hinge! Lovely view for the pedestrians and bus passengers, I'm sure. One cubicle was shut off and the whole place smelt like something had died in it! No soap and only one hand drier working. There was a wonderful sign about how their hygiene is of the highest standard! The only thing one could possibly describe as of high standard in this pub would be incompetence! Left most of the beer and drove to the Rising Sun. See you next year by which time, hopefully, someone will have learnt to change a barrel and telephone a plumber!
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Decent enough pub . Comfortable surroundings. Unfortunately I left because I got fed up waiting to be served.
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Epitomises all that is wrong with Mill Hill - people not only put up with but also argue against anyone who complains about the dismal service and offerings you get. If you don't like waiting more than 10 minutes for a pint on a relatively quiet afternoon give this place a wide berth.
anonymous - 24 Jul 2012 18:03 |
I agree with stemginger - dull and lifeless describes this place perfectly. The only plus is that it's usually open late.
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Well, after six months still unchanged. Now advertises ales on beer pads at the bar in addition to usual paper work cluttering up the tables. Surprise surprise, only Courage Best and London Pride available. Best was on the turn didn't try the Pride. Counldn't be bothered to ask why they only had these two yet again, (maybe I am just unlucky) was just glad to get served, this in spite of the fact only three people waiting. The pub was virtually empty. It is such a shame its in a terrific area and is just crying out for a little TLC from a landlord who understands the game. This is unlikely to happen as long as it stays with Ember Inns (their managers are not of sufficient quality). At present dull and lifeless. For anyone who likes a decent pint it is still best avoided.
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takes ages to get served. Ember Inns pub. Quite nice inside and lovely location
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Annual visit on a Sunday night. Only Courage best available. Others all off. Bar staff had never heard of wainwrights. Multifarious leaflets taking up untold space on the tables, along with dirty glasses,one advertising 18 or so ales. I asked which they would stock and when. Answer 'Don't think we are mate' Long wait at the bar whilst waiting for the staff to finish playing some sort of quiz machine. Didn't try the food but probably standard ember inns fresh from freezer to microwave. Ok if you like that sort thing (I don't). Hoardes of 16?/19 year olds arrived (credit card/cola brigade). I left the premises and half the beer. Never mind I will try again next year.
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A little bit like an airport lounge in appearance, but having said that, whoever has designed the place for Ember Inns (presumably one of their in-house bods) has done quite a good job of splitting up the large ground floor area into cosy and intimate sections.
Ok the food isn't all that, but really you should know what to expect when walking into an Embers Inn, so if you're not expecting too much you won't be disappointed.
The drink selection was extensive and I saw no evidence of the groups of adolescents hanging around that other posters have witnessed.
Would go back when in the area.
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This pub has not always been as dull and soul-less: it used to be a great pub. However, I guess this is what you get when a pub is taken over by a chain, who apply their 'tried and tested' formula across the board. Real shame.
It's also true that it seems to attract the rich kid / brat crowd on certain days, drinking their diet cokes and squaking at each other while losing money to the fruities.
Not a particularly nostalgic man, but I yearn for the return of this potentially great pub's haydays.
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Went in on a Sunday afternoon for a late meal. Decent enough food - standard Ember Inns fare, if you like that sort of thing (which I do), and a nice pint of Landlord. Should've had Wainwrights too, but it wasn't on.
Having moved from an area where we had a similar pub as our local, I'd recommend going at quieter times, but definitely not a Frida or a Saturda evening.
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" some people say its lifeless as they prefer the more chav type of pub" - Er... boy racers coming out at closing time and racing side by side down Hammers Lane.. groups of inebriated brats spewing out their guts by the bus stop... to me this IS the local chav pub.
anonymous - 29 Aug 2009 16:45 |
One of the nicest pubs in mill hill.always good food and beer.maybe some people say its lifeless as they prefer the more chav type of pub. Not just a simple boring pub - check out the pub yourselves & find out what's going on.We like it and so do many others
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I think that a large majority of people that plan an evening in here have gone to eat rather than drink as it is a soulless Ember Inns pub intent on flogging cheap food to the masses.
London Pride, Landlord and Courage Best were all available alongside a standard draught selection. The Landlord was past its best and the guy next to me at the bar was served three pints of lager with the biggest heads I have ever seen. You could see he was disappointed, but he never asked for them to be topped up! Maybe he was just glad that one of the members off staff had stopped cleaning/stocking up and taken the time to serve him.
I�ll give this place a miss if I�m ever up in Mill Hill again.
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I was told this place had improved and dropped in one lunchtime .They had a rather nice guest beer from the York Brewery. I decided to return a few days later with the missus only to find there was no guest beer. The regular beers were dire and undrinkable enough for me to have to switch to bottled beer. We also made the mistake of ordering food - it was cheap but you get what you pay for and I have eaten better in Barnet General. I guess I've just turned in to a miserable moaning old git maybe I should stop moaning and accept that second rate quality and a lack of character are now the norm in this country.
anonymous - 9 Mar 2009 17:55 |
Totally devoid of feeling. Only employs people who do not like their jobs or customers. Poor quality ales. No improvement in the last two years. Best avoided.
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used to be decent, now soulless chain. Decent bogs.
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Thanks for the info Mad Matt but I prefer to read my reviews here rather than via an official pub company site. In the 8 years I have lived in the area I have never had a decent pint of real ale in the Three Hammers. The reviews here say it all. A dour soulless pub where groups of rich kids gather. It is always busy and has it's followers but I doubt that the average person who visits this site will be among your regular clientelle.
anonymous - 18 Aug 2008 19:39 |
Nice location, nice enough crowd, but an utterly sterile, characterless atmosphere. Dead as a nail.
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this pub has recentley under gone a full refurbishment and is a quality pub serving good food and drink.the telephone number on this site is incorrect.the correct number is 02089592173.for reviews and comments visit the offical mitchells and butler website
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Large chain pub, indifferent food and beer. Somewhere to take a mob of brats as you know you won't be disturbing anyone with them.
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good parking and garden facilities but as with all pub chains the service isnt marvellous apart from some of the staff who have a sense of humour, the drinks are of poor quality, long bar waits on evening visits and food is poor. no annoying music though.
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How can I say this without sounding like an old man? The 'soul' of this pub disappeared when Ember Inns took over the place and gutted it. A 'chain' pub.
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It is what it is. You should all know the pubco format by now. Occasionally you may get a drinkable pint but the emphasis is on food ( fresh from the freezer).
anonymous - 2 Sep 2007 01:28 |
This is an experience that should not be missed by anyone that enjoys a good moan about the standard of service that no longer exists in public houses. The average age of the staff is somewhere around 12! This would be fine except they haven't the energy of children of that age!! The food is cold and poorly served and the tables are never cleared of glasses. Would go there for a funeral as the atmosphere lends itself well to this function!
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nice to get out into the beer garden on a sunny day, recently got a large plasma/lcd screen for world cup but surely will be kept. pain in the arse to go upstairs to pee but the disabled toilet is always open near the 'no smoking' area. no chavs here. Also don't park on the double yellows close by as i see the parking warden on a moped get drivers regularly as it's on their way back to their barnet HQ.
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Tried getting Sunday lunch in the Rising Sun up the road but it was chocka block so we returned to here. Very big and spacious and clean. Plenty of fruities. Don't think they show sport. Reminded me a little of a done up Weatherspoons but it had a non smoking area. Very pleasant, food okay (nothing special) and reasonably priced. Would return when in the area.
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Looking good since the refit and nice to have an open fire.
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Good Fun, Chilled out. Its not true about the Jewish Princesses, although it has become a bit more trendy due to the new interior. But generally a nice pub especially in the Beer Garden!
anonymous - 28 Mar 2005 13:43 |
Good atmosphere but get a bit arsey about the lovely boys and girls from Mill Hill School next door. Give them a break.
anonymous - 15 Dec 2004 21:04 |
This is a fantastic pub, although it looks like every other embers inn across london it has a good atmosphere and a very comfortable and relaxed feel about it.
jamie - 6 Nov 2004 23:38 |
Great pub, very friendly people
jake - 2 Oct 2004 01:50 |
basically the same as the mill (nw7) but has jazz night on wednesdays usally jewish princesess drink here
stuart - 19 Jul 2003 14:17 |
