please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Dreadful! No "proper" beer, but Guinness @ £4.94/pint!
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Very poor. Went to the balcony bar and apart from the view not much going for it. No real beer on tap at all so had Black Cab stout in a bottle which was half decent. Bar staff although vaguely friendly didn't understand what you ordered and almost got the wrong drink twice. Toilets were disgusting (to small, no lock on the door, flush did not work and smelt bad).
If you want to watch the buskers go there, otherwise forget it.
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Only real ale was Hobgoblin. Poor.
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Always a great place to pick up Scandinavian girls
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Usual Spirit Group pub. Need to up their customer care skills. You cannot succeed mearly on location and tourists.
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No real ale so I left. Not much more to say.
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Don't bother - no proper beer and typical tourist pub with unfriendly staff. Good location but that's it
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Overpriced tourist trap which has rude door staff and a dank smell everywhere you go! Avoid it! Theres loads of other places to go!!!
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Went back last weekend - first time since '83! Still playing clasic rock. Was quiet for a Wednesday night though. Still good place to meet up.
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Central Covent Garden location, so can be busy. At early lunchtime the balcony was full with no cask beer. There is a cellar bar which serves Bombardier. It's not a bad place, but the nearby Cove is better.
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I agree with the last review from Cookgate. I moved down her from Middlesbrough and often arrange to meet friends at the Punch and Judy. On this occasion I was meeting with friend and family with 2 childredn aged 14 years of age. The first thing that happened was on of the 'children' drank from a coke bottle...within seconds a security guard sppke to her and siad she was not allowed to drink her own drin. At that she put it in her bag. The second this was that one of the party had a lager...and he was 19 next birthday....ok....he may not have looked at age....but the same security guard was quite aggresive when asking his age and asking for proof. Whilst enjoying a drink with friends the next thing was again the security guard informed us that the 'children' had to leave at 5pm. On checking with the manager in the bar , we were informed that children had to leave at 7pm....other people in the pub were told to leave at 5 pm as they had children with them. We again checked with the manager of the bar and then informed the children had to leave at 5pm. I was embarassed that my friends were treated in this way and from now on will not visit the Punch and Judy......I feel that the customer servicefrom the security guard was disgusting.
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I travel to London from the North East quite a few times a year. When my fiends and I are shopping in Covent Garden we always to the The Punch and Judy Pub in Covent Garden NO MORE!!!! We were in London last weekend a party of 5 with my 2 Grandchildren of 14years. Arranged to meet my friends who live in London at the pub. After meeting them at 4pm we have 2 rounds of drinks thats 14 in total we were also going to eat befor going the the 02. We were sat outide and informed by a very irate bouncer ??doorman we had to leave the premises by 5pm we said we were going to eat but no as my 2 well behaved 14year olds had to be off the premises made my friends ashamed to be London residents never again will I or my friends go to this pub they don't deserve your custom!
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In the evening do go if you want a quiet drink this place is busy busy in the summer especially could not move but lovely surroundings and view of the street artists below. still like it unfortunately too many others do to.
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Visted here recently and whilst not quite as bad as some of the commnets suggest it is nevertheless not a great pub. The upstairs bar was packed so we went to the cellar bar which was busy with a few seats available. The food wasn't bad, but the drinks were over priced although nice to see Youngs London gold on tap which was well kept although a little warm!
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The Punch & Judy was always a dire tourist trap. It's one redeeming feature is the balcony overlooking the Piazza but even that has the tendancy to resemble a particularly violent rugby scrum when the weather is anything other than artic.
I haven't been here for years and having been persuaded to finish a pleasant company dinner (elsewhere !!) with "one for the road", I have to report that very little has changed. The chilly weather did at least make the balcony a reasonable place to stand this time but the rest.....oh dear !
Basically, if you drink lager you're probably ok (but I wouldn't care the bet on it !). If your preferred tipple is a decent pint of bitter, forget it. I guess from other reviews that they do food but I certainly have no intention of trying it.
If you've ever been to Covent Garden, you will know where the Punch and Judy is and it's therefore an ideal meeting place. The landlord clearly knows this and therefore it will never change. It doesn't need to because there will always be enough "punters" to pay for his overpriced drinks.
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I have been aware of this pub since the 1980s and it has always been a very poor pub in every way. Overpriced, messy tables, hopelessly bad service etc. The problem is whoever is running it just doesn't care. It is in a prime location and for every tourist, office worker etc who visits once and hates it there are always more mugs coming along every day. Basically unless there is a dramatic change I will never visit this establishment again.
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An appalling pub. I have not been this distressed since I attended a Coldplay concert, with Hard Fi supporting.
On the occasions I have been there, it has been a heaving sweat pit of fools with no manners. My friend got chatting to what seemed to be an amiable enough lady from Denmark, Aarhus, I believe. Her father imported plastic decorative figs. Anyway, I digress. She kindly offered to go to the bar and get the next round in, my chivalric friend kindly gave her the money for the round. We are still yet to see the aformentioned wench since. The last reported siting was of her purchasing a doner Kebab, swimming in Burgar sauce.
This is indicative of the clientele you get here, and the people of Aarhus ,where I understand 97% of all tourists are mugged, as per figures released by the E.U a week Tuesday.
Also, when I proceeded to buff my Walrus at my table, a member of staff raced over and insisted I must desist!
In short, I will never be going to this establishment again.
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My visit here yesterday was the first for many years and I have to report that it is still a pit. The upstairs bar was rammed and the downstairs bar was as gloomy and depressing as ever.
I hope it is many years before I find myself in here again.
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Bald headed barman/manager is so miserable he is totally in the wrong profession.
Place is a dump whoever owns this establishment hope you read this and do all you can to improve it even if that takes sacking the manager
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I thought this place was ok, but then its aimed at the office workers who like to sip their Pimms on a Friday afternoon.
I managed to get a table and a drink in under 10 minutes, which for a Friday afternoon was pretty good going!
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Below average in all areas pretty well sums it up - will the tourists who pack it out never learn?
BobOs - 12 Aug 2008 21:29 |
When I ordered Bangers and Mash the girl behind the bar didn't have any idea what I was talking about. I asked the other barkeep and he said "she's foreign".
sigh......
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The same gripes come to mind as with most other chain pubs in the Covent Garden area. expensive, not very clean, poor service, poor beer.
This one just seems worse because of the fantasic location it has, and the potential that is there.
mrse1 - 24 Apr 2008 12:32 |
I have used the Punch And Judy pub for years.....not any longer. They refuse admission to people wearing a George cross badge? its outrageous!I and all my friends will never set foot in that pretentious dump again. I hope they go bankrupt.
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no ale but a good night to be had too many arrogant aussies though for me
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We popped in here after our Christmas meal and it was OK. Nothing special, just OK. The staff were fine, although the bouncers on the roof were rather, erm, efficient. I certainly didn't see too many "pushy suits" or "loud Aussies" - just a random mix of people having a good time. But hey, it *IS* Christmas. Maybe I'll revisit in January...
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Is this a pub?. Where is the ale?. Useful balcony for watching the Covent Garden courtyard entertainment if you can get up there.
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Drab, over priced pub and service without a smile. There are alot better pubs in the area. The only redeeming feature for this pub is that it is a good meeting place.
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I agree with the above comments. Full of pushy suits and loud Aussies.
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"trendy, popular and reasonably priced bar,then goto the Punch!"
Eh?
I'd rather hammer rusty bolts into my own face. Is it possible to give a rating less tha zero?
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Drearily predictable tourist watering hole. Unfriendly service, overcrowded on sunny afternoon. Balcony overlooking Covent Garden is a nice feature, but spoiled by charmless, pushy punters who elbow you out of the way to get a better view. Apparently, very popular with aussies and kiwis - but singularly uninviting otherwise.
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wed aug 1st 2007 lunchtime even thought the place was not busy the service was slow only one barmaid.....NO REAL ALE available and when we took our drinks out onto the balcony and sat on two bar stools already out there,to watch the street entertainer.. the barmaid apppeared very swiftly to tell us to "take them back inside please"
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I would defo not ever go to this pub again. Apart from the development of a cheesy feet smell, the ale is awful <cloudy, watery and tastes like fish food in water> and the manager thought my complaint about the ale was "rubbish as they sell the best pint of London Pride" and and then walked away.
Service with a smile you say? Not here...
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don't bother reading what is clearly the ramblings of the manager (below) the punch and judy is a dump. london has much to offer tourists and locals alike, spend your time wisely by avoiding this toilet.
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Well as for the previous comment, please, do me a favour!!
If you want traditional "English Pub" then you are looking in the wrong place!!
If you are in Covent Garden and want a trendy, popular and reasonably priced bar,then goto the Punch!
Some people obviously dont go out very much and dont appreciate the licenced trade as it is!!
anonymous - 18 Jun 2007 13:09 |
Not a very nice advert for British Hospitality. I feel sorry for any Tourist visiting Convent Garden and walking into this Hell Hole. Having had the unfortunate honour of visiting this pub (under duress)I will not be back, It is overpriced, Dirty, Dingy and everything all other reviewers have said. Any Tourist reading this please note this is not typical of a British Pub.
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Unfortunately some of the comments mentioned are quite right. having worked there as assistant manager for nearly 18 months i can understand why people get fed up with the place. it used to be a cracking boozer, but i haven't been there for a while now. all i say give it a chance. any one that remembers gary newman give us a chance. it'll be good to hear from you. just click on the wombat link to send me a message
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An absolute tourist trap, it has been done up recently. I try and avoid going here but a few friends of ours who were visiting saw it and wanted to go for a beer on the balcony over looking the street performers. It gets very busy the staff dont give a flying fiddle and being a level above doesnt guarantee immunity from being tapped for a couple of quid by a disshevelled juggler.
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Apologies for the long review, but we visited the upstairs bar of Punch&Judy on 19/02/07. The ales were off, but what made the visit stick in my mind was the miserable level of customer service offered by the barman/manager (bald-headed guy). He berated parents for attempting to bring their children into the building, where a quiet summary of the child policy would have sufficed. He remained discracefully opprobrious to various members of our party of 9 throughout the evening. After failing to call last orders, he threatened our party that he would remove our drinks if we didn't finish them quickly (11.00h) which I can appreciate the pressures and desires to get home early, having worked in a bar myself, but no attempt was made on his part to disguise this desire. He positively blackguarded other customers who tried to use the balcony, which was apparently out of bounds, but unlocked and unsigned. The ladies in our party were upset by his manner. All in all, the nettlesome chap ensured that the evening certainly sticks in our minds as a learning experience - maybe we'll take our custom and money elsewhere next time. No rating on this visit I'm afraid!
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Do people who live in London actually still go here - the downstairs bar resembles a sauna in temperature and an abattoir in smell.
Before I became older and wiser I'd been in here a few times - seen an awful fight in the downstairs outdoor area between West Ham and Spurs fans and wondered at how a pub that was inexplicably rammed had so few bar staff.
Those of us who know better stay well away from Covent Garden these days - the bars and clientele resemble a giant sewerage treatment plant
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What a waste of potential ....shame really. Barstaff who can speak English would help...Poor !
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Dark Dingy Bar, over priced drinks - served by uncaring staff. Nobody seems to collect glasses regulary or wipe tables. Usually very packed at lunchtimes and after work, get here early to ensure a seat and a clean table. If you do not want beer then better off at the Crustin Pipe wine bar.
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I can t believe how busy it was packed ! but the guinesss woz good
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I went there once. They didn't have any beer on tap. And the toilets had flooded. I won't be back anytime soon.
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Absolutely vile establishment. There are plenty of good pubs around Covent Garden, why drink here? The only possible excuse I can understand is to get the view from the balcony: but you can get an equally good view from the balcony of the Cove (Cornish pub opposite) which is a vastly superior pub. Avoid this place like the plague.
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This Pub's saving grace is the balcony, if you can get a spot on it that is. Other than that, dont bother. Lots and lots of tourists too!
anonymous - 9 Oct 2006 13:43 |
been here a few times normally with people who have heard about it and want to try it despite my protests they have tried it and found what i said to be true , touristy isnt the word , we actually have to mention this place when we do walking tours of london , takes a eternity to get served and when you do its often the wrong order , but the beer wasnt too bad last time i was here , but trying to find somewhere to sit was a mission , we drunk up and went .
ok for tourists and people with no taste
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The only thing going for it is its location as an easy place to find. It has absolutely no charm or redeeming qualities about it whatsoever. (unless you are an alcoholic)
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the P&J is cool as.
the least touristy pub in cov. garden.
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"I loved my experiance's there...ok,not a "TYPICAL" english pub,but to those that want such should head of to the counties!
The punch is a part of the London scene to all us backpackers etc."
I want to cry. Yes, this place may well be part of the "London scene" for backpackers. Much as replica police helmets and "my sister went to London and all I got was this lousy" t-shirts are for many package tourists. Still totally inexcusable though.
anonymous - 21 Aug 2006 15:45 |
The Punch has always been an intragal part of the London experiance.
Having been a staff member there for a couple of years my opinion might be a bit biased...BUT!!.......
I loved my experiance's there...ok,not a "TYPICAL" english pub,but to those that want such should head of to the counties!
The punch is a part of the London scene to all us backpackers etc.
And as to the negative comments in regards to the boss and his lack of ordering skills,just remember that the punch is a 18th century building opperating in the 21st century...the storage space is limited,so that you can only squeeze soo many kegs into a celler designed for fruit and veg!!!
I personally havent resided in london for a year or two...but if your still the manager Mr Rooney..Paul and Cass say G'day,and we promise to pop in for a pint one day!!
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Punch & Judy. Not a good pub. Very busy with tourists. One three levels I think - all of them fairly unpleasant.
Conceivably you could have a nice time in summer on the balcony, watching the repetitive rubbish that passes for street theatre.
Wouldn't bet on it though.
anonymous - 29 Jun 2006 13:02 |
This pub has never been one of the best pubs in London and I cant see it becoming one either I totally agree with Boss_Hogs comment
juzza - 29 Jun 2006 12:20 |
Oi tanderson7- get over yerself mate! Someone posts a vaguely similar comment on a completely different pub and it's 'plagiarism' and 'just about verbatim'. You sir, are the t1t.
anonymous - 26 Jun 2006 17:07 |
It's an elaborate joke being played on unsuspecting tourists and out-of-towners, right?
anonymous - 23 Jun 2006 12:01 |
I liked it (controversial, i know!) nice atmosphere in that you can pick balcony or dingy pub cellar, but I liked the set-up, and I liked the barmen.
Do avoid when busy though.
otherwise, fine.
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This pub now has a sign outside saying "The World Famous Punch & Judy". Oh yes, it IS famous - but NOT for the reasons that the owners think.
Avoid.
0/10.
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My only previous visit was spent in the balcony bar which feels more like a caf� than a bar. It does offer a splendid panorama of the courtyard below with the chainsaw jugglers and unicycle riders entertaining the masses. I don�t recall the prices being OTT given the area but the beers selection was very uninspiring. Decided to try the downstairs cellar bar at lunchtime and was pleasantly surprised at the surroundings � maybe I am a bit of a sucker for a good dingy cellar for a few beers. Lunchtime is obviously the best time to avoid the crowds (or is the food so bad no-one goes here) and it was surprisingly empty. They also did a couple of Real Ales unlike the balcony bar, albeit a rather mainstream selection (Bombardier and Pride). Unfortunately I never got as far as getting a drink. By doing the decent thing and directing the solitary barmaid to the chap next to me who was, in fairness, first in line to be served, my chances of getting a pint were scuppered as he proceeded to order several meals and drinks in somewhat limited English. With no other staff around I waited until it was obvious I would not get served for an eternity and walked out. The pub is very much a victim of its location but if you go at the right time can be a decent enough place�if you can get served.
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Ok, so no one seems to like this place. For: Good location, reasonable selection of beers, two bars (upstairs and basement), good view of covent garden from the balcony. Against: Expensive tourist trap, very small and usually very busy and therefore extremely cramped, much better bars in the immediate area. Summary: Ok for a quick pint if you're on a West End crawl but otherwise avoid.
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Complete rubbish, wandered in as it was still serving but wished I hadn't. If you want loud beer boys and rip off lager then you'll be in heaven else steer clear.
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Tourist pub really, but easy to find if you're meeting someone.
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A dump, always has been. A casual meeting place at best. Too crowded (why)too expensive (position, tourists) Dirty. I would say vastly overated but I don't know anyone that rates it at all. Dreadfull, spend the time you would wait to get served looking for somewhere better.
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arrggggggghhhhhhhh this is a dingy, noisy, over-populated dive that draws hapless tourists and young lairy drunks into its depths like sh*t down a public toilet. Once inside, its dark and sweaty, where you swill down p*ss in a glass and get jostled and pushed about as the crowd swells and contracts. Nasty football-thugs from Holland and Sweeden block the stairs and get overly friendly in the dire toilets. Entering the place is like going through a hell-mouth in some horror-film. Abandon all hope ye who enter here.
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Two words: Tourist Trap!
Overpriced, overcrowded and hellish. Avoid.
The (I suspect) soon to be ex-manager under-ordered for the recent Bank Holiday weekend and was left with a lager and for a change punter free boozer when the last of the amber anesthetic had run out by mid-afternoon on the Sunday. Can't see the owner being pleased with all those missed profits on one of the busiest drinking weekends of the year!
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Very busy at the weekend and very smokey inside.
Understaffed & bouncers are extremely keen to kick you out and get physical before you've had any drinking up time.
They also have one of those annoying toilet monkeys that try to give you soap and tissues last time I was there.
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Been in a few times. It always seems OK. I would give it a 7. If it's such a shithole why is it always busy?
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stumbled in here on a group celebrating a swedish national holiday once,...that was good,...oh and saw a rugger bugger get his head kicked in by a street entertainer for throwing a 2p at his head from the balcony bar once,...that was fun too....Expensive and packed...Otherwise nothing to add...
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yeah, come on we've all done it haven't we? and is there anyone who didn't regret agreeing to meet someone in this iniquitously popular sh1tpit? it's hideous. the balcony in the summer is like a form of french foreign legion torture; the downstairs is best described as a dungeon.
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Been an ex staff member i might be a tad biased..but i loved the place!!It very much is the vegimite of covent garden,ya love it or hate it!
The crowd can be overbearing if you dont pick your time right,but if you do,and you get the punch at its quitest(you know..you and 50-60 others!!..haha) it can be rather charming.
Oh and if i know the boss like i think i know the boss then the bar staff will be the best looking around!!
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well i quite like it
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Got to be the worst pub in central London. Loud, noisy,too busy(Why?)and expensive. Rather have a beer with the winos on the Southbank than go there.
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The Mecca for masochists!
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Too busy, keg beer, noisy, nasty :(
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Great in the summer. If you dont mind the tourists. The staff arent great normally foreign students you get everywhere in this part of London. The basement is good if your with your mates round a table drinks in, tunes on the box.
anonymous - 29 Dec 2004 13:13 |
Truly awful. Everything from the rude, unknowledgeable, staff to the overpriced drinks made visiting this place a positively abhorrent experience. When I asked if they had any real beer, I got offered John Smith's -- 'nuff said. Only redeeming feature is the balcony which gives pleasant views out over the Piazza.
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i'm always for a beer at the p and j when i'm in london. i like the terrasse with the great view over the scene (nice situation when it starts to rain and everybody forces his way to the overcrowded but dry inside, haha), but i also got pissed as well in the cellar bar another time...
hp (switzerland) - 7 Sep 2004 14:44 |
Overbusy, Hot, and not an enjoyable night out
TheGP - 10 Aug 2004 15:52 |
Essentially a pulling pub,the top bar is posh but the cellar bar is where the pulling occurs and the jukebox is very loud,great atmosphere but be prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder with people, and the bar gets crowded and it becomes hard to get served.
Nick Hamer - 21 Jun 2004 18:44 |
This is a great bar, as for the comments above all i can say is that they are snobs and expect to much, a great bar witha great atmos....
Jay - 20 Jun 2004 18:24 |
as a former employee i have somewhat of a biased opinion, i enjoy the pub very much. however, i can relate to the less enthusiastic experiences as well, especially comparing the punch to other CG pubs. Dave , i saw your comment and would love to get in touch, try emailing me or a mutual Punch employee who may be in contact w/ me. regards
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We had a drink there on Easter Sunday, place was busy but not too crowded, got served at the bar immediatelly. For sure not the greatest pub, but OK.
Chris - 14 Apr 2004 12:20 |
Waited over 1 hour for food to be served. Person behind the bar not helpful at all. Would not go back again.
Larry - 13 Apr 2004 19:25 |
TRIED TO GET A DRINK THERE 29TH FEB. NO ONE BEHIND BAR, DIRTY & NOT WORTH A VISIT, WE GAVE UP & WENT TO THE COVE, WHAT A JOY THE PUB & BAR STAFF ARE!
STEVE - 7 Mar 2004 12:05 |
use to work there so I can agree with almost all the comments .It is a place to meet nothing more nothing less .buy all means meet there just buy one drink and go somewhere else ( cove. maple leaf . belushi's)
dave - 14 Jan 2004 14:24 |
I love this pub, in the height of summer there is nothing better than sitting on the balcony watching the street entertainers! I also met my fiance here :o)
Ms T Kat - 14 Jan 2004 09:46 |
went there to celebrate st georges day 14 ppl male n female in 30 s n 40 s 12 midday wasnt let in pub was empty shit cant even celebrate in a pub in centre of capital city never again surrounding pubs all welcoming ??????????????????so how can i rate this pub u ask easy a big fat zero anti english even tho 23rd of april
andy - 7 Jan 2004 18:15 |
Atrocious. Damn hot in summer. Untidy inside.
grecian - 29 Dec 2003 11:51 |
I met my husband here at this GREAT pub!!! We have been married 5 years - and we had a GREAT time there!!!
jill - 8 Dec 2003 22:58 |
Goddam awful cityboy trap. Just terrible, really bad. The sort of place a load of Essex lads might go if they had popped up to London for a mates birthday and they wanted to get him utterly comatose.
Good for: Stag nights probably.
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I went there last Friday lunchtime and the service was appalling! I hae visited the pub many times over the years and it has never been this bad. The barstaff/manager are sooooooo slow and have a poor command of english. They let me purchase drinks, sit down and ask for a menu before I was informed that the kitchen had ceased serving. This was apparently due to 'everyone' wanting food!! How strange, as it was 13:30!! Do not visit this pub with any high expectations.
Disappointed Matt - 1 Sep 2003 17:59 |
Awful! No beer (just lager); overpriced; and full of oh so cool tourists.
Darren in the City - 10 Jul 2003 14:26 |
Service on Monday waas dire - no customers but still took 10 minutes to get a pint of Fosters & my change back!!!!
Baz - 2 Jul 2003 17:31 |
balcony is nice in summer. can watch the street entertainment whilst drinking a pint. on st patricks day the other yr they served us green beer - very odd!
good for people watching
Nicole - 1 Jul 2003 17:44 |
Looks beautiful, doesn't it? Sadly Darryl is quite right. If you like rubbish beer spoiling further by a crap covers band while a 23-year-old in a suit spews on your bag, this is the place for you.
TheG - 20 Jun 2003 09:57 |
Dreadful place - full of idiots and tourists.
Darryl - 5 May 2003 23:54 |
liked basement bar better than balcolny - better vibe
Melanie - 29 Apr 2003 23:05 |
Great Location great building cellar bar/balcony bar. Shame about service barstaff rude and unhelpfull Very Expensive always busy seems to attract all the scum on way through to Roundhouse,Hippodrome etc... always aggro on Fridays and Saturdays.
arturo_morales - 20 Mar 2003 09:23 |
Does get very busy and used to have a reputation has being a major target for pickpockets. Upstairs bar is tiny but basement bar was good.
Alistair - 28 Nov 2002 10:38 |
Okay, so it's a bit touristy, but still the best pub in covent Garden. The balcony is brilliant during the summer.
Steve - 22 Nov 2002 17:24 |
They've got this insane computer pool type game. Physics shmysics, the table is fixed I tell you!
Mike - 12 Aug 2002 13:49 |
