please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Stayed here for the weekend and it was our base for the Henley Ale Trail, although of course it's not on the trail as it's obviously not Brakspear's. Drinking here was the usual Spoon's experience and the rooms were perfectly acceptable if a little plain.
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Bar - very large, rather dark double bar room, food not bad, drink fine.
Hotel - small double room was perfectly acceptable and (being a Sunday night) very reasonably priced, a bargain even. Quiet, clean and with modern furnishing, plus ensuite shower. Recommended (although I appreciate it may be a different experience over the Regatta weekend).
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There are some decent Wetherspoons around, this however isn't one of them!
First called in a couple of years back, without buying a beer! This time, we got to the bar, all ordinary beers on hand pump, so opted for a bottle of USA Porter, 330 ml at £2.99 not cheap, the barman said it's £3.29, we haven't changed the signage! Sorry mate, see you later!
So, still yet to have a beer there!
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It’s a Wetherspoons Jim, but not as we know it ! An impressively large building that has (probably) not undergone much change since becoming part of the chain. The hotel occupies much of the high street, though the pub itself isn’t nearly so large. Once you’ve found the correct entrance, you pass through a window lined corridor into the heart of the pub. The bar is on the left, and another drinking area is on the right.
There are not many clues that this is a Wetherspoons. The range of real ales comprised Greene King IPA and three guests – no Ruddles, Abbot or “trio of doom” ! There were also couple of craft keg beers, and a large glass iced-water dispenser. The menu is of the A5 style – which I believe is common for more upmarket Spoons. Food however, is the standard Wetherfare, and not cheap – the Friday Fish Club being £7.49 for example.
Unfortunately, the 3 guests were all very similar – pale / golden ales. I had the Dark Star Hophead – which was reasonable.
Finally, I should mention the wooden panelled corridor which leads from the bar to the toilets – not something you find in every Spoons branch.
6/10 – one of the better Wetherspoons, but beer range could have been more extensive
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Nowt wrong - stayed here and the rooms good - request 2nd floor to avoid noise Fri/Sat. Ales - nothing to write home about but can't be beaten on price.
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Double-sized Spoons, pleasant outdoor area, all the usual suspects beer and cider-wise, dirt cheap food and drink by Henley standards, what's not to like? Well, my main gripe is the staff who seem to either be trainees on their first day (not a problem, but on a busy Summer weekend?) or are utterly dis-interested in serving anyone.
We stayed here, rooms good value and if you've been here before you know to either bring your headphones or embrace the noise by staying in the bar until 1.00AM.
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2 bars about half a mile apart so go one - beers so so - Vale is most interesting then over to the other side - 2 GK and a Roosters & a Windsor & Eaton Guardsman - decent beer & £1.99/pint. Pub grub quickly served. Can't knock it.
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Miserable staff, highest priced 'spoons in the area and let's not beat about the bush; Henley has gone the way of Reading with the nearby council house hordes and non-indigenous ruining the place. Tory Britain for you...
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Stayed at this establishment during the rewind festival, apart from being an average spoons, there is not that much else to add. Nice beer garden during the summer, but not the best I have seen. This is made up by it being so close to the river, which I enjoy making regular trips down. Shall return during the next festival and may even venture out during the boats, but again, not much else to say rather than average spoons. Same customers, same drinks, just slightly more expensive.
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Above average lloyds no1
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Above average lloyds no1
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A once fine watering ground gone to the chavs and cheap plonk brigade.
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Went here whilst at the 80's rewind festival, the first time was on the Friday afternoon, did seem quite dark inside but we sat out. Carlsberg cheaper than Fosters thank goodness. They open at 7am each day for breakfasts, Saturday was fine but a tad understaffed, I don't think they realised how many peeps would go there, especially after 9!! Sunday, well, more staff but we didn't get there till about 1045, although we got a table quick same with ordering, we waited an hour for our nosh, I think they'd run out of plates & cups! On the plus side, a very nice filling brekkie & well worth the price.
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Stayed here a few weeks back,very comfy spacious rooms. The pub area itself covers a large area although being a Lloyds rather than a normal JDW the beer selection was rather uninspiring. A large courtyard/beer garden is available out the back for the summer months too. And most importantly it won't cost you nearly �4 a pint like most establishments in overpriced H-O-T, 8/10
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Soulless Spoons by day, and due to the 2.AM weekend licence a haven for the spotty youth of Henley and surrounds by night. Would not recommend venturing in here after 10.00PM unless you are under 21 or you have a morbid fascination to witness first hand why the government is trying to stamp out binge drinking by raising prices. Of course that would have no effect here due to the well heeled parents of most of those collapsing on the pavement outside at chucking out time.
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Horrible dark McSpoons,with freezing Loddon beer and surly staff. Don't bother.
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A great big barn of a place, with - confusingly - a bar on either side of the room (which both stock different beers).
Whilst the beer here is cheapest in Henley the choice is actually pretty weak- the only thing of interest outside the usual JDW suspects was Loddon Russet (which came out fine).
The interior is very dark and dim in the evening - unpleasantly so for a Wednesday I thought and loud music too - presume this must be a Lloyds No1 branded JDW now. The darkness, lack of customers and loud music made the place feel rather soul-less.
There's a rudimentary beer garden out back for the smokers and oddballs. Otherwise, it's the usual.
Pop in and see what's on, but be prepared not to linger (unless you want cheap food).
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Went there for lunch and a pint on a Monday.
They have several offers, both limited to certain days of the week or valid every day.
I chose the luxury burger with pint of beer.
Beer was fresh and food was good. Service was acceptably nice. Place was quiet and inviting. value for money was in my eyes very good.
Some observations:
1) decoration does not look entirely right: it is as if they had made an effort to create a cottage/country style atmosphere, and had stopped half way.
2) Loo was not entirely satisfactory (that is: noticeably smelly).
All in all and in consideration of the moderate price, I can recommend the place. If there were no special offers available, though, I would consider it not very good value.
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I visited with my wife whilst holidaying in the area and found it to be very pleasant indeed. The range of local ales was good and the pint I had was wll worth us satying for another. The service was very friendly, and though it was reasonably busy, we were served quickly. The prices are very reasonable, what you expect from a Wetherspoons pub, and the food being served certainly smelled tempting! Shame we did not have time to stay for dinner! Will next time..
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Had a couple of decent pints here after paying over the odds at another nearby pub. The Hobgoblin and Abbot Ale were in good nick, and the pub quiet and relaxing.
A non-typical Wetherspoons in my humble opinion, but still rather anonymous. Worth a visit tho'.
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Visited on A Monday lunchtime.
Nice large pub and plenty of space to get away from the usual Wetherspoon undesirables.
Weird set up with the bars as real ales only seem available from one of them and having traipsed to the other bar in search of Abbot Ale found it wasnt on :-(
Ordered food arrived fairly quickly and all seemed ok although due to the very dim lighting was hard to tell. Think this is partly due to it trying to be a nightclub in the evenings obviously dimmer switches havent made it to Henley yet.
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Typical Wetherspoons - cheap but average food, ale cheap but on the cusp of going off (stick to local beers if any on)
You get what you pay for...
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Horrible place.
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Well it does real ale and I have had a decent pint at a good price but it's very hit and miss, the food is cheap of course. The beer range is also hit and miss, it was super boring for a Real Ale snob like me when I last visited it!
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Extremely nice Lloyds No 1 Bar, Very Spacious with great selection of ales available when visited plus a large beer patio, i must stay here sometime as they offer accomodation aswell, a well deserved 9/10 (especially as its not overpriced like the rest of Henley)
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Typical J D Wetherspoon pub, with staff that were wandering about, doing very little, while customers waited!
As part of their Beer Festival, I had three sample one third pints: Harvistoun "Old Engine Oil", Hyde brewery "Trojan Horse" and Yo-Ho "Tokyo Black". These being the only beers available on the day I went.
A mixed experience, some good with some bad.
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The place smells and the beer is off more than its on.
anonymous - 26 Oct 2007 23:21 |
Visited friends in town and as looked attractive from outside suggested we went there that evening for a few. The range and quality of ales and wines was wonderful and very reasonably priced, served by very friendly staff. Sat in the what seems to be the 'traditonal' part of this huge building, all cosy near the fire. Our group had a wonderful evening and will definetely upon visiting Henley again return for drinks and a meal! Thank you!
anonymous - 25 Oct 2007 16:24 |
If a manager is reading this - please train your staff to have some awareness of who came to the bar first, who should be served next, and how to ask impaitent OAPs to WAIT their turns instead of ignoring one half of the bar for ten minutes while a stream of blue rinsers bought rounds of cappucinos.
I walked out in the end, and so did two other customers. Catherine wheel - One point.
Oh - I like the pint and food for a fiver idea. Can you add Kronenborg to the list of available ales?
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It is JD Wetherspoon so if you like cheap (awful tasting food) and cheap beer then you will be happy. The best thing about this pub is the building.
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this was one of the original Bernie Inns. I worked in Henley in 1989 anused this pub quite often.
Great memories of the Summer of 89, the Rowing Regatta and Stallones night club on Hart Street.
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An ex-coaching inn of some size, though there is little indication left inside of the history of the place. Rather dark and anonymous. Lacking in character. There are two bars - one on each side of the sprawling interior. The bar on the side offers the regular Pride, Pedigree and IPA; the bar on the left is the one with the guests.
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Nice pub and friendly staff but we had a real problem with the Deputy Manager come closing time. I guess they've had problems in the past but if you don't want to spoil an otherwise pleasant evening drink up early and head elsewhere.
anonymous - 6 May 2005 17:27 |
OK in that typical Wetherspoon's kind of way.
The food is plentiful, cheap and pretty ordinary, but then I suppose that could be said about all 600+ pubs in the group.
The beer is well kept, service is prompt and friendly. All in all a big improvement since the re-furb.
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The best pub i have ever visited, especially since the refurbishment.
Rusty - 10 Mar 2004 19:09 |
Nice whetherspoons pub/hotel - small outside seating area, and the usual 'spoons "thrills"!
Lee - 24 Jan 2004 15:46 |
