please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Look's and feels like an O'Neills but at an upper quality than most. Well laid out pub with tables catering for any size group between 2 and 12, so can easily find the right spot for a beer/chat. Green King IPA was £3.20 and decent quality. The staff asked me what IPA I wanted when I ordered it as they also sold a couple of various Craft IPA. The gambling machines in the pub are unobtrusive
|
Probably the cheapest place to drink in the Heath.
Decent atmosphere and good, quick staff.
Seating out the front and rear. Can be crowded when footie or rugby is on. Never seems to be much trouble in there.
|
Got to agree with MSE12. I thought I was alone in thinking kids should be banned from pubs , but obviously not.
|
Very disappointed. Not disabled friendly at all. Steep steps to enter and no disabled facilities. When I asked if I could use the side entrance, was met with a firm no!
|
I'm not a huge fan of the O'Neills 'thing', however it's now the only pub in Blackheath that turns families with young kids away (not always but they were last weekend) and for that reason alone it gets my vote. I prefer real ale to lager....but can tolerate the Stella if it means I don't have to put up with screaming kids and their ridiculous parents who have no concern for other punters who just want to enjoy a few pints in a relatively peaceful and 'adult friendly' environment.
|
Sounds like real pub heaven to me!
|
The biggest game in the Premiership season today and this joint doesn't even have SKY.....what a complete joke. This place should not be allowed call itself a pub.
|
Bonfire night was a good buzz, the village minus the usual cars was packed with firework gazers and busy O'Neill's didn't disappoint, good atmosphere and friendly staff we didn't wait too long for our drinks and the band rocked!
will come back
|
They were ok but if you thought these were good then you'll be blown away by the the Reggae Band. Atmosphere is electric when that lot play. It's my favorite band night of the month.
|
.....saw this band before in another O'Neills and remember them being called "Unsafe Passage" fronted by a Kiwi with the unlikely name of Scratch would agree though they are worth checking out
|
who were that band last Thursday 15th Oct.? definitely cut above average pub band and the vocals and guitar riffs on Whole Lotta Love were as close as Led Zep as you could get....hope they get return booking not only excellent guitars but very visual as well!
as for the pub I've noticed that it's changed quite a bit recently (lot cleaner) and floor servers on the bal.... keep it up!!
|
Drink in here quite a bit nomally, although now there's no Sky Sports we have to start looking elsewhere for the footie. Thursday is my favorite night because of the bands - good selection, something to suit everyone. Shame there's no DJ on Fridays anymore, it did make a real difference. Grub is ok for something quick but I doubt i'll be having much more of that if I'm not in there watching the footie.
|
This is one of the better pubs in Blackheath (not saying much). Not sure how big a market for Gaelic Games there is in Blackheath. This O'Neills definitely makes rugby the priority. There were a lot of Irish in on Saturday for the Munster v Leinster match.
|
I only ever use this pub at lunchtime and it is always fine. Well kept Guinness and reasonable and tasty food....bar staff are usually fine too!
I can't comment on the situation in the evening but can recommend lunchtimes for a comfortable and reasonably priced visit.
|
I've been coming in this pub for years. It used to be good - very good in fact (but a LONG time ago - mid nineties). But gradually it has got worse and worse. It smells in there for one now there's no smoke to disguise it. Also the aircon is so cold you can tell where the units are by the empty tables beneath them.
The bar staff are often a bit full of themselves except the new ones and there are always a lot of new ones if you know what I mean. They don't stay long.
Friday and Saturday are no go days due to the drunk spiky haired louts and WAGs that are swaggering about. They also turn up the volume on the one CD they have during these times. Talking of which, forget watching the football in there any more. They do have Sky but it's 'company policy' to have the volume off completely and continue with the muzac mentioned above. Company policy - stupid company.
Strangely we still seem drawn to the place (probably with memories of better times) but after a couple it's off to the Crown or the Hare and Billet for some hospitality.
So if the owners of O'Neills read any of this, pull your finger out - a rating of less than 5 out of 10 in Blackheath village is shameful.
|
As a frequent visitor to the O'Neills chain ( and "Failte Card" holder of the Wardour Street. premises ) I was extremely disappointed recently after a trip to the Blackheath branch of the chain.
I was frankly appalled by the staff reaction to a request to switch the tv channel in order to view the Live Gaelic Games which were taking place at the time. Not only was I told that highlights of an obscure Rugby 7's tournament being shown were more important , but when I stated that this was supposedly an Irish pub I was given the response by an AMERICAN barmaid ...and I quote "But you are in England".
My question is how can a pub market itself as Irish when it refuses to show the country's national sport on television ?? Every other O'Neills I have frequented over the years gives Gaelic Games PRIORITY , which is a big reason why Irish ex-patriots frequent the premises on match days in the first place !
Not only did I find the above experience insulting , but also thought about the potential loss of business by the failure to promote the novelty of screening high-profile GAA matches during the Championship season (May - September). Ask any of the large numbers of Irish people who walk through O'Neills doors and they will state the same. SORT IT OUT NOW
|
I usually visit the pub just after 4pm once I have finished work. No problem getting served and the bar staff are friendly. The place is usally clean but the toilets could be improved.
|
Ay pub where you have to queue to get in has already made a poor start in my book. The fact that is can take anywhere up to 20 minutes to get served at the bar only adds to my growing sense of frustration - last time I was there, some bloke kept offering me aftershave in the toilet!!! I thought I had mistakenly entered a club - the fact that this annoying trend has entered a pub only reinforces my belief that this establishment has lost it's identity.
|
Why was I made to queue outside last Friday evening for over 20 mins in the freezing cold when the pub was half empty? Door staff are very rude
anonymous - 28 Nov 2007 16:03 |
This past Thursday (8th Nov) was my first visit here, to O�Neil�s in Blackheath since I had the misfortune of watching England�s defeat to France at the start of Euro 2004. I had no real recollection of what the pub was actually like and I must confess that this recent visit was mainly prompted by my desire to sample the new Guinness Red (less heavy and sweeter than the original). Anyway, onto the actual pub. Interior is dull and not dissimilar to any other member of this chain and the grub on offer looked standard. Drink selection at least included the above-mentioned Guinness and pleasingly, an unexpected couple of ales. Staff were okay, except for the fact the scouse barmaid who started pouring my pint and then forgot about it! Background music is something to gripe about. Razorlight and err, Razorlight was all I picked up on. Clientele seem more �chav� than in neighbouring establishments and one found that another gripe. To summarise � its okay for a pint, but really, there are better pubs. 6 out of 10.
HTM69 - 11 Nov 2007 12:28 |
Used to drink here reguarly. Now however, I find that the place is full of oiks who have actually TRAVELLED to drink here. Dear me what is the world coming too where people will travel to drink somewhere like this. Waits at the bar are obscence, although staff are friendly, never ever understood perfume sellers in toilets that just puts me off too. One of the worst pubs in Blackheath
|
Not bad food, (Bangers and Mash for �3.50) which always hits the spot. Not a bad pub during the day before the Oiks get in there. Ales are not bad when they are on, which isnt all the time so prepare to be disapointed. Can get Guinness Red in here which is nice for a change. Bit of a Mickey Mouse "pub" but does the job when doing a crawl of the Village.
|
Ooops,meant to say "Bar" a bit more
bruno - 24 Aug 2007 01:39 |
Would like to see Ed behind the ar a bit more.....Hmm?
bruno - 24 Aug 2007 01:38 |
went recently, if i owned it i would be worried it seems the staff are more interested in lifting empty glasses,(empty glasses dont earn money) than selling beer from 11.00 onwards probably so they can get away quickly when it closes.And get rid of those toilet perfume sellers who harrass you when you goe to the toilets.
Still beers not bad when you get it and music is ok
|
Watched a lot of the 6Nations here. great atmosphere. Can get a bit raucous when football's on. You wouldn't want to here on weekend evenings if you're over 25. Good grub. Steaff helpful.
|
Worth only a quick stop on a pub crawl of the heath. It's what I'd call a fake pub. The McDonalds of the pub game.
|
Plastic = Not real an imitation of the real thing. O'Neills pubs are in general about as Irish as Bin Laden. Surely this is a fragrant breach of the Trading Standards Act? Another Woeful B'Heath pub.
|
Usually I love all these plastic paddy pubs but this one really is a disappointment. The band was good but they were tucked away in a corner and theres neither seating to view them or a dancefloor.
The worst thing though is the a/c. I have never been so cold in a pub in my life. I wasnt the only one either-everyone there was huddled up in jackets and scarfs. Didnt stay too long-once the hypothermia set in, we gave up trying to have fun...
anonymous - 16 Oct 2006 11:43 |
I had a very good night in here with 3 pals when the dj was on takes a while to get to the bar and get a drink but still the night was superb and a very good dj on show requested wake me up before you go go and the whole place got up for it.
|
This used to be the Best Pub in London up to a few years ago but its a shadow of its former self. Is it not time to change its image and move away from the O'Neill's Thing. I certainly do not blame the staff as they can only do as directed but Bass or whoever owns it have made their money here and therefore have neglected it for a few years now. I seldom go there now as I can never get the feeling I used to get in the good old days of '96-2003...Im an old romantic I guess!
|
This pub ROCKS!!!
Love the fact that the staff's always so welcoming.
The bands are great and i loooooove spending my weekend there!
Keep rocking O'Neills!!!!
anonymous - 14 Jul 2006 16:47 |
Blackheath Village is far too limited for a vibrant night out and this place suffers as a result. Always packed on a Friday or Saturday night and no where to dance, despite the dance music tunes frequently being played. To work all week to come here on such nights is as big an anti-climax as En ger land's performance in the 2006 World Cup. It is not like you can then move on to numerous decent places in the Village after you come here. Same applies if you want to drink somewhere before coming to O'Neills. Blackheath Village does simply not offer a lot in nightlife, other than a plethora of restaurants. I do, however, like the option of doubles only being �1 more than singles on spirits. Personally, I would only ever come here with my girlfriend for a relatively late drink in Blackheath 'ideal for couples' Village. Forget the H-File search!
|
This pub's the best pub in Blackheath by far!
They've got great bands, great staff, and great beer! What more could you ask for?!
(Only downside's that there's not enough vegetarian food on the menue.)
But i mostely come there to get drunk, so that's ok!
|
We went there on Sat evening for the Liverpool v Charlton game (bear in mind this is a stomes throw from Charlton who are the local team.) Already busy but we got a nice seat ("a seat in O'Neill's" I hear you cry "in view of the footie?! Can it be true") at the door end of the bar. Then just before the game they switched it over to RUGBY LEAGUE! Who watches rugby league? So we all had to traipse over to the Crown yet again to watch it amongst the drunk, punchy pensioners. Sort it out O'Neills.
Slightly improved since the refurb but they let far too many in on Thurs-Sat evening - it takes 10 mins to get to the toliets.
|
SHould be burnt to the ground and rebuilt as, say, The Three Tuns. A travesty of a pub.
anonymous - 29 Dec 2005 13:18 |
Great staff that make each visit a pleasure and friendly Management who know their customer. Anyone who prefers The Railway to O'Neills needs their head examined.
anonymous - 15 Dec 2005 12:28 |
Decided to try it out on a Friday night. The place was busy but not totally rammed. Guinness in good shape, friendly door staff, noisy and smoky but that's to be expected. The atmosphere was very good and even with so many people it didn't feel manic. The bog troll had a great singing voice so it was worth going in to splash your boots just to hear a song. Normally not my kind of pub but a good time was had.
|
The rugby boys are back, the pub is alot cleaner than before and there is a much better standard of bird behind the jump. Well done.
anonymous - 25 Oct 2005 16:55 |
what a dissapointment. why does the owning company mitchells & butlers not spend a few quid on this potentially super location. Surely spending money and trying to tidy it up would encourage a better clientele back in.ppppppppllllllleeeeeeaaaaaasssssseeeee.
JC
anonymous - 21 Oct 2005 00:12 |
O'Neill's in Blackheath is certainly suffering from the almighty reputation it once enjoyed. It was the best O'Neill's in the country at one time if not one of the best Pubs in the UK. Noel and Liam Gallagher, Gazza, Danny Baker, Chris Evans mixed with four or five local Rugby clubs, Great locals, the postman,Fantastic looking ladies and overall it was a Pub you'd happily queue to get in on a weekend night. Staff were bright and bubbly and big Charlie the Irish Governor treated chavs and undesirables as well as shit staff, like they should be treated... he threw them out fast!
Today...and I blame the company who own it...Mitchells and Butlers.....the paint hangs from the wall, the toilets smell, the Pub stinks and there hasnt been a penny....not a penny spent on the Pub for 5 years. Any company who invest so little in a busy premises like this deserve all the poor publicity they get. l mentioned all this to Tom the previous Manager and he said he had no answer.....what more can be said.
It is simply a Pub drifting on past Glory.....but customers will continue to vote with their feet unless a MAJOR refurbishment is done.
Sort it out!
Dave and the Greenwich lot
anonymous - 14 Sep 2005 17:34 |
This establishment is a good pub, during our season (rugby) not many chav�s get in there as we are there.
Not trying to act the big nut far from it, we enjoy our self�s get on well with all the other club�s that go in there.
We intermingle with the other punters and enjoy our self�s.
The problems have been the summer period when we go our separate ways on the �off� season.
That�s when the idiots get in there and spoil what is a very good-natured pub.
The lad�s and I went into there a few weeks ago and talking with the new governor,
Whom knew one of our lads and agreed wants us to keep coming and he said he will get rid of them.
Even sticking on of our club shirts up like ask�s ect.
Look forward to meeting all the lad�s over the next season. And good luck to all in there league fixtures this year.
Ps love is with odd shaped ball�s
|
very dirty place, nice beers but man, smells and i dont really want to start thinking about pests.
Clean it out manager.
anonymous - 25 Jul 2005 17:38 |
Everything is so nice... staff, selection of beers, location, but the pub is so dirty...
|
I agree with the post below. I work in O'Neills and am so relieved that the 'chavalanche' finally seems to be receding (and we'll keep working on it till the bigoted burberry boys are a thing of the past). Our boss is doing a brilliant job in turning it all around and I haven't seen such a quick improvement in the place in all the time I've worked there, so give it a chance.
As for 7 June anonymous, it's a shame you got a bad impression. However, you must have come in on a Friday or Saturday night and perhaps conveniently neglected to notice the sheer volume of people we have to serve. It gets pretty stressful and we often have to deal with abuse from customers (usually without good reason, and never something that should be tolerated by anyone, let alone us). That's why we may not have looked too happy or, as 2pinttommy rightly said, we're just busy getting the drinks sorted.
I feel that, though I like the bulk of customers coming through our doors, the behaviour and attitudes of some can be just as much open to criticism as the staff, if not more so, and you've simply proved that by tarring all of us with the same negative brush.
Anyway, I don't know why I'm trying to justify any of us and how we supposedly come across. I enjoy working there and it seems to me that everybody else does, too. Most customers (especially the regulars) can see that a mile off.
Plus the new boss has really brought our morale up and reinforced the strong team spirit that makes this such a good pub to work in in the first place.
As for the comment about staff not knowing what a shandy is, that's admittedly a poor show! But a load of new staff have just started and are doing their best so, again, give them a chance to learn the ropes.
Well I've written way too much, but if you're still with me, I've got to say that I've worked in many a pub before and never would even have considered posting some comment on some site about any of them, as I couldn't have cared less. But this one's different - I've never had a job like it. All the staff are great (and the customers ain't half bad either). That's why I get frustrated with the negativity surrounding this place. It's unjustified, unfair and untrue.
|
The new managers only been here a month so I suggest you give him a chance to prove himself. The times I've been in recently it just seems to get busier and busier, so he must be doing something right!
|
it doesnt seems good staff when they don't know what a shandy is... horrible place, they are all miserable. AVOID!
|
re; 7 june
the staff are people not robots, furthermore they are good staff. if you want the permanent smile and 'have a nice day' go to Mc Donalds. the staff there are spot on and sometimes might have a bad day. They work in a very pressured environment and sometimes might be concentrating on gettin the orders done asap rather than giving false pleasantries to every customer.
|
"we hate the Irish thing all the time" - thats irony right? In an Irish bar. I mean your having a laugh right?
Still the pubs definately getting back on track, some way to go to the glory days but getting better....
|
The place going down hill is everything to do with staff, they are always miserable... if they don't enjoy what they are doing, we know because creates a unpleasant atmosphere... and that's what we need here... a new atmosphere... so if the new manager is clever enough, first thing is to change all his staff. And maybe have some nice music in the background as well, we hate that irish thing all the time...
anonymous - 7 Jun 2005 14:18 |
I saw the most S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G girl there, with a G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S smile and later in the week someone told me she was the new manager's brazilian babe, we now know he have a really good taste... well done mate.
anonymous - 5 Jun 2005 21:18 |
Chavs hate Irish/Celtic Rock!! - We are the best live Irish Band in the South of England and having followed your toings and froings - would like to come up and give you a "Chavs! - What Chavs?!" night. Have someone contact me if you are up for it.
|
I'm pleased to see that no-one has really given the bar-staff too hard a time, thanks for that!! As you may have seen, O'Neill's is over 21 on fri and sat night in order to combat the 'Chav epidemic' which is sweeping blackheath. this is YOUR chance to sweep in and return the pub to it's former glory.
A pub reflects the customers. If the customers are cool, the atmosphere is better, therefore the staff turnover isn't as high and they can get good at their job because they are there for longer.
So if you are cool and groovy, swing by, if you're a bit of a knob, please don't, you won't be made to feel very welcome.
as for the re-furb....
we're working on it
|
Hopefully the new management will make this place great again. I think the praises for Tom Finn are wearing abit thin now, especially as all comments saying how 'fantastic'he is are written under the same username, is that you Tom? Sorry Tom but you did an o.k job and would still be there if you were fantastic
anonymous - 18 May 2005 14:46 |
CLOSE IT? A little over the top I think. Yes I admit, the place has gone down hill, but I will point out that this has nothing to do with the current staff or acting management. It's down to Mitchell & Butlers and their new district managment. Their the people giving the shoe string budget that this pub is supposed to run on, their responsible for lack of staff and basic essentials, such as straws, stirrers, napkins, toilet roll & even glasses!!! As said in previous comments on this page, the staff are making the best of a bad job.
We the staff have noticed our regular customers are disapearing and being replaced by 'Chavs' and we don't like it either, which is why we have put our heads together to think of ways of discouraging them. As of this weekend, we will be operating an Over 21's door policy on Fri & Sat nights, this hopefully will help tackle the problem.
We also have a new manager starting within the next fortnight, (after our fantastic manager Tom Finn was stitched up) let's hope he's able to talk the district management into taking notice of the needs of this pub.
anonymous - 12 May 2005 15:50 |
This used to be a flagship Pub for O'Neills only a few years ago......now its a disgrace. Any customers who used to drink there have gone and now its like a Millwall/National Front meeting place. Close it!
|
OK so I don't know how many people actually view this, but I thought I'd put in a post to reflect some of the shining reviews we've been getting of late and the possible downfall we face in the future..
Anyone who has frequented this pub anytime over the last 9 months or so can clearly see that the place is in dire need of a facelift (and the rest if we're on the subject..) For a group of staff to come together and make 'the best of a bad job' on only a minimal budget (hence the *complete* lack of straws, toilet paper, etc) and for refurbishment plans to keep getting knocked back, can only be down to one thing: a competent, happy group of hard workers led by an awesome manager. We've all faced some really tough times there but that feeling of really being a 'family' (as cheesy as it sounds) has really helped lift not only the whole ambience of the place but also improved the level of service - we know that by the feedback we get from the wonderful regulars that come in as well as the newbies we get to banter with. Of course, there are always going to be a few hiccups - you'll get that with any pub. But the truth remains that generally there's been a total improvement within the constraints of having head office breathing down our necks - alas the perils of working for a corporate chain...
So you only need to take a look at the glowing reports Tom has received previously on this page, and the sterling record he's had from previous pubs, to know that this man has had a huge impact on the place. So it sickens me, that because he works for the staff and the punters, and sticks up for us all, he gets sh@t on constantly by the powers that be, and may lose out big time. OK so I can't throw about accusations, but everyone knows that something is not right of late. This guy is capable of doing great things for any pub, and it's ridiculous that he may end up slipping through their fingers - but if they want a brown-noser who plays up to the company to take his place then I guess he's better off out of all of that.
Let's hope that if all doesn't work out right then he'll end up with his own pub someday. And I know for a fact it'd be a pub with happy, efficient staff and smiling punters.
Disgruntled barmaid
anonymous - 15 Mar 2005 01:20 |
Hadn't been here for a few years and returned to what was an old haunt of mine. AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH. Would Bass or Mitchells and Butlers or whoever owns this spend some money and stop taking money and putting nothing back. Its nothing to do with staff who are probably as disgusted as I was but customers, I am told are voting with their feet and going to the Railway which at least still has paint on the walls!!
This Pub has made its owners millions over the years ...at least paint the xxxxxxx place.
|
Well thank the Lord (or at least the senior management of Mitchel and Butlers), at last we have a competent manager for O'Neill's in Blackheath.
After the fiasco that followed Charlie's departure, finally M&B have sourced a manager not only capable of managing a busy pub, but also of recovering this once great outlet to the heights of it's glory days.
Tom succeeds where Suzie failed. He has managed to come on board and quickly understand both the local area and the local people (something that the old area manger Mike never managed!!) and it shows in the way he is tackling the job. The staff are improving hugely (there are still a few who could be let go without many tears being shed), the door policy is back to being friendly but limited to 300 people (gone are the days of Sir Ranulph Fiennes-esc journeys to the bar, or loo). And last, but by no means least, the atmosphere is back. Again we are seeing the old regulars drinking here, the Rugby lot are back (love-em or not) and the lack of baseball capped chavs has instantly meant a near total loss of trouble.
All in all Tom is to be congratulated on successfully tackling a tough challenge and returning O'Neill's back to being one of the best pub's for miles around.
Well done lad and 'Cheers' from all the old school staff and friends who remember that this is how it should be!
anonymous - 16 Feb 2005 12:22 |
I hope this pub does recover as suggested because it has been appaling over the last couple of years.
The table service is always welcome and I suppose alleviates the bar queues. One thing though, why have the live music on Sundays? We always leave when they arrive because you can no longer engage in conversation because it's so loud - Thursday night yes, Sunday no thanks.
I go there a lot and I couldn't point out the landlord/manager - the staff seems to rotate continuously.
|
Tom is the best thing to happen to this place for over a year. In his later days Charlie went a little downhill until he left, however his deputies, Ben and Pav, kept the place running strong until they too moved on to greener pastures.
When Suzie took over, the place took a mjor dive, into a big deep black hole, of which it stayed for the best part of a year until she moved on.
Then the man we all know as Tom, took on the place, unaware of all it's problems, and is digging it out of that hole bringing back into the sunshine of Blackheath, all single handed, since the day he started he has not had an assistant manager.
The place is getting back to what it was a few years ago, it was never perfect but it was a nice place to drink and go out to have a laugh. Tom's structuring the staff to now including people that can speak english, count, AND pour a pint, now that's multitasking!
The staff in there are getting back to the standards of the classic members of the old days, there may well be 13/14 people PER member of staff to serve, but they actually are getting served before they fall asleep! Other points to note, friday and saturday nights are now being kept to capacity of 300! Rather than the 350/400 that Suzie used to cram in to try and make the extra revenue, which lost more customers than it did make money.. You can actually move in there and make it to the toilets within an hour rather than having to buy a colostomy bad on the door.
One of the more important points is that the local rugby boys are back, they are the life of the place on a weekend and make it a laugh, some people don't get on with them but most do, and they are what make the money, with hardly any trouble.
All in all the place is picking up and sometime soon will be back how it was, a nice place to go out to.
Then, Tommy can take a well deserved holiday.
TheFlat
TheFlat - 31 Oct 2004 23:53 |
I would like to embelish on a previous point - the staff are rude to the ignorant clientele, but only when provoked and yes the service is terrible - when you have 80 people waiting at the bar with only 6 staff able to fit behind the bar - for those who are incapable of maths, thats about 13 customers per barstaff - easy job right? Also if customers managed to decide what drinks they want, instead of shouting at the staff, it would speed up service no end. Think about it.
PS Tom is doing a great job turning it around. give it a chance.
anonymous staff - 26 Oct 2004 18:16 |
Will somebody close this place down....yaaghh! Having been a regular in the old Three Tuns and having been a frequent visitor in the early ONeill s days under Frank and later Charlie, two fine Irishmen who took no prisoners and ran the place as they would their home....this has now been reduced to aplace with no identity. It needs a total change of everything. I will no longer go in because staff are rude and service is terrible,.
Mal - 18 Oct 2004 18:39 |
i dont think its the fault of current management, Oneill's nationally seems to have lost the touch of success it once had, but the Blackheath site, for long a great success story and popular in the area....is popular now with all the wrong people...baseball caps, sleevless tattooed morans and all the better customers have ran off down the road....is this deliberate strategy by O'Neill's in Blackheath...who knows. I have been travelling for two years and came back to find a disimprovement. A fairly stern looking but switched on Irish guy called Charlie had this place humming for years and at the hint of hassle or the wrong customer he'd be in like a flash "to protect the other customers" he'd say. Staff worked well under him but he did take them on trips to Dublin, Italy etc as reward. Now it is leaderless and rudderless, Staffless and hopeless. Live goes on they say! A returned but not returning customer.
James Sheffey - 19 Aug 2004 18:19 |
Our prays have been answered - New manager starts end of June. Lets hope he does a better job than Suzi did.
Current member of staff. - 21 May 2004 14:38 |
The Stella is really strong in there! Couple of pints of that and your off! Good atmosphere sometimes too packed but a good micture of men & women and easy to pull ;0)
Seademon - 20 May 2004 11:41 |
As an old member of staff, who worked in O'Neill's back in the good old days, I agree it's not easy to serve 50 people at once. Of course if the bar was being run properly by the new management, you wouldn't have to serve that many. When the bar is managed properly and the staff trained well, it is very rarely that the weight of customers gets that uncontrollable. Also if there was any sign of floor servers, it would take the pressure off the bar. I agree it's not the staff's fault, it's the inept management's problem.
Ex memeber of staff. - 18 Mar 2004 20:49 |
Why don't you leave the staff alone. They work their arses off trying to serve ignorant wasters! It's not easy trying to serve 50 people at once. Give them a break and try being more friendly towards them.
A disgruntled staff member - 18 Mar 2004 16:20 |
Hear that tap-tap-tapping sound? It’s the sound of the final nail being hammered into the coffin of this once great watering hole.
As Pawel, the tireless and exceptionally talented Assistant Manager (whether behind the bar, or a guitar), is wooed away by another pub (no coincidence that former manager Charlie was doing the wooing), this former bastion of bar skills and service standards, continues on it’s steady decline with seemingly renewed vigour.
Floor service, historically one of the strongest features of the pub, is now virtually non-existent, with the staff looking bemused and startled when you do ask them for drinks. On a busy night you can easily sit at a table (if you’re lucky enough to get one) for hours without seeing any sign of a floor server. When one does finally appear, they’re so focused on desperately collecting empties and cleaning the ashtrays, that service is the last thing they are concerned with.
The service at the bar is suffering as a result of several issues. As direct effect of the lack-lustre table service, people are no longer content to wait at their tables for service, but instead crowd to the bar causing increased congestion and longer waits. The lack of speed and competence amongst the staff (largely not their fault, primarily down to poor management and training) results in people, on a weekend night, easily having to wait 15-20 minutes to be served. The staff seem to lack any form of planning, or co-ordination and often end up roaming around behind the bar lacking focus and conviction.
Overall the physical condition of the pub is lacking attention as well. The Toilets are a case in point, since there appears to be no attempt at monitoring their condition through the night. With toilet tissue running out, or all over the floor, flooding, and sick all going unnoticed for hours, they represent the lack of attention being paid to maintaining a pleasant drinking experience.
All of this boils down to the same simple problem, bad management. The seeming lack of training and direction is entirely the responsibility of the manager and her unsuitability for the role. Ultimately this is a pub that requires constant attention and development to maintain the standards customers expect. The frequent signs advertising exhausted stock of Carling, or even worse Guinness, and the recent lack of card facilities over a busy weekend, only add weight to the argument against her.
This pub was great under both Frank and under Charlie, however sadly it is far from great under Suzie. Don’t get me wrong, there are still some great aspects; they still have some great live acts (although gone are the cameos from Pawel); you still meet many people that you know; and there is still the potential for a good atmosphere and a good night. It’s just that for a pub with such enormous potential and past achievements, it seems such a waste to see it not living up to it’s former glories, but instead merely coasting along on their merits. O’Neill’s Blackheath needs a new manager. It needs a manager who will view the former achievements as targets to be broken, rather than simply fond memories. Lets just hope that this happens before the pub slips beyond the point of no return.
Old School Village Drinker - 20 Feb 2004 11:52 |
PLEASE bribe Charlie and get him back before our local goes even further down the pan. The place seriously needs new management to get it back up there. It's potentially a brilliant atmospheric pub. There are still a few loyal punters hanging around but it's not like it was. Live music is great though, except it gets a bit packed with the student crowd on Thursdays. It's quite an art getting through them on the dance floor to get to the toilets. Look out for Fuzzy and The Tar Babies if you're not into "pub standards!"
Kesty - 17 Feb 2004 17:44 |
I�d just like to stick up for the hard working bar staff and floor staff in this pub. With the typical few exceptions the staff work their butts off to serve as quickly as possible. Matters aren't helped when other drinkers start shouting at the staff - admittedly I�ve had to wait a while for a drink in there, but it's obvious that the staff who are there are doing their best to serve fast and is almost always worth the wait. Give them a chance and everyone is happier! Atmosphere is always good, live bands are good if slightly pubish � the Tar Babies are brilliant � look out for them! Staff are friendly, nice place for a quiet weekday drink, comfy couches!
a regular - 10 Feb 2004 02:42 |
NEW YEARS EVE ... Oh dear. Tenner a ticket, no band, no deco & certainly no atmosphere. Whoever organised the music must have been pissed early (Ah the assistant manager?), Chesney Hawkes ... what`s all that about? We were promised entertainment, whoops maybe I blinked & missed it. Auld Lang Syne came on, eveyone danced, hugged & downed their shots & THEN realised from the tv screens that it was only 11.57pm. Ha, there we all were thinking our watches were slow. Puts Del-boy & Rodders in the shade!
Strange also the lack of regular drinkers in there. Not that there are that many nowadays, guess you can only stay loyal for so long, it`s such a shame as this was once a credible pub.
Can`t make much comment on the new manager, she`s never there ... at least not behind the bar. Did spot her on NYE & it wasn`t pints she was trying to pull!
To the bosses: Give the last manager (Irish Charlie) a major incentive to return. If not how about giving the little guy (Pavel?) a go ... he seems to know what he`s doing.
Marl - 1 Jan 2004 23:46 |
I haven't been to this pub since my band blew the sound limiter 9 times and had to quit the gig. The pub used to have a great atmos, and the live music went down as well as the beer UNTIL they put the damn sound limiter in (not their fault, the council's). I don't know if it was part of a strategy by Susy (the butt of a lot of comments I see) when she took over - but its a shame.
Ian Seale - 18 Dec 2003 17:07 |
I've read quite a few comments about this pub and Its a mixed bag in terms of agreeing/disagreeing with them. Most comments have a pop at the manager and as I dont know who the new manager is, it may be fair to point out that Bass (now mitchells and butlers) the operators of the pub, have cut a lot of promotional and other spending on their pubs in recent times (hotels being the place to put their cash). Maybe just maybe the new manager does not have discretionary spend and is suffering as a result and perhaps the previous manager did but saw the light and deciding (like many did) that running a pub which turns probably a million and a half quid a year on a shoestring budget is not on and perhaps moved on gracefully. Managers of pubs are in a tough position at the minute and managers of big chain, big company pubs are in an impossible position. Large Pub operators are cheating the customers in the past two years....its good to see the trend back to smaller operators has started well. Margaret S.
Margaret S - 4 Dec 2003 11:01 |
Pointless echoing all the negative comments below- suffice to say I agree with pretty much all of them. Been drinking there since it changed from the three Tuns til'l very recently. Since "she" took over, they have run out of White Wine (on a Sunday afternoon), Carling (Thursday) Red Wine (on a Saturday afternoon) and finally, and most laughably GUINNESS!!!! How difficult can it be ?- Find Charlie's order book and duplicate what he ordered. Keel Pavel, Keep the dept manager and GET RID OF HER. Meanhile, me and my many heavy drinking buddies will be spending our time and money in The Railway.
mike - 3 Nov 2003 11:41 |
Great for a laugh, just don't expect to get a table if you arrive after 8.30 on a fri or sat night. Good for a laugh and great atmosphere. But be prepares to wait for drinks.
Lisa - 15 Oct 2003 15:36 |
Oneills was the best place to go drinking wether it be on a busy fri and sat or for a quiet cosy chat, nowdays it's dirty unfriendly and unwelcoming. The change in managment has really turned us regulars away from the place and it's a real shame!
Please give us back our beautiful pub
Ashley - 7 Oct 2003 11:18 |
Used to be a Fantastic pub, always busy esp on weekends, a rite good laff but now.... noway!
Its still ok but not a patch on the old days. I say Bring back Charlie the old manager, his staff were fantastic and fun!
Please try to get it back to what it was for all our sakes!!
Chatters - 30 Sep 2003 00:05 |
Once upon a time, in a Village far, far away there was a pub. That Pub was called O'Neill's Blackheath & was one of the best pubs in the South of London.
The service was exceptional, the food was good value, the staff were professional, the environment was welcoming, the live bands were superb, there was never any trouble and the overall experience was SO good, that people didn't mind queuing for 30 min to get in.....
Now fast forward to today, nearly a year has passed, there's a new manager, a new assistant manager & the feeling as if you've walked into an Irish Theme bar equivalent of a Firkin!
Sadly, despite her amenable attitude, the new manageress seems to spend more time courting the staff and doorman, battering her Kiwi eyelashes and off-premises, than she does actually managing the pub.
The new assistant manager would have trouble running a bath, let alone a busy pub and is generally found leaning heavily on the bar, with a pint of Guinness in his hand, wearing a dirty t-shirt, jeans and a slightly bemused expression.
The Bar staff (with a few gleaming exceptions) no longer have the same flair and quality about them. Gone are the talented, charming and fast workers, to be replaced with a host of dull, incompetent and untidy slackers.
As for the general quality of the house, quite frankly it looks such a mess that I feel like wiping my feet on the way out!
The patrons have also slipped, with many more fights occurring and a far less welcoming atmosphere.
The only redeeming feature of the place is the long suffering bar supervisor. A hyper-efficient Polish man, who is always friendly, superbly talented on either side of the bar and a credit to the previous manager's high standards of training.
To conclude, what once was the premier bar in the village, is currently almost on a par with Flame... lets hope that O’Neill’s realize this and make the appropriate management restructuring.
Old School Village Drinker - 26 Sep 2003 16:16 |
full of ignorant fashon victims. no seats, rude doormen, no room, slow service. manager needs to go!!
Larry - 23 Sep 2003 12:55 |
Once had to wait 2.5 hours for our food to turn up on a Sunday - and even then they couldn't get it to the table all at once so half of us had finished before the rest had started. Truly rubbish service.
anonymous - 12 Sep 2003 10:57 |
This place used to be so good before they expanded it a few years ago. Now it just gets gradually worse. The food (usually not bad at O'Neill's pubs) is woefully bad and dried up. The barstaff are hopeless and few and far between. The airconditioning is stuck on freezing and the bands on Thurs and Sunday are average but so loud as to be intrusive no matter where you are in the pub. This place just needs more staff and a decent landlord and it will be fine. One plus point, they now show Sky football meaning we haven't got to cram into the Crown any more!
Tim - 5 Sep 2003 17:23 |
Its Brilliant! Live bands on Thursday & Sunday nights. Usually quite a few girls in there, sometimes they are a bit old but after a few Stella's who cares!!
Mark - 7 Aug 2003 18:09 |
This place has gone downhill drastictly in the past few months.. the managment is slated by every regular of the place and every decent member of staff, bar the wonderful polish guy. Has either been pushed out by bad management or forced out by accusations. The last few decent remaining staff are rushed off their feet, adn the rest hardly speak a word of english..
Please.. O'Neill's bosses. sort the place out!
James - 3 Aug 2003 01:31 |
Great pub - went there with a few locals and was impressed. Fast service and a good atmos. Would recommend it.
Cathy - 16 Jun 2003 01:25 |
If you are up for going on the pull then this is the place to go in Blackheath - if you can bear the overcrowding and hear someone's chat-up lines over the noise ..one might think they turn the music up that loud to get rid of people. Standing room only unless you get there early.
anonymous - 12 May 2003 11:20 |
The eltham pikeys (ben shermans and smart shoes!)slowly started arriving a few years ago but now they own the place on the weekend - its very sad whats happened to Black heath - seriously
go back to eltham - 9 May 2003 11:33 |
Absolute hole went in one Friday 4 doorman on duty no staff behind bar. waited at end bar with several others over 10 minutes when someone came over was told it was not his section that he couldn't serve in one half of the bar. turned out the one barmaid running the busiest section of bar (8.30pm friday)was downstairs in the cellar changing the gas, very very slowly. Shambles never got drink in 20 minutes of waiting never go back, typical O'Neils really.
edmund keane - 1 Apr 2003 12:52 |
Absolute dump. Staff rude atmosphere dark and dingy go anywhere but here (except maybe Flame bar)
arturo_morales - 18 Mar 2003 16:43 |
its the nuts. get their early so you can get a table cause it gets rammo at about 8 30. if you get a table and get table service youre laughing
phil - 4 Nov 2002 19:10 |
Well, I know its a faux-Irish chain pub, but this is actually a pretty good boozer. Usually packed, although we even got table service on a Friday night (midnight closing)! Should also keep an eye out for Benny the Barman - you can't buy that kinda talent in a shop you know...
Paul - 1 Aug 2002 16:46 |
