please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
As the previous review states, this is now the Black Griffin. It is on one of Canterbury's main shopping streets. But it was surprisingly quiet. 4 ales were on - Exmoor Antler, Goddards Fuddle-Dee-Dum, Moorhouses Pride of Pendle & Upper Punter. Cider was Old Rosie. We tried just about all the ales between us and were less than impressed with the quality. We stayed in the front bar. But there appeared to be further space behind.
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Now the Black Griffin again. Wider selection of ales than there used to be. Everard Tiger, Moorhouse Pride of Pendle, Incuubus and Bombardier Gold the other day when I visited.
The clientele were young, pretty much the same as before with a few tourists thrown in.
The pub is in two parts. The front has a few chairs aound the edge whereas the back half has more tables and chairs laid out. There is also a small outside area beyond that. The whole pub is bare floorboards.
An ok pub but in a town which has a lot of good real ale outlets I don't visit here often.
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Popped in briefly yesterday to escape a downpour. 3 beers and a cider on offer on the handpumps. The beers were ther bog standard Doombar and Hobgoblin and an acceptable Fuggles. Not at all busy though. Not really a place that I'd race back to.
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Has now changed its name and reverted back to The Black Griffin. The port stout on Saturday was ok and the food was very enjoyable
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Seemed to be nice enough studenty bar...but after 20 mins a stag night came in shouting and being cocks. Then another one came in after that. So I left.
On a positive note, it seemed lively if that's what you are after.
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Stopped here for lunch, but left after one drink. Menu was awful. There was no atmosphere. Toilets hadn't been cleaned and there were no locks on the doors. I used to like this place but now it's a dive. Never going back.
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Great little boozer.
Quite appealing to the rocker/metaller crowd, good jukebox and always a great selection of real ale.
I slightly agree with imdownthepub about toilet cleanliness, but otherwise I disagree - if you spring clean the pub too much you risk depriving it of it's character, which is a key reason people go there.
And try the Thai food, it is excellent.
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We found this pub to be a little run down and untidy. The beer was fair, good to see Hobgoblin still on sale, and it was comfortable, but it really could do with a tidy through. In a good spot though.
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I challenge any pub to beat the nachos that this place serves.....
Serves a good pint of guinness too without costing you an arm and a leg
cufc4 - 20 Jul 2009 11:10 |
great beer here, and cheap thai food, loved it.
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I had never seen a Wychwood pub before, and the ole man being a bit of a fan I dropped in whilst on a visit to Canterbury with a friend. She wasn't so impressed - muttering that she felt old (we are both 37) - but I had a lovely half of Abbot Ale and a smoke under the canopy (yes, a canopy - I like a pub that cares for it's smokers) before we headed back to the B&B to crash out for the night.
It was a Saturday night, and quite lively - but without being deafened by music or a TV, only by the increasingly drunken chatter and laughter of the clentele, who were a mixed bunch of chavvy girls, goth/metalists and olders who were obviously there for the ale!
The service was quick and friendly - absolutely no sideways looks at the two 'middle-aged ladies' - the beer tasty, and we found somewhere to sit. All I want from a pub really!
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Every time I've been here (5 or 6 times), the Hobgoblin ale has been splendid. Best jukebox in Canterbury, as far as I'm concerned! Reasonably good scampi 'n' chips at lunchtime, as well.
Becomes busy and extremely smoky in the evenings.
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It's a good pub, but as one of very few Wychwood pubs ni Kent it's a shame they didn't fo more of their own beers, rather than concentrating on what you can get anywhere
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Sorry I missed the "comedy-trousered muppet who seemed intent on sharing his moronic conversation with the rest of the northern hemisphere to show how outrageously alternative and zany he was", but that aside I enjoyed a fine couple of hours in this place. Friendly bar staff, reasonable pints of Hobgoblin, and a jukebox playing nothing but metal. Tremendous.
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Visited again last Tuesday. The young lady behind the bar was quick, smiley, efficient and knew what she was doing behind the bsr. She looked rather like Tracey Emin, but don't let that put you off! She was wearing a leopard-print skirt, and had an upper left arm to match it.
The "Hobgoblin" was excellent so I had a second pint. Interesting mix of clientele, the majority of which seemed to have lumps of metal welded to various parts of their anatomy.
Very good, well priced nose-bag as well. "Doorstep" slices of bread are always a plus point.
A selection of daily newspapers are provided for patrons' perusal.
I'm upping the score to 7, as long as they don't rest on their laurels!
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Yes, the quality of the beer is up and down like the Assyrian Empire. There are better pubs in Canterbury.
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Very smoky on a recent visit
anonymous - 17 Apr 2006 23:28 |
During December, I popped in for a pint to see if the beer had improved. I had a great pint of Hobgoblin - so good, in fact, that I stayed for a second!
Praise where praise is due. I was none too impressed on previous visits, hence my comment last year.
Well done and keep up the quality control.
The 5th Earl will be back - soon!
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By far, the best pub in Canterbury! It is spacious, yet the back has more intimate seating and a relaxing patio. Has a fantastic jukebox (wide variety of full CDs, not one of those new-fangled touch-screen "greatest hits" types). The best part of the pub though has to be the bar staff. In Aug 2004, 4 years since my last visit, I was pleasantly surprised to see the guys and happy to see that they still remembered me...whether they were PLEASED to see me? I don't know haha ;)
anonymous - 9 Apr 2005 17:50 |
Although this is a good pub, it's not a lot of good having "good beers from Wychwood Brewery", if they're not looked after. I visit Canterbury with half a dozen drinking chums every couple of months for a night on the beer, and the beer certainly leaves a lot to be desired. Still, endeavour to persevere, as they say. One of these days, I may be pleasantly surprised and actually be served a decent pint!
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Nice, spacious pub, friendly staff, very lively in the evenings, decent food, great jukebox and a suitably decent range of beer � no messing!
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I believe you'll get the greatest enjoyment in this pub, if you lay off the stella, ride bikes and dance on the tables. Rock and roll!!!
Don Ron - 8 Jul 2004 14:53 |
Great place to ride a push bike! (ask Don Ron king of Canterbury).
nobalinos - 7 Jul 2004 12:17 |
Good beers from Wychwood Brewery and the best juke box in Canterbury. Used to mace the Addams Family fruit machine every time.
Bill - 4 Jun 2004 13:21 |
Good studenty real ale pub, used to be the Black Griffin, not really changed since. One of the best in Canterbury
Simon - 3 Jun 2004 14:38 |
