BITE user comments - 427scr
Comments by 427scr
Might be a Spoons with all of the usual Spoons issues, but on 30th October at 1pm, they had beer and the Bricklayers at the other end of town had run out!
A couple of nice pints went down before Sunday lunch at the POW.
11 Nov 2011 14:08
Dropped in on Sunday 30th October for a pre Sunday lunch pint, waiting for friends to turn up.
To my horror, no beer, just Hobgoblin?
The bar maid was very apologetic, exclaiming that this was quite often the case on Sunday after a heavy Friday and Saturday.
I had a pint of keg IPA, which was cold and fizzy and left, ending up in the Spoons near the station that had lots of beer, at good prices.
11 Nov 2011 14:04
I think I was 15 when I last went in the Malt Cross. Now 47 and the place looks just as I remember it but with better beer. From an achitectural point of view, a must do when on a crawl in Nottingham, but I would avoid weekend evenings. We popped in on Saturday afternoon when all the serious beer buffs were at the Nottingham beer festival. Nice to see the old place open again.
17 Oct 2011 13:19
The Stratford Haven, West Bridgford
Nice and quiet on a Saturday afternoon. Great selection of CR brews and guests. Excellent cheese & onion butty freshly made. Can't fault it really. I suspect that would all change if the cricket was on......
17 Oct 2011 13:15
The Trent Bridge Inn, West Bridgford
Lived in Nottingham for 47 years and never been in the TBI!! that all changed on Saturday when we popped in after visiting a couple of Castle Rock pubs in Bridgeford. Spoons have made a great job of refurbishing this venerable old pub, the wooden floor in the back bar is particularly impressive. Several decent real ales on tap as you would expect from a JDW. Can't remember what I had as the effects of the Nottingham beer festival were kicking in. The nasty lemon & lime girls beer was in evidence and we had to give a taster a try...Nasty, nasty, nasty, don't do it. Nice staff, decent decor, worth a visit.
17 Oct 2011 13:09
Now re-opened, under new management, re-decorated and those nasty bar stools have gone!!!!!!
Popped in before some Friday rugby the other night had 2 great pints and a lasagne that was truly excellent.
Well worth a visit, not just before a match.
14 Oct 2011 13:53
Currently closed and boarded up with the perforated metal sheets that usually mark demolition! No idea why???
14 Oct 2011 13:30
The Old Smugglers Inn, St Brelade
Jersey CAMRA pub of the year 2010......Really? If this is the best the island has to offer lord help the beer drinkers of the island. Walked 2 miles from St Aubin to get here expecting more only to be disappointed by cloudy Marstons Swing Low and Bass. Might as well have stayed at home in Nottingham, a lot closer to Burton-on-Trent. The frosty bar staff and stareing locals didn't help either. Maybe things improve in the summer with a better flow of customers.
23 Sep 2011 12:58
The Old Court House Inn, St Brelade
IMHO Jersey is a terrible place for real ale and this pub did nothing to help the situation. A cloudy pint of Skinners Betty Stoggs to start with and then a similar pint of Ringwood This pub could be great, with terriffic views of the harbour but the beer is terrible.
23 Sep 2011 12:51
IMHO Jersy is a poor place to drink real ale and this pub did nothing to change that opinion. A freezing cold pint of skinners was the only brew on offer and it had a terrible metallic taste. Won't be going back.
23 Sep 2011 12:48
Went in here for the first time after living in Nottingham for 47 years.
I never knew there was such a pub in the city centre or I would have been in here before. Brought me right back to the late 70's
Lots of leather, lace and bright stockings on show and that was just the men. Bet this place is jumping when there is a band on.
Surprisingly good pint of bitter, mind is slipping, can't remember what it was.
It is tru however that the bogs are grim.
14 Sep 2011 17:27
The Sir John Borlase Warren, Nottingham
Made a special effort to pop into this pub last week after living in Nottingham for 47 years and never having been here.
Nice modern decor in an old pub building. Good pint of Tiger and a nice relaxing beer garden out the back. Who would have thought that you could sit in an oasis and drink beer on Canning Circus?
Will be popping in again if I get chance.
14 Sep 2011 17:20
We went back????
Black Sheep was vinegar, Pedigree was rotten eggs and what was left was cloudy.
That's it, we give in.
25 Aug 2011 12:16
Possibly the best station bar in the country? Excellent line up of brews on the bar with a small glass by each as a colour swatch. This is very handy if like me you like your beer copper coloured. A very sympathetic renovation has been done keeping many of the original victorian features including woodwork, tiles and floors. Nice staff and well kept beer right on the platform. what more could you want?
1 Aug 2011 13:26
The Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield
A destination pub that has been on my list for years. Oh dear, what a disappointment! Not quite sure what I was expecting, sure, there was loads of choice on the beer front and I had a great pint but the pub itself I fear is basking in it's former glory and the location is terrible with run down factory units and fenced off waste land. I know that the pub can't do anything about that but compare it to the recently refurbished Tap on Sheffield railway station and the difference is astounding.
1 Aug 2011 13:16
The William Morris, Hammersmith
Desperate for a beer, bite and pee, I popped into this Spoons last week whilst on a business trip to Hammersmith and in a hurry. Several good looking beers on the bar but all bar one off! Settled on a Ringwood 49er which was cloudy but drinkable. Ordered a cheese burger which arrived almost before I got back to my seat. The food was hot and tasty but nothing special. The final part of the mission was also about average for a spoons and having downed the pint, stuffed my face and emptied my bladder, I left, never to return.
26 Jul 2011 13:21
Usual Spoons, just looked in to see what was on the bar. 8 hand pulls with some great brews on. Didn't stop, had a bus to catch.
4 Jul 2011 13:27
Nice looking little boozer just off the pedestrian parade. Big folding doors at the front open in summer, making it a great people watching venue. Mediocre pint of Devon bitter and a free read of the paper made it a half right place to stop on a Friday lunch time.
4 Jul 2011 13:21
Looking for a decent pint of real ale in Babbacombe, we found ourselves in the George Inn and wish we hadn't. Should have guessed from the red and white painted exterior and the promise of sky sports that we were in the wrong pub. All that was on offer was Otter and they had put it through the chiller, wrecking a perfectly good beer. Having forced half of it down, we gave in and left, noticing the stage with the silver floor to ceiling pole in the corner....interesting?
4 Jul 2011 13:15
The Royal Carvery and Hotel, Babbacombe
Not your average beer drinkers establishment, however, the best pint in Babbacombe! Called in several times over the past couple of days and the Jail Ale was perfection in a glass. If you want a good beer in town, this is your place, just don't expect too much from the decor. best to sit outside in the sunshine on that one day in September and soak up the sea air.
4 Jul 2011 13:08
Crown and Sceptre Inn, Torquay
Great pub, smashing landlord, let down a bit by mediocre quality beers. Went twice so no fluke. Cloudy Betty Stoggs, debatable Old Hookey and average Tribute. Another day and the beer could have been great. Don't be too put off, I would still go back for the charm and banter.
4 Jul 2011 13:05
Wide screen plasma sports, Directors and lager....No thanks, moved on.
4 Jul 2011 13:02
Pretty average seafront boozer with wide screen sport and lager. Tribute on the bar in average condition, we soon found better places to drink ale in the area. Specifically, despite it's appearance, the Royal Hotel almost next door that had a stunning pint of Jail Ale.
4 Jul 2011 10:23
Stopped in the Beach Cottage for 4 nights last week. Beautiful spot for some R&R. True the beer is dear as is the food 9especially the �60 baked potato!!), but the view and the surroundings are beautiful. This is not just any old boozer, it is a destination pub. Great pint of Otter and Tribute. one evening the chef cooked up the 29 Pollock and 3 mackerel that we caught off the pier that morning and it was pleanty to feed 8 so if you are worried about the portion sizes, catch your own fish!
4 Jul 2011 10:20
Put onto this pub by an apple head in the Crown. I could immediatly see why, about a dozen ciders on tap, some of them very dangerous. Good selection of hand pulls and a decent pint served. Very young landlord with ambition, just what the pub trade needs. I wish him well.
15 Jun 2011 13:01
Decent no fuss boozer, decent pint of Robbies. Good dart board and pub darts to go with it. Looks like the electricians are in at the moment. lots of cable hanging from the cielings.
15 Jun 2011 12:58
Great pub, decent pint of "Pint" nice interior. Can't comment on prices as wasn't my round (phew).
15 Jun 2011 12:55
Proper pub! Loved the stuff on the walls, obviously a "proper" collection and not just pub dressing. Especially liked the clock card rack c/w cards. that bought back memories of my apprenticeship days.
Popped in for one on the way back from the Crown to the station. Obviously beer was the major draw but we were told that the landlord had a computer and might let us use it to get directions to a couple of pubs back in Manchester.
Result! Top bloke, served us a great pint and let us abuse his technology.
Can't say if I will ever return, depends if the Mrs goes to see take That again and abandons me in a foreign city.
14 Jun 2011 13:30
I was taken to the Crown on a wet Sunday whilst my beloved went top watch Take That at Eastlands.
IMHO as a foreigner in Manchester, the Crown is great.
About a dozen decent beers on, friendly staff, including the American bar maid and a helpful landlord who directed us to a couple of other pubs in the area.
We were in there at about 6pm on a Sunday and there was a bit of a folk music jam thing going off, not my thing, but they could all play and it sounded OK.
3 great pints later and a good conversation with a cider head who also directed us to another pub new to us and we staggered out to continue our little crawl.
Bourt tyime all the bitchey pub knockers packed it in and used this site for what it was originally intended, sourcing good pubs and beer by recommendation.
14 Jun 2011 13:18
Oh BTW, the "CAMRA" mob on the 14th May was us.
Not actually CAMRA just a bunch of beer minded mates on a beer day out in Brighton.
10 Jun 2011 12:26
What can I say that hasn't been said before?
When in Brighton, drink in the Evening Star.
Nuf said.
10 Jun 2011 12:23
The Devonshire Arms, Kensington
I take it all back!
If you pop in any night bar Friday, the Devonshire is fine. I ate here on a couple of occasions and the food was great. The squid in lemon batter is awesome and they do a mean ribeye. Nice rotation of guest ales and usually Doombar & Pride. Had a great pint of St Peters Bitter one night.
Having sampled many pubs on my jaunt to Kensington, I agree with championembiber, this is probably the best in West London.
Just goes to show that judging a pub on just one visit is flawed!
10 Jun 2011 12:18
The Elephant and Castle, Kensington
Popped in here for a pint whilst on business in the area and it was OK for a chain. Several good beers including a couple of mild/stout type offerings.
So impressed was I that I came back with some work colleagues a week later as one of my colleagues was into the dark stuff. It was off, as were 2 of the rest of the total of 6 beers on the bar. what was really irritating was that the clips all faced forward giving the impression of a fully loaded cellar. This accompanied by the rude and arrogant attitude of the barman when asked why he didn't turn the clips of the dead beers means that I will not be going back to the Elephant and Castle.
21 Apr 2011 17:15
Stopped for a quick one and wished I hadn't. Very cloudy and poor tasting Timothy Taylors. another pub in west london to scratch off my list.
21 Apr 2011 17:09
Popped in for a pint and some food whilst working in London. Food was OK, typical Spoons type fayre. Beer was terrible. Cloudy Bombardier and fusty lager. Won't be going back.
21 Apr 2011 17:05
The Hereford Arms, South Kensington
Popped in for a quick one on a Friday night after work. the place was rammed, mostly with after work business ladies in suites and trainers, taking it in turn to chain smoke outside, presumably as some kind of dietry requirement.
Once inside and having pushed my way to the bar, a nice selection of Fullers and having selected a Seafarer I settled in for a people watch.
Nice looking selection of food on offer and the place did seem to thin out as 9pm approached. Might come back at some time, possibly at lunch as it may be quieter.
7 Mar 2011 11:17
The Hand and Flower, Kensington
Popped in for a quick one whist researching some drinking holes round Kensington for a forthcoming extended stay in London whilst working there.
Not a bad Marstons chain pub, nice pint of Cumberland, comfey sofas and relaxed locals. (think the drugs might have helped).
Not really a place to spend the entire evening, there are better pubs locally.
7 Mar 2011 11:10
Popped in for a quick one whilst researching watering holes for a forthcoming extended stay in London.
OK sort of pub, nice pint of Youngs but not quite as good as the Prince of Wales round the corner.
7 Mar 2011 11:05
The Prince of Wales, Kensington
Popped in for a bite to eat at 4pm on a Friday, leured by the sign outside advertising fish & chips.
Nice little pub, reasonable selection of Fullers and Youngs and a fine portion of food, served quickly by very nice staff.
I'm working in London for a few weeks and staying in the Copthorn Tara and I can see this becoming my temporary local till I find somthing better.
7 Mar 2011 11:02
The Devonshire Arms, Kensington
Dropped in here for a pint whils scoping Kensington out for a future long stay in the area whilst working in London.
I should have guessed what it would be like as I walked past the 4 Aston Martins parked outside.......Full of after work business types with more money than sense. Lots of sweaters over shoulders and Jeremys shouting at Nigels interrupted by Jamimas snorting at Trixibells.
Not a bad pint of Doombar, but I just couldn't stand the racket coming from plastered tossers so I left. shame, nice looking pub and what looked like a half right menu on a large blackboard. Maybe it's better at lunch time, might give it one more go?
7 Mar 2011 10:48
During a very brief drinking session in the city centre we visited the Pot Still and it was by far the best pub of 3 that we found. (really hard to find pubs on spec). A couple of decent real ales that were well kept and a huge selection of malts, which according to my drinking buddy tasted excellent. (can't stand the stuff personally). Staff seemed good and attentive, the girl serving smiled, welcomed me and was polite. maybe the previous comment was acted on?? would go again but I don't tink I will be in Glasgow again for some time.
9 Feb 2011 12:31
I visited this pub in November 2010 as it was half way between my home and Heathrow and seemed ideal for an evening meal stop on our way to Egypt.
The food was great and they served a nice pint of Old Hookey. Prices were not cheap, but what do you expect in the Cotswolds! We both had 3 courses with a drink each and it came in at �70. The pub semed clean and had excellent toilets with nice soap on offer.
The staff were very attentive and only too happy to help. Although primarily a gastro pub, there appeared to be quite a few locals propping up the bar and the atmosphere seemed good. I can only assume that the owners have changed again following some of the dreadful reviews back in 2008.
Will call again if in the area or on my way to the airport.
7 Dec 2010 16:03
We have finally given up on the Cadland. The final straw was one Thursday when they had no beer available at all and we resorted to drinking second rate Guinness and Peroni. I really feel for the manager, she has been seriously let down by her staff as we understand that beer was in the cellar but nobody could be bothered to put it on. Farewell and thanks for the fish.
18 Nov 2010 13:23
The Vat and Fiddle, Nottingham
What can you say, the worlds greatest beer 2010 (Harvest Pale) is brewed next door. As the brewery tap for Castle Rock, thgis pub is just what it should be...a pub! Awesome start and finish boozer for a Nottingham crawl if you come in by train.
18 Nov 2010 13:13
Still one of the top 10 pubs in Nottingham. Usually a great beer selection including old favourites from Castle Rock. Yep, it's out of the way on a strange little road but that means it benefits from keeping out the lager guzzlers. Highly reccommended.
18 Nov 2010 13:10
March 2010 and the Greyhound looks like it is being refurbished. Builders stuff outside and signs of activity inside
20 Mar 2010 12:27
Not a bad boozer in the desert which is Earls Court. I was only there as I was on business in the area, not really a holiday destination.
London pride and ESB both well kept and my drinking buddy liked the Leffe on draught. Didn't try the food, but it looked edible.
The staff seem polite and coped really well with the mix of Italian and Chelsea fans following the victory by the chosen one.
Worth a visit if you are stranded in EC sometime.
19 Mar 2010 13:36
Went here to meet friends from all over the country on the 27th. top rate Nottingham brewery ales and a nice chatty landlord who didn't seem phased when ten total strangers pitched up and drank thier way through the entire card. This was probably because we doubled his takings for the night. Can't believe that this pub is so empty with such great beer on offer.
29 Dec 2009 14:37
The Prince of Teck, Earls Court
Walked past this place half a dozen times going to other pubs in the area, nothing about the outside or the inside seemd to give me any incentive to go in.
29 Dec 2009 11:54
The Earls Court Tavern, Earls Court
Unexceptional is a great word to describe this pub. Nice Australian staff and a half reasonable pint of London Gold, but not as good as either the Kings Head or the Courtfield. Food looked cheap and cheerful, but i didn't partake. Dead as a doornail on the 23rd December??? Where does everybody go in Earls Court at Christmas?
29 Dec 2009 11:52
Not sure if this is allowed, but since i went twice, I'm giving it a second ten to help the ratings.
29 Dec 2009 11:49
Absolutly agree with previous recent comments. Nice old pub with a fair selection of decent beer. I opted for the London Gold (From Youngs I think) and it was probably the best pint I had in Earls Court all week. Came back for food one evening and went upstairs to the restraunt. The food was EXCELLENT! I had asparagus in bacon with a poached egg and holandase sauce, with a sirloin steak and chips to follow. Can't fault it, nice suroundings, good food and a decent pint. I am giving this pub a 10, not because it deserves it (probably a 6) but it does deserve to be listed higher than a 3.5. Will return in the new year for food and beer.
29 Dec 2009 11:47
Happened to turn up half way through the weekly quiz and was quickly absorbed into an Australian team who thought I was a genius when I answered a question about the Spice Girls. The rest of the team were very drunk and when we actually won a bottle of wine, they were really impressed with my contribution. Pup is OK, quite friendly with three ales on draught. The pride was off and I opted for the Doombar from Cornwall. It was a bit cloudy but tasted OK. Never got round to the third beer, which was some german wheat stuff from Adnams I think. No food on offer when I was there, probably due to the quiz. This was the most packed pub i went it the week before Christmas in Earls Court. Not bad, will return when I'm back in january.
29 Dec 2009 11:41
Chain Irish pub. only one draught bitter on the bar and that was Smethwicks. very quiet the week before christmas. Just another dull irish style boozer in London.
29 Dec 2009 11:35
Firstly, I agree about the bar stools, talk about numb nuts.....
Great selection of beer mostly from the Magpie brewery, sporting Navigation Bitter and Svendemonium (excuse spelling). Also on tap but not tried was a Tetley brew called Cracker (seasonal) and a good selection of lagers for the footie fans. I suspect the place is rammed on match day, being right next to Meadow Lane but any other time is's quiet and the food is great.
Nice big car park at the back and an outside seating area for thos wishing to pollute the atmosphere. Clean and tidy boozer with nice staff and comfortable surroundings, just a bit too far out of town to include in a Nottingham crawl.
18 Dec 2009 13:19
Lived in Beeston all my life and regularly drank in the old Crown. drifted away of late and this is my first visit sinch they ditched Greedy king. Excellent selection of beers from Hartington Whim to Leatherbritches CAD and Bounder including some tasty stouts and very pale hoppy summer brews that I can't remember the name of! also London Pride and the usual array of lagers. 4 kinds of cider on draught and a big plate of butties on offer (cobs if your from Nottingham). it was quiz night last night (Thursday) The question master was a bit lame and tended to ramble making hearing the questions difficult but we had a laugh. Al, in all excellent, may the new Crown go from strength to strength.
18 Dec 2009 13:06
I love this pub! One of my favourite beers is Castle Rock harvest Pale and I always get a good pint. The food is excellent and I make the effort to eat here whenever I'm in Nottingham. The pub is especially good for a pre show beer before moving on to the Ice Arena. Anyone thinking this place is a stuck up gastro pub is not right in the head and if the bar staff think you have had too much, you probably have!
19 Nov 2009 13:11
I drink here every Thursday, sometimes I wonder why and then they have a great guest beer and I remember. This pub used to be a collection of bars of varying sizes until taken over by Ember Inns. They ripped it out and turned it into one massive room and added a large kitchen. We have been going there most Thursdays since and the standards vary dramatically. It really all comes down to the staff. Most are really great, like the banter and give good service. the odd one, you could happily take out and shoot! There are usually between 1 and 4 guest beers, as well as the usual fizzy stuff but they are not always well kept cloudy brews crop up far too often and some weeks, the staff just forget to rack the barrels up or even forget to order the stuff and we end up drinking Guinness. Food is a bit hit and miss too, i suspect again down to the staff. Sometimes the food is on top form and just as you would expect from a chain and then BANG! a plate of dried up junk is served up, the worst thing is that when you complain, you are sometimes treated like it's your fault for having standards. So, all in all, I will continue to go back to the Cadland because I like playing Russian Roulette!
19 Nov 2009 13:01
I've been drinking here on and off for the past 30 years and I'm only 45! hasn't really changed at all except for the odd coat of paint and some light bulbs. Don't go in so much now since it was taken over by GK, but the beer is always good, (but too cold, no need to chill real ale boys) probably thanks to the cellar hewn from the sandstone beneath the pub. Nice beer garden out the back and a fair sized car park make it worth a visit.
19 Nov 2009 12:46
It's a Spoons and a poor one at that. Had a pint of a Morrisey Fox brew that I have not seen before and judging by the taste, nobody else had either. Vinegar would only come slightly close to describing the taste. The GK Abbot wasn't much better and I gave up after that. The only up side was that on a non gig night, the establishment was deserted.
7 Aug 2009 20:36
Was hoping for more from this pub after the utter dross on Wembley high street, but was sadly dissappointed. The food and beer was Ok, but nothing to get excited about. Bombardier, Tetley and Courage on draught as well as dozens of lagers, non of which were very well kept. The Bombardier had a particular aroma, akin to sweaty socks. I got really excited when I saw Halibut on the menu, but was less than happy with the slither of over cooked fish that turned up covered in sweet chillie sauce. First and probably last visit me thinks.
7 Aug 2009 20:30
Just Spoons by any other name. Same food, same beer, same decor and right next door to the original. Ate here one night out of desperation after failing to find any other decent eating places and was treated with a shoe leather steak and chips paler than a goths girlfriend. Only rough Bombadier on tap in a sterile plasma filled lager swilling dump.
7 Aug 2009 20:22
August 7th 2009 and judging by the very dead hanging baskets, this pub has been closed for some time. Walked past it every night this week and there was no sign of life.
7 Aug 2009 20:18
Just spent 5 days and 4 nights working in Neasdon near Wembley and living at the Wembley Ibis. The beer in the Ibis is an eye watering mental price so we ventured out into the town. As previous reviewers have said, Mannions is probably the best of the 6 pubs we visited, but that dosn't mean that it is exceptional. There is no real ale, just mass produced fizz and a very acceptable pint of Guinness. The decore isn't flash and the staff are pleasent. The locals are colourful, especially the little black dog and his rubber training shoe.
7 Aug 2009 18:32
Prince Of Wales, Putney
Went here for Sunday lunch on the 30th October 2011.
I prefer their sister pub, The Bull and Last.
Things here are just a bit cramped, the food is average and the beer selection was restricted.
11 Nov 2011 14:11