BITE user comments - All_Hail_The_Ale
Comments by All_Hail_The_Ale
Interesting to note the most recent comment below...
Personally, I'm always a bit dubious when a pub re-opens after being very bad and suddenly a new BITE user appears with a name like 'Alefanatic' and posts a glowing review of the place on the day they sign up without posting comments on ANY other pubs whatsoever.
Presumably if they really were fanatical about the ale they'd have visited (and posted on) a few other hostelries, both within Leicester and beyond.
Sadly this is not the first time we've seen this damage limitation attempt on behalf of Everards houses - if you're going to do it at least have the decency to try and make the posting look authentic, don't insult the intellect of the people who use this site!
That said, I will be sure to pop in before the end of the week and check the state of play for myself ... I will not be holding my breath in expectation of any significant inmprovement though.
8 Nov 2010 14:21
With regards the comments of seafarer1966 (see below) all I can say is HOW SAD MUST ONE MAN BE?
Having taken the teime to read all the rants you posted over a period of a couple of days, mostly about ppubs which you apparently haven't frequented in years, I can only conclude that you must be a very lonely and unpopular individual.
Your homophobic, misogynistic and xenophobic spoutings do you no credit whatsoever.
On the bright side though, at least I needn't worry about bumping in to you down the Smithy!
19 Aug 2010 11:59
*** BEER FEST UPDATE ***
It seems the next Crit Fest is just around the corner, scheduled for Thursday 9th - Saturday 11th September and featuring beers sourced from Cumbria and Durham.
Given the quality of some of the breweries from this neck of the woods we have high hopes of something rather special from this one!
No beer list or further info that I could find thus far - perhaps the Alemonkey could oblige and post a list up here...?
19 Aug 2010 11:29
*** BEER FEST UPDATE ***
I see from the Leicester Drinker that the western will be holding a "Seaside Beer Festival" this weekend (Fri 20th - Sun 22nd August).
Yeah, right!
I've just called the pub to see what the beer range will be, only to be told that they've been "Let down by the suppliers"; beers were supposed to be coming from Norfolk-based micros, however they will not now be arriving until mid-September.
Instead you will find a selection of 14 ciders, the usual pub beer range plus food and live music.
Sadly this is not the first time the Western has advertised a festival promising rare and interesting beers and then failed to deliver in this manner.
In fact, that's the reason i stopped frequenting the place - it shows a complete lack of respect for the customer and is, in my humble opinion, a rather underhand business practice.
19 Aug 2010 11:10
*** BEER FEST UPDATE ***
I've been advised that the Swan will be holding a Beer Festival coinciding with the Leicester Castle Park Festival (and Peterborough Beer Fest) which is due to commence on Thursday 26th August and running through to Sunday 29th.
The festival will feature a Hog Roast on Friday and Saturday (first time for a city centre pub in leicester???) and promises an assortment of new and unusual beers plus old favourites.
Couldn't find any info on this in the Leicester Drinker, but the Swan website has date / time info plus a festival beer list...
19 Aug 2010 10:05
*** BEER FEST UPDATE ***
According to the Leicester Drinker, the Ale Wagon will be holding a Beer Festival on Friday 3rd / Saturday 4th of September.
As with previous events this one should be worth a visit - nice to see it ADVERTISED for a change!
19 Aug 2010 09:51
The Slug and Lettuce, Leicester
Just to update, recent visits have yielded guest beers from (amongst others) Six Bells and Kelham Island - in both cases specific beers which I have not seen in any of the other Leicester ale houses.
Keep it up guys!
19 Aug 2010 09:00
The Slug and Lettuce, Leicester
This place is to be commended for its commitment to Real Ale - due in no small part to the passion of the licensee.
It is the be hoped that this will be adopted as a template to roll out across the chain.
Core beers Bombardier and London Pride are complemented by two guests, one of which is always an Oakham.
Beer condition is usuall good, and when it hasn't been I've had no problems obtaining a replacement.
Given the comparatively low price of the ale (especially if you are wise enough to pick up the loyalty card) this place could so easily suffer from Wetherspoon syndrome - ie: obnoxious alcoholics and sundry other social detritus - but somehow it manages to attract a decent clientele, perhaps due to the more upmarket feel of the place and the decor.
Visit during the day and you will find plenty of people enjoying the food, and the customer base tends to be more female than male, which is always a bonus!
Granted, it can get a bit rowdy on Thursday / Friday / Saturday nights, but then again it's a city centre pub so it's to be expected and the party crowd tend to be a better bunch than you'll find a couple of doors up at the Rat & Parrot, sorry The Parody ... oh no, it's the Reynard now isn't it?!
Regarding Dynamite Ninja's comment below I would like to clarify a couple of points:
The first beer festival here was the first in ANY Slug pub; the licensee liaised with the team at The Pub for the sourcing of the beers, and they also supplied the stillage.
So far as I am aware, the more recent second fest saw beers sourced independently, though the stillage was once again on loan from The Pub.
I cannot recommend the next fest enough - get a loyalty card and enjoy well kept, gravity dispensed beers at less than �2 a pint!
23 Jul 2010 09:43
Beer range now up to speed, though still doesn't seem to be quite as exciting as the VIN IV / OOTV range used to be.
Condition is usually pretty solid, though I have encountered a few hazy ales - more I think due to a slightly colder dispense than some other pubs, rather than any issue with the actual keeping of the beer.
Recent redecoration and addition of some of the old sporting memorabilia to the walls has lifted the place, as has the decision to do away with the low leatherette seating in the alcove.
Sadyly though, nothing as yet has come of the Beer Festival which the licensee had previously indicated was in the pipeline...
23 Jul 2010 09:23
Popped in here for a nosey a couple of weeks ago around lunch time, having heard through the grapevine that the ale range and beer condition had improved.
There's a valuable lesson here: Don't listen to rumours.
Beers on offer were GK Abbott (I refuse on principle to drink any Greed Kerching product), Wychwood Hobgoblin and two guests from Shardlow - Table Topper and some other World Cup themed rubbish.
Asked for a taster on said Shardlow brews, established that both were so far gone as to be virtually out of sight (though sadly not out of smell) and promptly left again.
Sometimes I wonder why I bother!
23 Jul 2010 09:00
DISREGARD THE COMMENT BELOW, IT HAS BEEN POSTED BY THE MANAGEMENT IN A PATHETIC ATTEMPT AT DAMAGE LIMITATION.
ANY REAL ALE DRINKER WORTH THEIR SALT IN LEICESTER WILL BE FOUND IN THE PUB, THE CRITERION OR THE SWAN & RUSHES.
23 Jul 2010 08:40
Have to post an update here following a mid-week, midday visit.
Arrived approx 12.15 to find the Landlady and two customers in the pub; normally one would expect (at a quiet time like this) that the service would be pretty good, yes...?
No chance.
Having scanned the bar and seen only Hoskins brews plus one Burton Bridge guest ale, I opted for a quick coke before moving on.
What I received was half a pint of flat cola (which tasted nothing like coke), served with no offer of ice or lemon, and was charged an extortionate �1.20 for the priviledge.
Once again the quality of service left me feeling like something you find on the bottom of your shoe when you walk through a playing field popular with ignorant dog owners.
My advice has to be, if Granny Death is working the bar, turn and walk out again.
Some people REALLY should not go into the Service Industry.
23 Jul 2010 08:25
Now offering a handful of cask ales.
Sadly the muppets running the place wouldn't know how to keep a decent pint if their lives depended upon it.
Still firmly wedged on the "No F*cking Way" list
8 Jun 2010 08:07
The recent Cider & Cheese fest and this weekends German beer festival here afforded us the opportunity of a couple of visits, and once again we found ourselves impressed by the place.
The Cider & Cheese event offered approximately 25 ciders and perries complemented by the same number of (rather excellent) cheeses; the cider / perry selection was very good, although a handful of the ciders were not available yet when we were there, and the prices were very reasonable.
The cheese were possibly a little on the pricey side, but I guess you pay for quality, and there were some real gems amongst the selection, particularly on the blue side of the spectrum.
The German fest was also very good, with nine beers on offer in the courtyard served straight from the barrel, including Bock, Export Dunkel, Pils, Kolsch, Kellerbier and Rauchbier (smoked and meaty dark beer).
Also worth mentioning here was the food - really tasty (and reasonably priced) bratwurst hotdogs with the best sauerkraut I've ever tasted, along with 'schweinhaxe' - pork hocks cooked to a traditional German recipe.
Staff were very friendly and seemed to be enjoying themselves despite the place being pretty busy on both visits - we certainly no complaints.
Sadly didn't sample any of the draught ales on either visit as we were too busy with the fest selections, but hopefully there'll be a Real Ale festival here soon which will give us the chance!
6 Jun 2010 16:09
Lovely old building, formerly a coaching in and (I believe) the oldest pub in Leicester.
I attended the recent Scottish beer festival here (marked as the 'first annual' I noticed) and was thoroughly impressed.
Licensee Hugh had done a great job sourcing some excellent ales (including some real rarities this far south of the border) and had them all set up on a stillage of his own creation.
Condition was excellent for the most part, with the only exception being a handful of beers which had been supplied unfined and which sadly had not dropped - I'm not sure I would concur with the best kept in Leicester comment, but certainly better than a couple of the more noted ale houses in the city centre.
The only real niggle on this visit was the pricing - alas, Everards had felt the need to slap their own mark-up on the beers supplied by a third party beer agency, which had already been sourced by the licensee - a practice which I do not condone.
Sadly this is not a place I tend to frequent due solely to the Everards pricing policy - the "No Price Increase On Beer Here" declaration in the Leicester Drinker is all well and good, but doesn't really aid the cause when the prices are already markedly higher than the other key ale hostelries in the city centre.
6 Jun 2010 15:43
Popped down here for the recent "Beer Hunter" festival and had a very decent time of it, despite the slightly cool weather conditions meaning we spent most of the time inside and not out in the (HUGE) beer garden...
Beer selection was perhaps not the most adventurous for a festival, but the prices were reasonable and the condition was good.
All beers were dispensed from outside stillage, with the exception of festy special 'Old Hearse' (Brunswick), which was on draught from main bar.
Good selection of food was on offer, including burgers and hog roast plus regular pub menu.
As usual, service was very friendly and the session passed very pleasantly.
Also worth mentioning was the very good value of fest glasses and t-shirts - very good to see!
Will look forward to next years event...
6 Jun 2010 15:27
Most recent visit yielded Bath Ales Golden Hare in unsaleable condition (thick yellow haze you couldn't see through, more vinegar than you'd put on your chips) and a decidedly twangy Everards Flourish with serious haze ussues as well.
Third time in a row we've encountered unacceptably poor ale quality in here, and the pricing for the undrinkable muck is ridiculous - �2.80 for a 3.8% beer which has gone off is, frankly, criminal.
Everards need to send a team in to cellar train the morons running this place, and it certainly has nop place in the GBG as things stand.
For shame!
6 May 2010 14:31
Fifth port of call on a recent scooping trip to Derby, and the quietest of the pubs visited on the day.
Fewer ales than usual on offer (only 15) and apart from ourselves there were only the barmaid and two regulars in the place.
Of the fifteen beers available only three were new to us, so we sampled these and moved on fairly swiftly.
On the plus side, the obnoxious staff member I've previously taken issue with was not working on the day and the lass behind the bar was perfectly friendly - a welcome change!
Sadly once again the beer failed to inspire, being rather tired and flat.
A better visit than previous occasions, but I've yet to join the "Pot Can Do No Wrong" crowd I'm afraid - though I'll persevere and hope to be swayed!
Sampled the following:
Whim - Magic Mushroon Mild, 3.8%
Leatherbritches - Rapscallion, 4.4%
Headless - 5 Gates, 5.0%
6 May 2010 14:23
Attended recent St. Georges weekend Beer Festival (as usual, poorly advertised and managing to coincide with well advertised Criterion festival) and found the pub as it alwasy is.
Perhaps finally starting to be recognised in here as the Hoskins Bros were almost affable on this occasion.
Not their best selection of ales, but still managed to pick up a few ticks in the shape of:
Mallinsons - Ballot Box, 4.3%
Mallinsons - Rio Harbour, 3.5%
Hop Back - English Hop Medley, 4.0%
Six Bells - Bobby Dazzler, 4.0%
Sadly the Hoskins (Tower) beers remain as unpalatable as ever...
4 May 2010 14:54
Seventh and final destination on a recent scooping tour of Derby, the Alex is a fine example of what a good Tynemill pub should be.
We spent our visit in the Public Bar, chatting with a couple of regulars who I know fairly well and the gaffer (a charming chap with an easy manner and quick to laugh).
The feel of the place is fairly basic, but I rather like that in a pub - honest and unpretentious.
Beer selection was reasonable, and condition very good ... only managed to pick up one tick in the form of Arkell's 3B at 4.0% but found this and the Castle Rock Harvest Pale (3.9%) to both be in top-notch condition.
Not the busiest pub of the day by any means, but then again it never seems to be.
Certainly well worth a visit, especially as they sell McCoys Mexican Chilli crisps (a personal favourite) and, on this occasion, two boxes of mini Belgian chocolates for (if I remeber correctly) �1.20!
4 May 2010 14:44
I love this place, a fine example of a period pub which has been sympathetically maintained in keeping with its character.
Seventh pub of the day on our most recent scooping foray to Derby, and we found the place to be as charming as always.
The beer selection was a bit thin, but I'd put that down to it being a Bank Holiday Monday - still managed to score a new Brunswick brew in the form of Midnight Express, a mild weighing in at 3.9% and served in excellent condition.
As with the Smithfield we found ourselves restricted by time and the need to catch the last train home so our stay was a fleeting one, but rest assured we'll allow ourselves more time here when next we return.
Annual (September) Beer Festival is always worth a visit...
4 May 2010 14:31
Hmmm, not sure what to make of the previous comment by perivalElvis regarding the "pale coloured rubbish that's ruining things fir real beer drinkers" (sic) ... perhaps he should still to Charlie Wells or Fullers establishments where he's guaranteed some overpriced generic malty muck if he's got some kind of issue with the golden, hoppy ales...?
Anyway, with regards the Smithy, yes it's a bit worn around the edges, and yes, it's a little way out of the centre and you need to know where you're going in order to get there, but it's certainly well worth a visit on any day out round here.
It was number six on our recent scooping mission round Derby, and i found the place much as it has been on previous occassions - a solid selection of Real Ales kept in very good condition and served with a smile by the firiendly bar man.
We chose to sit in the rear lounge with a few regulars, the licensee and a HUGE dog of unusual, Egyptian pedigree.
We were made to feel very welcome, and our only regret was that time and trains were against us, preventing us from staying longer.
Beers sampled on the day were Enville Ginger (4.6% and Whim Snow White (a 5.0% cloudy weisse bier).
Will definitely be returning, and currently eyeing up the third Smithfest in September having been thoroughly impressed by the selection at their previous bashes.
Worth popping in for the Blues & Booze weekenders which start in June too...
4 May 2010 14:19
Fifth on the itinerary for a recent Derby scooping crawl and the pub which is fast becoming my favourite in this neck of the woods.
The range of ales has increased since my last visit just under a year ago, with (I think) 9 handpumps on the main bar and a stillage area to the rear of the pub which dispenses an additional 4 ales and 2 trad ciders over the weekend.
By all accounts the live msuic and entertainment is gathering a following, and the pub itself has a quirky charm all of its own - I don't know how or why, it just does - maybe it's little touches like an old boy sitting with a pint in the lounge bar wearing leather shorts...!!!
It's particulaarly nice that an establishment which doesn't offer pub food is nonetheless more than happy for customers to eat their own food on site - by the time we arrived we were certainly ready to tuck in to our chicken tikka cobs!
The staff and punters are all very friendly, and the beer is kept in excellent condition - the range may not be the most exciting in Derby, but if you want your beer well kept and well dispensed then this is certainly the place to be.
On our visit we sampled Purity's Mad Goose (4.2%) and Cathedral Quarter (3.9%) from Blue Monkey, both in tip-top nick.
Highly recommended.
4 May 2010 14:03
Further to my previous post, I ought to add that this is a very expensive place to drink - a half each of Pedigree and Bombardier came in at a criminal �3!
4 May 2010 13:34
Third on the list for a recent scooping tour of derby, and a pub I've been to a few times now.
I've still yet to be really impressed by the place if I'm honest - previous comments regarding the identikit, gastro-pub feel of the place are fair and this (at least to my mind) is what holds the place back.
Certainly, it's always busy when I pay a visit (it was the busiest place of the day, with the exception of the Babington Arms) but the punters aren't your usual Real Ale set - a lot of younger drinkers in the sort of labelled clothing that yells more money than personality.
I would also agree with previous comments about the pricing - sure, the Derby beers are reasonably priced, but the guests are rather on the expensive side.
Having said that, beer condition is solid and the staff are friendly enough.
Certainly worth a visit, but not the best pub in Derby by a long shot.
For the record, we picked up the following on this visit:
Derby - You're Nicked, 4.2%
Kelham Island - White Falcon, 4.2%
Brew Co. - Sunchaser, 3.6%
Titanic - Iron Curtain, 6.0%
Spitting Feathers - Dark Velvet, 4.0%
4 May 2010 13:31
The second establishment to be visited on a recent Derby scooping crawl, and a place which has been regularly raved about by fellow beer tickers.
Arrived to find a solid selection of 15 ales available, 10 of which I required; needless to say, I was mush impressed.
Unfortunately I became less impressed as we worked our way through the beers we needed ... to save time we bought four halves for the first round, all of which were at different stages of haziness and one of which had to be returned as it simply had not dropped.
The second round of six halves fared slightly better, with only two of the beers being hazy, but nevertheless I would expect better from a pub enjoying a reputation such as "The Babs" holds amongst ale afficionados.
The pub also suffers from a near-terminal dose of SIS ('Spoons Interior Syndrome'), with dingy lighting and dark wood everywhere, eliciting a rather shady, seedy atmosphere - not helped by the usual JDW core clientele / Care in the Community-types sat around us gumming their way through the "food" served in here.
All in all, a typical Wetherspoons raised above the mire by a keen focus on Real Ale but let down (at least on this visit) by condition of said ale.
For the record, we sampled the following - a fair testament to the cask focus:
Newby Wyke - 2nd Refit, 5.2%
Falstaff - Siren, 4.2%
Falstaff - The hind of Ceryneia, 4.7%
Cottage - Phantom, 5.0%
North Cotswold - Shagweaver, 4.5%
Burton Bridge - By George, 4.3%
Oldershaw - Blonde Volupta, 5.0%
Magpie - Snowdrop, 4.3%
Zululand - Zulu Blonde, 4.5%
Wentworth - St. George, 4.5%
4 May 2010 13:12
Nice unassuming little boozer in the traditional style; nice unspoilt interior, friendly gaffer etc.
Popped in at the start of a derby scooping crawl having been lured in by the sign outside proudly proclaiming the "Award Winning Cellar and was somehwat disappointed to find only three handpumps, of which two were on and dispensing Marston's Pedigree and Wells & Young Bombardier.
Sampled both draughts and found the condition to be very good, although the beer was let down significantly by dispense at an unacceptably warm temperature ... it might be acceptable for the John Major's of this worl, but frankly not for me!
Overall, a nice looking trad pub which could be a real gem, but if you're looking for really good beer I'd suggest drinking elsewhere - it's not like you're short of options around derby after all!
4 May 2010 12:51
Just to update, have received a PM from Paul at The Pub advising that the Leicester Morris Men are still very much a part of the new venue, the support for Leicester Tigers fans remains solid and there are indeed plans for a Beer Festival in the pipeline.
Great news, and nice to have a direct response from a licensee!
15 Mar 2010 11:48
As a huge fan of the old Out of the Vaults I was very much enthused at the prospect of this place opening, and after a shaky start there are some indications that this might become a cracking little place - but there are some aspects that seem to be putting a lot of people off.
Initial teething problems (such as having brand new lines fitted for the draught ale but not seasoned prior to opening, resulting in all the beers tasting of rubber for the first week or so) have been ironed out, and the full 15 handpumps are now in use, reflecting a steady increase in trade.
What seems to be lacking however is the feel of OOTV; yes, the old place leaked when it rained, and yes, there were sometimes mushrooms growing out of the window panes, but there was an easy charm and comfort to the establishment which is sadly lacking from the new place ... gone are the CAMRA publications, and most of the Leicester Tigers paraphenalia has failed to make its way on to the walls of the new venture; nor have I seen any sign of the Leicester Morris Men who used to frequent OOTV.
The problem (I think) is that the guys running it are trying to court a different type of customer - the wealthy business and legal types, rather than the serious ale drinkers and rugby fans who made up the core trade base of The Vaults, and that's a shame.
Rather than recreating a traditional pub feel they have opted for subdued (gloomy) lighting in a building that still feels like a mid-eighties wine bar, and an emphasis on over-priced and slightly pretentious food.
Sadly the range of real ale seems to have gone downhill too (plenty available, but not as many rare and exciting brews), with condition being somewhat hit and miss (beers coming on while still hazy, others hanging around for a week or more) and, rather disturbingly, I have yet to hear of any plans for a beer festival - once a regular mainstay of OOTV.
As a result, a lot of people have not taken to the new venue, and it's a shame - the potential is there, but there's still a way to go; it is perhaps unwise to forsake the custom base that has made you a success, and perhaps a little arrogant to adopt a monicker like "The Pub" for the new venture.
Having said all that, kudos to the guys running the place for trying something new and not being afraid to take a risk - I sincerely hope it pays off!
13 Mar 2010 15:22
Excellent Everadrs house run by a charming husband and wife team.
The landlord knows his ales and keeps them very well, and the Everards range is complemented by a couple of guests.
Family-friendly, the pub has a large courtyard to the rear with a grassy play area for the little ones. The patio area is beautifully planted out with tubs and baskets and the whole place has the feel of a country pub.
Their (fairly) recent beer festival was excellent and well attended, with activities for children offered alongside the live music and food.
On the subject of music, the pub is well established on the Leicester live music scene, and also runs comedy nights drawing some quality acts.
All in all a cracking establishment.
13 Sep 2009 16:39
There is certainly no denying the potential of this pub, but the sad fact is that the place suffers from a number of detracting factors.
First there is the issue of the bar staff - and what an issue it is.
The right employees can really make a pub special; people who know how to give friendly, professional service and how to make their guests feel special.
Get the wrong people in to do the job though and the results can be disastrous. The 'Pot is a case in point.
I've visited on a number of occasions, and to date have yet to experience one enjoyable session. The service is consistently surly and abrupt to the point of rudeness, with any enquiry regarding a particular beer or product met with disdain, disinterest or simple ignorance.
I have however noted that this is not true for the regulars, all of whom are greeted with smiles and courteous service - no doubt as they are a source of steady tips to the female staff.
Aside from the staff problems there's also the (not so) small matter of the beer.
Yes, there's a hell of a lot to choose from either on tap or stillage, but therein lies the problem - too many beers on the go at a time. They can't turn them around quickly enough and, as a result, the condition suffers; the beers are usually utterly flat and lifless, and often have turned distinctly vinegary.
It's a real shame to see what should be a stunning example of a pub being let down by such major issues, but such alas is the way of things.
Don't believe the hype.
11 Aug 2009 15:55
Beer Festival coming up this weekend (Friday 14th - Sunday 16th August)
Worth a look - not usually too adventurous but generally a decent selection.
11 Aug 2009 15:00
An excellent example of a traditional pub, this delightful Everards house sits across the road from Victoria Park, some ten to fifteen minutes from the rail station on foot.
The pub is divided into distinct areas; a bar area with good seating provision, partially seperated games room with pool table, plus a dining area.
The decor and fittings in the bar areas are wonderful, with a remarkable assortment of unusual bits and pieces from times gone by - coupled with the quirky aspects referred to in previous comments, such as the coffin. The dining area is well presented and well lit, but the real draw here in summer is the beer garden. This is huge, with adequate provisions to keep kiddies entertained (including, of all things, barn owls in the courtyard!)
Popular with locals, students and families, the pub offers both a light bite menu and daily changing main meal options, plus an a la carte option. Traditional roasts are available on Sundays.
Beer wise, you'll find the usual Everards ales plus a guest (on our last visit a very tasty Wonder Wully from Burton Bridge) and the prices are reasonable. Westons Old Rosie is available for those partial to a cider.
An annual highlight here is the Bonfire Night / Halloween festivities - fireworks, all manner of horror-based shennanigans and hot roast pork cobs - a real must for families with children old enough to appreciate it.
All in all, a cracking pub - I just wish they had more handpumps and tried holding a beer festival...!
8 Apr 2009 14:12
The latest refurbishment has utterly killed any vestige of character this place once had; where once was a pleasant, fairly traditional pub interior one now finds oneself faced with just another soulless, identikit bar.
When I come into an Everards house (which I generally try to avoid whenever possible) I don't want to be confronted by cream sofas, what appears to be laminate flooring (?!?!), beige and mushroom walls (all the wonderful Wellington quotes have been painted over) and pretentious, self-obsessed, student-type bar staff.
Equally, I do not expect to be charged �2.80 for a decidedly lacklustre pint of 3.8% York Guzzler and the "pleasure" of drinking in such a generic environment.
Still, at least the gents have been left in their pristine glory eh?
Popular with students apparently, and they're welcome to it.
1 Apr 2009 16:36
Dirty, foetid hole full of coked up DMU students and town centre chavs looking for an easy shag.
Has the usual Scream approach to decor (ie: tasteless colour scheme, poor grade furnishings and dim lighting) and the usual Scream approach to beverage stocks - fizzy, pasteurised (and often brightly coloured) alcholic urine designed with nothing more in mind than turning students into drunken imbeciles barely capable of tying their own laces.
As with other pubs of this type though, it does act as a kind of (sadly non-lethal) concentration camp on Friday and Saturday nights, keeping the better pubs free for the better class of punter.
I was a student in Leicester, and even in those halcyon days I never drank in this sordid little dive.
Recommended like Cholera.
19 Mar 2009 15:50
The third pub in the Golden Triangle of Leicester Real Ale, the Swan & Rushes is probably the most traditional and homely, with well established regulars and visitors mixing comfortably in a way you seldom find these days.
Retaining the appearance of a traditional boozer within a stones throw of the High Cross centre, this charming two roomed pub offers a solid selection of well kept real ales with up to 11 handpumps in use at any time, complemented by a trad cider (and recently a perry). The core range (Oakham JHB and Bishops Farewell, plus Batemans XB) are supplemented by guests drawn from micros both local and further afield - usually including a stout, mild or porter.
The Swan also offers an extensive bottled continental and world selection, which includes a good range of lambics; the pub also has a vintage bar billiards table (a rarity in this city) which is very popular with locals and visitors alike.
As with the Vaults, the pub enjoys a strong sporting following, particularly on the rugby front, and can be very busy on match days; generally however the atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, and I've always found the service to be excellent.
Food is offered at lunchtime Monday to Friday, with excellent beer battered fish and chips on Friday evenings and, of late, Winter Warmer meals at around a fiver a pop on Wednesday nights.
As with the Vaults and the Criterion, the Swan & Rushes is an absolute must for any Real Ale foray into Leicester.
19 Mar 2009 15:31
Excellent little pub catering very well for the beer scooping community; 12 handpumps generally in use, usually comprising an Oakham Ale, a (dark) offering from Beowulf, one from Leatherbritches and at least one from their LocAle brewer of choice, Belvoir, with the remainder dedicated to ever changing guests - Fernandes, Salamander, Salopian, Sheffield Beer Works and Elland have all been recent visitors.
Staff and management are both friendly and knowledgable, and the regular beer festivals (every 2 - 3 months generally) attract serious ale afficionados from the length and breadth of the country - expect to see the likes of Brian Moore and Mick the Tick in attendance.
The ales are well complemented by a strong selection of bottled ciders and a steadily developing continental and world bottled selection.
Ever popular with rugby fans (and sporting some rather fine memorabilia), the pub recently made the move to install a dart board and has now has its own team on the go.
Beer quality is consistently good to excellent, and it's very rare that I go in without finding something new and interesting to sup on.
Along with the Swan & Rushes and the Criterion, this is one of the three Leicester pubs that any serious beer head should visit while in Leicester.
Criticisms about the decor are valid to a degree, but this place is about beer not appearances, and should be judged accordingly.
If there is a criticism then it must lie in the decision to revert to former monicker VIN IV ... it'll always be Out of the Vaults to us!
2 Mar 2009 12:55
Always worth a visit during a city centre session, the Criterion can usually be relied upon to offer a varied range of Real Ales, with the core Rugby beers complemented by some interesting guests. An extensive bottled continental and world selection complements this nicely, and a decent range of single malts are also offered.
The regular beer festivals (usually every couple of months) can usually be relied upon to produce some solid winners for those who like to tick, and their recent Scottish event scored a significant coup by sourcing a selection of beers from Glasgow micro brewer Clockwork.
Regular host to assorted live music events, from folk and accoustic through to punk and metal, this pub manages to attract the broadest cross section of customers out of the Big Three ale pubs in the centre (the other two being [Out of the] Vaults / Vin IV and the Swan & Rushes).
Definitely one to hit if you like the ale...
1 Mar 2009 23:09
While there's no question that the exterior is impressive, this remains nonetheless a deeply oppressive and unpleasant place to drink.
As has been already stated, this suffers from the usual punter issues caused by JDW's pricing policy, and the levels of violence here are, frankly, staggering.
Recently this has become one of the favourite haunts for Leicester's burgeoning Eastern European population, and as a result you can guarantee to see chaps merrily urinating in the street if you walk past of an evening - I don't know why this is so socially acceptable within that culture, but it seems to be something of a trade mark.
On my last visit the female friend I was drinking with was accosted by a black lad, who decided (after being politely told four times to clear off and leave us in peace) that it would be a good idea to punch me in the face repeatedly.
Fortunately, despite my pacifist nature I have a decent right hook, and he ended up KO'd a few feet away; I made a swift exit before the inevitable bouncer intervention and have not returned since.
Real ale quality was always dodgy at best, and line cleanliness poorly maintained.
If you want a fight, or possibly a minging, legless lass to cop off with, then this is the place for you.
If not then it probably isn't.
1 Mar 2009 22:17
This place went through numerous rebrandings and refurbishments but invariably ended up with the same townie tossers getting completely off their faces on Friday / Saturday night.
Now a restaurant, but no great loss to the Leicester scene.
1 Mar 2009 15:42
This is a real hell hole, popular with the kind of brawling meat heads that like to administer beatings on a random basis.
The Theakstones Mild (nitro kegged) is just about drinkable, and in fairness the chap behind the bar is personable enough, but the locals make this place a no go zone for anybody on the right side of the sanity line.
Unless you've been born and raised on a sink hole estate and communicate solely through grunts and expletives you're probably best off avoiding this one.
Only awarded a zero as there's not an option for negative scoring.
28 Feb 2009 13:58
This is a serious hole of a pub - nothing approximating a real ale to be seen.
Bar seems to go on forever with endless fizzy fonts dispensing watery pish which the regulars knock back with gay abandon (though don't use the phrase "gay abandon" in ear shot or you might receive a beating)
On my last visit some talentless tosser of a Karaoke DJ was "singing" with the PA set at a level just above Ear Bleed.
Shaving with a cheese grater is about as much fun as drinking in here.
27 Feb 2009 16:41
"Irish Theme Pub" that's about as Irish as Barack Obama.
In its favour, this place does attract a strong townie / chav following - thereby keeping them out of the better city boozers.
Usually rammed on a Friday / Saturday night, so they obviously know their customer base.
Oh, and you can play pool here.
No real ale.
27 Feb 2009 16:17
Ideally located opposite the magistrates court and hence popular with felons awaiting conviction; seedy boozer, dingy decor and sketchy punters.
No real ale, no real reason for setting foot inside either.
27 Feb 2009 16:05
Quinno's comments echoes here - staggering lack of professional competence from new intake of Eastern European bar staff, coupled with sewriously surly attitude from several of them.
Beer quality frankly farcical, and food quality low even by McSpoons standards.
Due to location also attracts the very worst class of drinkers - from the wizened old soaks to the violent semi-tramps and all the way up to the smack and crack heads who like to make use of the toilets ... there's a reason for that strange neon lighting in the cubicles, and drug paraphenalia regularly complements the interior decor.
Anything is better than this place; avoid like the Ebola virus.
27 Feb 2009 15:34
Never really "got" this place, been in a few times, nice building, good layout, bags of potential but let down by lacklustre beer quality and typically high Everards prices.
Fairly typical city centre punters, some a bit rough round the edges.
Apparently quite popular for live music, though I've not been to any gigs here (much too close to the Friday / Saturday night warzone that is the city centre)
27 Feb 2009 15:27
Worth a visit during their elusive festivals (funny how they always seem to coincide with a well advertised fest at one of their local rivals) but otherwise one to avoid.
Core clientele are very local and inclined to sit in (un)comfortable silence ... newcomers beware, the looks you will probably receive on enetering (especially if you happen to be under 50) may not flay you alive but could probably turn your beer.
Having said that, if you come in on a non-festival day you probably wouldn't notice given the very hit and miss quality of the ales on offer.
If on the other hand you've had a personality bypass and a tedious fixation with Beam & Traction engines you'll be assured a hearty welcome - the charming land lady might even serve you without a scowl!
All Hoskins beers contract brewed by Tower.
27 Feb 2009 15:21
Back to All_Hail_The_Ale's profile
High Cross, Leicester
Popped in a couple of times this week for the JDW Beer Festival, as this is the only city centre 'Spoons that is capable of keeping halfway drinkable ale.
First visit was on a weekday mid-afternoon, and I have to say it was something of an eye-opener in terms of the clientele; we all know that you don't get the higher end of the social strata in JDW pubs at the best of times, but I do not expect to see Baby Squad members proudly wearing their Stone Island insignia being served in any but the roughest of Estate pubs.
I did query this with the manager who advised that they HAVE barred a few members, but they have decided not to stop the rest of them (a) drinking in there and (b) making themselves readily identifiable ... needless to say, you wouldn't catch me dead in there on a football day!
Aside from the thug element, of rather more concern was watching several people who were clearly VERY drunk, still being served ... as a general rule, when someone comes in, sits down and starts shouting random things and laughing loudly to themselves it's better to refuse service.
The same is generally also true when people are so hammered they can't speak properly, but this doesn't seem to bother staff or management.
My return visit was on Saturday mrning, just before midday, and was a better session - there seemed to be less social detritus, and the atmosphere was a bit calmer.
What let me down on this visit was the food; I ordered the classic breakfast, but asked for it without hash browns / black pudding or mushroom. This in and of itself was not a problem, however I do resent being expected to pay the FULL breakfast price without being offered substitute breakfast items - extra sausage, bacon or even toast would surely not be beyond their remit, and would seem like half decent customer service.
Oh well, I guess it's to be expected from a company whose business model is morally questionable at the best of times (ie: selling cheap booze to people who have nothing better to do with their days than spend the benefit money they receive from the taxes the rest of us pay getting smashed continuously).
On the bright side though, I picked up 12 beers over the two visits, and although condition was far from perfect they were at least drinkable...
I'd like to see either Lloyds or the Last Plantagenate manage that!
8 Nov 2010 14:43