BITE user comments - B3XTER
Comments by B3XTER
Its been 2 years since I was last in what was my early evening local.
Its changed quite a lot. There were still familiar faces from behind the bar that remembered my order on sight, which was nice! However it seems to have died a death. Nowhere near as busy as it used to be and hardly any atmosphere. A real shame.
5 Jun 2014 17:33
I really like this place. Always incredibly good service despite the shape of the bar, you're never waiting long to be served.
Lovely looking pub, excellent music and a really nice atmosphere.
Always a good evening to be had here.
5 Jun 2014 17:28
If I'd have read the reviews before ending up in this place I might not have gone in. However it was a great evening.
It is a rockgrungy kinda place and my image doesn't fit in to either of these categories. At all. All the staff are very polite and courteous, the regulars (lots of em) are all very friendly too.
Everyone just seemed to keep to themselves and are just happy to soak up the atmosphere that this place is oozing with.
Incredibly busy, brilliant live band, pool and fussball tables all filled... It wasn't bad t all. Maybe I was just lucky? But I would certainly go back to find out.
5 Jun 2014 17:18
Quite large and very quirky in design with lots of things to catch your eye. Lots of booths and also a kind of indoor tree house seating area; you might say that they have tried too hard, but it all just kinda works.
There are lunchtime food offers and the food in general is very good and reasonably priced.
With the ‘Cocktails & Dreams’ neon sign behind the bar, this was a definite winner for me (tiny pleasures!) and they also offer happy hour on cocktails everyday 4-8. I ordered drinks not on the menu and asked for a white Russian – unfortunately worst one ever. The staff however are very friendly, chatty and efficient. Some staff are better at the cocktails than others.
I would say this is a trendy diner by day and predominantly a cocktail bar in the evenings. It does get very busy and that’s when service gets sluggish as everyone is ordering cocktails.
Well worth a visit though.
5 Jun 2014 17:04
The Norfolk Arms, Russell Square
It’s quite a strange place. One evening you will be served by quick, pleasant and attentive staff; another evening get moody, surly and totally disinterested staff that make you feel out of order for actually coming to a ‘pub’ and ordering a drink!
The décor inside isn’t what you expect at all from the outside. The tapas is very good, but stupidly expensive for what you get. It’s certainly not a drinking pub.
And I have to agree about the glasses, they are ridiculous.
5 Jun 2014 16:38
This place is great; and if you’re an ale drinker then this is the place for you! It’s sister pub the ‘Cider Tap’ is across the road which is usually a lot quieter.
Downstairs is predominantly the bar, with a few stools and there is limited seating up the spiral (dangerous after a few!) staircase to the upstairs and the toilets. There is always a queue for the loo, and they are pretty shocking.
You will queue for a while because this place is just always busy. The bar staff are quick, courteous, friendly and incredibly knowledgeable.
Because of its size people tend to stand around by the road, on the high tables and there are a few seated tables – but good luck trying to get one!
Definitely worth a visit.
5 Jun 2014 16:23
It is a ‘two bar’ set up. Bar on the left has its regulars on stools around the small bar, stools around the walls, no tables and a pool table. The second, has tables and seating and serves Thai food.
I actually like this place. It is shabby, could do with a face lift and would benefit from new toilets but the staff are courteous and polite, the locals are friendly enough, give good banter and remember you each time you visit and always say hello.
It is worth a visit just to sample the Thai food, which is lovely and reasonably priced.
5 Jun 2014 16:20
The Somerstown Coffee House, Euston
This is a nice place, but it is indeed expensive… but that tends to be the rule of thumb in this area unless you go to the likes of O’Neils or Rocket. Few ales and a good wine list so can cater for most clienteles. However, I think I’m just unfortunate that each time I go I get the scattiest barman EVER, very friendly but tire with having to tell him my order at least 3 times as he keeps forgetting. Service can be slow, but the setting is nice. They also have a very small beer garden at the back which is totally enclosed.
I have been quite a few times and each time it is a good evening, there is a nice chilled atmosphere every time I visit. There is a cocktail bar downstairs which people generally tend to vacate to as the evening progresses where the music is louder and you can have a dance if you wish.
I have only ordered food once and would never do so again. I only ordered snack foods and after waiting 45 minutes, it still hadn’t arrived. I queried, it then came out 15 minutes later, it was delicious but was still frozen in the middle – so sent it back, got a refund and left.
Oh and if you want to use the mirror in the laddies toilet, you have to be at least 6’3’’!
5 Jun 2014 16:16
It is always busy with the after work drinkers or the ‘just the few crew’ before the train home.
The staff are always friendly and efficient. You see quite a few in here with their half pints of spitfire or whatever, scanning the QR code for the Cask Marque Ale Trail trying to get round as many pubs as possible in the hope of winning prizes. Food menu is pretty standard and at prices you’d expect in this part of town, it always looks quite appealing when it comes out.
It is a nice pub, but offers very little in the form of atmosphere. You would struggle to spend your whole evening here.
5 Jun 2014 16:09
It's cheap, characterless but not too bad. You get what you pay for springs to mind, so what do you expect? The staff are always friendly, quick, efficient and polite – even when it’s ridiculously busy. Unfortunately last time I was here there were only 2 people serving and it took 25 minutes to get served, which was a first.
The food isn’t bad, and there are always offers with both drink and food. With 9 screens it’s not a bad place to watch the football – so bring out the plastic glasses! There is also a DJ on a Friday and Saturday, but music plays throughout the week. Tuesday is always popular as they have major drinks offers, , but it can become a bit of a meat market as you seem to get the random lecherous men hanging around the ‘sort of’ dance floor – but then with the state of some of the women that happily invite it. I’m not surprised.
Clientele varies from after work drinkers, students to passers-by but its always friendly enough.
5 Jun 2014 16:04
I popped in on a Monday night and have to say it was a nice atmosphere as it was open mic night. Some incredibly good acts, however this was all tainted by the most surly bar staff I have ever had the displeasure of meeting.
The pub itself is quite large and spacious and lots of interesting bits and pieces dotted around to catch your eye. Because of the size it was quite cold in there.
The staff only warmed up when introducing the acts to perform, and then switched instantaneously to glare at you with a look of utter disdain when you required service; perhaps they are struggling artisans that think they are too good to serve you a pint and I disturbed them as they were in the middle of writing a sonnet in their head… or something!? How rude of me to go to a pub expecting a drink! - Perhaps they were actually responsible for the cold temperature!
The toilets are outside the interior doors and so any Tom, Dick or Harry could use them, and to be honest by the state of them, they probably did! I always find it quite alarming when not a single doorlock works on any cubicle.
The music was good. The pub is nicely laid out. Drinks are well priced. The service abysmal. I'd probably pay the extra if I wasn't bothered about the music and go to The Spread Eagle across the road.
21 Nov 2013 13:47
This is a really nice pub. Quite small, but comfortable seating and a place to sit at the bar if you wish.
A Youngs pub offering 6 hand pulls, 3 of which are Young’s own ales and 3 guest plus your other usual beers, wines and spirits.
Incredibly friendly and efficient bar staff; and because it’s not around the canal area, you don’t get the tourists which is nice, and I’d say there are a few locals.
Some would say this place is quite expensive for both food and drinks, I didn’t think for Camden it was that bad until I popped over the road to The Earl of Camden… but that’s a whole other review!
I do genuinely like this pub, however the toilets are a hideous disappointment! They are not the most pleasant ones I have been in, and I must admit I was quite surprised based on the standard of the rest of the pub.
21 Nov 2013 13:32
I believe I would be fair in my assessment if I was to say that this is one of the best pubs in Enfield.
With the long awaited summer finally here, I think you find most patrons of Enfield sat in the Crowns large garden! Beer gardens in London are rare and this one is quite exceptional; not only in size, but it also has an outside bar, lots of seating and a heated deck area.
The staff are quick, courteous and pleasant. The food menu is incredibly varied, and my personal favourite would have to be the fajitas.
Monday evenings are quiz night, which is always quite a giggle and definitely worth a visit.
There are your key regulars that you will find dotted around the place or propping up the bar and a clientele that varies from families, couples to small groups of friends creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
As the cold weather creeps in there are also open fires inside, a favourite pub for all year round.
16 Jul 2013 13:01
There is a real cosy feel to this pub - you walk straight in to the bar, with friendly well-mannered, attentive staff, and you don�t have to wait too long and they always know who�s next.
It appears to be local�s pub, with many sitting on stools around that bar, or on some of the grouped tables. There is a real fireplace for those chilly winter evenings and it also has a heated beer garden at the back. Being in the back streets I found this a refreshing change from the usual annoying obnoxious �look at me� crowd.
Several beers on offer, and Thai food served daily � although I haven�t tried the food; I think it�s more of a drinker�s pub than being known for its culinary delights. They also have �cheese Thursday� where you can bring your own or buy some at the bar.
If I lived close enough to this place I�d be happy to become a regular.
1 Oct 2012 14:17
I had to say I was disappointed with this place. No real selection of beers or ales but lots of choice if you like bourbon. The bar itself is called the 'Bourbon Bar'
Great live music, quite a nice place to eat but the bar staff are shocking! They have no idea on whose next (despite on 3 customers waiting) incredibly slow and very very surly.
You dread going to get a drink as its such a chore in this place. Doubt I'll return.
22 Aug 2012 12:28
Visited this place of a lunch time, not many people in but still took ages to get served!! Good choice of beers, and you can't complain about the quality of the food. The bar area is also separated into sections so not too overbearing.
The thing I like about this place is that each time you go you notice something different. Eg. Lampshade made entirely from bic pens! I like those kinid of touches, it keeps it quirky and interesting. There is also a selection of games to play if that's your thing... Not sure you'd want to stay long enough to compete a game of monopoly though... Although the wait at the bar could make it possible!
13 Jul 2012 13:59
I like this place a lot. Mainly because of the d�cor and you can pop in for a quiet drink. However, it can get painfully busy, especially after work. This is not so good as being a �vaulted� bar it can get too warm inside.
Good cask ale and wine selection. They do Malbec by the glass, which is a rarity these days as you only seem to get it by the bottle in most places. They also now have their own signature ale; Nicholson's Pale Ale brewed exclusively by St. Austell but I�m yet to sample.
The bar area is small and so if it is busy it can feel like a lifetime to get served.
The food is good, but at a price �10-14 for a Sunday roast� can�t quite figure out if it�s actually worth that much to sit in a Renaissance style library or Egyptian tomb � yeah I can, the answer is no.
Finally, if you want to escape work or the Mrs�s calls and have a quiet (albeit expensive) pint this is the place as you will NEVER get a phone signal in this place.
28 Jun 2012 13:06
I only reviewed this place back in May, and the majority of the review still stands. However one thing has now come to light; Menu changes. �If it aint broke, don�t fix it� springs to mind.
They have now discarded the buy one get one free offers on pies, pizza�s etc� the one thing that ensured this pub was busy of a lunch time/early evening and have now gone a little more �Rectory� in style.
Big mistake in my opinion as if I wanted overpriced food I would simply go to the Rectory� not Edmunds.
28 Jun 2012 12:47
Overpriced, filled to the rafters with rude obnoxious city boys & old city boys with the young ones on initiation!
D�cor would be nice� if you are a fan of dogs or read horse & hound monthly.
4 May 2012 23:08
As far as �city boy� pubs go, this is the one in the area with the fewest. They can be found in their grey suited masses, with watches on show below their cuffs further down the road in All Bar One, Metro Bar and in particular Utopia or even Edmunds sister bar in St Paul�s Square, Rectory Bar.
I would have to say that Edmunds is my local� No, I�m not a suit before you even start to go down that path! The staff are friendly, chatty and always make you feel welcome. There are a few hand pulls, one that springs to mind is Doom Bar and various bottled ciders. The food is also good, ordering just one on the 2 for 1 on pizza�s is enough to feed a group of four!
I wouldn�t say it�s expensive, it�s pretty standard for the area, and I wouldn�t say it�s devoid of atmosphere, although I have to admit I�ve never really been here on a weekend so can�t judge it on that. It can get busy but out of all the pubs in this immediate area to put it simply� I like it, I like it a lot.
However if you want a �real� pub go to the Wellington.
4 May 2012 22:49
A place to go if you like 80�s music!? Maybe� but then you must also be a fan of filthy tables, sticky floors, women that think they are the best thing since Sonia and Tiffany getting drooled over by drunken Neanderthals.
It�s on Broad Street� what were you expecting!?
29 Mar 2012 11:53
If I�d have read the previous reviews before entering this establishment; lets face it� I wouldn�t have! However I popped in around 8:30pm on a Wednesday night, it was pretty empty but the folk that were there were pretty decent. The music was also quite good, and certainly not overbearing in any shape or form.
With 5 hand pulls (4 ales, 1 cider) double up on certain shots for a �1 and refill soft drinks (Pepsi, 7up etc�) where they give the glass and you do the rest, it can�t be bad can it!?
When I visited I would class it as being slightly better cliental than JDW�s The Briar Rose and the fact that the tables are spaced so that you can actually �walk� (novel idea right!?) between them without bashing people or knocking them off their chairs or being offended by the dodgy wall paper is a definite plus.
Polite and courteous service for both food and drinks. It does similar food to that of the Briar Rose, you can get a burger and a drink for �7� and my evening was topped off with fewer drunken degenerates.
However, based on location and price I can imagine it does attract them at some point throughout the week, so might have to revisit to check.
29 Mar 2012 11:44
Not quite sure what it is about Apr�s bars that seem to attract a certain �type� of person, which as a consequence elevates the price of drinks. This one isn�t so different to any other Apr�s. Good food, overpriced drinks with slow and contemptuous staff serving behind the bar.
It does get busy, but it�s hard to get a decent atmosphere when it�s filled with so many pretentious people and hoards of wag wannabes.
Beware of wearing stripes� they clearly offend the doormen as one of my friends was refused entry because he had a stripy jumper on. Despite spotting several people wearing trainers inside� interesting dress policy.
21 Feb 2012 15:43
Varied menu and great tasting food. Chatty, friendly staff working the tables (if you�re eating), bar staff not so friendly.
Come 5pm this place is filled with unnecessarily loud, watch parading city boys attempting to impress� possibly because 5pm also means cheap cocktails! Except if it�s a Friday or a Saturday� but I�d hope on these days you�d have a life and go somewhere decent!
5 Jan 2012 17:16
Incompetent, unbearably slow ,rude bar staff more concerned with their own reflection than keeping a check on whose next or what your order is. After being overlooked 3 times for various rude, pretentious morons, we walked out and went to the Slug and Lettuce.
5 Jan 2012 16:37
With 16 handpulls and a detailed beer board it would be hard for any drinker to be disappointed with the Wellington. The board details pump number, brewery, beer name, ABV, price and colour.
No food is served here except for bar snacks (mmmm pork scratchings!) but you can take in your own, whilst supping on a pint of your choice. They even provide the plates and the cutlery, this to me is one of the best selling points of the Welly.
First impressions could lead you to assume it�s an old mans pub but its really not and plenty of women drink there too. Anyone could feel comfortable in this pub, which is encapsulated by the pub cat that can sometimes be seen perched on a stool taking a nap. I have never seen such a mish-mashed varied group of people in such close proximity before, but it works to form such a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. It also has to be noted that no woman will ever leave the Welly without failing to be impressed by the toilets. Strange point to make, but take your Mrs and get her opinion!
The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about all that they sell and will let you sample if you�re unsure. I once stumbled in on a �Cheese Night� this was where people who wanted to partake had taken in some cheese, crackers or other accompaniments to share and enjoy whilst tasting with ciders and ales for that perfect harmony of taste. Totally unaware about this evening but was warmly welcomed and soon engulfed in friendly conversation enjoying a nice cider and bit of cheese. They were hoping to make this a regular feature every 6 weeks or so.
Albeit a bit shabby, a little on the small side this pub is great. It can get very busy but I�d be disappointed if a pub of this calibre didn�t have such a dedicated following, however this is probably the downside as at times you may have a bit of a wait, you wont get a table or a spot at the bar and will have to wrestle to get to the loo, the back or the exit.
Oh� almost forgot, they also have a dartboard.
5 Jan 2012 15:13
The Taps, Enfield
This is like a pub of 2 halves.
You have your standard mix of regulars that filter in and out throughout the day probably moving between there and the Kings Head, and possibly a ‘cheap’ one in the George too. But of a weekend it’s a different story… one of which I will shortly get to.
It’s a great place to watch the football, it doesn’t matter where you stand you will always be able to see a screen. There are lots of drink offers too, so this place really doesn’t break the bank at all.
From what I’ve heard it was this place that initially made Thursday the new Friday, and so weekends probably start here. The service is always quick and efficient, and they do a commendable job on weekends as you simply cannot move at the bar.
So, weekends… It always starts off soo well, but then the dickhead count just gets too high! It almost feels that you aren’t allowed to enjoy this place if you’re still sober. I do like it, but I just wish it wasn’t such a meat market, filled with amateur drinkers screaming ‘let’s do shots’ ‘you want a shot babe’ as they attempt to paw at you. ‘Not interested’ seems to be a phrase that a lot of these guys aren’t quite familiar with… they should stick with the bimbos that are also in ample supply. But I guess this is unavoidable as the one thing lacking in Enfield is a variety of decent pubs, and in particular late night pubs.
People go to get drunk and have fun. There is nothing wrong with that, but it does get to the point where you can barely move through the narrow bar. But as I said, I do like this place, but it does feel a little bitter/sweet at times when I consider this place.
5 Jun 2014 18:05