BITE user comments - Captain_Swing
Comments by Captain_Swing
Excellent pub in every way - beer in great condition, crystal clear and full taste, beautifully kept. Friendly service and great interior and garden. What you want out of a pub. We left to sample The Falkland as reccommended on BITE and then came back to The Cricketers as the Falkland was unremittingly ghastly, complete with snarling attack dog. Not nice.
4 Jun 2010 11:38
'Fat' George continues to work his unique magic on what was once a pretty decent pub. Everything he touches turns bad (see comments on his former tenancy The Lower Red Lion). The poor levels of cleanliness and surly service make this a depressing experience. There are much better pubs in St Albans, thank goodness. 3/10.
15 Dec 2009 13:50
There are TWO things I love about this pub ... I imagine you can guess what they are
29 Apr 2009 17:17
New team are doing an excellent job. Good range of ales on the handpump and well kept. Good atmosphere now, a proper village local. And a full size billiard table!
27 Mar 2009 17:09
Well if staff from the Cross Keys are now in place, then I can only say oh dear. See the comments on their page - they echo exactly the negative comments on this one. And that can't be a coincidence ... The Cross Keys was cleaned out by new owners and is now much improved.
27 Mar 2009 17:05
The new team seem to be doing an excellent job - well done!
24 Jan 2009 16:07
If the most recent team from the Lower Red Lion have taken over, then (cough, cough) you're in for a REAL treat. See comments for LRL about quality, cleanliness, surliness ... I can only say I do hope it's not true.
23 Jan 2009 10:23
The Carpenters Arms, Harpenden
Grilled Sardines - what are your objections? This is a gem of a place. Friendly team and great beer. Maybe you should stay away? Or join the fun. I wouldn't even be sure there were any Camra members there usually ...
29 Sep 2008 12:44
Banter? What about the boorish behaviour and chilly atmosphere (see below) ... Basically the Surly Saffas have set this up as a private club for their mates. The new owners, one imagines, are not deceived ...
17 Sep 2008 17:04
Sussex is a haven for good pubs and real ale. Please don't allow the Surly Saffas to spoil somewhere else ... Will the boorish 'regglars' be moving away too? My guess is yes.
12 Sep 2008 11:51
As prophesied (passim) this place has changed hands as of Monday. At last, the Surly Saffas have been given their marching orders. Let's hope for a real improvement in the management team. The unique environment could make this the best pub in Harpenden.
10 Sep 2008 16:46
'Matt K' appears to bear out the change that has taken place at the LRL recently. The Landlord is most certainly rude and abusive, as several contributors here have noted. The beer's no longer 'all that' either. There are better pubs in St Albans.
11 Jun 2008 18:04
This place used to be a gem. Now the 'new' owner and his staff treat customers with disdain and rudeness. Even the beer's rubbish - too many off pints, which they refuse to change. This would never have happened under the previous ownership. Somebody on here says all the (many) bad reviews are people who have 'issues' with the landlord - too right! Rudeness and beer in poor condition are big issues for a pub in my book. If this was one of the chains, he'd have been sacked as soon as the customer numbers and revenues sank through the floor ...
30 Apr 2008 14:50
I visted on Friday and this is certainly a great pub - lovely interior and welcoming and efficient staff. But ... I sampled three ales and they were all pretty lacklustre. There's a very good selection but they're not well kept. A shame, & I would certainly go back to see if this was a blip ...
13 Jan 2008 15:04
Excellent pub, excellent service, excellent beer. Crowded but very nice bunch in there. I shall return!
21 Dec 2007 17:28
Unfriendly atmosphere ... Hatchet faced bar staff, locals that stare, the reviewers below are quite right. I don't even think the beer's particularly good either.
13 Dec 2007 18:19
The last poster has it right when he says the issue is with the present landlord. He's got a poor attitude to customer service, from my own observation, and also it appears from other posters here. Nothing wrong with the clientele - but if you treat people badly they're unlikely to return. I reckon profits must be well down and price would have been governed by previous good business - I give it 12 months ...
15 Oct 2007 17:45
This is a really great place - friendly, excellent beer, and good range of six ales on hand pump. They had St Peter's when I went in, which is difficult to find. A really good pub - I shall be returning.
5 Feb 2007 17:07
Please, please bring back the old pub sign. The current 'logo' suggest The Farmers Boy is a Youth Pub Circuit establishment and it's not. Instead of looking classy, I imagine the new sign will put people off ... Dare to be Different!
2 Jan 2007 13:32
Excellent pub with excellent range of Dark Star ales and one guest when I visited. Friendly welcome and service. Please can Dark Star open a pub in London?!
2 Jan 2007 13:29
While the selection might be good, the quality of the ales here is in my experience invariably poor. Overpriced. Nasty, smoky interior, made even dimmer by faux stained glass, and peculiarly heavy furniture apparently made out of the off cuts of Travis Perkins lumber yard. 1/10, and that's being generous
1 Sep 2006 13:30
I hadn't visited this pub for several years, but I was heartened that the interior was much the same - and redder than ever, if possible! Some of the light bulbs are even red. However, the pint I had was definitely a bit off colour, saggy and stale tasting, so maybe some more attention needed in keeping the ales well. As noted below, while one of the barmen is overtly taciturn, the other - slimmer - one is quite normal ...
1 Sep 2006 13:23
My first visit to a pub in Luton, and scores highly! Excellent beer, great traditional atmosphere and a very fine cheese and onion roll.
29 Aug 2006 13:11
The Carpenters Arms, Harpenden
Just to add my four pennyworth ... I've found the staff in the Carpenters always particularly welcoming and friendly - indeed, exceptionally so. This is a large part of what makes this such a gem of a pub, and a pleasant place to visit.
29 Aug 2006 13:07
I too can concur with Lord Wimbourne's praise of the Goacher's Stout. I also tasted this and it is a indeed superb tipple. Strange but true trivia fact: the restaurant for Blake's was the setting for spy George Blake's meetings with his Russian handler ...
7 Aug 2006 17:44
Hmmmmm the rash of positive comments seem to indicate the Management of this fine establishment are at last getting their side of the story through. However, it's the same George and, I'm afraid, the same ghastly 'clientele' - Rat Boys and their companions. I imagine a group of residents might make their objections known when it's time to renew the lincence? There's plenty of this sort of pub in Luton if they need it.
27 Jul 2006 16:06
Quite a good selection of ales, and reasonably kept. Plus there's always room to get a seat!
12 Jul 2006 13:07
Police were called again. Surely it's time for the brewery to take things up market?
12 Jul 2006 13:05
Agree there's often an odd atmosphere in here. Nobody seems to be enjoying themselves very much. Ales are ok, but could be better.
12 Jul 2006 13:04
The Carpenters Arms, Harpenden
This is a great pub - cosy, welcoming and good beer. The new publican is settled in, and doing a great job, ensuring that this pub continues to be just as good as always. Keep up the good work!
13 Jun 2006 17:51
Rather a lot of shaved heads and tatoos here. Poor ales. Occasionally violent.
13 Feb 2006 17:01
I tend to agree with Mr Sticker. This previously excellent pub is now over run with teenage students generally swilling lager and brightly coloured suger drinks. Last time I was in a pair of capped, spotted youths were burning the beer mats. The landlors needs to take a grip or he'll lose his core market.
9 Jan 2006 17:37
The Magpie and Crown, Brentford
Not sure who Anonymous is, but if you're a regular make yourself know to us.
I have ambivalent feelings about Hartlepool myself. They elected Peter Mandelson as their MP which speaks volumes. What is a Hanging Monkey btw? xxx 2 Pan ;-)
17 Oct 2005 12:30
The Magpie and Crown, Brentford
Ive been coming in this pub now on and off for a few years, and I would just like to say I don't recognise it from some of the comments on here which don't seem very fair at all its always a good laugh and Steve and Gordon are a lovely couple.
11 Jul 2005 17:25
Back to Captain_Swing's profile
The Falkland Arms, Dorking
Having moved here recently from West London, we found ourselves somewhat disappointed by The Falkland. So along with some other neighbours we recently formed a small local committee and have been in dialogue with Youngs to bring some new energy to the business, perhaps to take it up market and to gain greater appeal for 'the urban professional' sector of Dorking. For instance, we have suggested a wine tasting and a French cheese night. Do get in touch if you want to be involved. We like to call this place The Malvinas!
4 Jun 2010 11:47