BITE user comments - Clivers
Comments by Clivers
Currently closed and up for a new tenancy with Enterprise Inns
15 Sep 2015 12:58
The Dundee Arms, Bethnal Green
Re opened and be made a bit more "trendy". However this is a good thing, 3 Real Ales from local small brewers and a good choice of keg products from the Camden Brewery, Redwell Brewery amongst others. Good service and atmosphere.
10 Jul 2015 14:10
Up in the area a couple of weeks back so popped in to the pub again. What a shame, seems to be going through very hard times, no food available and pretty poor service. Only London Pride on the pumps and run of the mill lagers etc. Its a beautiful old building which a few years ago was on the up but now seems going downhill. Unless things change I cannot see it being open that much longer. Ironically walking by the Bow Bells there were a few local who I recognised used to be in the Little Driver.
30 Apr 2015 15:00
The Flying Fortress, Bury St Edmunds
Closed and Boarded Up, apparently Greene King have bought the freehold.
25 Nov 2014 20:53
The Chestnut Horse, Great Finborough
Great little pub offering some good home cooked food.
4 Sep 2014 10:49
Has been sold and is closing Mon 8th September 2014 according to local reports.
4 Sep 2014 10:44
The Gladstone Arms, Stowmarket
Sadly appears to be closed; Adnams signs have been removed.
23 Mar 2014 18:51
Now surprisingly reopened, unsure if permanent licencees.
15 Nov 2013 15:01
Popped in for a pint last Friday after quite a while. Not sure what to make of the place these days, two bar staff both from eastern Europe..no rapport with the few customers for a lunchtime. Was going to have lunch but no effort with menus etc so finished pint and left . Quite disappointed as a super pub with garden for the area.
15 Nov 2013 14:55
St Edmunds Tavern, Bury St Edmunds
Freehold sold and being converted into yet another shop, I believe it has been bought by Peatlings Wine Shop.
15 Nov 2013 14:43
Closed and being converted into a Sainsburys Local Supermarket
13 Sep 2013 18:24
Been taken over by the former landlord of the Grinning Rat pub, will be a gay friendly venue for the town
3 Sep 2013 12:17
Was running successfully as a Gay Pub in 2013 but Punch evicted the tenant in July....
1 Sep 2013 20:25
Closed, Freehold sold by Punch and being converted into a Tesco Express...
1 Sep 2013 20:23
Sadly now Closed, probably be sold as its owned by Punch.
1 Sep 2013 18:56
Sold by Punch and now a Free House; be interesting to see what develops...
1 Sep 2013 18:51
Sadly now closed with Freehold for sale..talk that it is to be demolished to be incorporated into the building work taking place..another bit of East London History being erased.
8 Aug 2013 18:06
What a shame to see how this pub is ending up, been staying in the area for a few days and using it as a local. From what I gather the manager and assistant are from overseas and don't appear to have an idea about service. Before 10pm most of the pumps and bar area have been cleaned and closed off, looks very unattractive and not welcoming. Be nice to see a few smiles but no such luck. Like a previous post said cleaning after 10pm seems to be more important than serving customers. Went in tonight at 10.40 and thought the place was shut, awful way to treat customers. Manager I believe is a short bald guy who has no personality or smile, from Hungary.
7 Nov 2012 23:56
The Great Eastern, Isle of Dogs
Not slating the place, just gave impressions I got on a first visit. Found it very starnge that they dont do any food except pizza, in these days food is a big attraction to a pub along with a good choice of drinks. Sadly there is nothing to make you travel to the pub....thats crazy as it has a super location etc....could have been made into a fine example of a pub but....real shame the pub company appeared to have sold off the garden as well.....
23 Sep 2011 19:42
Have to agree with the last few comments, back in town this last week and what has happened to the service in Comptons, very poor, quite unfriendly and very pricey..seemed quite quiet as well...prices have shot up, maybe its part of the new owners aims to give an excuse to straighten it up? A very poor pub in soho now compared to many other places.-
5 Sep 2011 17:36
Service seemed to have improved since my last visit, friendly barstaff actually smiling made a change....
5 Sep 2011 17:32
Had a good couple of meals this week, both excellant value. Friendly and welcoming but sadly pub was quite empty on both times, including Sunday lunchtime.
5 Sep 2011 17:30
The Great Eastern, Isle of Dogs
Popped in over the weekend for a drink, first time since the refurb....not really sure what to make of it, seemed quite soulless with no atmosphere. Also the garden has gone, apparently nothing to do with the pub anymore..a big shame i these parts.
5 Sep 2011 17:28
I see that the pubs lease has finally been sold after a very long time on the market, wonder what will happen to the old pub....
8 Aug 2011 15:32
Closing this week apparently and being demolished for a new build of yet more flats,...
28 Feb 2011 18:55
The Great Eastern, Isle of Dogs
What a strange thing to change the name of this historic Isle of Dogs pub. Its history is as the Watermans Arms..look at all the books going back to Dan Farson who took it on and named it the Watermans. If anything it should have been renamed to The Newcastle Arms, its original name, located next to the Newcastle Draw Dock.
13 Feb 2011 10:33
Apparently closing in Feb 2011 for a major 4 months refurb by owners Greene King..going to be turned into a two floor venue...no onsite accomadation for the managers....
18 Jan 2011 20:03
Freehold has been up for sale for several months...Offers on �250k
10 Jan 2011 18:32
Suprising events as Punch Pubs only sold the pub a few months ago.....
10 Jan 2011 18:29
Suprised to see this pub is closed and freehold up for sale again...
4 Jan 2011 17:38
Gone downhill rapidly in the last year..no apparent identity and downright poor service from the barstaff...
5 Dec 2010 10:08
Nice to see the old pub getting back to what it once was with the return of Neil as manager for the new owners. Customer service and bar staff have improved no end recently. Also have a 1am licence at the weekend
28 Nov 2010 19:04
Back for another visit and sadly this will be the last unless things change. Seems to be catering for a few locals only now, very old style and certainly not offering anything like it used to under the former landlord. Its a shame as this was offering a great different style of venue for Bow. A jukebox has been installed so this means the atmosphere is now dependant upon those who pay for it. I can't see it lasting like this for very long as its just like any other run of the mill place, not worth visiting at all unless passing. Such a shame
.
28 Nov 2010 17:13
The Chestnut Horse, Great Finborough
Closed for refurb at the moment, must have yet another new landlord at the helm...
17 Nov 2010 18:42
Very friendly service from the landlady, ok Sunday lunch. Positives are a great garden in the sun. As said before has seemingly taken a step back as a run of the mill place, not really offering anything spectacular now unless in the area.
10 Oct 2010 15:37
Friendly fast service but expensive. 3.30 for Carlsberg. Just a locals boozer, not many left in Bow
10 Oct 2010 15:30
The Great Eastern, Isle of Dogs
Popped over for a pint and found it appeared to sadly be closed. Looks a classic boozer.
10 Oct 2010 15:24
Whatever happened to Lord and Lady Compton? ...soho institutions of there time...pub has never been the same since...
3 Oct 2010 17:30
Comptons has just been sold by M&B to the Faucet Pub Company, will be interesting to see what happens to this long established Soho institution...
7 Sep 2010 21:21
Oh dear, back to the Little Driver for the first time in quite a while. The bar has been repainted in dreadful style...the front of the formerly polished wood bar as seen in the photos has now been painted over..Why?? The ceiling has been done in what looks the same colour losing the great atractive ceiling that once was there. Food seems to be bog standard basic pub grub, no menu available at tables, you have to look at tiny blackboards in one corner of the pub. Looks like its being run as just another local boozer with a bit of food. A real shame. Certainly wasn't perfect before but this is going backwards....so much potential....will go back in a few weeks to see how things are going..
4 Sep 2010 18:47
Superb well cooked food and great friendly service. Forget the looks of the place it's great..nice to have table service for drinks as well.
4 Sep 2010 18:39
Back in London today so though I would pop to the Little Driver.
Sadly the pub now appears to have closed down. There is a note in the window stating Closed due to a Pipe Burst and Flood, but from the look of the hanging baskets etc the pub may well have been closed for a while. Such a shame as this has to be a prime site for a proper pub with good sized garden in Bow.
28 Jan 2010 17:14
Lease has been sold to the pub; hope it stays a proper pub..who knows.
26 Oct 2009 19:07
Just been sold to a property developer by Punch....for conversion.
14 Sep 2009 15:39
Hey matchin, glad to see you like the pub....I think you will find the landlord is gay but runs a pub that is both straight and gay friendly...exactly what a decent pub should be......I hope to be up in London again soon to enjoy this delightful pub...Its a fantastic building so airy.
12 Sep 2009 20:08
Back in yesterday and the pub is just as good as before. I think there have been a few changes in staff but mainly because the leaseholder appears to have taken back control rather than having a employing a manager. Same bar staff when I went in, same chef and a reasonable number of customers. Even one of the cats was still in the bar. Little bit pricey for a pint but thats because of Enterprise Inns high pricing. Wonder if it is still up for sale?
11 Jul 2009 08:47
Shame about the comments from bowroaduk. This was a great pub with a lot of potential. Has it been sold on as I know it was up for sale.
18 Jun 2009 17:54
A great friendly pub in Bow, Super staff and great food. They do a brilliant Sunday Roast. Good large garden and heated seating area, has. The pub also has two huge cats, which are well known, they sit on bar stools at the bar...
30 May 2009 13:24
In the old days of Charringtons/Bass days the Keats Bar was a seperate pub, 2 next door to each other, can't remember the name though.
13 May 2009 18:41
Closed at the moment with a notice in the door saying the owners solicitors had made a mistake with the Licence, and that when it reopens it will be known as the Bell...
5 May 2009 18:37
The King William IV, Hampstead
Whats happend to this place?? Popped in again today, appeared to be all new staff who didn't seem to even smile, well overpriced food, bit of a refurb but certainly nothing spectacular. Shame won't be going back in a hurry,
3 May 2009 08:46
In for another try, ok as usual...but the toilets have been refurbed!!!
16 Mar 2009 21:14
In again this weekend...ok service, quite expensive for the surroundings but then its the Pink Pound...Toilets vile, how on earththey get away with it.
22 Dec 2008 18:36
Popped in again this Sat, has the mgt changed at Comptons? The atmosphere did not seem so good and all new staff...
22 Dec 2008 18:33
The King William IV, Hampstead
Up in London again this weekend, spent a good couple of hours here yesterday afternoon...great friendly service as always with more than enough choice of drinks on tap. Sadly though I heard that the pub has been sold and is changing hands in January...the last ever cabaret being held on 31 Jan. Sounds like its going straight?? Unconfirmed but I hope not as its an institution in Hampstead.
21 Dec 2008 09:29
The Black Horse, Upper Holloway
Closed and Boarded . Up for Sale for alternative uses
25 Nov 2008 19:43
The County Of Suffolk, Ipswich
Recently bought by Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises and on the lease market at the moment.
27 Oct 2008 19:21
The Grouse and Claret, Belgravia
Another brewery closure after making more money from selling the lease for development rather than running a pub..scandalous especially from a small brewer.
19 Sep 2008 19:31
Sold by M&B, to be closed down and turned into a straight venue, another piece of Londons history being shut. Amazing as it used to be a big money spinner in the days of Bass Charrington, along with a number of other gay venues no longer open in the former estate.
19 Sep 2008 17:50
As an occassional visitor to London I always stay at the Travelodge round the corner from here, and always popped into the Trader for a pint or two and a bite to eat. I couldnt belive last week whats happened to the place, yet another good old boozer being turned into a gastro type place. If the city boys in the area want this sort of food they will go to one of the many restaurants. What a waste of a pub....no doubt the name will change sometime....
18 Aug 2008 21:41
Nice atmosphere but pricey compared to Comptons...same as at Wellington.
18 Aug 2008 20:55
First visit since the refurb, have to say it looks a lot better but I was under the impression it was going to be a major refurb..just been mostly redecorated and the service bar rebuilt. Pricey but the same prices in the Admiral Duncan so I reckon this is the TCG (owners) making a mint out of the Pink pound...Comptons was 20p a pint less..
18 Aug 2008 20:53
The King William IV, Hampstead
In the area again almost a year since Ive been in the place; nice friendly atmosphere as I've always experienced in the past and suprisingly for London, the same cute brazilian barman from my last visit. Well mixed both in sexes, sexuality and ages..an example of how a cosmopolitan pub/bar should be.
18 Aug 2008 20:48
Doesnt appear to be much action in the redevelopment here, boarded up for months with a sign saying a new Be At One Bar but thats been up for months. Not the best location for it in my mind.
6 Oct 2007 19:58
The Ship and Shovell, Charing Cross
Went in for the first time one lunchtime this week. Nice unique style of pub over two sides of the lane. Female bar staff not that experienced but thats common these days.
6 Oct 2007 19:56
The Radius Club, Charing Cross Road
Now GAY Late Bar, after a few other incarnations.
6 Oct 2007 19:51
The Kemble's Head, Covent Garden
Closed, no longer a pub but a greek restaurant.Only has kep Kembles Head name as its a listed building and has history. Shame, used to work here in the late 80s, had a great time.
6 Oct 2007 19:27
The Hope and Anchor, Hammersmith
Ironic as until a few years back there were two late night gay pubs in Hammersmith. Always a shame they shut especially the Old Pennyfarthing..fond memories...
2 Oct 2007 18:59
Definately been bought buy Gordon Ramsey...he is hoping to buy another 10 pubs this year according to the trade press.
6 Sep 2007 19:38
The King William IV, Hampstead
Gave the KW4 another visit yesterday afternoon. Whilst Im no lover of the internal decor the service was very friendly and efficient. The food was good, albheit slightly pricey, but this is Hampstead. Its certainly very cosmopolitan and all the staff were definately gay.
One very cute young brazilian barman was very friendly, didnt get his name, but loved him calling his boss and regular customers "darling" reglarly. Made to feel very welcome; will return again when back up that way, maybe evenings are different to daytimes.
Maybe the supposed Gay Comunity should support the pub and be welcoming to anyone who uses the KW4. Its not exactly a secret that its a gay place afterall.The one thing obviously that does go against it is the lack of late night hours but thats the local licencing authority for you.
3 Sep 2007 13:43
Went in again this weekend; the place was the cleanest I had seen it for many moons. Always get relatively friendly service for the west end. Apparently it is closing in late September for a major refit.
31 Jul 2007 20:15
Not so keen on Comptons these days, popped in again over the weekend; has been a massive change of bar staff for the better I would say, but certainly doesn't have the charm that it used to..used to be really friendly but now very much just like many other west end pubs. Makes me laugh how there are posters in the pub saying they are now charging st8 prices, not rip off gay prices...do they mean we were being ripped off before?
31 Jul 2007 20:13
Well this pub had definately been redecorated/resigned outside when I drove by about a month ago, contrary to other posts on this site.
4 Jul 2007 22:17
Hey nice to see a posting from the manager. I hope Westminster let you do the refurb, mind you it must be something radical to be rejected so many times and at that cost. Hope it wont just become another so called trendy bar, thats what is nice about the place, a down to earth friendly pub. I for one have always found the staff very friendly and efficient, the place is just let down by the lack of investment by previous owner..S&N then Spirit...
4 Apr 2007 20:16
The King William IV, Hampstead
Absolutely dreadful refurb of this once great pub, what have the designers done, awful colours inside, not inkeeping at all with the building. Very strange atmosphere. Have the Faucet Inn company sold it?
10 Mar 2007 20:28
Seems to have lost any sense of direction, certainly very quiet these days...owned by TCG, think its run by the same team as the Wellington...
9 Mar 2007 20:39
When oh when are TCG (the owners) going to spend some money on this pub. Its crying out for a clean and refit. Popular pub, just an ordinary gay pub that caters for everyone. Great staff and service, most here now are from Comptons... Just let down by the lack of cleanliness and grotty loos..
9 Mar 2007 20:36
Whats happening at Comptons?? The majority of the excellant/regular bar staff have all left and reappeared at the Duke of Wellington/Admiral Duncan/Gay and Comptons are advertising for staff all the time...same manager though he has been there for years, maybe getting stale as hardly ever seen behind bar...
9 Mar 2007 20:27
The Polar Bear, Leicester Square
The new location for KU BAR. Great atmosphere and gorgeous bar staff....heaving at the weekends so far. Free admissiom to 3am downstairs...
9 Mar 2007 20:24
The Ku Bar, Charing Cross Road
The new Ku Bar (on site of former Polar Bear PH) was heaving last weekend. Sat night it was 1 in 1 out only. Got small selection of Draught on tap, downstairs open till 3am free admission. Kewl bar, certainly giving some new style to the west end bar scene. Bit overpriced (Fosters at �3 a pint) but great atmosphere. Wonderfully attractive bar staff and glass collectors too....
9 Mar 2007 20:21
The Marquis of Granby, Covent Garden
Available for a crazy leasehold rental price. The landlords say they don't want it as a pub but maybe restaurant or individual bar. Building works going to take place to enlarge it. i bet the upstairs will be converted into flats as these floors dont appear on the particulars of sale.
8 Jan 2007 22:20
The Old Intrepid is up for lease again but only the ground floor and cellar. I think upstairs will be the flat developments.
8 Jan 2007 22:11
The Polar Bear, Leicester Square
With the rent thats being asked for the Polar Bear, Im not suprised M&B didnt renew the lease, crazy rent.
8 Jan 2007 22:00
Popped in again yesterday to see if things had changed from my visit last month. Alas no, still very poor service by what it looked like an overworked/stressed young manager..awful. Shame as its gone downhill rapidly. It shows too, nearby Comptons and Duke of Wellington were heaving..but the Duncan was relatively quiet. Been newly painted in awful black paint as well - what is it with so many central pubs all going black pain outside?
1 May 2006 18:13
Must be the friendliest gay pub in Soho. Everyone welcome - Reminds me of Comptons in the old days when the pub was popular for everyone. Last night (Sun) the Welly was heaving, plenty of bar staff who were friendly and gave good service too - nice looking too if thas your thing!Well worth a visit.
1 May 2006 18:05
Been using Comptons on and off for almost 18 years. Busy place but relatively good service with enough staff who generally offer good service. Very busy especially at weekend. Cant understand why they have not got a later licence now, still closing at 11pm on Saturday nights, which is crazy in my opinion.
2 Apr 2006 20:26
Whats happened to this once great soho pub. Gone downhillrapidly. Young manager doesnt seem to have much idea of customer service or on running pub, on Sat night only two staff working plus mgr,loads glasses everywhere, full ash trays etc. Not that busy, but no suprise as across the road Comptons was heaving. Shame RIP Cinders.
2 Apr 2006 20:19
The Dundee Arms, Bethnal Green
Freehold currently up for sale by Punch taverns, lease not affected...
15 Sep 2015 13:01