BITE user comments - Escoffier
Comments by Escoffier
What has gone wrong here?
This used to be a buzzing popular venue, co owned by Mary of the Bell, an excellent publican.
It now resembles the Marie Celeste on a bad day.
The furniture is "tired" to put it mildly. I think the bar stools came from the first series of Coronation Street. The decor is a bizarre mix of train pictures and gloomy paint.
The rear patio garden is a disgrace - unkempt with dangerous carpet metal strips. The view of the boiler isn't encouraging either - not sure that is safe.
The closure of the gents loo beggars belief (oh, and it is illegal). I presume the lack of soap is a cost cutting measure whilst they save for new furniture
And yet the beer was excellent, the service efficient and the few punters that were about friendly.
So, not dead, but in serious need of resuscitation. It needs a make over and some investment. Let's hope they lower the price (�70k! I ask you) Please somebody, buy it!
23 Apr 2008 12:16
Hmmm, not sure I recognise the pub from the reviews.
The landlord is a decent bloke who came from the Colegrave. It is a regulars pub, not especially friendly, though with well kept ales.
Despite its huge potential it has never really cracked the local market and is now plagued with dealers. Wish it well though.
23 Apr 2008 12:05
This pub is great if you are part of the great irish diaspora. If you have the temerity to be English you are as welcome as a rash.
Incidentally, Cat is part of the occassionally resident band and a very fine singer who graces The Chevy and The Cart and Horses (sorry Cat, you've been rumbled!)
23 Apr 2008 12:00
The King Edward VII, Stratford
Cracking local with good beer and stunning food. The sprouting broccoli with shrimp was sublime.
The best real ale selection in Stratford (the cognoscenti don't consider Wetehrspoons a proper pub!) with some unusual bottle beer (St Peters is excellent) and a wine list that would shame most restaurants.
The also run a superb monthly wine tasting led by some bloke from The Groucho.
If only all pubs were like this......
23 Apr 2008 11:56
I am with Chiefy, Off the Wagon and Roger the Dodger and others who enjoy having a good local pub (and we can't all be Noel in disguise!) Gigalo should thank his lucky starts he doesn't live in Stratford. What has happened to the Bacchus at Amryland Point is nothing short of Criminal. The only decen tpub that has survived is The King Eddie remains (top beer, top food!)
The Nightingale is a consistently great pub with pleasant staff and good food, in short an excellent local. As in all walks of life, if you are pleasant you get a pleasant reception.
I am sure Gigalo is usually a nice bloke. Perhaps the best way forward is for the many of us that like and enjoy the Nightingale and appreciate the hard work of Noel and Lucy to continue to go their and those that don't to simply find another local. The sniping is unwarranted an undignified.
I shall be there tonight for rumbustious St Georges Day, holding an excellent pint off Bombardier and the St Georges Day food.
Cry God, Harry and St George!
23 Apr 2008 11:47
The Nightingale was a wonderful surprise, an excellent local pub with a superb range of beers and whiskys tucked away in Wanstead's sidestreets. They also do a great range of freshly cooked food (Superb for fish lovers - The Pangasius was new and sensational, The Irish Oysters amongst the best we have had this year) with a renowned and popular Sunday Lunch.
If you are polite, the staff are friendly and efficient - probably the best around(take note earlier reviewer!)but that is true everywhere.
We went back, enjoyed a late night sing song and a different range of real ales. Women are safe and welcome, great for kids on a Sunday - visit The Nightingale if you like well run pubs, decent people and cracking food, with one of the best breakfasts around.
You will find me with a glass of Timothy Taylors Landlord and the Observer most Sundays. Feel free to buy me a pint!
26 Mar 2008 14:59
The Chevy Chase, Stratford
Rumour has it that the owner of the Thailander, (formerly Bacchus) Mr Khan, has put a bid in for the Chevy.
He sub-let the Thailander, turning it into a Lithuanian drinking den. Subject to planning, he may expand which means the Chevy will close.
Losing the Chevy would be a tragedy. It has had a succession of great landlords and landlady's as well as some real characters as customers. As nice as Mr Khan may be, tee total Muslims are as good at being a publican as Vegans are at being butchers.
Let's hope PJ can hang on in there.
22 Mar 2010 10:06