BITE user comments - Gzornenplat
Comments by Gzornenplat
Hmm. My last post has disappeared. All I said 3 weeks ago was that they had run out of beer when I went there, the Krony ran out as I drank it, and a change of management seemed imminent.
Well, there's a new manager/landlord (not sure what the arrangement is) as of a few days ago. Too early to tell how it will go, of course, but the beer (well, the Wychwood I had) was up to the usual standard.
Let's see how long this comment lasts :-)
20 Feb 2012 15:23
I didn't actually accuse you of anything, but I reckon you are right to believe that you and this pub aren't suited. Maybe not for the reasons you think, though.
12 Feb 2012 12:00
The Kings Head, Holmbury St Mary
Thinking about it, I should have said 'We came, we saw, we concurred.'
Bloody hindsight.
28 Jan 2012 17:34
Stephan Langton Inn, Abinger Common
Don't want to start a contest here, ChrisL, but I went back here today for the first time since I was definitely under 17, so that is more than 36 years. I was probably about 10 and had had a walk around the lake and got sat out side with a bottle of Coke, a straw and a packet of crisps with the little blue screw of salt where you sometimes got two, and sometimes got none.
I'll be dead soon, so you won't have to read all this rubbish :-)
Anyway, the pub: A very pleasant experience as we passed. A wonderful pint of Shere Drop at �3.80 I think, with Ringwood Best, T.E.A., and Youngs ordinary also on the pump. Guinness, Fosters, San Mig, and Tiger, plus some ciders (three, I think)
If it's crowded at Saturday lunchtime in January, it'll probably be hell when the weather gets better and the fair-weather walkers get out, and the 4x4 P.I.T.A. lot ('actually, my drive *is* quite steep') turn up. But a pleasant place if it is not too crowded, you can work out when it is actually open, and you can find the place (Dorking-Guildford road, about half way follow Friday Street signs and turn down by the side of the lake)
I don't mind telling you where it is, it's too crowded now so a few more won't make much difference.
28 Jan 2012 15:40
Back again today for a passing visit. Saturday lunchtime and the place was busy. Tanglefoot has dropped to �3.80 which brings it in line with some of the similar places in the area.
Didn't eat, but heard people leaving being enthusiastic about the food (rather than just being polite)
The family seem to put a lot of work in to make it a success. I think they have been there for about 18 months now, and seem to have built it back up again.
Still not sure why people feel the need to crush my new potatoes when, if that was what I wanted, I could flatten the little buggers myself, but there you go. Just a fad, I suppose, like octagonal plates, or calling gravy 'jus'.
28 Jan 2012 15:19
The Kings Head, Holmbury St Mary
Been back a couple of times in the last week, and Jane and Mike seem to have got the placed nailed down. Locals, walkers, and 'furriners' (like me) came and saw and liked it and keep coming back.
I know this sounds like an advert, but... they have live music on, a quiz, things like a 'Spice Night' and a very eclectic menu - you can see it on their web site - with a good veggie selection (nothing actually tagged as such, though, so you can't be sure a salad doesn't have bacon bits on it), but if you're not veggie, who cares :-)
Never seen mash and gravy as a menu item before, but what a great idea!
Whatever you think, I'm not staff - just someone who is pleased to see an old favourite pub which went downhill back to how it ought to be.
Upgrading from a 7 to an 8. Turn the heating up and you will get a 9. No-one gets a 10.
28 Jan 2012 15:08
This isn't a pub - - can I put my local Indian restaurant on this site? At least they sell beer!
24 Jan 2012 13:27
No, I'm saying that pubs are for adults, many of whom don't want toddlers under their feet, screaming babies, shouting, kids running about and knocking things over.
Of course I'm sure your little darlings are well behaved and would never do anything like that, but the licensee has overall discretion over whom he or she allows into the pub, and if the landlord doesn't want kids then he is perfectly within his rights to refuse them entry.
My mind went down the line of places I would feel it wrong to take my children when they were younger. Are you amazed that I included brothels in the list because you would feel happy to take your children to brothels as well as pubs?
I see you have lowered yourself to the level of personal insults. Do you not have a defence?
23 Jan 2012 16:12
Hey! It's open again. Had a bit of a refurb and looks tidier but not all that different (a good thing IMO). Nice to see it back when so many pubs are closing for good.
Only had a quick pint, can't remember what, but it was acceptable.
It's a shame BITE doesn't start a new rating when new management turns up. These poor sods now have to try to turn a 4.4 rating from 21 people into something that reflects the true state of the pub they have pumped money into. For that reason I'm giving a 10 just to try to redress the balance a bit.
14 Jan 2012 14:45
The Black Swan, Martyr's Green
Had to wait 5 minutes to get served (I'd have walked out except I was meeting someone here). And I was the only person at the bar apart from two off-duty staff members who already had drinks.
The service is usually bad, but somehow it seems to be getting worse. If it wasn't for the food, it wouldn't be worth going at all
15 Dec 2011 15:50
The Kings Head, Holmbury St Mary
They have finally got everything in the place fixed (not their fault, I understand, but what they inherited).
Very well-kept beer and, though it was quiet when I was there yesterday (5.pm on a Sunday) I was told the food has really taken off now that people are coming to see what it's like under the new management (10 weeks now) and coming back.
Closed on a Monday all day, and closed 3-5pm Tuesday-Thursday 'just for the winter', but more likely until they can justify the expense of employing staff.
Good beer, friendly, reasonable prices (can't actually remember what I paid for a pint of hophead so it wasn't cheap and it wasn't expensive either), I can't say about the food yet, but it's nice to see it back to being a pub you want to visit again, again. If you see what I mean.
12 Dec 2011 16:10
Food-based pub but you get regular drinkers early evening. Varied menu (changes slightly every day depending what is available). I know this pub quite well. They have two freezers, one for bread, one for chips, and everything else is fresh. Everything cooked to order including vegetables which is why the previous poster might have thought the service slow. Things like lasagne and stew cooked that morning, so things run out.
Worth mentioning there are two menus, the bar menu in the bar and (you guessed) the restaurant menu in the restaurant (which has the starters on it). Strange arrangement since you can order anything off either and eat it anywhere.
Also worth mentioning that if Rupe (the owner) is cooking, then be very insistent about how you want your steak cooked. Twice I've ordered medium-rare and got severely well done when he's been in the kitchen.
On the plus side, everything on the menu is just ingredients and not Brakes pre-packed, so (within reason) they will be happy to add/remove things from your selection, e.g. if you don't like minted peas, ask them not to put mint in them.
Last night 3 mains (rump steak, chicken, leek and ham pie, and something else) plus 2 desserts came to �48.
25 Nov 2011 15:34
It's not a public house if the public can't get in and therefore this listing should be removed IMO.
25 Nov 2011 14:40
The Black Swan, Martyr's Green
This used to be a good pub. If you ever get to see The Battle Of Britain film, this was the pub including the interiors (well, some of them)
As the Mucky Duck it was a proper pub. As others have mentioned, it's now just a money-making, vast, table-filled, not-even-gastro-pub.
I called in there 3 days ago. 4 staff, 6 other punters (sitting at tables with drinks) and me. Seven minutes before I got asked what I wanted. Really seven minutes because I'd checked the time on my phone as I parked.
There was a bloke wandering about who said he'd get someone (which he did) but hey, one person at the bar, 4 bar staff? Come on!
The food is good, though, but on my last visit (and it will be my last) overpriced. My rib-eye steak was very thin (1/4 inch-ish) and so I can understand that the chef had a real problem getting it medium-rare but at �23.95 I really expected something better than I got.
21 Nov 2011 23:52
I like this pub. The beer has always been well kept when I've been there. The food is pretty damn expensive but worth it for a special treat.
I really don't understand the problem other people seem to have had with the staff. If they make an error and your crisps get damp, tell them! They will sort it.
And personally, I prefer someone who doesn't recognise me to enquire 'Good evening sir, what can I get for you?' rather than 'Yeah, and what'd'ya want?'
If that's Hyacinth Bucket. bring it on!
On the minus side, the parking is abysmal and it's not a place to call in for a meal just because you don't fancy doing the washing up if you are on normal people's wages, but it is what it is: A friendly pub with friendly locals, expensive food and polite staff.
21 Nov 2011 23:30
The Running Horse, Leatherhead
Waste of space. You could have put a pub here, but unfortunately there isn't one.
Had a meal here with my parents. 45 minutes for the starters to arrive. They forgot the drinks order. 30 minutes between finishing the starter and the main course (25 minutes before the starter plates were cleared). We didn't bother with desert or coffee, and the bill had 40-quids worth of stuff we hadn't had. They fixed it, but no apology, in fact we appeared to have upset them by pointing out the fact.
Check my profile out. This is not a one-off 'slag the opposition' posting, I've put in a fair few posts over the last year, most of them positive because I believe that good pubs need a boost the way things are right now.
My experience may not be typical, but it was my experience. You might fare better, but it is possible that you will experience what I and my family experienced on what proved to be my mother's final birthday party.
21 Nov 2011 23:11
Not a 'snooty pub' IMO, but there are regulars who stick together because they know each other.
Pete (a barman there) used to run the Royal Oak in Bookham years ago. The best pub I've ever drunk (and been drunk) in. A true gentleman.
Recently started Thai food but I have yet to try it. Before, the food was 'good pub food' at very reasonable prices. I will report back.
An old-style 'mind your head on the beams' place. Flagstones one side, carpet to the left, and a dedicated restaurant area beyond that. 'Lacking in seating'? Maybe, but on the plus side, you can get out of your seat at a table without knocking into someone sitting at the table behind you.
The Shere Drop was well kept, as good as the King Billy up the road, and possibly a bit more reliable.
One of my favourite pubs at the moment, the others being the Plough at Effingham, The Abinger Hatch, Chequers at Walton-on-the-Hill, and the Volunteer at Sutton Abinger. Oh, and the Plough at Coldharbour (which has it's own brewery!)
21 Nov 2011 22:52
New management who seem to be trying hard. Less swearing (certainly from behind the bar) and a guest ale at �3.10 (or it might have been �3.15) was very good for the price.
Still a bit bright, and too many TVs for my liking (one is too many for me, but everyone to their own). Dedicated pool/darts room (as before) if that's what you favour.
I wish them luck.
21 Nov 2011 22:28
Definitely a food-based pub where you can also drink rather than the other way around - so much so that it closes after lunch and re-opens at 5.30.
It's always been a food-based pub for as long as I can remember (back when Derek had it, maybe even when the actor Jimmy Hanley ran it) with regular eaters but very few regular drinkers (there are a few). It's not because of the quality of the beer, though, which is rarely anything but good to excellent (it's Cask Marque approved) and if it isn't, they do something about it if you tell them. Youngs pub, so Ordinary, Special, and a guest, St Austell Tribute, right now. Ordinary is �3.70 a pint, but Stella (or it might be Krony) is a mind-boggling �4.25 - a price in my experience only equalled by the Plough at Downside. The South Bank in London is cheaper (as is the Haig over the road, but still a wallet-draining �3.90 for Krony)
A good wine list but my sister only drinks NZ Sauv Blanc and they don't do that by the glass, just Mission by the �26+ bottle (about �11 a bottle if you buy it on the net, so not an excessive mark-up). They do a French and a Chilean by the glass, but my sister would rather drink Coca Cola or elsewhere (Cricketers at Downside do a very good Pencarrow Estate at �6.50 for 175ml)
The food is upmarket without getting pretentious (e.g. 'chips' and not 'Belgian Frites' and not a 'jus' in sight - at least, not today). Pricewise, for Surrey, probably about right for what you get. About �10 to �15 for a main with ribeye steak coming in at the highest at �18-something. Sausage and mash through to pheasant on the main menu and a few interesting veggie options. The 'Risotto Of The Day' has been mushroom and spinach for weeks but has finally changed today to butternut squash and something.
So, not really a boozer as we know and love, but still a pub where you can go and drink. They do only lay the tables up if they have been reserved, and (a real bonus for me) screaming babies and screaming uncontrolled kids aren't welcome. It's a pub, not a creche. 'fetcham' don't take your kids to pubs, nightclubs, rock-concerts, brothels and the like. Look after them properly. I.e, don't expose them to people like me who have had a few drinks. It's not a caf� on the beach in Spain that does beer. It's a pub. There's a difference. Get a grip!
21 Nov 2011 22:00
Bog standard Chef and Brewer which is an improvement because for years and years it was a god-awful C&B
The TEA was in reasonable nick, staff chatty, but no tabled to just sit and drink at so you have to push all the cutlery to one side.
Been in twice recently, first times since the refurb and it looks a lot better.
Still a C&B though and the building doesn't have much character, but it's a pub of sorts.
19 Nov 2011 15:18
Currently closed, I've been told it will reopen (by a barman at the Seven Stars) but his estimated date has long passed
19 Nov 2011 15:11
One of M&B's Premier Country Dining Group and therefore pretty much like all the others. Staff seemed friendly and helpful, and the food was really good, though my sister had been there a week of two before and the service was slow, this time it fine.
Gastropub rather than pub, but all the PCDG places I've been to (7 so far) have a reasonably-sized drinking area (usually about 1/4 to 1/3 of the place) where you *can* eat, but the tables aren't laid up) and a larger restaurant area.
And bar stools at the bar.
19 Nov 2011 15:04
Much improved since the new lot turned up. Good range of wines, reasonable range of beers and lager, the beer can be of a variable standard though, and they seem to have no problem with hoards of screaming kids running about inside the place last time I was there, so we moved on.
Friendly staff, especially if you like to be told 'Enjoy!!!' every time you buy anything at all. (And yes, they do say it with three exclamation marks.) On the positive side, although I've been told to have a nice weekend and to enjoy the rest of the evening, I haven't been told to 'have a nice day' yet, or asked if I want fries with my Shere Drop.
And 'Shall I take these empty glasses for you?' ... What do you mean 'for me'? It's not *my* job!
I hope it doesn't continue down this route or it will end up as a creche that sells alcohol with a 'side order' of U.S. insincerity.
But if the 6-year-olds aren't in and you grit your teeth as you get handed your drink, it's still a very pleasant place.
19 Nov 2011 14:33
Ye Olde Windsor Castle, Bookham
Maybe the General Manager *did* hand in his notice. Maybe it was that or be sacked.
I don't know who you are ColinManuel with your one comment on BITE, but presumably not from Spirit, or you wouldn't be offering information that Spirit Pub Co head office refuse to give. Or are you one of the new (all male) managers who advertised for 'waitresses' and went against the sex discrimination act for reasons of your own?
On the Thursday the old crew were all there, on the Friday they were gone, and it's not 'silly village gossip', it's what the ex-members of staff told me happened. They wouldn't all leave weeks before term started for no reason at all.
26 Oct 2011 16:02
The Abinger Arms, Abinger Hammer
Went back for another visit yesterday. Asked for another pint of Counting Sheep. The barrel ran out as the woman behind the bar was pulling it. Undeterred, she went to the other bar and topped it up with something else.
It was cloudy and tasted strange, so I left it and walked out.
Next time, who knows? Who knows if there will be a next time?
10 Oct 2011 15:52
The Abinger Arms, Abinger Hammer
What a great pub! Click on my handle to find other comments by me, you won't find just a single comment, I say what I mean and I do review!
Evil people would call it Spartan and it is old-style simple pub decor. Wood floors to the right (but bot rough wood floors, they have armchairs in there too). To the left, carpets and a real fire (2 days ago we needed air-conditioning, today we need a fire)
Counting Sheep �2.90 a pint, Krony, �3.30. I don't know a better value pub but I worry they'll go out of business.
Never tried the food but the menu is pub-grub - scampi, lasagne, sandwiches, that kind of thing.
I've been there a couple of times in the last few days and the locals aren't as friendly as the Labrador I met today., but there again, I wouldn't want them licking my hand anyway.
5 Oct 2011 20:54
The Kings Head, Holmbury St Mary
Called in yesterday (4th), it was shut but was told they were opening today at 12.00
InSearchOfTheBestPint got there before me, damn him!
But yes, seem like a nice couple, 16 years in the business and 10 at their last pub down Swindon way.
I asked about their plans - a pub that does food rather than a restaurant that does beer. Going to try for a regular quiz night, and monthly live music. And stuff.
I has a pint of dark star and it was very welcome though I was desperate for a pint!
I hope they make it work, they seem to have the enthusiasm and experience. It's been a good pub in the past and �3.30 a pint is not bad at all. The other pub in the village (The Oak) charged me �4.10 for a pint of lager. But the Abinger Arms does Counting Sheep for �2.90 so they're up against it. and the Abinger Hatch has a local ale at �2;50
7/10 - more hope than experience, but I have high hopes for the place. I will update the score after they settle in and the place settles down.
OK, off to review the Abinger Arms...
5 Oct 2011 20:42
Ye Olde Windsor Castle, Bookham
Update: 3 or 4 weeks ago it all changed. From what I understand, there was a problem with the stock-take. The landlord said it wasn't him, they accused the staff. The staff said it wasn't them, and Spirit sacked the manager, and all but one of the staff resigned.
It's not a happy place now. The beer's OK, but the staff are (with the odd exception) pretty jobsworth.
The food has gone back to how it used to be. Went there with my father, aunt, and uncle (despite trying to persuade them to go somewhere else). I had the Surf and Turf. Soggy batter on the prawns, and my medium rare ('please tell the chef I really do mean medium-rare') steak was blackened on the outside and well-done in the centre.
All us (now ex-) locals go elsewhere.
Tried to get an explanation from the Spirit Pub co they replied 'Due to data protection, we are not able to disclose details of our employees but I can confirm that the General Manager and some Team Players have left the business for reasons outside of our control.'
Still worth going for a pint as the beer's not bad, but forget it for food or a friendly welcome, and the interior decoration is, in places, literally falling off the walls.
26 Sep 2011 15:41
Good friendly country pub. Shame they let dogs in. I know some are well-behaved, and I don't object to dogs when I'm just drinking, but I really don't need some uncontrolled slobbering hound from across the room begging for food off my plate, but I wasn't there on 13th Sept, so I'm not accusing 180pie! I'm sure their dog is lovely, well-behaved and under control :-)
I agree with alan that the Heckled Spen was excellent. The landlord pulled a pint for a regular when he was still parking his car and was ready with a wine glass to hand waiting to check which wine she wanted :-)
My father and his mates go out once a month, and this is one they keep coming back to. Others of this ilk nearby are the Surrey Oaks (outside Newdigate) and both the Dolphin and the Red Lion in Betchworth.
The Stars has been a good pub for as long as I can remember, sunny afternoons in summer or cold winter evenings.
26 Sep 2011 15:17
Called in a couple of days ago. It's now a Premium Country Dining Group place (same as the Wooton Hatch, Arkle Manor, Derby Arms on Epsom Downs etc.
The good thing about these places is that they do have proper bar areas (i.e. not every table is laid with cutlery) - and they are different, keeping some character.
A bad thing is the menu's always the same.
In an ideal world, Mitchels and Butlers wouldn't exist and every pub would have a red-faced landlord, a roaring fire in the winter, a beer garden for the summer, and a free minibus to get you home.
As it is, the pub is still in business (which is a real bonus these days) and it's a pleasant if rather homogeneous experience
23 Aug 2011 02:32
Called in for a quick pint and to see if it was as bad as it used to be.
New management since the time before and it's looking much better. Not cheap at �3.95 for a pint of Tanglefoot, but it was a good pint.
It's been an up and down pub - many (many) years ago it was always packed, a couple of years ago it was a disgrace - but maybe I caught them on a bad day.
A pleasant couple now running it, so I'll be calling back
23 Aug 2011 02:19
Never been any good since Bill and Eddie managed it. Recent management change, but it's still just a place where you go to get drunk.
10 May 2011 10:48
Ye Olde Windsor Castle, Bookham
My local (or one of them, anyway). Chef And Brewer place, but they don't push the branding any more so you probably wouldn't notice. It's been through a few changes since I started going there 35 years ago but it's back to being a proper pub again. What used to be the public bar (but is now knocked through into the lounge) is a 'no children' area with a dart board and (unfortunately) a TV. Inglenook fireplace etc and is the oldest part of the pub.
The beer is well kept, generally, and the food is usually good but I did have a rather duff Surf and Turf there once. The new chef seems to understand what 'medium rare' is and can manage to get batter crispy. For the last couple of years everything has been fine. The whitebait as a starter is a meal in itself.
There are four pubs in Bookham and this is the best place to eat. If you want to go a bit more up-market, try the Plough in Orestan Lane Effingham, if you want a more traditional pub (SE England pub of the year) then head for the Royal Oak in Bookham High Street. The Anchor is also a trad pub (oak beams etc) but The Crown lacks atmosphere.
10 May 2011 10:34
Unlike the previous poster, we had very good service and excellent food here. Not an out and out restaurant pub (unlike those that have all the tables laid for eating) but not really a 'local' either. It was a quiet Monday lunchtime when we were there, though, I dare say race days are very different - York racecourse is about a mile away.
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The Black Sheep was very acceptable, but wine by the glass was limited - my sister wanted a Sauvignon Blanc but there was none and had to settle for a Pinot Grigio - which was fine, but not her first choice.
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My father had a roast beef dinner, I had a beef baguette (really thick slices of beef), and my sister had an enormous jacket potato with prawns. Nothing to complain about at all - we were recommended this pub by a friend who used to live in York, and our taxi driver also had heard good things about it. He also recommended the Ebor just down the road from here, but we didn't get in there.
10 May 2011 09:59
Definitely improved since a couple of years ago. The current management have tried hard in doing the place up but due to the structure of the place, it's never going to be easy to make cosy or intimate, but they have done a good job of making it bright and open.
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The food menu is not extensive, but a good selection. I've only had a sandwich there recently but it gives you an idea of the place that it came on a breadboard with tortilla chips and a little pot of coleslaw.
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The beer's above average price but I've not had a bad pint there in the last couple of years. Staff are friendly and considerate, taking things to my table once when I'd done my knee in and was using a crutch.
1 May 2011 13:46
I've been going to this pub for about 35 years. Every Boxing day before the King George, if nothing else. It's always been comfortably run-down and friendly.
Called in Jan 15th (delayed King George from Boxing Day) and that's changed now. New management (Alison) in August 2010, apparently, and it's been done up (in a kind of 'Ikea Pine' style) and it's still friendly.
29 Jan 2011 08:07
The Kings Head, Holmbury St Mary
Interesting series of comments from the last 5 'people'. All of whom seem to have joined BITE on the day they made their comments and have said nothing else about anywhere else in the mean time.
What do you need to know about the pub?
* You will find a new beer there that you probably haven't heard of before every time you go unless you go there more than once a week
* I've never had a bad pint there since the new lot took over. Bad pints is why I stopped going there before, but that was a looong time ago, probably before the previous lot had it.
* The food I've tried has been fine, but I haven't tried much of it.
* There's live music, themed food evenings, a beer festival coming up, the occasional outing. They seem to be trying.
* One of the big advantages is that people who judge by appearance apparently don't want to come back. Is the landlord's choice of trousers the most important factor when you go for a pint? (Obviously if the options are 'yes' and 'no' then it *is* a concern.) And how many times have you left a pub at chucking out time muttering 'Well the beer was crap, but at least the barman wasn't wearing an earring'?
* On the down side, I have to admit it can be cold in there.
I urge you to check (anywhere on this site) how many reviews have been posted be a reviewer before you judge how seriously you take them (I don't know why BITE doesn't put it next to the reviewer's name) - is it from a rival - is it from the owner - and how long ago they were posted - is the review about the current manager/landlord?
And I have to admit I'm biased - I like the place. It's a real pub. I live quite a way away and still call in when I can, but I have no other connection to the pub other than that.
19 Apr 2012 15:12