BITE user comments - HLC
Comments by HLC
RIP Legion. We miss you. Be @ One is cack, soulless and an unworthy successor.
13 Aug 2014 15:49
To Malo66 - the Flask in Highgate in hardly a well kept secret.
I haven't been for a few years but I agree it is a good pub for an ale after a wlak over the Heath. I understand it has recently been taken over by Fullers, if so that is a good thing. I hope they keep the prices reasonable.
30 Nov 2010 16:05
Roadtrip Bar and Deli, Old Street
I think the last poster, crickey, must be a manager there. I mean who writes such ass licking reviews?
26 Oct 2010 19:49
Not a pub but a late night bar. Now closed for the forseeable due to fire/smoke damage.
No loss to the area.
26 Mar 2010 12:04
What murgatroyd said.
It could be a decent traditional pub but it does have a confused identity. Also a little expensive.
26 Mar 2010 11:59
Rampanywurzel hits the nail on the head.
There is always a 15 minute wait at this bar. It is too dark, overpriced and packed full of ponces. I live local so have been here 4 or 5 times over the years for various reasons. Just avoid.
26 Mar 2010 11:48
Charlie Wright's International Bar, Hoxton
One of the original Hoxton bars. This place was knocking out pints of red stripe when most of the the current skinny jeaned hoxtonista's who frequent this area were starting school.
I have often rocked up here at 2:45 a.m. blind drunk for the late one until 4 to try and get hold of some skank.
26 Mar 2010 11:42
The Zeppelin Shelter, Whitechapel
Good traditional pub downstairs. Games room upstairs - darts, pool and pinball. Deuchers was well kept. Roof terrace.
9 Mar 2010 22:14
I have been here a few times over the years. It is a cool enough bar but, the a poster below mentioned, it is noticeably expensive, even for London prices.
For that reason, and as a point of principal, I won't be returning.
7 Jan 2010 02:24
The Punch Tavern, Fleet Street
Some sort of pub/curry house. Expensive. Could do so much better.
5 Dec 2009 23:25
The Princess of Shoreditch, Old Street
Was in here about a year ago and liked it as a normal cosy boozer. I walk past it regularly and there have been recent refurbishments. I think it may have gone down the path of "gastro grill" which, if it indeed has, is a real shame.
26 Oct 2009 16:27
A boho arty farty bar in Whitechapel. �16 for 4 bottles of lager. No thanks.
22 Oct 2009 19:34
Overpriced beer and food. Much better boozers in the locality.
25 Sep 2009 00:29
Now renamed as East Village (very NY I know) but the post below is, I am certain, still fairly accurate.
16 Sep 2009 00:03
The Tabernacle Bar & Grill, Old Street
CLOSED - surprising, was always relativey busy and they charged enough. I had some good nights in here but no major loss to EC1.
15 Sep 2009 23:55
Not a bad boozer.
They are keen on orange lighting. Perhaps to make it look and feel cosy but it doesn't work. A bit rough around the edges (peeling paint, rickety chairs etc) but that is the nature of the place and I don't mind it.
A "Shoreditch" crowd, as expected, but without the 19 year old sloaney hip chicks (just away from the beaten track enough to be off their radar).
I am not an ale or bitter drinker but had no problem with the lager they were serving up.
3 Feb 2009 11:46
I went here a couple of Saturday's when the weather was nice. The place was very busy. The queue at the bar was at least 25 minutes which is unacceptable. The blondie serving up was a bit of a space cadet and did everything in slow motion.
Like the pub, the garden and the location but will not return as really cannot be arsed with the excruciating wait at the bar.
22 Sep 2008 14:22
I have recently moved into the area and occasionally pop into this boozer after work. I like its location and its history. Unfortunately the clientele is very arty farty/sloaney/eastern european immigrant.
Having said that at least the easterns europeans are probably genuine locals having settled in digs around whitechapel/bethnal and mile end - following in the footsteps of immigrants before them. What I cannot stand is the arty farty/sloaney/hippy people (mainly publicly school educated young girls) who clearly track over from affluent parts of west london or the suburbs just to drink in this pub and others, such as along brick lane, solely because they want to be 'hip and urban' . . . having said that a lot of these girls are very fit.
Any way despite my obvious chip on my shoulder I do like this pub and it will be there long after the 'fad crowds' have moved on to urban regentrification areas anew.
22 Sep 2008 10:20
I was in here a couple of months ago. Good music and atmosphere and packed out.
14 Aug 2008 10:57
Some hot bar staff behind the bar, as mentioned below.
Last time I was in here I had a rotten pint which isn't really acceptable in the City when there is plenty of other boozers to frequent.
14 Aug 2008 10:55
Full of 17 year old, blazin squad rejects who commute in from Essex on a Friday evening after finishing up in the garage where they are doing their GNVQ in mechanics to pretend they 'work in the city'.
Avoid at all costs.
2 May 2008 15:18
I used to like this place despite the expensive drinks. Needs freshening up.
12 Feb 2008 15:30
Anyone who goes to Smithfields for a beer and ends up in this place really needs their head examined.
12 Feb 2008 15:28
A bit poncey but, irrespective, still a decent boozer if you like that scene.
6 Oct 2007 13:58
Poster below
"Anyone who knows Clerkenwell will know that the area has very few decent bars"
Utter nonsense. Clerkenwell has some of the best bars and pubs in London.
27 Sep 2007 20:25
I used to drink in this pub after occasionally after work a few years back. I Liked it. I rememeber them selling pints of Stella and Double Redbull and Vodka for �1.99 each - the cheapest I have ever seen either of these drinks.
To the poster below who says it resembles a converted factory the clue is in the name!
21 May 2007 11:08
A good popular pub.
Was here in the beer garden last saturday evening. The garden was rammed due to the weather. Agree with a previous poster re: the bar staff being slow. Waited a disproportionately long time to be served. Only two people in front of me but was standing theri for over 10 mins!
So mgmt two things
i) get more bar staff in or give them better training
ii) sort out the hot air heaters
2 May 2007 11:40
Anyway, further to my comments below - this place used to be a safe bet, turned up at the door at on a Saturday night recently and myself and 3 friends wouldn't be let in because we didn't have any females in our group - a poor show!
I wouldn't mind but this place is crap and a fall back/last resort when we can't be arsed to think of anywhere else!
8 Mar 2007 10:27
A safe bet for a late drink if around this neck of the woods. Decent enough bar, not excusive, so no worries about getting in, but still a decent enough crowd - more young and educated rather than chav, hen parties and tangerine blondes who would be over the road in strawberry moons.
17 Feb 2007 00:58
Was here on a Friday eve around this time last year. Remember it being very busy with local workers. Decent enough place, good atmosphere - was very smoky though!
17 Feb 2007 00:53
The Shakespeare's Head, Holborn
The only pub I've ever been into and actually gagged by the odour in the air - horrible stale fatty smell from the slop they turn out mixed with stale beer and fags.
If you want a cheapy - princess louise, cittie of yorke or penderals oak - not here!!
16 Feb 2007 13:48
Also, really decent bouncer on the door here - must be the best bouncer in London. Always introduces himself to you and shakes your hand on the way in.
Would be good if there was more of this in London instead of attitude.
A nice touch.
24 Jan 2007 13:43
I have never had a good night in here.
When you first enter this venue it does make an impression on you. The decor is quite grand in the bar area and it is large with high ceiling's, chandelier style lighting, red carpet etc . . . but soon you realise that the drinks are expensive, there is no real atmosphere in here - there is an odd crowd (tourists, hen parties, chav's, young professionals, students) the whole lay out of the seating stops people from mixing and chatting, you then enter the club area and it is essentially like a school disco - just a big school hall with a bar at one end, I don't ever recall the music being any good either.
Perhaps an Ok venue if you want to impress a new girlfriend in a venue that looks quite flash but avoid if you want to let your hair down and actually have some fun on your saturday night.
(My review is of the downstairs lounge bar and club)
24 Jan 2007 13:10
Was in here last night. Nice cosy pub. Good crowd of people. Good efficient service. If lived local then this would be a worthy local. Worth a trip.
21 Jan 2007 15:39
The Orange Tree, Winchmore Hill
Good Boozer. Good young Crowd. No Scum. No Attitude. How boozers should be.
20 Jan 2007 10:30
Been here a few times on trips to Notts. Good bar, no complaints.
Saw some blond chick fall down the stairs here once. Hilarious.
10 Jan 2007 13:10
Used to be good, but in recent months they have been turning down the lights so it gets very dark and cranking up the music. I guess they are trying to create more atmosphere but it doesn't work and you can't then chat up any ladies!!
Having said that I have had some very fun nights in here and the music is good.
9 Jan 2007 13:03
Great little pub, tucked away off west smithfield. Very historic in the shadow of St Barts - the oldest church in the city. Sam smith's so cheap.
31 Dec 2006 09:25
The Bleeding Heart, Clerkenwell
Went for a meal in the Tavern a few das ago. �35 a head. Nice enough food. Service was OKish for 35 but if I was paying any more I would have found it inattentive. Small portions. also, agree with one of the last posters re: the foliage on the plates. Why put stale salad on a cheese platter? who has salad with cheese?? a few more biscuits wouldn't have gone a miss, but salad? WTF
Anyway, at a reasonable price, in a nice environemnt I can't complain too much. Try it yourself.
28 Dec 2006 13:27
Agree with Boss Hog, but these places have their place in the market and sometimes can be fun. Usually a decent amount of skirt to gawp at. Late license. OKish music.
Not my favourite venues but if your in the right state of mind they can be just what the doctor ordered.
26 Dec 2006 16:09
Despite lots of posters going on excessively about "city boozers" and "full of suits" I guess this place actually does fall into the above two categories. Full of deloittes, Goldman Sachs and lawyers.
I like it. Glass fronted. Not particularly cheap. Always busy and buzzing. Fair amount of women. Great atmosphere especially in the summer when it is packed and people are standing out back.
26 Dec 2006 16:05
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street
Disagree with the last poster, but horses for courses I guess. I like historic atmospheric pubs and this place ticks all the right boxes.
26 Dec 2006 15:56
An O'Neills - enuff said I guess, but you must ask yourself why go here when there are so many other decent boozers in the close proximity - on Fleet St for example.
26 Dec 2006 15:45
I used to frequent this place from 1999 to 2002. The comments below sum up my views. Good laidback studenty atmosphere, a bit rough around the edges, free pool, free duke box, buckets of bottles of beers, lock-in's a unique venue and I've been to a lot of places in my time.
26 Dec 2006 15:35
Was in this bar a few months back on a visit to Leamington. I felt there was a really good atmoshere in here with a great DJ playing some great tunes - Stone Roses, Motown. Good selection of beer.
Worth a trip.
26 Dec 2006 15:14
The Slug and Lettuce, Smithfields
I think this is now a Slug and Lettuce - so still as poor as a Hogshead. With so many decent boozers and bars to tickle everyone's fancy in the close proximity it really is a very poor show to frequent this place. Avoid.
26 Dec 2006 15:10
The Jerusalem Tavern, Clerkenwell
Was in this Pub last week. Very atmospheric and off the beaten track. Bought two bottle's of lager for �7.00, so not exactly cheap. Still, a hidden gem and definitely recommended.
26 Dec 2006 15:05
Nothing special at all. Far better bars in Soho.
Really very tatty. If they want to justify charging the high London prices then an urgent refurb is required!!
14 Dec 2006 13:48
I like this bar. As a previous poster said "does exactly what it says on the Tin".
I understand it was a pioneering clerkenwell bar. Late licence, good crowd (no chavs), nice girls, expensive beer but it's cold and it gets you pissed. Had a lot of fun on my visits here.
Worth a visit, if only to have your own opinion.
12 Dec 2006 16:38
One for American tourists, Kosovan cab drivers on their night off and northern birds on hen nights.
Avoid at all costs. Just dreadful.
12 Dec 2006 15:13
A chavtastic scummy pub. Avoid (unless you're from a council estate - then you'll love it).
8 Dec 2006 20:28
Still an appalling venue. Odd crowd. Bad music. Overpriced drinks. Miserable eastern european bar staff. Bouncers wth serious attitude problems. Tacky Gawdy decor.
Avoid like the plague.
8 Dec 2006 20:22
The Moon Under Water, Colindale
An atrocious pub. Was in here a few months ago on a Friday evening and the place was full of hood rats and chavs all tracksuited up.
JimBob - you think this is a good local? poor you!
8 Dec 2006 20:15
A standard DJ bar, exactly what you'd expect. Low leather seating - don't need to say anymore. Standard beers. OK I guess, no objections, though I'd rather go to the Castle a few doors up.
7 Dec 2006 13:58
I like this pub. No particular reason. Gets a good mixed clientele. Has a long interesting history. Like the dark interior. Near to Farringdon. Upstairs had comfy sofa's and a pool table - good place to chill out, but often reserved for private party's.
Good place to start a pub crawl in the area.
Worth a trip.
7 Dec 2006 13:53
Smiths Of Smithfield, Smithfield
Was a very cool place when it first opened. Now getting a bit tiresome - stale beer smell, sticky furniture. Needs to freshen itself up if it is going to continue to compete with the lots of other bars and pubs in the area.
Downstairs pub gets a bit too busy on week nights but if you like that . .
That said, always had a good time in here. Especially in the summer in the cocktail bar when they open up the large windows.
7 Dec 2006 13:48
The posts below are accurate.
Typical cheesy/sleezy west end night club.
Door staff need to take a reality check - they think they are on the door of some exclusive Mayfair members club.
Place for wide boys, essex girls, kids and tourists. Londoner's who are even slightly clued up don't go to places like this.
7 Dec 2006 13:40
Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill
PERMANENTLY CLOSED
Now a Waitrose.
3 Mar 2018 16:14