BITE user comments - Harry_the_Dog
Comments by Harry_the_Dog
I have been a regular, if intermittent, visitor to the Wenlock Arms over the years which, I hope, gives me the required objectivity to post an unbiased review.
The 'new' Wenlock Arms is very much like the 'old' in many respects . The range of Ales is still excellent, the customers are still the same mix of beer tickers and locals, the atmosphere of the pub is unchanged.
The new managers have mended various things, cleaned the place up and there are new toilets in the basement. At the moment there is only one cubicle for the men, which is hardly adequate, but there are plans for new toilets on the ground floor.
All in all, the pub has ditched many of the bad things, but retains nearly all that is excellent about the Wenlock. The bar staff are a little callow, but friendly and polite nonetheless, but the excellent Sue appears now longer to work at the Wenlock. The salt beef sandwedges (sic) have obviously been subject to 'portion control' and are not as substantial as Sue used to make them. This is only a minor quibble however.
All in all, the Wenlock is a must visit for all real Ale lovers and the new managers deserve every encouragement and support for all the hard work they have put in.
27 Jun 2013 21:40
I popped into the Wenlock in midweek and it is open for business as usual - what is more, the salt beef sandwiches are back! The new manageress seems a likeable young woman and she is obviously trying to keep the best bits of the Wenlock whilst making improvements where necessary.
The beer range was perhaps not as good as usual due to a predominance of 'session bitters' rather than the usual Wenlock range of strong ales, stout, bitter etc. However, the new cellar team are probably still getting the orders sorted out so this can be excused.
All in all, the Wenlock is on the up after several months in the doldrums.
27 Apr 2012 18:06
Visited the Wenlock last week to discover that they have stopped serving food. A disaster! However, the beer quality is as good as ever.
Apparently, the food was losing money so it was stopped. I am not a businessman, but I think that this is a retrograde step and one that will have an impact on beer sales. The problem, as I see it, is not food pricing, sales or margins, but staffing.
The staff in the Wenlock are lovely, but it's obvious that paying people to sit around doing nothing is not good business. There's no need for two bar staff and a cellar man at all times of the day. One person behind the bar and a cellar man should be sufficient and if this means that people have to wait occasionally for a sandwich then so be it.
An alternative would be to guarantee food between say 12 and 2 p.m and employ a 3rd person between these hours. Food could be served after this, but punters would have to take a chance that there was any left!
11 Mar 2011 13:48
Rumours that one or other of the co-owners is thinking about retiring have been around for a good few years now.
Although I am not a CAMRA-ite, I can discern no dip in quality standards as far the beer is concerned. My only slight grumble is that some beers from the smaller, newer breweries are not very inspiring. Maybe they are chosen for the beer tickers rather than your average drinker.
In the summer months, the cellarman obviously has to fight to keep the beer at the right temperature, but he certainly knows his stuff.
The place is shabby, but the beer is always well kept. You can't serve good beer if you don't have good hygiene. The kitchen is spotless.
The floor is in a state of disrepair, but most of us will not end up lying on it. It's fine for walking and standing on. The bogs are, well, just bogs. They are fit for the purpose they are intended for.
23 May 2010 20:45
I think filthy is a bit strong. I'm not a beer expert but I do appreciate a good pint. From my limited understanding, it's nigh on impossible to serve good beer if you don't have a good standard of cellar cleanliness. I have drunk a fair few pints at the Wenlock and I've kept my beady eye on how they clean their lines etc. and I've never seen anything other than top notch cellarmanship. It's possible to peer through the kitchen door and that is spotless too.
The floor is shabby, but I tend to walk on it rather than lie on it.
The last time I went to the Wenlock, the locals were subdued so maybe someone has had a word. However, this isn't a Gastropub, it's the last bastion of the working class so expect a few boots, fluorescent jackets, plasterer's floats and f-words to be scattered about the place.
21 Mar 2010 22:17
I have to agree with the last poster. If Dennis thinks feels he has to look over his shoulder in the Wenlock, then he does need to broaden his horizons.
I've never heard of any trouble in the Wenlock and I've never seen any in my numerous visits. The men on the right who swear a lot are a friendly bunch but I can see why some people might find them offensive.
However, historically, the public house was a place for the 'working class' to enjoy themselves, and as such one should expect some industrial language in the same way that rough language and occasional violence is common at football clubs with a strong working class background.
I think that Dennis might find himself getting into trouble if he feels the need to tell harmless drunks to 'f**k off'. I think I know the man he means. I say hello to him and goodbye when I leave and he's never bothered me except for the occasional long-winded story!!
The bar staff are normally excellent, and I think it's a little unfair to judge them solely by their looks. Occasionally, they chat amongst themselves and one might stand at the bar for a minute, but then one of the rude men that Dennis doesn't like shouts at them and they come over!!
The place is shabby, but I've seen dirtier toilets at the Oxford Union and on the Halfway Line at the Den. The Wenlock isn't the place to take a maiden aunt for a small sherry or a good place to entertain the vicar and the flower arranging committee.
What it does do is serve top beer and good cheap food.
That'll do for me.
3 Jan 2010 21:03
Although I am not employed by the Wenlock I will try and answer the points raised by the previous poster to the best of my ability.
1) Nearly every time I go to the Wenlock someone in a suit or smart attire pops in for a sandwich or a pint. They seem to blend in O.K. Maybe you just hit a bad time?
2) I would suggest that the a fairly large proportion of the regulars and some visitors drink lager. The Cellarman would have the exact figures, but I would guess that a good 20% of all beer sales are lager. I've never seen any raised eyebrows when someone orders a pint of fizz.
3) I agree about the floor, but at least the kitchen is spotless from what I've seen when I've peered in through the door.
4) I can't possibly imagine anyone wanting to go to a Hamster pub. Did you see them on the TV last night? Give them a sniff of the barmaid's apron and they'll be running about with their shirts off.
Stick to the Wenlock. Give it another go and you won't regret it.
26 Aug 2009 20:15
It's easy to pass by this pub if you don't keep your eyes peeled as it is situated down unprepossessing side-street.
First impressions were of a well-kept, clean establishment with a modern display cabinet behind the bar. A small food servery seemed to indicate that this pub might be of the food first, beer second variety.
How wrong first impressions can be! The pub was indeed well cared for, but this was no faux gastro-pub. The food wasn't the freezer to microwave catering company produce that you find in most pubs. This was pukka, homecooked fare- fairly priced and delicious.
As I expected, the beer was top notch. Mighty Oak's Maldon Gold was among the offerings.
Overall, a fantastic pub within striking distance of the city offering good food and fabulous beer in a more refined environment than the equally excellent Wenlock Arms which is more of a 'local' pub. I wouldn't like to say which was better. They are just different.
23 Aug 2009 23:02
That, plaintalkingdrinker is a quite slanderous accusation.
Have you ever visited the Wenlock or do you simply post your misconceptions under the guise of a 'review'
There are many different ethnic groups represented at the Wenlock. It is also not the first time that a 'black' barmaid has been employed there. There is no 'little Englander' mentality or any racism that I have seen. Some of the most popular regulars as far as I can see (not being a regular myself) are 'black'. There are also Turks, Greeks, Irish, Portuguese etc. etc.
Finally, and this underlies the lack of 'aggro' at the Wenlock is that there more football teams supported than there are beers. There is never any trouble or even a hint thereof.
13 Jan 2009 20:30
I am not a brewer, so my comments may not carry as much weight as the previous reviewer. However, I am not a 'stupid low life' either,as he so charmingly describes some of the frequenters of this pub.
I don't work for this pub, nor am I associated with them, however I do find the last review grossly unfair. I have never met any 'low lives' in there, there are people from all walks of life, who get on fine. There is never any trouble, surely that is the most important thing.
The toilets are fine, I have seen worse in University Unions and hospitals. The kitchen is spotless, I have eaten there more times than I care to remember, and I have never had a problem.
I suppose they are working out what to do with the floor. I'm not really bothered to be frank, I don't really pay much attention to pub carpets.
9 Sep 2008 16:53
I'm an irregular visitor to the Wenlock, maybe about once or twice a month. I can't say that I've noticed any decline in beer condition but then maybe I've been lucky. On the other hand, Dave the Cellar man has been absent on my last two visits so maybe some else is looking after the ales.
Bar staff are always fine when I visit, except for the surly Irish one who is O.K. if you're nice to her. A new lad of about 19 with floppy dark hair was serving when I was last in. He knew his beers too, surprising in one so young.
1 Sep 2008 23:24
Your mate is not wrong. It is the best pub in London! I hasten to add I don't work for the Wenlock, this is just my own opinion.
The condition of the beers is always excellent. I have never had an off pint there. Once I was asked whether I wanted to taste it first as it was rather 'unusual' (a Pitfield winter ale with cloves if I remember). The bar staff are friendly and know their beers and they make a mean sandwich too.
All in all, a great pub. The area isn't too bad as there is police station about 3 mins from the pub. Never any trouble with the punters, the only problem is stopping yourself staying for another pint.
20 Jul 2008 17:17
The famous Wenlock Carpet! It's not that bad and it certainly wouldn't put me off going there. As for hygiene, the kitchen is spotless and I have never seen anything that would make me question their practices. They have different mops and buckets for the different areas etc. It all looks pretty good to me and I eat there frequently.
The gents does pong a bit, but nothing out of the ordinary. If people want a little framed inspection chart on the wall they should go to Wetherspoons.
You wouldn't want to eat your salt beef sandwich in there but it is fit for the purpose for which it is intended.
9 Jun 2008 16:30
The Wenlock is in my top three London real ale pubs. As I don't live nearby I cannot call it my local, but in a sense it is. It may be miles away from my house geographically, but I'm always made welcome. As a real ale pub with a great mix of punters it can't be beaten.
I have encountered the 'surly' barmaid mentioned in some reviews, but she isn't typical of the bar staff. I have found them to be polite and knowledgeable. The Wenlock also boasts a top quality cellar man which may explain why I have never had a bad pint.
Don't worry about the 'rough' estates. If you walk from Old Street tube you can miss all the dodgy bits.
The carpet is held together with gaffer tape, the net curtains haven't been washed since VJ night, but it's still a top pub.
8 Feb 2008 09:23
Back to Harry_the_Dog's profile
The Old Fountain, Old Street
I paid a couple of visits to the Fountain last week, and I am pleased to report that the beer is as good as ever. I decided to visit soon after opening as, in my experience, the pub can get crowded as lunchtime approaches. The Kent Porter was in excellent condition and very drinkable.
The a couple of other plus points to note. Firstly, the salt beef sandwiches are excellent and the other food available looks well-prepared rather than the generic boil in the bag/microwave stuffed served in many gastropubs. Secondly, the bar staff were excellent and paid close attention to their customer's orders.
All in all, a must-visit pub.
20 Feb 2014 21:52