BITE user comments - JdeP
Comments by JdeP
The Old Bank of England, Fleet Street
This used to be a favourite; I went last week for the first time in several years.
The interior is of course still as impressive as ever. The main change was that it was 2/3 empty when I arrived at 5.45/6pm, and as it filled up it seem to be mainly tourists rather than lawyers and city suits.
A pint of ESB and a bottle of Sol came to �7.85, and the ESB tasted badly-kept (usually I love the stuff). Far too expensive for poor quality.
1 Oct 2011 13:14
I can't see why anyone would go here, except perhaps for the convenience of the location, its outdoor tables in warm weather, or to watch bigscreen sport.
I went last Monday evening, about 7.30pm, and it was full enough for there to be few tables free. Of three bitters available on tap, one was already off by the time we arrived, and another was off by the time we were ready for a second pint. What sort of pub cannot keep two or three beers properly stocked on a relatively quiet weekday (Monday) night?
There's nothing really *wrong* with the place, I just can't see why anyone would go here instead of to some of the nearby alternatives, such as the excellent King's Head
25 Sep 2011 15:57
The Crown and Anchor, Shoreham by Sea
I went here on a sunny Sunday lunchtime with three fellow bike-riders, one of whom lives in Brighton and recommended it for our lunch-stop.
There seemed to be three spaces: a bar area, a restaurant area in a sort of conservatory, and an outside terrace, with views of the estuary. We were outside, and it was very pleasant (though not very sheltered from wind). The other three all had the Sunday roast (�10), which did not seem to please them especially: the beef was overcooked, the "roast" potatoes were clearly deep-fried, not roast; but I had a burger (�9.95), which was surprisingly good: good fresh bread, very herby meat, a good slice of cheddar, etc. The beers were fine, but not exceptional. Staff were friendly.
I'd recommend it for a lunch or a drink on a nice day, otherwise there are probably better alternatives.
8 Aug 2011 11:58
The Tartar Frigate, Broadstairs
Went yesterday evening -- a Saturday on a nice Summer evening -- but had no trouble getting a table for four of us. The Abbot Ale was spot on. The locals would be justified in being annoyed by tourists, but instead seemed friendly to non-locals: while waiting at the bar I heard a local chatting with two American visitors.
17 Jul 2011 09:52
Had lunch here on Saturday. Looked pleasant and inviting enough (with an open log fire, on a very cold day), but rather All-Bar-One-ish in decor. All except one of the bitters were off, which I think is inexcusable on a Saturday. I had a half of something OK, for �1.65. My burger & chips (�9.95) was surprisingly good: tasty burger, very good chips, although the presentation and side-dishes of salad etc. were fussy and pretentious. And for �10 you expect the best burger in London! All in all, not bad, but I see no reason to ever go back.
28 Nov 2010 17:26
Went here for lunch on Saturday with a group of about 8 others. Nearly empty, which was a bonus -- I did not want to wait ages to be served. The barmaid asked if we wanted all our food to be brought at once, which we did, so she took all our orders and poured all our drinks, before taking any of our food orders to the kitchen. She came back later saying that there was no fish&chips, so 2 people had to re-order. Eventually the food came out, slowly, in dribs & drabs, so some people had finished before I got mine. One person was served the smallest egg & chips I've ever seen, another got the smallest bacon sandwich I'd ever seen. I had a burger: the chips were large (but not freshly fried), the burger not bad, but the bun was a cheap 'plastic' supermarket type -- worse than McDonalds, and not what you expect with a �7 burger. Fish-finger sandwiches looked edible, but at �5.50 for 3 fish fingers, a bun, a few chips and a bit of salad, I would have felt ripped-off. You really can't call this a 'gastropub'.
In summary: a nice place, clean toilets, but amateur service, and food over-priced. Nothing was actually *bad* but it's worth a second visit.
3 Oct 2010 17:05
The Skinners Arms, Kings Cross
I've been here dozens of times over the course of about 6 years. It hasn't changed much during that time, so presumably my comments will remain true for a few more years at least.
The interior is attractive; the staff efficient; the beer well-kept; the food is good and reasonably-priced (if you judge it by the standards of London pub-food, not by the standards your favourite restaurant); the TVs and music are never too loud; the toilets are usually clean; there's a nice open coal-fire when the weather is cold, and tables outside when the weather is warm. All in all, it's a good pub, but nothing *exceptional*.
One reviewer complained about the clientele, and it's true that people from three local places are often here: the BT Openreach offices; the British Library; and the institute for the blind. So, if you want to see and be seen in a place with trendy/attractive customers, this is perhaps not the place for you, but if you want beer, food, or somewhere to chat without being deafened by SkySports, then this is a much better pub than most of the ones I've been to in London.
1 Dec 2009 16:40
It's been a while since I walked into a pub as silent as this one, which was a bit off-putting. But after buying drinks from the pleasant barmaid and sitting down with my friend, we began to hear other people talking to each other, and some unobtrusive music playing. By the time we left there were about 20-30 people there, and things were a bit livelier. I went on a dark winter evening, and I can imagine it has a different character in the spring and summer.
The beer was good, the peanuts were free, and the TV was off, so I would recommend this as a good place for a quiet drink.
If I had to sum it up in a word, I would call it "unpretentious".
1 Dec 2009 16:23
Had a pleasant drink here on a Wednesday a couple of nights ago. Arrived about 6.30 and it was fairly empty, left at about 7.30/8.00 and it was fairly full, but seats were still to be had.
I liked:
-- open, airy, space; feels more like a lounge bar than a typical London boozer
-- the lack of TV, intrusive music, fruit machines, etc.
-- the beer was fine
-- the two barmaids are very easy on the eye
-- they came around offering to take orders for another drink as we were finishing the first one (it's nice not to have to wait at the bar), but were not pushy
I didn't like so much:
-- that the clientele was mostly a bit hooray / city-ish
-- central London prices
-- that when you pay for a drink your change is given to you on a little platter, as if you are expected to leave a tip (which is maybe fine for a cocktail bar, but seems wrong for a pub)
If you want something a bit upmarket from an ordinary pub, I'd definitely recommend it.
13 Nov 2009 10:58
This is a nice-looking, unpretensious, pub with well-kept real ale. I haven't eaten here myself, but the food on other people's plates looks really appealing. I would really like to be writing a positive review, but ...
they have a TV screen showing sports, and a few nights ago I had the worst bar-service that I have experienced in many years:
1. I had to wait 10 minutes to be served -- the clueless barmaid did not see me standing there (she didn't look at other customers while she poured a Guinness slowly), and repeatedly served other people first, who had not been waiting as long as me.
2. Eventually a spotty Australian/Kiwi chap appeared to take my order: one pint, one wine spritzer, and one mulled wine. He managed the first two without too much trouble, then said I'd have to wait for the mulled wine (which he pronounced "muled"). I offered to pay, so he asked me to remind him what I had ordered. Having reminded him, and paid �9.50, I waited while he served someone else. Then I asked him if my mulled wine was read yet, and he said "not yet". I waited some more. I asked again. Eventually he said he would bring the mulled wine over to my table when it was ready. Five minutes later the mulled wine had still not appeared, so I went back to the bar. He had forgotten about it, and it was sitting in the microwave. He gave it to me, and the glass was so hot it nearly burnt my hand. I tried to say that this could not be right, but he assured me (even though he did not even know how to pronounce the drink) that this is how it is supposed to be.
In all it took me about 20 minutes to get one round of drinks, including a ridiculously hot glass of mulled wine. The pub could be great, but I can't recommend it until they get some new bar staff.
31 Jan 2009 18:05
Yes, the food is very good (it should be, as it's not cheap), but this is a pub guide, and the beer on tap here is nothing to write home about. The wine is not great if you get it at the affordable end of the price-range, either. Because if its reputation it's usually uncomfortably crowded and difficult to get a table, but if you don't mind noise, smoke, and high prices in exchange for being somewhere fashionable, this could be the place for you! (Just to show I'm not someone with a personal vendetta, I'll add that I've had some of the friendliest service here in the restaurant bit -- but not in teh bar)
15 Apr 2007 18:40
The Globe, Covent Garden
Tried to go here for lunch today. A friend had made a reservation by phone. We were told by an extremely unhelpful owner/manager that they don't take reservations on Saturdays, that we must be mistaken, etc. etc. No apologies for the confusion, no attempt to find out which barman had accepted the reservation, no suggestion that we might like to have a drink while we wait for a table to become free, etc., so we left. Clearly this pub has enough tourists and does not need your business, and will treat you accordingly.
26 Nov 2011 18:54