BITE user comments - Kenny260556
Comments by Kenny260556
Ancient pub with a number of cosy rooms on two levels. Popular with a wide range of people from parents with children to veteran drinkers to tourists wearing grotesque shorts. My pint of London Pride was fine and my fish and chips were tasty and plentiful.
10 Aug 2017 20:10
Mama Liz's Soul Food Shack, Stamford
Seduced by the menu posted on the outside wall but disappointed to find it was out of date. Nice, relaxed vibe in the bar as I sipped a pint of Guinness (only blondes on tap). Clearly popular.
10 Aug 2017 20:02
Looked in on a midweek night when the barstaff outnumbered the customers. Nothing much to say about it other than it was clean, resembled a slightly more upmarket Wetherspoons. Might be better when busier.
10 Aug 2017 19:41
Six beers on tap but, as is the way nowadays, all were blonde except for one - in this case, 'System of a Brown'. Approached it with some trepidation given it hails from the other side of the pond. Needn't have worried, however, as it slipped down a treat. Unremarkable bar is brought alive by the locals who all seem to know each other but are very welcoming to outsiders and have a great rapport with the bar staff. Someone started strumming a guitar at the outside table and before long a singsong was in progress. A good community pub.
10 Aug 2017 19:31
Pint of Doombar served up by an affable barman. Interior unremarkable but not unpleasant and buzzed with conversation. Had to move outside, however, to escape the smell of greasy food.
22 Jul 2017 21:43
Pub looks as if it's only half finished but still a decent place to have a drink. Locals very friendly and the juke box is excellent - possibly to keep Tom Waits drinking there. Beer all blonde except London Pride, which slipped down well. What raises this place out of the ordinary is the cheery, chatty barmaid who made us feel very welcome. She was so good we could even forgive her for recommending we visit Burghley House. £18 to get in and they want you to pay for a guide book? My arse.
22 Jul 2017 21:29
Had a pint of London Pride and enjoyed a half hour taking in the pleasures of this long bar with its tastefully unmatching furniture, interesting wall art and excellent soundtrack. Good mix of young arty types, office wallahs and bookreaders. Didn't eat but the menu looked varied and imaginative. Full marks to the friendly, cheerful and politestaff.
20 Jul 2017 09:51
Decent pint of Adnam's Broadside and the staff were pleasant enough. Might not have resented the price so much had the York Bar not been quite so grubby and scruffy - could do with some elbow grease.
18 Jul 2017 20:58
The Grainstore Brewery, Oakham
Delighted to see that the great John Peel is not dead but working behind the bar. On his recommendation, I tried the Triple B, which slipped down a treat. Would have liked to stay a bit longer to sample more of their range and find out if JP really liked everything he played on his Radio 1 show but had made plans and had to catch the next train.
18 Jul 2017 00:04
Popped in for a quick one while on a short visit to Oakham. Sat in the garden while sipping a pint of Tiger. A pleasant, peaceful experience in the summer sun.
17 Jul 2017 23:44
An impressive 13 draught beers on offer when we looked in. Sadly, only had time for one pint and plumped for 'Defiled Mild', which was served up by a very pleasant barmaid and slipped down very well. Can imagine it has a cracking atmosphere when busy.
14 Jul 2017 19:57
Anne Of Cleves, Melton Mowbray
Popped in for a couple of pints on the way to the station. Disappointed Tiger was just being pulled through but Old Original a very drinkable substitute. Not many in but those that were were very friendly. A very pleasant hour.
12 Jul 2017 09:46
Just walked up there for a pint; seems to have been closed since April this year.
8 Jul 2016 22:50
Maybe we caught it on a bad day but there were only two blonde ales on when we looked in. It would not have mattered even if there had been more and better beer on offer; I found it a grim little pub littered with wheezing coffin dodgers who leered openly at the young woman in our company. Barmaid very pleasant, though.
6 Feb 2016 22:24
The interior beauty of this fabulous old bar has been adequately described by others. It is matched by the enthusiasm of the barman who served us on Saturday; on hearing what we like, he recommended a beer (Pale Duke) for me and an Irish Whiskey (The Irishman) for my son, both of which perfectly suited our palates. Extra point for this credit to his profession.
1 Jun 2015 22:19
Used to drink here back in the late eighties. Interior hasn't changed much - there is still the vertiginous descent to the toilets, for example, - except that the old church pews have been covered in namby pamby plastic padding. There is a much wider choice of beer now (my double chocolate porter was delicious) and it is almost as much a pleasure to visit as it was nearly 30 years ago. Docked a point for the blaring TV in the back room.
1 Jun 2015 22:06
Nice, old pub with low ceiling and two upstairs rooms. Took us a long time to get served but this was not the fault of the industrious barmaid who had been left on her own to cope with a busy lunchtime crowd. Did not help that many of the young backpacked patrons seemed unfamiliar with beer or pub etiquette, asking for comprehensive descriptions of every beer, cider and lager without consideration of the long queues behind them. When we eventually got served, my Butty Bach was off but the barmaid replaced it immediately with a profuse apology. To emphasise that this was not a piece of bland 'customer service', she apologised again when she brought us our delicious bagels. An extra couple of marks for a quite fabulous barmaid who deserves far better support.
15 May 2015 21:29
Vile looking pub with its shrieking red walls and multiple TVs. Saved, however, by a splendid choice of eight real ales (my Stonehouse Station Bitter slipped down well), boisterous atmosphere and the cheeriest barmaid in Shropshire.
15 May 2015 19:20
As many others have said, a beautiful building converted into an unusual pub. Whitewashed, bright and airy, it was was lovely and cool on a blistering day. Eight real ales on offer, all knowledgeably described by the enthusiastic barmaid. Spitting Feathers dark Velvet mild was a fine choice. Imaginative, reasonably priced menu (grilled mackerel was lip-smacking). A very pleasurable experience.
15 May 2015 17:35
This clean and tidy canal-side pub features the cliche of some book-lined walls but others bore an eclectic pictorial mix of sportsmen, birds, old adverts, cartoon, bygone actresses and buildings of interest. I had the Brunning and Price Bitter, which was perfectly serviceable and the Brimstone Rhode Island, which was not so much to my taste. The latter was not fault of the attentive barman who had offered me a sample of these and the four other real ales on offer. Didn't eat but the food looked interesting if, like the beer, pricey. Clearly part of a chain, but a superior chain - Brunning and Price is no JDW.
15 May 2015 15:37
A much better pub than the previous reviews had led me to expect. The barman greeted us with a nice line in cheerful humour and served up a cracking pint of Joules Slumbering Monk (also on offer were Blonde and Pale Ale from the same stable). Food - my wife had sandwiches and I a panini - was plentiful and tasty. Unlike other pubs of similar vintage - it is over 400 years old - the interior, including the wooden floor, mantelpiece and the cushioned settles, were in keeping with the age of the building. Great eclectic music selection too.
13 May 2015 22:32
The Old Bull Ring Tavern, Ludlow
The modern, sterile interior betrays the promise of the beautiful timbered exterior. It resembles a chain with its infuriatingly high tables and chairs (does anyone honestly find them comfortable?) and meal deal menu. Six real ales on offer: Doom Bar was a bit warm but the Butty Bach was fine. The young staff were polite and I felt sorry for them having so little to do in a near-empty pub.
13 May 2015 22:03
The Clive Bar and Restaurant, Bromfield
As dpaajones says, it is more a hotel and restaurant and, subsequently, has no atmosphere. Decor very tasteful but discordant: the stripped back walls are a lovely feature and the glass tables are pretty but the aged former do not gel with the modern latter. The Wye Valley Bitter and Shropshire Lad are both well kept but the sterility of the bar eventually got to us and we left after a couple. Beautiful toilets with nice hand cream and soap, which may account for the expensiveness of the beer.
11 May 2015 19:10
Told it was Ludlow's oldest inn, which it may have been originally, but most of the fittings in the creaky-floored bar seemed of a more recent vintage. The long hop-adorned bar offered five real ales: Doom Bar; Wadworth's 6X; Castle Rock Harvest Pale; Ludlow Gold; and TT Landlord. My pint of 6X tasted vinegary but the barmaid changed it without demur. Food (sea bass) was very nice. Although there were a few people in, the atmosphere was very subdued. My wife was not keen on the outside toilets.
11 May 2015 18:53
Went for a drink in what is obviously a newly-fitted bar in an ancient hotel. Three real ales on offer from the Ludlow stable: Best, Boiling Well and Old Prickly. Don't usually like blonde beers but the last-named was uncharacteristically sweet and very palatable. The barmaid was very polite but reminded me of nothing so much as a hotel receptionist in her starchy efficiency. This impression was enhanced by the large couches that would not have been out of place in a hotel foyer. So, nothing wrong with it but I prefer earthier surroundings.
11 May 2015 17:18
Not much to say about this. Lots of TVs showing football and no real ale. Had a pint of Guinness that was as good as it always is but wanted a pint of something I can't get in every other pub in the country. Staff very pleasant.
11 May 2015 17:06
Been twice before and were reluctant to give it another go. Glad we did, however; the Ludlow Best was decent, the food was very good and the surroundings darkly cosy. None of this would have mattered, however, had the service not improved immeasurably. Where before we met only apathy, rudeness and irritation, this time we were served with enthusiasm, politeness and attentiveness by the two young barmen. A shining example of how pubs are only as good as their staff.
11 May 2015 16:59
Not a place where I could imagine having a session but fine for a couple of well-kept midday pints. Staff very pleasant and willing to talk about the brewing process.
5 May 2015 22:30
More wine bar than boozer - all white brick, pastel wood and LBD-clad barmaids. Two real ales on - Three Tuns 1642 and Wharf Bank Lanterne Rouge - but pizzas more of a feature than pints.
5 May 2015 22:25
Great, no nonsense pub offering beautifully-kept beers served by friendly staff. What more could you possibly need?
1 May 2015 14:01
The Lichfield Vaults, Hereford
On a swelteringly hot day, this cool shaded, flagstoned bar was the perfect place to stop. Had a pint each of Adnams Broadside, Caley's Flying Scotsman and Doom Bar - all excellent. Imaginative food served up by a cheerful barman completed a very welcoming package.
1 May 2015 13:57
Cramped bar with only one real ale on - Stewarts IPA. Staff and locals very friendly . Horseracing is clearly a passion of the pub as the regulars discussed in great detail the action from Carlisle and Southwell being shown on both large TVs.
15 Apr 2015 21:18
Nice pint of 'Head East', pleasant enough staff and welcomingly warm on a cold night. Those were the only pluses, however: SouthYorkshireman is bang on in describing it as being like a hotel bar; it's ludicrously expensive (£8.60 for a pint and a nip); and it was full of idiots taking pictures of their drinks.
5 Mar 2015 13:23
Now has real ale. On yesterday were Hobgoblin and Flying Scotsman. Very pleasant barman.
19 Jan 2015 16:51
How does this fabulous pub have a user rating of only 7.5? What more can people want beyond: an astonishing range of superbly kept beers; brilliant service; interesting surroundings; and friendly locals? Only down side for a visitor is that it's a bit out of the way but it's well worth the walk. One of the best pubs in the country.
9 Jul 2014 22:19
A Wetherspoon wet dream. Huge barn of a pub but furnished and decorated classily as comprehensively described by Blackthorn. One thing I would add is that, unlike JDW pubs, there is plenty of room between the tables so it's possible to drink and eat without someone breathing down your neck. The beer range is wide and well-kept and the food is excellent. It's not a criticism but I'd rather go there during the day than at night when I prefer more of a drinking than an eating pub, which is what the Armoury seems to me.
2 Jul 2014 20:44
We got there at about 1:30 and asked if they were still serving food. The bloke behind the bar scowled at us and barked, 'We stop serving food at two'. Reasoning that this gave us plenty of time we gave him our order, which he took with what I can only describe as bad grace. We took no offence, however; he was such a bad tempered git that it cheered me up no end that we may have been the cause of his disgruntlement (mind you I don't think he was short of candidates). Supped on a well-kept pint of Reverend James while we waited for our lunch. The food was excellent and was brought out by a very friendly woman - the polar opposite of Mr Frosty - who was particularly sympathetic towards my hangover-afflicted wife. We will definitely be back - maybe at 1:45 the next time.
3 Jun 2014 21:51
Only ever been in during the day when the accent seems to be more on food than beer, which is reflected in the clientele who are almost exclusively young families or coffin dodgers. The food is tasty enough if a little on the skimpy side. Staff are efficient but impassive. No complaints about the beer - Bass and Doom Bar were both excellent.
3 Jun 2014 21:33
The Kings Head, Bishops Castle
Nondescript pub whose few customers were mostly youngsters. Nothing wrong with that - it's just that, not having been young for a very long time, there was nothing in it for me.
3 Jun 2014 14:00
The Boars Head, Bishops Castle
Not as lauded as other pubs in Bishops Castle but it was our favourite. The locals were the friendliest we encountered in the town, the bar is clean and comfortable and the excellent Bombardier was served up by a swift, cheerful and attentive young barman.
3 Jun 2014 13:53
Had heard a lot about this place but, although there was nothing wrong with it, we found it a little short on atmosphere. We were the only ones in apart from a cluster of locals around the bar so maybe we chose the wrong night. Pint of Cloud Nine was ok.
3 Jun 2014 13:49
The Castle Hotel, Bishop's Castle
In for a pint in the early evening. Very quiet but the Hobson's Best was fine and the staff were friendly. Got the feeling this is where the more mature couples in Bishops Castle drink.
3 Jun 2014 13:42
The Three Tuns, Bishops Castle
Very busy with more of a restaurant than a pub feel. No communal atmosphere, therefore; the sense is more of a number of individual gatherings. Didn't try the food but there was a wide choice and the meals being brought out were well presented. The barstaff were briskly efficient and I can't fault the beer having tried each of the brews from next door.
3 Jun 2014 13:37
Despite the newness of the surroundings, the usual sterile JDW experience. There's no sense of drinking in a pub: their establishments are more like hotel receptions than pubs. Nothing wrong with the beer - pint of Doombar was fine - and the food certainly provided value for money if not much else but it took an age to get served. This was no fault of the hard working, amiable barman but, as happens so often with JDW, he was on his own in a busy bar.
9 May 2014 23:10
The Sheeps Heid Inn, Duddingston
Lovely old inn but the accent is heavily on food, giving it the air of a restaurant with drinkers a bit pushed for space. Staff very cheerful and attentive. Three real ales but all blonde so had Guinness.
1 May 2014 21:34
Not sure what the fuss is about. It's just a grubby little bar with some admittedly great cartoons in a frankly honking gents. Pint of Seafarers was ok when I finally got it. My long wait was not the fault of the barman who had my sympathy in having to deal with a bunch of American tourists who wanted a list of all the ingredients in all the drinks.
18 Apr 2014 22:56
Big, roomy bar with plenty of staff providing quick, efficient service. Five beers on tap and not too dear for the West End. My vegetarian daughter was full of praise for the adventurous which she said offered than the usual mushroom risottos and veggieburgers. Little atmosphere, however, possibly due to much of the trade being passing.
17 Apr 2014 20:46
Long, airy bar with tiled floor and big windows. Two beers on hand pump: London Pride and an eponymous brew. As might be expected, a few photographic nods to Ms Winehouse, late of this parish. Cheerful staff, traditional pub food, decent jukebox and lots of tourists. Like many others, had one and left.
17 Apr 2014 20:38
Long unremarkable narrow bar with two real ales: Brains IPA and Reverend James. The latter was very palatable. Relaxed atmosphere despite the urgency of background music such as Sylvester's 'Mighty Real'.
16 Apr 2014 21:39
St Stephens Tavern, Westminster
Given its location, surprised and pleased to get a seat so easily - it was busy but not mobbed. Nice compact little wood-panelled bar with a beautiful mirrored gantry. Four well-kept Badger beers on handpump, dispensed by four pleasant young barmaids from around the globe, mirroring the majority of the clientele. Carpeted lounge off the bar. Went upstairs to eat and surprised again to find the food reasonably priced. Much better experience than I had expected.
16 Apr 2014 21:34
Brigantes Bar and Brasserie, York
As others have posted, feels more like a wine bar than a pub. Can't fault the beer choice, however, as there are 10 on handpump. I had Taylor's Ram Tam and Thwaites Coiled Spring, both of which were excellent. I also had the good fortune to be in on Monday, which is pie night. For £10.95 I had a monstrous chicken and chorizo pie and a pint of Ram Tam - excellent value. A word too for the bar staff: all are young, enthusiastic and extremely welcoming. I especially admired the barman who, without prompting, went out to have a quiet word with a bunch of yahoos who were spoiling everyone else's night with what seemed to be a competition to produce the loudest and most irritating laugh in response to the most fatuous comments.
10 Apr 2014 21:46
More pizzeria than pub but three real ales on: Deuchars; Directors; and a nice pint of Caledonian Red Autumn. Young staff very polite. Low ceiling and bland soul soundtrack try to create a feeling of intimacy but fall some way short. Quiet on the night we were in; what customers there were looked more like tourists than local. Despite having the atmosphere of a restaurant, my breaded haddock was very disappointing: burnt on the outside, dry on the inside. Very clean.
12 Jan 2014 00:15
The Duke of Wellington, Newcastle
Very friendly barmaid who served up a well-kept pint of Bass against a backdrop of pictures of women drinking massive glasses of beer. Tried to enjoy the eclectic mix of music (from the Small Faces to Arcade Fire) but struggled to hear it above the racket created by half a dozen Geordies talking shite about football. Stayed for a while but never found out who sits in in the very low chair.
12 Jan 2014 00:02
Extremely busy in midweek with mostly middle-aged clientele. At least 10 taps, mostly from microbreweries and a huge selection of world beers. Refreshing free of TVs or fruit machines and the music was not intrusive. Extremely clean bar area. The only downside as far as I'm concerned is that, although the seating is very comfortable, the place itself doesn't have a comfortable pub feel - it's much too big and impersonal for that. A special mention for the two young barstaff - a woman and a bespectacled bloke - despite the bar being mobbed, no one was kept waiting for long. They were superb.
11 Jan 2014 23:50
Usual soulless JDW experience but, unusually for their pubs, it wasn't understaffed.
7 Nov 2013 22:40
The Crown Hotel, Downham Market
Went here after reading the positive reviews here but seem to have caught it on a bad day. I liked the comfortable, timbered bar but the locals seemed a grim bunch and I swiftly sank my - admittedly fine - pint of Adnams Broadside and left.
10 Oct 2013 21:32
Sought refuge here from a sweltering sun one afternoon in the summer. Nicely decorated pub (looked box-fresh) with cool mint wooden panelling on the walls, one of which bore a giant picture of the eponymous seafarer. Driving later so only had one pint, opting for Greene King Mild, which was perfectly drinkable. Menu looked appetising so we stayed for lunch. Glad we did; my smoked mackerel was succulent and my wife loved her pasta dish. We were sorry to leave without having another couple of beers in a calm, soothing atmosphere. Young staff were very polite and extremely pleasant. Will definitely return when next in the area.
9 Oct 2013 22:26
Seeking to emulate Wetherspoons but better than that (faint praise I know but praise nonetheless). Seating - including booths - was comfortable, the large bar was clean and the staff were all pleasant. Five taps promised a feast of cheap ale (£2.90 - £3 a pint) but only an excellent London Pride and mediocre GK IPA were actually on. Irritating that the three others, including Doom Bar, were still being advertised on the blackboard. A bunch of noisy but peaceful barrow boys were in yet the bar was large enough to accommodate them without them drowning out everyone else. Best pub in the area of Fulham Broadway but, frankly, there is little to beat.
2 Oct 2013 22:27
Interesting little pub down a private road. Beer was from the GK stable but reasonably well kept. Split into a bar and a lounge and from a door in the latter, a man in dressing gown and slippers (presumably the landlord) would emerge to talk to the friendly barmaid. He may well have chatted to punters too if there had been any besides us. Don't know why it was so quiet (we were in on a Sunday and a Wednesday) because it was far better than the rotten but busier pubs at nearby Fulham Broadway. Maybe we just picked the wrong nights. Would certainly drop in again if in the area.
2 Oct 2013 21:59
Full of wannabe hipsters sprawled in self-consciously wacky eccentric seating bragging to a bland accompaniment of nu-soul. Promised five real ales but only two were on - is it too much trouble to turn the taps around? A soulless but, in the interests of balance, very clean experience.
25 Sep 2013 22:42
Best beer pub in Ely with only the newly-opened Liberty Belle coming close. It has the feel of an old fashioned lounge with its carpets and striped wallpaper and no fruit machine or music. Six well-kept beers on tap included XX Mild, Thwaite's Nutty Black and - a new one on me - the superb Bath Brewery's Gem. Excellent, knowledgeable staff complete a very attractive package. Only slight downside is that it's sometimes a struggle to make your way through the semi-circle of regulars who crowd round the small bar.
20 Sep 2013 22:42
Not much atmosphere on the night I was in. Not sure why it was so empty because it was staffed by three very young, very enthusiastic barstaff and the beer - Wheeltapper's - was fine. It was the early evening so perhaps my timing could have been better. Definitely deserves a second visit.
18 Sep 2013 22:00
Unpromising from the outside - looks like a private, rather than a public house - but things improve when you get inside. The bar is long and wooden-floored and has an eccentric collection of furniture including what looks like a dentist's chair. Had a couple of pints of Pegasus and one of Broadside - all perfectly poured by the two young barmaids who dealt brilliantly with a very busy bar.
18 Sep 2013 21:53
Had the pub to ourselves on a sweltering Saturday night - everyone else was in the attractive beer garden. Interior is inoffensive but unremarkable - low-ceiling and whitewashed faux farmhouse walls adorned with fake horse brasses reminded me of the Seventies. Beer much better now than then, however: Doom Bar, Adnams Broadside and Brains Bitter all well kept. Service from the three barmaids very pleasant and polite.
18 Sep 2013 21:34
In for a quiet pint and a meal at lunchtime in this gloomy underlit bar, which was empty except for a couple of locals at the bar. GK IPA was OK and the food was passable pub grub. Very pleasant barmaid. Doubt whether it welcomes the opening of the excellent Liberty Belle across the road.
17 Sep 2013 20:51
Nice enough pub in a pretty riverside location. Flagged floor and various bits of ship-based artifacts on the walls enhance the nautical theme. The pint of Wherry was excellent and the young barstaff were competent if not attentive. Let down, however, by the following incident. The bar was busy but we found a couple of seats at a table occupied by an elderly women and her silent, scowling husband. We asked if we could sit in the empty seats (we didn't have to as they were unoccupied but we were being polite) and were sniffily waved in. I went to the bar and when I returned with our drinks was surprised to see my wife visibly upset and asking to move to another part of the bar. Once we'd done so, she told me that another woman had joined the couple and, indicating my wife, asked in a loud voice, 'What is she doing there?' Fortunately for this vile woman, I am a peaceable man and did not wade into her and her associates but I was sorely tempted. Now, this of course isn't the pub's fault but we won't be back.
17 Sep 2013 20:45
Better inside than the grim brick exterior would suggest. This is mainly down to the staff who are affable, attentive and assiduous. Two of the Wells stable - Bombardier and Eagle - on tap. Chain-type menu but with a bit more imagination than that suggests - my wife particularly liked her pea and mint risotto and my board wasn't bad. Elsewhere it was the usual chain scenario of screaming posters advertising deals and invitations to join 'our family'. Interior very clean and the stone floors helped to keep the temperature down on a hot day. A great illustration of how great staff can elevate an average pub.
11 Sep 2013 22:41
Very quiet for a Friday night - just me and a couple of golf bores in the bar (full marks to the very pleasant barmaid who did not once betray the ennui that the endless one-upmanship must have inspired in her). Low-ceilinged bar with a grubby carpet and peeling doors looked straight through the bar (couldn't see a gantry) to a lounge that reminded me of a working men's club from the 1970s. Beer excellent - had a pint each of Woodforde's Wherry, Black Sheep Bitter and Doom Bar. The foundations for a decent pub are there (barmaid and beer are faultless) - all it needs is a lick of paint, some carpet shampoo and the elimination of an irritating bing-bong noise that soundtracked the evening.
24 Aug 2013 13:55
Has many of the features I hate in modern day pubs: TVs on every wall; meal deals; drink deals; karaoke; and fruit machines. Four real ales but only stayed for one as the Morland Original was weaker and had less taste than the MOR sounds (Ocean, B., John, E. and Duran D) piped incongruously - the average of the clientele was about 18 - into the bar. It is, however, clean, the seating is comfortable and the barstaff were cordial.
22 Aug 2013 22:13
Only two real ales but I'd heard the food was good so went for lunch. Waited with my Greene King IPA, which was nondescript as usual, but I'd heard the food was good so I waited patiently for my Suffolk-farmed sausages. Eventually it appeared and discovered I'd heard wrongly. Of the eight sausages (not as generous as it sounds - they were all about the size of a child's middle finger), four were just about edible but the remainder were incinerated to the point that I couldn't saw through them with my knife. I'm not a complainer - I usually vote with my feet - but I mentioned to the waitress who collected the plate that the sausages were inedible. She said, 'Sorry' then took my plate away. Finished my pint and left about five minutes later but no one emerged from the kitchen in that time to speak to me. I didn't want anything off my bill or a voucher or anything material, simply an acknowledgement of my comments but none was forthcoming. And I'd heard that the food was good...
16 Jul 2013 23:30
Still nothing except Guinness served up by a barmaid who clearly wanted to be somewhere else. Service from the kitchen was quick and the food was tasty but a tad expensive. Grubby tables that had obviously not been cleaned since yesterday - at least - enhanced the feeling that this is a place which has seen better days.
16 Jul 2013 19:23
Gloomy, low-ceilinged entrance area takes a step up to a brighter back room. Five real ales including Jennings Cumberland and a surprisingly mediocre Doom Bar. Couple of foul-mouthed locals paraded the full range of their limited vocabulary while a pleasant young barmaid, who was more tolerant than she should have been expected to be - and deserved much better clientele - smiled tolerantly. Menu was the usual chain mix of meal deals and drinks offers and the air was heavy with the smell of greasy food. Fairly busy for a Friday afternoon, however, so they must be giving their overwhelmingly male patrons what they want. Nice comfy armchairs.
13 Jul 2013 18:31
Wonderful old place with beautifully-preserved parlour staffed by enthusiastic, knowledgeable owner. Gorgeous day so sat in the rear extension (does anyone else agree with me that real doesn't taste the same outdoors?), which feels like it's in a completely different pub but not in a bad way. It's light, airy and conducive both to intimate conversation and group revelry. Driving so, unfortunately, could only stay for one - an excellent pint of Hobson's Mild. Very sad to leave without soaking up more of the beer and ambience. Hope to return without the car.
6 Jul 2013 22:56
Only in for a quick morning pit-stop so only had a cuppa but, although it was well before noon, a few jovial regulars were filling up the cramped but friendly bar that I can imagine is fairly successful in evoking the jazzy beatnik vibe its posters of old hipsters is trying to create. Didn't notice much in the way of real ale but did note the very pleasant young barmaid who held the middle-aged clientele in the palm of her hand.
25 Jun 2013 22:43
Best real pub for miles. Always has six beers on tap from small breweries around the UK. Chatty punters and compact interior create a friendly, communal atmosphere. Run by celebrity couple Larry Sanders and Miss Diane from Crossroads.
16 Jun 2013 13:44
Full of youngsters getting tanked up on cheap cocktails to a soundtrack consisting mainly of loud dance music. Nothing wrong with that (everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves) but it's not for me - I prefer a more thoughtful atmosphere. No beer to speak of (only the mediocre mixed-gas Belhaven Best on tap) but you can't knock three mains for less than £9. Five out of ten including one point for playing the sublime 'In These Arms' by the shamefully underrated Teddy Thompson.
1 Jun 2013 23:57
Plain, old-fashioned boozer with good beer, cheery locals and excellent service. Three real ales including a top notch pint of Bass.
23 May 2013 22:26
In a hurry so only popped in for half an hour but gained the impression of a friendly local. Four real ales on tap including the ever-reliable Doom Bar.
23 May 2013 22:18
Resembles a good Wetherspoons with the usual features of that chain: cheap beer; cheap food; endless promotions; sterile atmosphere; and insufficient (though friendly) staff. They do a very decent early morning breakfast, however, that fortifies you after a heavy night/sets you up for a tramp round London.
22 May 2013 18:48
Every bit as good as in previous years. The Wye Valley Bitter was spot on as usual and the 'Blazing Saddle' was an excellent accompaniment.
18 May 2013 20:16
Interesting warren of a pub whose walls are adorned with a selection of intriguing curios. They always have a wide selection of real ales that are well kept. It is, however, owned by as vile a collection of racists, snobs and disabilists it has ever been my misfortune to encounter. There is nothing quirky, free-thinking or lovably eccentric about refusing service to perfectly behaved people who are guilty of nothing other than deviating from from some arbitrarily defined 'norm'. I hasten to add that I was never turned away but, after witnessing some disgusting treatment of other customers, I resolved never to return. Nothing out out of 10.
12 May 2013 20:08
Started drinking here in the Seventies when Drew and the Duchess ruled the roost, serving up the magnificent Belhaven treble of 60/-, 70/- and 80/-. Still feel nostalgic about those days when the idiosyncratic clientele included Pat, Catweazle, the guy with the sticks, the man from the Scotsman, the Dentist, etc., and the linoleum had more cracks than Tim Vine. The makeover may have smoothed out some of this grand old pub's eccentricities but it has been carried out so sympathetically that I don't feel the loss of the old place as acutely as I might have. Service is quick and friendly and there are always at least four real ales on tap.
11 May 2013 14:07
Everything a pub should be and have. Wide range of real ale to suit all tastes ranging from session to heavy duty beers. Beautifully decorated with vintage posters. Expert, welcoming staff. Perfect pies.
11 May 2013 13:54
Have only been here during the afternoon when it's been empty, which, given its size, makes it feel like you're drinking in a library. However, can't fault the food (all seven of us were happy with our meals) or the service (cheerful and quick). Four beers on tap - TT Landlord was OK.
11 May 2013 13:09
Affable, family-run pub where the brilliant Butty Bach is always on tap. Nice dining area downstairs where the food is tasty and plentiful. Always make a point of eating and drinking there when in Ludlow.
8 May 2013 21:40
Comfy wee boozer with dogleg bar and friendly staff but no real ale.
7 May 2013 22:39
The White Horse Bar, Edinburgh
Picture above is out of date. Back then it was a typical working class Edinburgh boozer: a row of second prizes drinking at the bar; an air of defiance in the face of so-called progress tinged with desperation at the state of the modern world; cheap plastic seating; tiny tv high up in a far-flung corner; saturnine moustachioed, slick-haired barman dispensing keg beer and mournful bon mots; calor gas heater providing weak warmth. Now it is a flashy, bells and whistles bar providing bottles of foreign fizz to young men in chisel toed shoes who'd rather look at their phones than the person opposite them. Another nail in the coffin of old Edinburgh.
6 May 2013 14:49
The Tollbooth Tavern, Edinburgh
Cheerful pub with good mix of regulars and passing trade. Excellent pint of Caley 80/- served by haughty-looking but briskly efficient barmaid. Chef looks like Simon Pegg.
6 May 2013 14:31
iamspartacus says it all. Used to come here 20 years ago but all the life has gone out of it with the 'improvements'.
6 May 2013 14:17
Nothing here - except Guinness - for beer drinkers but cracking all day breakfast sets you right on a Sunday morning.
6 May 2013 14:13
Well-appointed Victorian pub with good-looking horseshoe bar. Have tasted better pints of Doom Bar but it was still perfectly drinkable. Not much atmosphere, however, so left after one.
5 May 2013 19:27
The Princess of Prussia, Tower Hill
Very attractive, very clean Victorian pub. Staff friendly and the pint of Spitfire was not unpleasant. Only stayed for one, however, as there was no atmosphere in what could have been a cosy back room had the other tables been occupied. Would return but not, perhaps, on a Tuesday.
5 May 2013 19:16
Has more of a restaurant than a pub feel. Ironic, therefore, that the Jennings was of a much higher standard than the food, which was edible but bland. Very busy, however, so perhaps we were just unlucky. Not a fan of Lionel Richie (the owner seems to be a fervent admirer and his picture festoons the bar) so didn't stay all night long.
3 May 2013 21:48
First time in here a couple of days ago so I can't comment on its previous incarnations but I found it a comfortable, cosy pub (I'm a sucker for a booth) that warmed up a cold day. The Flying Scotsman was fine and I regretted being full as I watched other patrons trying to work out how to tackle mountainous pies with vertiginous crusts.
15 Apr 2013 21:37
Enjoyed supping two pints of the ever-excellent Doom Bar Bitter served by friendly, efficient staff in an early evening atmosphere of jollity and frivolity. But those toilets...
23 Feb 2013 13:51
Passable pint of Flying Scotsman and comfortable seating but docked a point for the barman who served us. There's a big difference between cool taciturnity and outright rudeness.
23 Feb 2013 13:43
If the Addams Family and the Steptoes went into the pub business together, this would surely be the result. Although the barstaff and locals were very friendly, couldn't help noticing none of them cast a reflection. And who was the silent guy sitting motionless in the lumber room that serves as the lounge? Most importantly, however, the beer was excellent and, despite the Gothic surroundings, perfectly unchilled.
24 Jan 2013 00:19
In terms of staff (among the best anywhere), decor and ambience, by far the best pub in Kirkcaldy. Only let down by limited range of beer available (one cask - almost always blonde).
31 Dec 2012 21:41
Had a pint of Guinness, which was drinkable apart from being too cold as is the fashion (a general complaint, admittedly, rather than specific to Milnes). Plenty of staff but tables uncleared and uncleaned. Had perhaps the worst steak pie I've ever had in my life having to saw my way through the pastry only to meet further disappointment in the fatty filling.
2 Dec 2012 20:33
In a city chock full of excellent pubs real ale, this is indisputably the best. Ten ever-changing ales, the best pies this side of the black stump and excellent, knowledgeable bar staff. Nowhere I'd rather be for a quiet contemplative pint on a Saturday morning when the atmosphere is almost spiritual. Ten out of ten.
28 Oct 2012 21:52
Don't know why this old-fashioned (vintage?) bar has such a low rating. Always offers a changing choice of four draught beers in a city centre where real ale is in short supply and the staff are very welcoming.
28 Oct 2012 21:31
Beer excellent; food delicious; service quick and friendly; well-preserved interior. Only downside was the tired toilets.
16 Oct 2012 22:16
Beautiful pub with its thatched roof and interesting warren of an interior. Spoiled, however, by snooty staff, snooty clientele, overrated food and expensive, average beer.
11 Sep 2012 21:30
Not a comfy pub: the decor is too coldly modern for my taste. Can't fault the beer or the staff, however. DerekDrinkforbrains has rendered superfluous any further comment on the former while the latter were indefatigably cheerful and attentive. I'll certainly be back.
2 Sep 2012 22:34
Nothing I didn't like about this jewel. The St Peter's Mild was lovely; the bar is ravishing; the booths are great for small groups; the service was quick and cheerful; and the tasty food was reasonably priced.
31 Aug 2012 23:31
Friendly wee pub full of character and characters. Superb pint of Wye Valley Bitter.
31 Aug 2012 23:18
Been here twice - once in 2011, once in 2012. On both occasions the service was very poor. Bar staff seemed more interested in talking to their friends than serving us.
31 Aug 2012 23:01
Enjoyed four excellent pints of Butty Bach overlooking the Teme on a warm summer's day. Lovely.
31 Aug 2012 22:52
Good old-fashioned pub. Excellent choice of 10 beers. Personal favourites on a recent visit were Wye Valley Bitter and Dark Side of the Moose. No TV so people - a good mix of young and old - talk. A simple idea that might catch on.
24 Jul 2012 20:42
Fantastic pub: probably my favourite in the whole of Britain (and I've drunk in plenty. Excellent, well kept, ever-changing beer. Brilliant, cheerful staff. Tasty, inexpensive food. Fabulous with kids. Friendly, welcoming locals. The Bell is one of the main reasons we used to travel 500 miles every year to holiday in Chittlehampton. In fact, that's my only complaint: it's too far away from Fife.
14 May 2012 19:27
The Crown Hotel, Stamford
Smart, comfortable interior and excellent service made for a pleasant few hours. London Pride slipped down as well as ever.
12 Aug 2017 22:51