BITE user comments - Oktup
Comments by Oktup
Good brewery pub, with two of their own beers (good) and a decent selection of guest ales. Friendly staff (even if both barmaids managed to simultaneously time their trip to the cellar and left customers waiting for 5 minutes). Felt a little touristy late afternoon, but picked up early evening with a bit more atmosphere. Would thoroughly recommend for those visiting Chester.
9 Sep 2012 18:40
Nice pub in Llangollen - they've done a good job of creating the pub around the historic building, although it's a bit too clinical in look and feel. Decent choice of real ales and scrumpy cider, and above average pub food (if a little expensive). While we were just visiting, we happily went back for a beer on the terrace the next day.
9 Sep 2012 18:32
This is a bar, and not a pub, and clearly isn't my usual choice of establishment. I'm therefore not going to review the place as I can't give a fair assessment.
The only point I will make is �3.90 for a 330ml bottle of London Pride is extortionate - equivalent to �6.70 a pint. For that reason, I'm out.
19 Feb 2012 14:27
Have been to this pub a few times, and really enjoyed it - cosy atmosphere and well kept beers. However, was treated really rudely on this visit and won't be going back.
My mistake was to put my phone to my ear and listen to a voicemail - I was immediately shouted at across the pub and ordered out. Now, to be honest, once it was pointed out to me, there is a sign on the wall saying 'no mobile phones' (as other reviewers have pointed out on this site) - however, the pub has so many signs, photos and posters on the wall, you'd have to be some kind of poster geek to have read all the memorabilia and distilled out these instructions from the general decorations.
I actually don't mind there being a 'no phones' policy - however, there is no need for the rudeness of the bar staff or the need to embarrass a customer for an innocent mistake in front of the whole pub (especially as I only listening to a voicemail and hence not talking into the phone).
I've given the pub a 7, as everything else about this pub is near perfect. But if that is their idea of customer service....well, let's just say there are plenty of alternatives that will be getting my custom in the future.
19 Feb 2012 14:19
Popped in for a beer based on the positive ratings in BITE, and not disappointed - a nice little pub, with decent pint of Fullers and a good guest beer. However, the place was dead by 7pm - for a Tuesday night in central London, this was a bit of a surprise, and unfortunate, as with a bit more atmosphere, I could have happily spent the evening.
14 Sep 2011 22:33
Went to the Woolpack for a friends party last night, who had the upstairs area reserved for them. Very pleasant and popular pub - good beer, interesting decor and reasonably good service. So, for 95% of the time we spent in this pub, we were singing its praises, and would have happily recommended it.
However, when it came to closing time, the staff had a complete change of attitude - at precisely 11pm they stopped serving, including refusing to serve people who had been patiently queueing for 5+ minutes. Then at 11.10pm, we had a constant stream of staff telling us to leave - it was virtually one every 30 seconds. I suspect the need to close promptly is part of their license (it does have residential areas around it), but we quickly got the message, were complying, and didn't need it hammering home.
In summary, a very pleasant pub, but severely let down by the staff being sticklers for the rules (this seems to be consistent with other reviews). Given that our friends spent quite a lot of money last night, this left a sour taste for everyone in our group, and we won't be returning.
24 Jul 2011 17:46
I've been in the Princes Head a few times and really liked it - decent Fullers beer, which can be taken out onto the Green. However, popped in last week and initially ordered a lemonade to quench the thirst before moving onto the beers. Was shocked to be charged �2.20 for a (I'll be generous) 400ml glass, half of which was ice. Such extortionate prices quickly lost them any further custom from us that day.
2 Jul 2011 18:51
Decent enough central Weymouth pub. Friendly welcome (and goodbye), and decent beer. Slightly dead for a Saturday night, and the prospect of live music didn't appear to be drawing people in, probably reflecting it's back-alley location.
31 May 2011 15:52
Smugglers Inn, Osmington Mills
Very pleasant pub for lunch - decent beer, and above average pub food (although the speed the food arrived did suggest it wasn't entirely good fresh). Large pub with lots of tables inside and outside, good location, and attractively decorated. However, not much space inside to drink if you aren't eating. They happily welcomed us even though we were walkers (the pub is right on the South West Coast path) and hence less well dressed than some of their other client�le.
31 May 2011 15:48
Popped in for a few beers and food last week. Friendly staff, good Badgers beer, and decent food (ie consistent with other pub food, but nothing exceptional). Would happily recommend for an evening out in Wool.
31 May 2011 15:44
Very pleasant pub, with decent beer garden for the summer afternoons. Very busy, but didn't have to queue for long at the bar, and the staff couldn't be faulted in setting expectations on how long the food would take. Decent beers, but the food was average - nothing wrong with it, but for the levels the Telegraph look like they are trying to achieve, it felt like a disappointment for the prices they were charging.
Overall, two pints cost around �8. Main courses were �10-�15. This is therefore at the upper end of pub price scales (even for London), and to be honest, not sure they pulled it off. Overall, a very pleasant pub to spend a few hours in the sun, but be prepared to pay for it.
23 Apr 2011 17:26
The Stocks Bar (Crown and Thistle Hotel), Abingdon
Stopped for Sunday lunch recently - the place felt a little confused. One one side, it had great real ale, good food, and a historical building and ambience. One the other side, the toilets were grubby and gratified, lots of TVs, gaudy signs promoting cheap alcopops, and notices warning people that they would be banned if caught using drugs on the premises. For Sunday lunch, it was perfectly pleasant, and I would return - but it just felt you could get a totally different experience at another part of the week (say later on a Friday night).
16 Apr 2011 13:17
After consulting BITE for a lunchtime stop-off on a trip down the M4, the Victoria Arms fitted the bill. We weren't disappointed - good pint of London Pride and good sandwiches. Large beer garden, which was great for spending some time in the early spring sun. Overall, a high quality pub, but not necessarily one I would make a special trip to unless I happened to be in the area (although I recognise this is partly to do with the fact that, for me, Fullers pubs are a common occurrence in London).
16 Apr 2011 13:11
Would have to agree with JonW999 - the inside is more a restaurant, but serves a great pint of Uley (they also had Wye Valley on). The food was tasty and good value (pizzas were especially great). Friendly staff and good service (who quickly responded when a drowned fly was found in the sauce). The outside area is more suitable to drinking during the summer months.
16 Apr 2011 13:04
Having been put off the previous incarnation of this pub, it was a pleasant surprise to come back here and see what the new owners have done with the place. Great selection of well-kept beers (as well a multiple bottle beers we'd never heard of), and helpful staff. Mix of clientele, and the food looked good (although we didn't taste). Only (minor) downside was the lighting inside, which was quite bright and made the place look a little stark. Will be adding this place as a regular fixture for future nights out in Pimlico.
2 Apr 2011 16:59
Popped in for lunch last weekend based on reviews on this site - wasn't disappointed. A friendly welcome, good service, and they could well with 9 of us arriving together. Sunday lunch was good - generous portions, and good roast beef (veggies were a little over-cooked). Good range of beers, but unfortunately driving so unable to sample - will definitely need to return.
2 Apr 2011 16:54
Have to agree with the other reviews - great little pub, slightly off the beaten track in Victoria. Having worked in and around Victoria for too many years, amazed to never have made to this place until now. It is small and cosy, but seemed to cope with the clientele on a Tuesday night, and we got a share of a table fairly quickly. Well kept Shepherd Neame beers. Will now hurry back.
11 Dec 2010 14:04
Enjoyed a couple of mid-week beers - well kept range of cask ales, friendly staff, and far enough away from TCR to avoid the tourists. With the upstairs booked for a function, the tables quickly got taken and had to wait a while to sit, however, the tables appeared to turn over relatively regularly as post-work drinkers headed home. Would return if in the area again.
28 Nov 2010 18:43
Generally an average pub, but one of the better pubs in the locale. Always had a decent cask beer on each visit, and even on a busy Friday night, it's not crushingly full. Decor is a little dark and moody, and would probably be a bit depressing if the place was quiet.
28 Nov 2010 18:34
Had a couple of pre-dinner drinks in here on Friday - selected the pub based on recommendations on BITE, and wasn't disappointed. Nice back-street mews pub, friendly and helpful bar staff, and good beer (although the Old Brewery Bitter was off). Need to return for a longer visit.
28 Nov 2010 18:30
Had a couple of quick after-work beers here a few weeks ago. Found it to be pleasantly decorated, spacious and comfortable, but clearly going for the more wine bar/food crowd than your typical pub. Was pleased to see they had Sambrook's Wandle as guest beer, but a quick sip indicated it had not been kept well - to their credit, the bar staff immediately replaced it with a London Pride. Would happily go back, but there are plenty of alternatives around here.
25 Apr 2010 14:55
Have been to the Market Tavern a few times now, and enjoyed each one. Always a good range of well kept guest beers (had good pints of Leeds Best and Sambrook's Wandle). Busy with the after work crowd (which included us) and had to stand all night, but thankfully plenty of staff around and relatively easy to get served.
25 Apr 2010 14:51
The Carpenter's Arms, Hammersmith
Popped in here for a quick beer at the end of an evening last Saturday. While we didn't eat, had a decent pint, pleasant service, and nice surroundings. Would certainly consider going back for a longer visit and food.
25 Apr 2010 14:45
Popped into the Dove last Saturday evening for a quick pint. This has been, and remains, one of my favourite pubs - the mix of the character of the place, the location by the river, and the well kept range of Fullers beers make it my first choice of the riverside pubs in Hammersmith. Does get busy due to its small size, but you just need to pick the time you visit. Two small comments from this visit: (1) we sat in the small front bar and watched the bar staff at work - despite the small bar area, they were totally unable to serve customers in any kind of order, so some customers got ignored for some time; (2) the pub has started taking table bookings, so despite the pub being busy, about 1/3 of the tables were unused. However, still gets 9 out of 10.
25 Apr 2010 14:40
Nice little pub, with decent pints of Hare Raiser and Old Bob (both Greene King beers). As others have noted, this is tucked away off Upper Street, so retains an uncrowded local atmosphere, while still being handy for the tube and local restaurants. �3.50 a pint is a little steep, but still a great find.
5 Mar 2010 14:07
Popped in here last night based on the recommendations on this site. First impressions were very positive, and there was even a table free at 8pm on a Saturday night. However, disappointment set in when I got to the bar and saw nothing but Lager and Guiness. Asked the barmaid if they had any Bitter/Ale, but that only drew a very blank and confused response, so went to the Roebuck instead. A real shame, as this initially looked like a great find.
21 Feb 2010 15:54
Popped in for a quick drink last night - first time visit, and impressed enough by the decor and vibe of the place. Great pint of Meantime from the barrel on the bar (although it was slightly warmer than I'd like). However, have to question the prices - �10.30 for one pint plus a (double) G+T. I know this is Chiswick, but there are plenty of other pubs around that could be getting my business. Overall, a 6 out of 10.
21 Feb 2010 15:50
Popped in last night for a quick drink - nice place, decent pint of OBB, and reasonably priced (as are all Sam Smiths pubs). Not too crowded, but still ended up waiting nearly 10mins to be served (one member of staff seemed more concerned with preventing people standing outside neighbouring businesses than serving customers).
2 Oct 2009 12:54
Went here for the first time with some friends last week, and we've clearly been missing out. Not the most salubrious decor inside, but a great selection of beer that is well kept and presented. Would rival the Wenlock Arms in terms of quality real pubs in the area.
23 Sep 2009 22:54
The Queens Arms has closed down as of the start of August 2009.
13 Aug 2009 09:09
This is our local pub, and has been a great addition to the neighbourhood since its refurbishment and reopening in its current guise a few years ago. Comfy chairs, decent decor, two real ales (one of which, unimaginatively, is always London Pride), above average wine list (for a pub), and a couple of large TVs for the sports. When it opened, the place had a great and varied menu, which changed regularly. Over the past couple of years, it seems to have slowly died away to an unchanging and more compact menu - still great food, but we don't eat there as often any more as we would always end up having the same food. When it opened, this was an 8, but now a 7/10.
27 May 2009 13:28
The Prince of Wales, Freshwater
Went walking around IOW for the weekend, and stopped here for a beer one night. Great and friendly local pub, with lots of character. While everyone else in the pub appeared to be local, we were made to feel very welcome. Great selection of real ale, including the local Yates beer and Greene King mild. Decor is dated and tired, but actually adds to the character of the place. Overall, 8/10.
27 May 2009 13:18
The Fat Cat Bar, (Sandpipers Hotel), Freshwater Bay
Went walking around IOW for the weekend, and stopped here for lunch. The Fat Cat bar looks like its been shut down for a while, but the associated Sandpipers hotel bar was open. Great selection of real ales, and decent outside area to enjoy the weather. The only let down was that we ordered filled baguettes, which cost about �5.50 - these took over half an hour to arrive, and then were poorly filled sandwiches rather than baguettes - very disappointing, and not value for money. 8/10 for the beer, but 4/10 for the food, so a 6/10 overall.
27 May 2009 13:15
Went walking around IOW for the weekend, and stopped here for lunch. The Fat Cat bar looks like its been shut down for a while, but the associated Sandpipers hotel bar was open. Great selection of real ales, and decent outside area to enjoy the weather. The only let down was that we ordered filled baguettes, which cost about �5.50 - these took over half an hour to arrive, and then were poorly filled sandwiches rather than baguettes - very disappointing, and not value for money. 8/10 for the beer, but 4/10 for the food, so a 6/10 overall.
27 May 2009 13:13
Went walking around the IOW last weekend, and had booked accomodation in Brighstone. Despite some of the comments in this page, we were too tired to walk any further than the Three Bishops. Having said that, we found the pub to be absolutely fine - 4 real ales and good standard pub food. Nothing remarkably special, but nothing wrong with it either. We asked our B&B owner (a local) about the pub also, and he recommended it. From comment on this page, and on the Countryman's, it looks like some petty squabbling going on, which can only harm both establishments.
27 May 2009 13:07
Marshals, Barnstaple
A visitor to Barnstaple, and popped into Marshalls for a quick drink before dinner. First impressions were positive - it was quiet for a Saturday night, but decent enough beer.
However, part way through our drinks we noticed one of the customers sat at the bar talking to the landlady was wearing an English Defence League top, with some anti-muslim comments on it. Clearly, the landlady did not have a problem with this individual being in the pub, but we did. We will never return.
4 May 2014 20:29