BITE user comments - PhilPub
Comments by PhilPub
A mixed bag of experiences, good and bad. The atmosphere is as I would imagine (not been here before) i.e. predominantly trendy Hoxton types generally having a good time, the odd suit thrown in, nice decor and layout.
A quick positive before I start on the negatives - the DJ played one of the most refreshingly eclectic collection of tunes I've ever heard in a bar - old skool dance, Kate Bush, Supertramp (!), Chaka Khan, you name it... even Michael Jackson got a look in!
And the negatives... I tend to find that bar staff in 'trendy' gaffs to be ever-so-slightly up their own arses, but this place takes it to the extreme. One guy seemed to place an awful lot of importance on doing his nifty little jig in front of the till whilst smiling like a loon and waving at various 'faces' he'd spotted on the other side of the bar, and very little importance on actually serving the vast number of customers gasping for a drink. Still, he was nothing compared to 'THE RUDEST BARMAID I HAVE ENCOUNTERED IN A BAR... EVER!' (moody expression, selective serving of customers depending on trendiness of haircut, rolling eyes when I dared to ask for another pint of Guinness when she'd already finished pouring the last one, looking away whilst holding out hand to take money, SLAMMING down silver ashtray with change on it, etc, etc, etc...).
I could've come close to suicide had my humour not been restored by the sight of a large plastic container on the bar with 'TIPS' written on it, containing a solitary coin... and that was probably a Xmas bonus. Heh!
In summary - if you can hire someone else to do all the drink ordering, this is a lively place with a cool atmosphere, and the DJ helps it all along with some great tunes. But if you ever have to face the bar staff to get yourself a drink, you could be put off for life, as I was... unless, of course, you're Nathan Barley.
Cheers.
...oh hang on, the food seems to be pretty good too. I tried a bit of Gerard's sausage and it certainly was meaty!
18 Mar 2005 11:32
I was a student at Exeter Uni until 1992. Each time I've popped back down to this neck of the woods (7 or 8 times I guess) I've always managed a lunch and a beer at the Double Locks, as it's one of my favourite pubs in the country. Good food (the chicken and mushroom pie tasted as good as ever on last visit), and a very user-friendly beer menu with real ales listed on the board by order of ABV% - and a good range of ales, well kept. And yes, user comments that the photo on this site don't so the pub's beautiful environment justice are spot-on.
One minor gripe however - my last visit was in July last year and the infamous STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING wasn't even on the menu. WHAT??!!! I'm somewhat of a connoisseur of this particular dish and the Double Locks used to beat any competition hands-down. Please re-instate STP on the menu if this hasn't been done already (along with the massive dollop of clotted cream and the excessive amount of toffee sauce, obviously).
Get your pudding menu sorted and I'll see you again the Summer. Cheers!
22 Feb 2005 17:01
King's Arms, Greenwich
I popped in here for the first time not so long ago (been living in the area for five years). Seems like a nice cosey, fairly old-fashioned boozer and I thought it was worth a review because the Courage Best tasted particularly good. I assume this means they know how to keep their beers since usually I find Best fairly ordinary. Now imagine if they started serving Directors!... :)
8 May 2006 11:59