BITE user comments - Quaffer
Comments by Quaffer
PS reviewer "anonymous", below = "the landlord"!
He has improved his welcome over recent years to be fair
The beer can be great, but irritatingly, seems to run-out after one pint, every time I go in there and is then switched to another brew [single barrels presumably]. There seems to be a policy of only stocking weak to low/mid strength bitters, which is a pity, as he used to stock some nice full bodied stronger brews.
The food is reasonable, but not great.
The pub used to be very smoky and is better for no smoking, but the landlord is quite parsimonious with his heating, so it can feel chilly.
However all-in-all, this is the best pub I know in the area for some miles
8 Oct 2007 16:44
Viewing the previous reviewer's comments, nothing has changed here - very rough and unfriendly clientele and owners are evidently still in residence - you only have to look at the scruffily presented signage advertising "wots on", outside what could be a great pub in a lovely location, to be warned off - go to the Surrey Oaks a little further north, which I can vouch for as old fashioned, good beer, reasonable food and no nasty politics, if the other reviewer is serious!
8 Oct 2007 16:29
I have made another visit to this pub in April 07; the manager at the time has since been given his marching orders, so this is not enttirely up-to date, howver, the place was the worst I have ever seen it, with drunken cronies of the landlord, who seemed to happily tolerate/condone these types, bothering me and fighting among themselves - one went out to vandalise the others motorbike - horrendous experience - I won't be going back, as I'm sure ince these types infest a previously OK pub, they are very hard to eradicate!
8 Oct 2007 16:21
I used to like this pub; but now it is a depressing place, untidy and dowdy. Poor choice of bitters.
8 Oct 2007 13:44
I checked this pub out a month or so ago, to see if standards have improved; I am afraid not - still very scruffy, the palce has not been refurbished since the last good tenants [King & Barnes days] sadly retired.
Beer OK, but now there is no Sky Sports, although there is still a decaying sign outside saying that there is; the remnant of the once pleasant beer garden, is neglected and a group arrived when we were there, with two dogs, which were promplty released off the lead to pester the other clients ie us.
From what was once the finest pub in this area, this is a place to avoid if at all possible
8 Oct 2007 13:40
I have been here recently for a couple of drinks and did not enjoy the experience; as per the previous commentator, loud piped music; staff quite efficient, but lacking in courtesy ie please and thank you, pretty graceless. I was not made to feel welcome.
The clientele included a large squad of Loud tradesmen congregating around the bar serving area - one was serving himself over the bar from a lager pump [obviously this is a pub where if you are in with barmaid and she is busy, this goes]Im not saying he was stealing the beer, but it gave one a pretty good idea of the chavvy standards here.
The beer was OK, but I wont be going here again
8 Oct 2007 13:34
Historic pub. Lively and popular. Unimaginative real ale choice on muy last visit in 2006. Roof appears to need re-thatching [rotting] and bar could do with some re-investment. Smokey, but this will change soon!
28 Feb 2007 12:28
Friendly staff on the day, unpretentious local clientele, skysports orientated [ flagged outside and screens dominate bar] , beer was Ok [Weltons], but limited real ale [Youngs Ord other choice, was off]
28 Feb 2007 12:23
Uncomfortable seating, unfortunately owned by Hall & Woodhouse, pricey drinks , limited menu.liked the budgie, though sad to see any bird in a cage.
28 Feb 2007 12:15
Tried it last Friday; was hopeful, but was smoky, noisy and stale tasting "Dark Star" beer - I could not finish my pint and my pal left his altogether.
18 Dec 2006 15:25
We came here to eat, by chance,not choice, recently; the food was not at all good - the potted prawns contained a jumble of things, including peas and did not taste of prawns! The soup was awful; a faint taste of parsnips, with crushed hazelnuts to the fore, a truly horrible combination. The omlette was OK, but the "chips" turned out to be overdone potato wedges. The pork was dry, with semi-cooked haricots and no potatoes - how mean, you had to pay �3-00p to get a smallish portion of mash on top of the �9 charged for two small pieces of pork. With two large glasses of house wine and a Broadside, well over �40 - outrageous, for very average, meanly presented and overpriced food. The service was patchy as well, some, to be fair, friendly and willing, but forgetting to offer salt or any dressing with the meal, which was served on dirty wooden place mats, and some chap who stood out and appears to match the description by "Rihadan", the "blonde sneerer", who was put out whenever approached for any service and had to be asked to bring a glass of wine to table.
Result, a noticeably damaged wallet, a feeling of being shortchanged and morning indigestion.
I urge you all to go elsewhere, to shake up this establishment's smug complacency and outrageous nerve!.
12 Dec 2006 14:20
The Plough & Attic Rooms, Rusper
There seems to have been a change of ownership since I last visited - the once extensive and imaginative menu, has shrunk to a dull fraction, overpriced.
Three ordinary strength bitters, nothing to get excited about - threadbare feel, there are better pubs around - try the Surrey Oaks in Newdigate
26 Sep 2006 17:52
Full of chavs, exhibiting usual glares and stares for strangers. Had to push past a blokes arm stretched across the door to get in!
Bar staff very unfriendly, prsumably, because we didn't fit the embedded customer profile.
Beer pricey. Surrey Oaks much better - go there!
26 Sep 2006 17:47
The beer is pretty good and the food not bad - however, gets very crowded with noisy younsters and extremely smoke filled - come out reeking of baccy!
26 Sep 2006 17:44
Popular pub, rather dated decor [fake flintlocks on wall type thing], very overcrowded tiny bar area, main area devoted to eaters. Some strange restaurant policy, where fish & chips, means literally a bit of fish and some chips, or pie and mash means just that eg no veg or garnish, but the Italain dishes are very good.
17 Jul 2006 15:35
I haven't supped there, since the dreaded sign of the "Greasy Spoon" chain has taken over.
The Galleon used to be all the positive things said about it - I remember eating the best marinated olives ever, as free snacks on the bar on a Sunday and listening to a busker on the patio - it is now only fit for chav city - I will now use it for parking and the toilets, cheers!
8 Nov 2005 17:39
Pity about what looks like an asbestos plant tub, by the front door
Good beer.
8 Nov 2005 17:33
The previous commentator has really made a valid point - great beer [watch out with the continental imports, nice, but very expensive], but the ambience is not at all relaxing. The last time I was there, some regulars were clustered around the tiny bar and refused to give way when I asked - I had to get the barladies attention to ask the oaf to make way - he then proceeded to mutter for the remainder of his stay.Also, the next customer actually parked his bike in the bar, while he sat with his cronies outside, which is not exaactly normal!
8 Nov 2005 17:21
The Jolly Tanners, Staplefield
Pete keeps excellent condition ales, including guests, which are changed weekly or more.
Lovely garden. Pub pleasant place to relax.
Only criticism is, that the food has declined in quality and gone up in price.
8 Nov 2005 16:31
The "modernisation", removed the wonderful character of the old [small] bar - it could be anywhere now - "globalisation here we come", chainganging rules!
Sad - Swansea could be attempting its revival, without finishing off what the germans didnt blitz!
8 Nov 2005 16:23
A disappointing pub. Unfriendly, estate-feel, Brains beer [good], ordinary bitter only [not so good], keg version only [not good at all]. Go to the Alfred!
8 Nov 2005 16:17
I recently popped in here for a couple of Stellas, after the Maesteg victory over Llanelli - hoorah!
I found it a surprisingly pleasant place to have a celebratory jar. The only decent pub in Maesteg!
8 Nov 2005 16:12
Everything overpriced, particularly the ale, to discourage drinkers. There is a very arrogant and churlish, chalked sign by the bar, outlining the types of customer that the owner/s would rather did not frequent their establishment and the sort of behaviour that meets their approval - really sad, really bad!
8 Nov 2005 16:06
I have occasionally visited this pub and although the publican does have a positive approach to serving a variety of ales, the wierd thing is, they all seem to taste much the same, "socky", when you come to the finish. Most strange!
I agree with the earlier comment, the publican can be quite prickly and the service can be selective ie regulars first, strangers last. The food wasn't great when I tried it and the garden furniture is well past the replacement date!
Could do better!
8 Nov 2005 15:57
An appalling place, with one man serving in a scruffy cavern of a bar. This is where the rougher sorts and oddballs of Crawley gather - booze may be cheap, but the price is too high, avoid!
8 Nov 2005 15:47
I agree with the previous commentator; the bitter here can be good, but on my last couple of visits, has been "winey". I have previously enjoyed the non-threatening atmosphere of the saloon bar on a Sturday lunchtime, crowded with unpretentious locals, but on the last two visits, there were unfortunately, a couple of dart shirt attired eyeballers, who obviously resented our presence in "their manor".
Retreated to the public bar, which was full of smoke and some truly "types you wouldnt want to cross" in England football gear with fearful Madgwick haircuts, but otherwise OK.
On reflection, I won't be going again!
8 Nov 2005 15:41
Food and drink overpriced - as per usual with the Hall & Woodhouse chain. Cluttered and not particularly pleasant interior, but it is worth visiting once a year, to have a drink or two outside - a small stream runs past the front, with a pleasant view to the west.
8 Nov 2005 15:30
This pub is a shadow of the one it was, when owned by King & Barnes.
Hall & Woodhouse, have sold-off the bulk of the once pleasant beer garden for housing.
The interior, which was once immaculate, is scruffy, with strange decor, including headwear, including a fake German helmet, dangling from the ceiling and a mannekin occupying a space by the fire - it doesnt look good!
The bench to the front, used to be a great place to have a drink and watch the sun go down - I wouldnt go there now.
8 Nov 2005 15:13
I used to regularly visit this pub, when it was owned by King & Barnes, when it was a splendid pub.
The takeover by Hall & Woodhouse, has resulted in a succession of landlords; on my last visit, in August 2005, my lager was OK, but my friend's "Tanglefoot", was off.The beer garden is not as tidy or attractive as it used to be.
8 Nov 2005 15:03
This pub has been changed for the worse
The back-bar, which was very much an old-fashioned set-up, full of local characters, I discovered on a recent visit, has been converted to a makeshift eatery, with a much diminished area for drinker [the lounge bar now has no drinking room]. There is now only keg bitter. Not an improvement!
8 Nov 2005 14:50
The Royal Oak, Bryn
A recent visit, revealed that the back bar, previously cluttered with a miscellany of tables, etc for eating, has been somewhat restored to a proper public bar, as it was previously.
However, the choice of bitter was lamentable, Brains smoothflow, as I recall and the prices seemed a bit on the high side.
If only soem decent beer was stocked and some decent upholstered seating purchsed, this could be restored to the atmospheric local it once was!
8 Oct 2007 16:49