BITE user comments - Robin_from_Swanage
Comments by Robin_from_Swanage
The Wheatsheaf Inn, Willingdon
A half timbered pub at the foot of the south downs. Busy last Saturday with live music. I had a fish pie for �9.95 and a pint of Harveys Sussex Bitter for �3.30 which seems reasonable compared with the prices in Swanage. No food after 15:00 on Sunday or all day on Monday. Staff and locals seemed friendly.
20 Jul 2012 12:05
Attractive Victorian pub near the South Downs. I had a pint of Badger beer and duck with roast potatoes. Staff were friendly and food was served within 20 minutes. Caroline and Alan who run the pub left on 22nd June after my visit last week. It will be interesting to visit the pub again under new management.
25 Jun 2012 18:44
Very busy last night. Managed to find an empty table that had not been reserved. I had the curry and pint deal for about �7. Palmers Gold again. Food and drink were served promptly. Pub also served good fish and chips for my friends. Pub also serves a good selection of draught cider.
7 Jun 2012 20:59
Originally an abattoir and a butchers with a pub in the middle. It is now a co-operative pub run by the villagers. Both the staff and the customers were friendly. I enjoyed a Trencherman's lunch served in under 15 minutes for about �8 and a pint of Sharps Doombar. Wallpaper in pub looks like a bookcase. The food hygiene rating was only 3, generally satisfactory, but the toilets were clean as were the tables. The local landowner moved the cottages there because the original ones spoiled his view. There are some parking spaces in front of the pub and the road is wide enough for two rows of parked cars. It was fairly quiet today and most people were eating and drinking in the pub garden.
19 May 2012 16:37
Good pub with 5 star food hygiene rating. It had lots of nautical pictures due to connection with Admiral Thomas Hardy. I was in a coach party of thirty people and they reserved a room for us with only thirteen places. They suppied an urn with lukewarm water for the tea and coffee but the biscuits were good.
I would like to come back again and try their food and beer.
15 May 2012 22:18
Good pub with 5 star food hygiene rating. Did not eat this time on Sunday evening as they warned me there would be a one and a half hour wait before the food would be ready. This was because they were crowded and the nearby Wheatsheaf and Red Lion were not serving food on Sunday evening
15 May 2012 22:08
A Hall & Woodhouse pub that specialises in food. I found the staff a bit pushy. She wanted me to choose a meal before I had a chance to look at the menu and asked if she could get me a drink while I was deciding. Two of the small tables were wobbly so I sat at a large table. I chose Badgers Firkin Fox, a foxy brown beer served in a Firkin Fox beer glass and a duck leg in orange sauce. The meal took twenty minutes to arrive with a complimentary salad but was worth the wait. By the time I left both the pub and the car park were full so it is popular with the locals. Inn serves curry on Monday evenings and fish and chips on early Friday evenings with half a pint of beer at reasonable prices. Pleasant pub but could do with some beer mats under the short table legs to keep the tables steady.
28 Apr 2012 17:13
The Blackwater Stream, Broadstone
Quiet tonight. 7 empty tables. Had Titanic beer and chicken melt for �7.75. Enjoyed meal. Food served in 7 minutes. Staff friendly and helpful. Excellent toilets upstairs with pictures of Broadway in corridor.
17 Apr 2012 22:53
The only White Hart Tap in the Country. It is the pub outlet for the White Hart Hotel. Service and beer were good. I am 62 and my uncle is 82 and the staff were polite to us so they do not discriminate against old people. It is our third visit but couple who ran bar did not recognise us so we could not have made much of an impression. I had Town Crier beer and chicken coujan with potato wedges and salad which were served promptly. Parking can be expensive. There is a charge for roadside parking until 20:00 but parking is free in two adjacent car parks after 18:30. Single bar pub with small covered garden outside. Used by CAMRA for their meetings. More pubs per square mile in St Albans than anywhere else in Universe so competition is fierce.
15 Apr 2012 21:02
The Clay Pipe Inn, Holton Heath
Fairly new pub next to Sandford Holiday Park with skittles alley and dart board. Bar ladies served locals first. Beers included Ringwood and St Austell. Busy pub but reasonably priced food served quickly although I had to go back to ask for cutlery.
3 Apr 2012 18:40
The Railwaymans Arms, Bridgnorth
Very busy during steam gala. If you stay there long enough you will meet every railway enthusiast in the Country. Excellent beer and railway pictures on wall. Customers told to wait in a line and staff served them quickly. Perhaps one day people will put �3 in a slot machine and take away a pint of beer in busy pubs.
26 Mar 2012 19:28
Had another Hobgoblin in a Hobgoblin glass together with a Sunday roast. Thank God there was a family room for the screaming brat who ruined lunch for the mums on Mothering Sunday. I had a bit of peace in the bar. There are some lovely LSWR railway posters in the family room. Landlady has run pub for over three years now and made it into a pleasant family pub.
18 Mar 2012 13:19
Had Palmers Gold again. Beer very good and lots of different ciders to choose from. Beer kept in seperate room. Had generous portion of chicken and chips. Beer and food served promptly, cheerful service. Our friends in our twin town of Rudesheim like this pub and seem to have made it their local for their bi-annual visits.
12 Mar 2012 15:55
Visited pub on a quiet Thusday. I have never seen this landlady who is in lots of the reviews but the barman was saying what a kind person she was and how well she treated her staff. I had a pint of Tornado steam engine beer and a generous portion of pork chops and chips. Barman said that people had complained about prices and staff being unfriendly but fish & chips were about the same price as they are in Swanage. I have been visiting pub for 40 years and managers and staff have come and gone. Present staff seem ok to me.
8 Mar 2012 14:18
Bankes Arms Hotel and Country Inn, Studland
Busy pub with its own brewery and frequented by National Trust members. Owner's black 1950s Vauxhall Velox parked outside. Model yacht inside. Despite previous review it does have a television.
I have Purbeck Brewery Force 4 and hot smoked mackerel salad. Rather expensive but food was good value for money. Food took about 20 minutes to arrive. Seating and tables rather sparten. Lovely view from pub garden over the road. Pleasant location. Nice to hear birds singing outside.
28 Feb 2012 23:00
Fajita & pint special offer on Monday for �8.49. Duty manager clueless. Charged me �11.49 for fajita & pint of Harveys Best because he said offer only applied to John Smiths beer. Eventually let me have fajita and Harveys for �8.49 as he had already poured the pint. Food served quickly, tasted nice and was good value for money.
28 Feb 2012 22:49
The Blackwater Stream, Broadstone
Quieter than usual so I was able to get a seat. Service was good. I had a pint of Shropshire Gold and a steak for �7.95. Steak was undercooked so I left half of it but I asked for a medium cooked one. Next time I will ask for a well cooked steak. Chips looked like there was too much fat but they tasted good. Screaming brats on next table but low prices attract that sort of family. I have made my own cardboard reserved sign so no one takes my place while I am ordering my food and drink which can take a long time in a Wetherspoon pub.
21 Feb 2012 23:01
Now serving Hobgoblin and Ringwood 49er. Locals and landlady very pleasant. Log fire. Reduced choice of meals on blackboard. Prices have not gone up whereas other pubs in Purbeck have put prices up this year. The Black Swan is more competitive now.
5 Feb 2012 14:36
The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers
Very busy on Christmas day. No food today but staff coped very well with queue going into garden. Excellent choice of beer and cider all well kept. I think they normally sell pasties so they can claim they serve food and open longer hours. Well known pub with interesting history that is always in the Good Beer Guide and popular with locals and walkers. Happy Christmas!
25 Dec 2011 17:05
Historic pub with car park. Friendly staff, roaring fire, Christmas tree and piped Christmas music. Good pint of Fursty Ferret and good food. Food took over 20 minutes but was worth the wait. Delivered with complimentary salad. Plaque with Tolpuddle Martyrs' names. Sold postcards and Martyrs chocolate.
14 Dec 2011 14:31
Pub with roaring fire in excellent location by Cuckmere River. Excellent pint of Harveys Best. Also served mulled cider which smelt nice. Food was all right and served within 10 minutes. Pub has lots of bad reviews so perhaps I was lucky.
13 Dec 2011 21:11
Pleasant pub with friendly staff. Carpeted floor, candles on table. Reasonably priced food served promptly. Owned by Hall & Woodhouse. I had a pint of Fursty Ferret.
3 Dec 2011 14:48
Busy 16th century pub with open fire. Chalk picture of Yarmouth in days of sail on blackboard. 3 real ales. I had Yates Holy Joe brewed on Island. Free pastry nibbles on bar. Reasonably priced food served quickly.
28 Nov 2011 08:25
Pleasant pub with car park opposite hospital. I had Harveys Best Bitter. Food service was a bit slow but was very good value.
24 Nov 2011 15:03
Mowlem restaurant has been sold and is due to reopen in Easter 2012. In excellent location with magnificent sea views. Potentially an excellent pub
12 Nov 2011 21:32
Modern clean pub with swimming pool and skittle alley. Served Palmers Best from Bridport. Excellent food. We hired the skittle alley and had a generous portion of sandwiches and chips for �5.50 each.
1 Nov 2011 08:27
17th century pub with well kept beer and cider in seperate room. Some dining room tables made from old sewing machines. I had Palmers Copper Ale and curry which was served under 6 minutes. Food rather expensive.
1 Oct 2011 14:20
Busy pub with bouncer dating from 1793. Attentive staff served me straight away with Palmers Gold. Also sold local Ringwood Ales. Food was good but rather expensive. It was served promptly in 7min 45 sec. Screaming brats by adjacent table.
19 Sep 2011 14:49
Rather shabby pub. Barman served me promptly. Food good value, chicken melt, chips & veg & pint of Ruddles for �8.89. Small portion of chips. Food served in 6 min 12 sec.
19 Sep 2011 10:01
The Duke of Devonshire, Eastbourne
Indifferent staff. Took 20 minutes to serve me, barmaid served several customers who were behind me. Only about 20 people in pub. Beer I asked for was not available. Asked how long it would take to cook food. Barmaid said she did not know probably about 1/2 hour. Took 19 min 46 sec to cook tiny portion of fish & chips. At least meal was cheap.
19 Sep 2011 09:56
18th Century pub with car park and excellent views of Corfe Castle. Photographs of films made nearby including the Mayor of Casterbridge. His grave is in the pub garden. Food was rather expensive but generous portion served promptly. Friendly service. Good selection of beer and cider. Barmaid recommended Jurassic Ale to go with Jurassic beef stew. 20 years ago pub was very busy and best pub in area, then it declined but is much better now with new management and is getting busy again. Customers tiresome with ghastly girl running round table on wooden floor.
31 Aug 2011 22:32
Old stone pub in village with beer garden and large car park. Jurassic beer and Old Speckled Hen well kept as was wine in wine shack. Served beer to large group of walkers very efficiently. Two bars. Children allowed in one. Family with children came in. Landlady told them that although there was a notice saying no children in this bar they were welcome to stay there. Why does she think the other customers were in the bar where children were not allowed? The food served for the main course was good but expensive. Our group thought that �5 was excessive for a sweet course that we could get in the supermarket for 50p. One lady in our group complained and the landlady has not spoken to her since.
20 Aug 2011 17:22
The Blackwater Stream, Broadstone
Now a Wetherspoon pub called The Blackwater Stream. Very busy on Tuesday evenings. I have found it difficult to find a table. Staff cope very well. Steak served within 10 minutes. Good choice of beer. Excellent value for money.
16 Aug 2011 13:45
Lovely pub with small car park and picture of smugglers outside. Too far from beach for holidaymakers. Pleasant landlady. Good beer, Adnams and local beer from Purbeck Brewery. Home cooked food is rather expensive but served promptly. Pictures by local artist Janine Drayson. Not too keen on dog chasing after ball while I am eating but dog lovers like it. Pleased that children are not allowed in bar but have family room. Pub closed at lunch time on weekdays.
14 Aug 2011 14:10
Friendly staff. Excellent beer. Pub has a car park and beer garden. Food rather expensive and food service can be very slow. Last time I ordered food I had to wait 70 minutes. Landlord said that there would be a delay after he had taken the money. A local said he was a good businessman because if he had told me that I would have to wait 70 minutes for the food before I payed I would not have ordered it.
14 Aug 2011 10:56
Well kept beer, home cooked food, good service. CAMRA use pub for meetings. Pay and display car park opposite.
9 Aug 2011 14:14
Historic pub in barn moved from Waterend. Good beer, good service and cheap food served promptly. Free parking in adjacent Council car park nearby on Sundays.
9 Aug 2011 14:09
Good choice of beer, meals excellent value, excellent service. Fairly busy but several tables available.
8 Aug 2011 20:20
Busy pub in picturesque setting. Serves real ale and scrumpy. Food rather expensive. Normally friendly service. Possibly now under same management as the Bankes Hotel opposite. Pub kitchen not as good as National Trust Tea Room and Model Village.
7 Aug 2011 15:38
Excellent selection of beers and cider served from casks kept cool in seperate room. Food moderately priced but good value for money. Low beams gave me a headache. Railway pictures in corridor and tasteful pictures of women in Gents. Ghastly dogs in pub garden and chess board with 1/3 scale pieces.
7 Aug 2011 15:27
The Wessex Belle Bistro, Station House
Bar serves real ale and cider in bottles and wine. Waiter service for food. Staff smart and polite. Some meals are excellent as is the view of Corfe Castle.
7 Aug 2011 15:20
The Royal British Legion, Swanage
Well cooked food, local beers, excellent value for money. Large wine �3.10. Sunday roast �5.90. Curry and pint �6.50. Friendly service. Hill and sea views from lounge. Well furnished with clean tables and Battle of Britain pictures.
7 Aug 2011 15:12
The Ship Inn, Langton Matravers
Interesting pub with model of ship and house. Newspapers to read and free nuts at bar. Riddles on blackboard. Well kept local beer, friendly staff. Good food served promptly but food prices have risen recently making food expensive even for Purbeck.
5 Aug 2011 13:51
Mowlem has closed. It is in a superb location next to beach. If someone served good beer there with reaonably priced food he could not go wrong. 20 years ago you needed to get there by 12:00 to get a window seat and you needed to book in advance for an evening meal in the restaurant.
29 May 2011 14:36
The Foresters Arms, Brockenhurst
Attractive pub near station. Young, friendly staff. Reasonably priced meals served within 5 minutes. I enjoyed Ringwood 49er. Ringwood Best and London Pride available. Music not too intrusive.
29 May 2011 08:21
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Mowlem Restaurant, Swanage
Reopened as Quayside Bar today at 16:00. Run by young couple who used to run a pub in the Midlands. Pub has been refurbished. It is in a prime location with a view of the bay. Not doing food until January. Serving draught beer from Studland Brewery. I had half a Studland Wrecked.
22 Dec 2012 18:31