BITE user comments - Sketchy
Comments by Sketchy
Nice pub with stunning views over the City. They used to have peacocks roaming around the grounds.........
Went here a few years ago, abysmal!! My wife was confronted by an extremely rude waitress/bar person who then proceeded to involve a Chav "local" into our business/conversation.
If you want to be called a liar, get threatened with physical violence and be spoken to like a piece of S**t then you'll love it here!
All of the aforementioned hassle because we had the audacity to complain (in a civilised manner) about the immense (1-2 hours) wait for our meals. One could have understood if the place was heaving!!!
I will never ever frequent this establishment again!!!
Doesn't even deserve a ZERO score!!!!!!!!! minus 10
4 Jan 2007 17:13
I like The Bear. It has a cosy bar (especially in winter) and a nice atmosphere. They are dog friendly too. I usually enjoy a pint and a bite to eat there, after walking the mutts on Cowbridge Downs. The beers are all well kept and the food is quite nice, reasonable too! Staff were friendly and attentive on my last few visits, no complaints here.
4 Jan 2007 15:56
Lovely old pub, very Olde Worlde, in a beautiful setting.
Unfortunately, it's a local pub for local people. If your face isn't known then forget getting served! You'll have to wait until the regulars have ordered before you even get acknowledged!
Then there's the food! Overpriced sh*t!!!
No menus, you have to wander around trying to read wallmounted chalkboards.
The dishes sound tempting but don't be fooled. I ordered a Thai curry. I ended up with a plate of boil in the bag wild rice and what tasted like a jar of Knorr Sizzle & Stir Tikka Masala with some lumps of chicken, all for �12.........Bargain!!!
6 Dec 2006 13:57
Sadly, Frank died of lung cancer about two years ago but Jan's still alive and kicking. Out of pubs now, working as a civil servant (Home Office) would you believe!!!!
5 Dec 2006 16:44
Overpriced rubbish, that's the food and the drinks. All a bit eighties, avoid!
17 Nov 2006 14:54
Hungry Horse hell. Bad food (crap presentation/tepid), bad beers i.e Eurofiz par excellence!!!
Bar area is okay, good for viewing sports, lots of plasma telly's etc.
The eating area is reminiscent of Mcdonalds, during a kids birthday party..dirty/non cleared tables, kids screaming & running around, climbing over chairs etc...........
Not one of my favourites.
17 Nov 2006 14:51
Featureless modern housing estate pub, has a resemblance to a local authority run Leisure Centre. Set in nice grounds though...........Draught Brains okay though.
17 Nov 2006 14:46
Used to be a great pub, nice lounge, separate bar, both big and airy with views of the expansive beer garden. Good food could be had at a reasonable price and the ales were fab.............................
Recently ruined with a completely unsympathetic refurbishment. It used to have a nice Victorian feel to it. Now it's characterless, with garish bright orange walls and a "trendy" minimalist look. Awful food and horrendous beer, the landlord could really do with lessons on pipe cleaning and cellar management.
I have to say I had the worst pint in Cardiff on my last visit (summer 2005).
17 Nov 2006 14:40
I drop into The Cottage for a pint of S.A. and a paper to read occasionally. A nice place (but another victim of Brains new pricing policy).........sadly empty since the smoking ban came into effect. Have to go to The Borough now to see the entertainment!!
17 Nov 2006 14:07
This pub has a pay and display car park! Go figure??
Maybe another Brains rip off scam?????????
Friendly staff though.............
17 Nov 2006 14:03
I really like The Griffin, a pub that is just how The Cottage (see other review) used to be. Mainly because a lot of the old clientele migrated from there. This pub serves good food and excellent beer.
Love the atmosphere, decor...staff are quite friendly and no blaring music, good locals pub!
Just a shame they don't let the dogs in anymore :(
17 Nov 2006 12:38
This used to be a very popular pub for food and had a great community of locals. It was a popular pub for families (yes,they are quite prevalent in Thornhill!).
Since being taken over by Ember Inns(?) they have ripped the heart and soul out of this place.
The decor is now akin to an IKEA display, totally out of character for this lovely listed old farmhouse.
Oh, there are a load of house rules to follow as well. No kids, no standing at the bar, no smoking at the bar, no this, no that.........you get the idea??
I actually witnessed a family with children (yes, they are allowed in the garden!) having a meal outside. It started to rain and the family were not allowed to take their food inside to finish their meal.....what?????????? In fairness this was probably a blessing as the food is crap now too!
Oh, there is a significant amount of pondlife getting served there now. Mostly aged around 14-19 with the obligatory Chav attire.......Crystals crew from Llanishen most likely.
If you're taking the family out for a nice meal and a drink, avoid this place like the plague, don't waste your petrol/diesel. Welcome it aint!
17 Nov 2006 12:29
When are they going to finish it?? :)
Like all Brains pubs these days, horrifically expensive!!!!!!!!!
They want to calm down with their acquisition of real estate and start to concentrate on customer service and pricing.
Brains' expansion plans are hitting customers' pockets, they offer poor value for money these days, which is sad, they were always famous for good, reasonably priced ales..............sigh
17 Nov 2006 12:16
Quality pub, nice atmosphere, a place where you can have a conversation without having to compete with blaring music, even when it's busy. In my top ten list of pubs.
17 Nov 2006 12:09
Another one of my old faves. Nice cosy traditional pub. Not pretentious at all. Beer is good, and reasonably priced! Mens bog is always flooded though(?)
17 Nov 2006 11:58
What can I say, superb!! They are also dog friendly!! I love spending a lazy Sunday afternoon in here, chilling out on a sofa with one of my mutts.
The beer is exceptional too, I would heartily recommend the draught wheat beer, really really top notch stuff!!!
Staff are very friendly!!!!!!!!!!
17 Nov 2006 11:56
The White Lion, Llantwit Major
Couldn't get in here, a "locals" pool competition was on. Seemed to be "the" event of the week (Wednesday night). Didn't feel welcome, didn't bother givin em my custom.
17 Nov 2006 11:39
The Old White Hart Inn, Llantwit Major
Always a last resort for me, always the most boring pub in town, only to be frequented when everywhere else was full, not that "full" is an issue in Llantwit these days. T'was like a ghost town on my last visit
17 Nov 2006 11:36
The Kings Head, Llantwit Major
I agree with Biker, this pub has improved vastly in the last few years. It's where I always end up when visiting Llantwit now. The lounge is particularly good and the beer excellent. Hard to believe it was once a "no-go zone" in the not too distant past.
17 Nov 2006 11:34
My family ran this pub for 16 years, until 1996. Sadly it hasn't has a major refurbishment since 1987 and is now looking quite shabby. On my last visit (2005) it was a battle to negotiate my way around the gaming machines and pool tables that have been placed in the bar. Beer was okay but I haven't tried the food. Quite a large "pondlife" contingent congregating there now too. Long gone the days of Round Table, Lions Club Rotary, Probus & "41" Club meets/functions.
17 Nov 2006 11:26
Maenllwyd Inn, Rudry
I stand by my previous comments. I wasn't expecting a 5 star restaurant. But,the fact remains that this establishment charges near restaurant prices for, what is in effect, below par pub food. It offers poor value for money and poor service, unless you are "local" of course!
I'm not referring to one isolated event either, I've made several visits and have tried various dishes from the menu. Everytime was a disappointment, especially considering the prices/ menu descriptions.
I was brought up in a restaurant/pub environment, my father was a chef (trained in the West End, Mayfair/Park Lane etc)and a very successful licensee, so I do know a bit about food.
The fayre on offer at this pub is mostly bought in from a preferred supplier, frozen,pre-packaged etc. Charging restaurant prices for this is criminal! I would suggest that the previous poster wouldn't know poo from clay......................?
If you want superb, seasonal and "freshly prepared" food at very reasonable prices, in a "pub" type environment, you should try the Fwrrwm Ishta in Machen. They could teach the proprietors of this overated eatery a thing or two.
I agree about the setting though, it is a beautiful pub and the location is lovely. An important aspect of this pubs popularity. Just shame about the food and service, what a waste. :(
10 Jul 2007 16:34