BITE user comments - Surrealale
Comments by Surrealale
Agree with the comments below. Superb, well-kept beer, and friendly bar staff. Real fire and comprehensive (if pricey) menu. Food not absolutely *amazing* but not bad at all for a pub.In general a very good place to stop for a pint and lunch.
2 Jan 2009 10:34
The Prince of Wales, Green Tye
I turned up here with high expectations because in general pubs that take the trouble to brew their own beer tend to be above the average. However, I'm afraid I was disappointed. Firstly, there were no in-house beers on tap- odd when you've spent all that time and money on the microbrewery. Second, they don't take cards- not normally a problem but this pub is literally several miles from the nearest cashpoint. Thirdly, the pub menu seems to date from 1979 rather than 2009. Chips with everything and not much choice. My misery was compounded by the loud conversation on the table next to me among people to the right of Genghis Khan politically that was basically racist and offensive about immigration. The only good spot was that the beer that was on was pretty well-kept. In summary, it's worth popping in here for a beer, but bring cash, don't stop for lunch and try to time your visit not to coincide with that of the local brach of the SS.
2 Jan 2009 10:31
Went last night for what promised to be a good night out- music policy described as indie/electro/breaks, which sounded a nice alternative to the rubbish you usually get in e.g. nearby Clapham. Instead mightily disappointed by unimaginative DJ playing big stoopid 'jump around like you just don't care' commercial hip hop and other rubbish that makes the pub is just no different to lots of other places- if it ever was edgy and imaginative, it ain't any more. The lack of imagination stretches to the drinks selection as well I'm afraid. I wanted to have fun here, but it's just like Clapham music and beerwise now. The only difference is that the people dancing aren't public school rugby and hockey playing accountants. No wonder that even on a Saturday night it was strangely quiet and lacking in atmosphere. If you appreciate good music in pubs on a Saturday night, there must be alternatives to this, I hope.
14 Sep 2008 08:41
Smoky, unpleasant, charmless, witless, boring bog-standard Young's pub. Best avoided, unless for some reason you think that Young's pubs are too thin on the ground in southwest London. If you do think this, the psychiatrists at nearby St George's hospital are standing by to help you.
26 Apr 2007 14:08
I keep coming back here cynically expecting that every time I return, one more generic 'buy anywhere in London' Fuller's tap will have displaced another excellent unusual microbrew but I have to admit so far my cynicism has been misplaced and Fuller's seem to be treating the other beers with respect. The only remaining problem is the extreme, constant, cigarette smoke that makes the place stink to high heaven. What's that, you say? A total smoking ban from 1 July? Then the Doric Arch will truly become one of the best pubs in London, and one which I will visit far more often. Bring on the ban!
19 Apr 2007 21:49
The Rose and Crown, Tooting Bec
'Not too hot on the real ales, unfortunately' says a reviewer below. That's a bit of an understatement- I get the feeling that the landlords actually actively hate real ales- they pulled down a poster advertising the Battersea beer festival after just two days, replacing it with another of those generic Carling/Sky Sports/what's on this month on the big screen posters. Come to this pub if you like the most average, bland, unremarkable, dull pub in existence- if your idea of fun revolves around Carling, Sky TV, Fosters and other similar pub rubbish. Would you like proper beer, proper conversation and an atmosphere where the oxygen has not been replaced in its entirety by smoke particles? Best go elsewhere (and I do, although I live 3 mins walk away).
19 Apr 2007 21:44
I too would heartily recommend this pub. Fantastic selection of unusual real ales- when I went last many were from the north-east, surprisingly! (e.g. Northumbria brewery)
19 Apr 2007 21:24
Can this pub do no wrong? Every time we visit, it just gets better and better. It is no exaggeration to say that the Wenlock Arms makes my life better whenever I drop by.
The previous reviewer saying the pub is in the middle of a new housing estate is exaggerating. There is some new housing nearby but much of the development is offices, most of which still seem vacant two years after construction (in stark contrast with the ever-full Wenlock across the street). The new development appears so far not to have affected the charm and charisma of this great pub one iota.
19 Apr 2007 21:08
The Wasdale Head Inn, Wasdale Head
Let me say first that we were not disappointed by the real ale here. The quality, flavour and range of home-brewed beer is absolutely excellent- served at just the right temperature and maturity, and a great addition to the real ale scene. Spot on.
However, we were disappointed with the food and the service. Firstly, the food- although average by 'anypub' standards, usually where the beer is considered carefully (as it is here), then so is the food. Unfortunately the food set-up at Ritson's
Bar reminded me of an institutional cafeteria in terms of food quality and the big stainless steel troughs that the chefs ladle food from. This is strange as the local competition for food is stiff (the nearby Gosforth Hall Hotel bar for example, has excellent, great value food, so we ended up going there to eat most nights and the Wasdale just to drink).
The service at the bar was also cold, unsmiling and unfriendly, to say the least- I didn't take it personally, as I noted the barstaff doing the same to all customers....did we come at a
bad time?!
The Wasdale has so much potential to be truly excellent, what with the brilliant beers- just a few tweaks with the food and the service are all that would be required to change from a 'go there
just for the beer' pub to an 'excellent beer, excellent food, excellent atmosphere- spend the whole evening there' pub.
19 Apr 2007 21:01
The Hawkley Inn, Hawkley
Really good for beer- fantastic selection, many unusual brews you won't find elsewhere, all well-kept- but a bit lacking in atmosphere when I visited. Still, I'll be charitable- it was mid-afternoon and it might get a bit more cosy in the evenings. Worth a detour.
2 Jan 2009 10:36