BITE user comments - Terryadinfinitum
Comments by Terryadinfinitum
Why has the poor White Horse been chosen as the repository for a load of ranting guff about pubs in London? Truly, the BITE website is out of control.
8 Aug 2010 09:28
I still use the Boot once a fortnight or so, but the standards of service are definitely slipping. Some of the newer barstaff, especially the girls, have absolutely no idea about serving customers in a fair order. If their friends come in, or if they just catch someone's eye, they'll go straight to those people and serve them. They might then repeat with someone else. Well, I'm fed up with waiting at the bar like a fool, and shall be spending more time in the Blacksmiths Arms from now on.
4 Aug 2010 10:13
Much livelier now, and a good alternative if the Boot gets too busy. There are still 3 real ales and the service is much friendlier than previously.
20 Jun 2010 18:10
Here's an equation for you, in an EMPTY pub tonight:-
2 barstaff
1 customer (me)
0 service.....
...for 5 minutes, then I walked out. What a load of crap!!!!!
13 Jan 2010 21:47
Oh great, just what what the world doesn't need: a total arse chucking stuff onto the log fire and threatening to burn the pub down. Why don't the bar staff just chuck this numpty out the door?????? But no, they won't do it, shame on them.
13 Jan 2010 21:42
Charles Wells brewers are taking over here. If they've got any sense they'll keep any changes to a minimum, and let this great pub carry on as it is.
8 Aug 2009 11:41
Agh, Morris dancers blocking the entrance! Well, that was my experience on Monday night but never mind. Excellent beer, good food and good service. Great stuff.
29 Jul 2009 20:03
The Hare and Hounds, St Albans
No, don't close this one down either, unless to turn it into my new Hertsboy Tavern. The food is excellent, sometimes sensational, and the drinks are much better than they used to be. It can get a bit raucous when the football's on, but so what? The Monday night quizzes are a hoot.
25 Nov 2008 16:46
No, don't close it down. A year or two back this pub was struggling, but it's coming back in leaps and bounds. The beer and food are excellent, although some of the barstaff could be a bit more alert.
25 Nov 2008 16:43
My earlier comments were a bit harsh. The new people have settled in rather well after all, and have restored lunchtime food as well as keeping the Fullers beers in good nick. Also some of the old regulars have started to return, which must be a good sign.
28 Oct 2008 17:58
Another new team has taken over. The pub itself is still recognisable, but all the old customers have gone and the atmosphere has changed for the worse. A beer-bellied bloke lurks menacingly by the door, and the barlady's customer service skills leave room for improvement (to put it mildly). Shall give this one a wide berth for the foreseeable future.
4 Oct 2008 10:43
The Hertsboy pub would be raised from the dying embers of the Beehive and would have the following:-
- 6 real ales + the usual lagers, Guinness etc
- No cocktails
- No Radio Verulam
- Strict over-18s policy (to stop my sons from gatecrashing :-)
- Comments/Suggestions book
- Wicked food
- Clean toilets
- Polite barstaff (including that guy from the Arctic Monkeys! I know who you're referring to, and he's a good lad).
Er, that'll do for now. It would give the other pubs a run for their money, anyway.
19 Aug 2008 15:02
I'm thinking of opening a pub called The Hertsboy. His omnipresence and sharing of opinions on BITE is quite useful overall. For myself, I've never seen any trouble or DVD swapping in the Beehive, and some of my mates rave about it. (They're very law-abiding by the way.) I just think it's rather average, and the Bombardier ale is nothing special.
14 Jul 2008 19:21
I was wrong to doubt this pub. I've been here 3 times in the past fortnight, and had a great time on each occasion. There are rumours that it's going to be sold - I hope this doesn't happen. One strange thing is that they started serving food on Monday nights but have now stopped again, however this does mean that convivial drinkers are more in evidence, which I greatly approve of!
10 Jun 2008 13:48
Four days in, and the new team at the Gari have already proved their worth. We're back to good beer, a friendly welcome and a clean environment. Long may it last.
8 Jun 2008 14:30
This pub has always been good, and the link with Hedges Farm is long established. It's just that the new landlady has been sensible enough not to change the good practices of her predecessors.
8 Jun 2008 14:28
It depends who's working here that determines what your experience is like. Most of the girls are fine, and the blond guy with the northern accent is a major asset - he should be running the place! The food's excellent and well prepared, in my judgement. But I think the Verulam can be a bit brash and money-obsessed, like many St Albans pubs. This probably sounds like gibberish nonsense, but I can't always feel at home here.
12 May 2008 10:08
Good grief, what's happened to this place? Used to be a good locals' pub, but is now grubby and they had no beer!!! Someone needs a kick up the backside.
7 May 2008 17:14
Having previously queried the purpose of Mokoko, I'm enlightened by this week's Herts Advertiser. Mokoko, it says, is a "specialist cocktail and style bar". So there we are. All sit down again.
29 Jul 2007 10:47
Perhaps my review was a bit out of date, but it was based on many visits over the years.
If the H&H has changed for the better - good! Very pleased to hear it. I'll check it out next time I'm in Brighton.
30 Jun 2007 21:47
Or "El Booto Collapso", as it should be called! I sympathise with those who say that, really, this pub is nothing special and doesn't deserve all these high ratings. But, really, it is incredibly human as well as being red-hot on the beers, wines, lagers etc etc and therefore as far as I'm concerned it is more than welcome to a place in the BITE Top 40.
28 Jun 2007 20:49
Is it a pub? Is it a bar? Is it a diner? I'm still not sure. They are definitely after customers with money, and since I only wanted a pint of Becks the barman served me with maximum condescension and irritation. Meanwhile a snooty couple who were eating were fawned over by all and sundry. I left quickly, unimpressed. Nice decor, but so what?
20 Jun 2007 18:25
Even Morrissey would have trouble finding the words to describe how deeply horrifying this pub is. The atmosphere is threatening, the beer poor and the bar staffed by Cybermen.
16 Apr 2007 12:51
Under new management, I think. 3 proper ales to choose from, and the menu looked OK although I didn't eat here today. Some of the barstaff were a bit vague, but this is still an interesting pub and worth visiting.
As for the rest of Sandridge: the village store has reopened, there are 2 other pubs and a church, and that's yer lot. All quite charming - I might retire here!
2 Apr 2007 08:49
I'd heard many good things about this pub, but was actually a bit disappointed by the reality. The beer quality was superb - it's served here straight from the cask - but the choice of Deuchars, Greene King IPA and Abbots (the Youngs Bitter wasn't available) didn't strike me as very exciting. Did I miss something?
Still, the service was very welcoming and the menu looked good.
1 Apr 2007 16:59
Blimey missus! My Londoner's accent completely stumped the barlady, and I had to repeat myself several times. I checked the map, and Sandridge is only 20 miles or so from London, but I was made to feel a bit of an alien.
Shame, really, because it's not a bad pub. There were 4 beers to choose from, and the quality was OK if not brilliant. I actually think this place has got the potential to beat the 2 neighbouring pubs, but, but....
Also it's handy to have the bus stop almost outside the door, but the 1833 bus didn't turn up until approx 1855, by which time I had given up and walked a good half mile towards St Albans. Doh!!!!!
1 Apr 2007 16:55
I found this pub only recently and it's great! The beers are superbly kept, the food is excellent and good value, and the barstaff are friendly and professional. Separate smoking and non-smoking areas too. Excellent.
6 Jan 2007 16:46
Always visit here on my rare visits to Lewes. The welcome is always friendly and the beers excellent.
3 Jan 2007 19:26
A real gem of a pub and well worth a visit. Hardly any other decent places like this still in NW London.
3 Jan 2007 09:13
Back to Terryadinfinitum's profile
The Garibaldi, St Albans
The current 5.4 rating is definitely out of date. The Garibaldi is back as it should be, following a lot of hard work by the current and previous managers. Beer quality is spot-on and the food is fine, and good value. 8 out of 10, easily.
23 Aug 2010 19:03