BITE user comments - Tigerdrinker
Comments by Tigerdrinker
Fine country pub. Great selection of 8 ales. Had pints of the oddly named, but very fine, Sister Seagull from Elland Brewery and one of Scrum Down. A number of other interesting beers mainly from micro breweries.
13 Feb 2010 17:18
The Southampton Arms, Gospel Oak
From previous reviews the Southampton has clearly changed beyond recognition in the last few months, but on visiting for the first time last night it felt as if it had always been this way.
7 ales and 5 ciders on tap last night. All ales from smaller independant breweries which last night had a London emphasis including a Meantime Pale, Sambrook Wandle, Twickenham Naked Ladies, and an excellent dark strong beer called Lord Essex - I think from Felstar. There was also a stout and a mild.
We got a seat by the small coal and log fire which was a great spot on a cold evening. Pub was busy without being crowded and the atmosphere excellent with a good hum of conversation and the old records playing.
Would be nice to see a couple of beers from further afield next time, but for my money this go's straight into the "elite group" of London pubs for real ale lovers. Like lad_newton (see below) I am rating 9/10
1 Feb 2010 09:39
Reasonable pint of Spitfire. At this time of year 80% tourists. OK for a pint before the tube, but not much else.
2 Aug 2009 10:52
The Hereford Arms, South Kensington
Visited for a quick pint last night. Nice looking pub which has I understand recently been taken over by Fullers. Fullers range plus Seafarers and a.n.other on the pumps. I had an excellent pint of Discovery. Very touristy and food led (ketchup and vinegar out on all tables etc) to the extent that the over-powering smell of food, especially fried food, would probably put me off returning unless a nice day when you could sit at the tables outside.
2 Aug 2009 10:50
The Churchill Arms, Kensington
Extra-ordinary looking pub - look at the picture. Had a very good pint of Discovery, but this pub is not for me - the over-whelming smell of Thai food is just not conducive to enjoying your pint. Fortunately we visited on sunny Sunday evening and sat on the pavement outside.
28 Apr 2009 09:44
From previous reviews (including my mate trainman) clearly can be a bit hit and miss as to how many beers are on offer. However went in last night and all 3 pumps on offering Landlord (very good nick), Pride (did not have) and a rather nice "Blonde" from Morrisey Fox. Good early evening atmosphere and a friendly barmaid add up to a return for me in the near future.
2 Mar 2009 09:13
Always liked his pub since first went in about 30 years ago. Visited on Friday and the Pedigree was still spot on. However they seem to have given the place a bit of a makeover and painted over some of the old panelling etc which has been unchanged forever - vandalism in my view and I have to mark down accordingly. Traditional pub interiors (as this was) really should be better protected.
25 Jan 2009 16:05
Excellent traditional pub with superb range of well kept beers. We sampled the Marstons 150 Not Out, Brakespeare Oxford Gold and Jennings Mild all of which were spot on. Lovely old interior with toby jugs and stuff hanging from the ceiling. Seemed like a nice bunch of locals and a good cozy spot in a cold winter evening. For my money better than any of the pubs in Shardlow. Told the food is good too, although we did not eat there.
25 Jan 2009 16:03
Went for a couple of pints on Christmas day. As described below a nice looking and cosy old pub with open fires and decent Adnams and Youngs. Abbot also on offer. Locals seemed friendly as did the helpful landlady. A nice spot and a semi rural feel for a London borough.
29 Dec 2008 15:14
Splendid looking pub with a number of different rooms to drink in. Fabulous range of 16 beers of which 7 on offer were brewed in-house. I had the pub brewed Triple Hop and an Oak Ale from Burton Cottage Brewery. Good prices with the 3.7% in-houser (which I did not try) priced at �1.70. Definitely worth a vist and I will return - not least because though the two beers I had were good, they were not quite perfect - I suspect this pub can do better, and I want to find out. Certainly from some of the previous comments one would expect this to be the case.
12 Oct 2008 18:42
Nice Vilage boozer with decent pints of Pedigree and Jennings. Food OK.
12 Oct 2008 18:36
Visited last night. Have been a few times before but realised I had never commented on this one. Cosy Hall & Woddhouse boozer with good badger beers, always in good condition. Enjoyed both Badger and Ferrett yesterday. Worth a visit.
6 Oct 2008 09:40
Interesting building with the canal coming inside. Unfortunately the only poorish pint I had on a big Nottingham crawl - although my own fault for not asking for it to be changed, thinking is was about OK and then deciding it wasn't as I got half way down. However to be fair the others had a variety of beers which were well rated, so I would give it another try.
7 Sep 2008 22:16
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham
It is a tourist attraction but still a remarkable building and served a good pint of Ruddles County today.
7 Sep 2008 22:13
An absolute gem of a pub, right next to the Nottingham Brewery. Fabulous beers - had both the Rock Bitter and the Legend which were perfect. Very friendly landlord. The best in Nottingham along with the Vat & Fiddle and tough to choose a favourite out of the 2. One of a very few pubs I have given a 9 to - the perfect 10 being reserved for a pub like this, but with free beer.
7 Sep 2008 22:12
My home for my teenage years - at least from age 14. Went on Saturday night, for the first time in a fair while, at the end of a long crawl. Sad that Kimberley (even though was never the best beer in the world) was taken over by GK. Had pints of both Hardy Hansons and Olde Trip which were both good - but way too cold. Great to see the pub is so unchanged since the mid 1970's
7 Sep 2008 22:09
Fantastic pub in many ways though I have a few reservations. Beer is always excellent and on a visit this weekend tried a couple. I agree with the no mobile phones rule but they do ram it down your throat a bit much - a big blackboard notice as well as the signs. I dont like the big marquee out the back and for we sinful smokers we can't even light up there. Still the best in Beeston by a fair margin, although there are better pubs in Nottingham area - Vat & Fiddle and Plough at Radford for sure.
7 Sep 2008 22:05
The Salutation Inn, Nottingham
As rock / goth as ever with sticky carpets. But still a greeat pub in its own way and a fie pint of Belvoir Whipple Snapple (or something like that). Worth a visit.
7 Sep 2008 22:00
A bit of Nottingham history that had to be included in our Nottingham crawl (despite being a GK pub). Not really worth the trouble - other than some of the flagstones there is nothing original left, at least in the back bar, partly I understand due to a fire. Had a pint of Nottingham Brewery legend which was fine, although not a patch on the same beer at the Plough Radford - the Brewery pub.
7 Sep 2008 21:58
Decent pub although not in the premier league of our selections on a Nottingham crawl. Good pint of the amusingly named Mongrel (I bet trainman will give some more details when he reviews!)
7 Sep 2008 21:54
The Lincolnshire Poacher, Nottingham
Fine pub. Castle Rock beers and guests - I had a top pint of Hydes (from Manchester I understand).
7 Sep 2008 21:52
Good Tynemill Pub but I would not rate as high as the Vat & Fiddle and Newshouse. Very good beer but atmosphere not quite as good. Had an excellent pint of Batemans XB
7 Sep 2008 21:51
Another great pub from the Tyne Mill chain. Does not look great from the outside but a proper traditional boozer inside. Nice range of Castle Rock and guests and I had an excellent pint of GFB. We had some good banter with the attractive landlady.
7 Sep 2008 21:49
The Vat and Fiddle, Nottingham
First pub of a Nottingham crawl on a Saturday lunchtime, and the last (some 15 pubs later) before getting the train back on Sunday afternoon. Just fantastic. Great range of beers with the Harvest Pale in perfect nick. It does not get much better than this (although to choose a number one between this and the Plough at Radford - the competiton in the form of the Nottingham Brewery is a tough call).
7 Sep 2008 21:45
Was my first choice pub on visiting Brixham, having read the various comments. However the Tribute was poorly kept. Location and ambience is great. I had a much better pint at the Blue Anchor (not listed on BITE, but other side of the quay).
22 Aug 2008 09:15
The Pilchard Inn, Burgh Island
Terrific pub in a unique setting. Surprised the rating is only 6.5 although some people are perhaps understandably annoyed by the ruling that half the pub is for residents of the Burgh Island hotel only. However it is a great old building, nice service the day we visited and the "Pilchard Ale" was very good.
22 Aug 2008 09:13
Excellent pub with those lovely Hopback ales. Nice garden out the back. ALmost (but not quite) as good as the Trafalgar.
3 Aug 2008 09:11
Trafalgar Freehouse, South Wimbledon
Recent comments spot on. A great pub with a terrific selection of ales superbly served.
3 Aug 2008 09:08
This pub used to be the centre of the beer universe for some mates of mine 10 years ago. Now done up but still 4 real ales. I had Olympic which was acceptable but 2 mates had Bombadier which was awful. Cue big argument to get them changed - to Pride which was like vinegar. Even bigger argument to get these changed with the 2 girls behind the bar tasting the beer and declaring it to be spot on! On the list of places to avoid I'm afraid.
3 Aug 2008 09:06
A recent visit was my first for about 5 years. Used to be a proper boozer, but now gone well "up market" with the pool tables gone, wooden floor in and flowers on the tables. However a really good pint of Black Sheep so can't complain. Decent pub.
3 Aug 2008 09:01
Visited for the 3rd time on Friday evening. Great line up of ales and really enjoyed the EPA, Badger Tanglefoot and Rebellion Mutiny. The landlord has a true passion for his beer, and it shows. Without doubt one of London's top 5 pubs if you like spot on ale.
3 Aug 2008 08:57
The Narrow Street Pub & Dining Room, Limehouse
Fine location by the river and bar food nice. Potted salt beef very tasty and good ploughmans all reasonably priced for a Ramsay venture. However beer (had Adnams and Deuchars) both pretty mediocre - they need to remember it is pub (or is it?)
30 Jul 2008 15:44
Great pub. Hophead superb and Summer Solstice also most enjoyable. My girlfriend had a Pimm's and the helpful barman apologised for having no fruit and stuff to put in it, but kindly went and hacked up half a cucumber to go in it!
29 Jul 2008 14:14
Average Soho pub with average pint of 6X. Also had GK IPA and Courage. Would not rush back.
3 Jun 2008 22:27
The Crown and Sceptre, Fitzrovia
Near home and I give it a try from time to time and always regret it. They have 3 real ale pumps - including TT Landlord, but yet again this Tuesday none of them were available so had a rare G&T instead. I think they are mainly looking to appeal to the media crew (as noted below) and probably more of a ladies, or guys on the pull, kind of place.
30 May 2008 23:27
Reasonable pub with 2 decent pool tables that we had booked for a couple of hours. Decent (if not outstanding) Adnams, Pride and Bombadier. Probably only go out of your way if you want somewhere you can book the pool - but an overall OK.
30 May 2008 23:23
The Stratford Haven, West Bridgford
This is a pub of 2 halves. Great range of Ales including a number from Castle Rock, Burton Bridge, Batemans plus Summer Lightening - about 10 in total. I had pints of Castle Rock Harvest Pale and Burton Bridge Golden Delicious - both superb. The bad half is the food - we had Sunday lunch and it was pretty vile. Still this is Beer in the Evening, not Lunch on a Sunday, so will still give them a 7. But they could do with simplifying the menu and maybe doing a few things well. Otherwise stick to some great beer. And by the way sounds from previous comments as if service can be mixed but friendly and efficient today.
25 May 2008 19:43
Ended up here after a 14 mile walk on our Thames River walk. A good local boozer with a fine pint of Arkells. You might not go miles out of your way to get here, but if in Cricklade, worth dropping in.
18 May 2008 17:16
Don't let the smell of wet dog as you enter put you off. Great selection of about a dozen handpumps very well served.
5 May 2008 18:10
When living in Leicester a couple of years ago, never went in this place as it a) looks like a cross between a prison and a public urinal and b) looks like you might get stabbed. However went in as part of a crawl and it has a great range of well served beers. If you like top ales, dont let the look put you off.
5 May 2008 18:05
A gem of a pub formed from converted farm buildings. Excellent range of beers led by the "in house" though brewed at Burton "Steaming Billy" range. My samples included the Country Bitter and Billy Bitter both of which were truly exceptional. Hope to go back before long.
5 May 2008 17:40
Enjoyed good pints of Hobbs Bitter and Brigadier. The atmosphere debate below is probably one of personal taste as much as anything. The pub has high ceilings and is not a "cozy boozer" but a decent town pub and extremely god beers looked after by an enthusiastic landlord.
5 May 2008 17:36
Used to visit the Globe when living in Leicester a couple of years ago. A great traditional town pub owned by Everards and still serving a great pint. Long may it remain unchanged.
5 May 2008 17:27
The Jerusalem Tavern, Clerkenwell
Unique old pub and the only time I have had draft, rather than bottled, St Peters. Great place and a shame that like so many other pubs in the area that it does not open at weekends. I wish a load of the better London pubs all agreed to open say the first Saturday of every month so you could do a decent weekend crawl.
29 Apr 2008 18:41
Great back street real ale lovers paradise with a great selection of ales. Enjoyed two golden beers - Archers and Brewers plus at least one other but don't remember which. Personally I quite like the tatty carpet. Sure I will be back
29 Apr 2008 18:21
The Junction Tavern, Kentish Town
Worth a scoot up the Northen Line (closer to Tuffnel Park than Kentish Town). Enjoyed good pints of Eden and Knocker as well as Deuchars which I don't normally reckon to like. Nice looking pub - seems quite heavy on the food side but a good bar area too.
29 Apr 2008 18:15
I had tried to visit the Miller with Trainman (see posting below) a few months ago. Found myself back in Goring this weekend, and after another excellent pint of Brakespeares Bitter in the Catherine Wheel, had another attempt on the Miller.
Firstly the beer. Pumps for 3 Ales, although only 2 available. I had the White Horse Brewery Oxfordshire Bitter - not bad but not perfect either. Staff were friendly but the decor not to my taste - they seem to be trying a bit too hard to be trendy.
Beware if you have a glass of wine. My partner had a large glass of Sauvingnon and this with my pint came to �11.15. I queried this to find the wine was over �8. She said it was a nice wine, but I had not specified a particular label so seems rather steep.
3 Mar 2008 09:55
Great cosy pub with a truly excellent pint of Brakespears Bitter. Worth a trip.
2 Jan 2008 16:13
Visited in the evening of New Years Day so pretty quiet. I would echo a lot of previous comments - it is a great quirky pub but the Adnams was really second rate. I had thought I would give it another try, but having read the other comments I wonder if it is worth it - the landlord just has to keep his beer better.
2 Jan 2008 10:59
Great pint and some very nice food as well. The beer up to Lewes standard for Harvey's (which is praise indeed). Well worth a visit.
14 Aug 2007 18:01
We visited on a Friday lunchtime and fairly quiet. Sat outside with great view over the village green. Couple of excellent pints of Harvey's. Imagine it could get a bit full of people eating especially at weekend evenings but great for our visit. We walked back to Eastbourne via Beachy Head (where there is another pub) - good hilly 5 miles with sea views.
22 Jul 2007 20:26
Pleased to confirm that the pub is open - understand was closed for a month or so due to the charming and slightly eccentric landlord holding out against a rent increase. Went to the Dolphin last Sunday after a crawl in Winchester on Saturday; the Dolphin being one of 3 pubs we visited in the village. The locals are lucky as all three were good, but the Dolpin my favourite. Excellent pint of Sharps Doombar. We stayed for 2 or 3 hours and all in our party of 5 stuck to their first beer choice which would seem to indicate that the qulaity was good across the range. Both the pub and the colllection in the village recommended for a visit.
10 Jul 2007 21:54
Having moved into the area a few months ago have tried most of the local pubs and decided this is the favourite. Well kept pint of Old Brewery - and as for all the Sam Smiths pubs at an amazing price (�1.78 at present) for London. Same 2 barmen always seem to be working when we go in which is great as so many of the pubs turnover barstaff so quickly. Shame they are not allowed seating outside - I wonder if the smoking ban will hit them?
5 Jun 2007 18:14
Horrible beer. Probably bearable for a lager drinker but if you like proper beer avoid it like the plague.
23 Apr 2007 12:37
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The Royal Standard, Wooburn Common
Terrific traditional village pub with a great range of ales - 10 in all with 5 from hand pump and 5 on stillage. Last night included Summer Lightning, York Centurion and Leeds Pale in excellent condition. Wonder if you can get a bus from here to the White Horse at Hedgerley as the two would make the basis of a fine country pub tour.
21 Mar 2010 16:34