BITE user comments - Ziggles
Comments by Ziggles
I visited this pub by chance , working in the Locale.. I went to one other pub on my first night and was horrified by how awful it was, On stumbling into the Victory as the more appealing of the local pubs I was pleased i did, visiting it every night for the next two weeks.. The Beers varied and excellent, Doom Bar being particulalry well kept, The staff were all fantastic, chatty and plesant, you were welcomed and remembered, The food again was on another level, Excellent fish well cooked, everything i had i couldnt fault, starters , mains or deserts,a Northern colleague of mine declared the meat pie the best outside of the North east, and had it three nights running
I wish that there were more pubs like this..This deserves more recognition for the service it does, its at the centre of the local community and interacting well with visitors...A Victory indeed.. 10/10.. and i dont give that out much..
5 Aug 2011 23:00
Visited the Snooty fox and was disappointed, They had three real ales on tap, Green King IPA, London Pride and one other, Amstel and the usual suspects.. Modern Bistro style pub, Specials on the board, surprisingly few.. vast swathes of empty blackboard, lunch menu had 3 starters, 4 mains and 4 deserts, told straight away that one of the mains was off..Ordered Pate, Mrs Z decided to have the same, told sorry mine was last, mains ordered, Belly pork with crackling, fish and chips, and a half pound burger..Starter Pate, good but a bit too much fat on the top, mushrooms on bruschetta (toast) luke warm.. Mains burger excellent, vey good chips excellent cooked twice just the way you should to get chip perfection, sadly the fish had been cooked twice too.. warmed in the oven i suspect due to the elastic nature of the batter, my peas were lukewarm having only just made it out of the microwave being warmed, 30 seconds less would have seen them still chilled, The belly pork was a disaster, flacid and disgusting, very little meat.. no crackling, appeared that this and my fish and chips had vanished from the special board so these too were the last portions.. clearly getting ready for the weekend by selling off your food to unsuspecting patrons on the friday..unacceptable..
We told the waitress of our concerns and she went from smiling and happy to looking horrified and just ..well..left..when she reappeared she deducted the pork from the bill.. Whilst it was good of them to do this, it shouldn't have happened..very few patrons, and it perhaps explains why, A refreshing menu and this pub would be busy. as it is ,it is very near empty, and if its because of the slow service and menu i wouldn't be surprised..
On the up side the car park was large and empty, and the toilets were spotless, the staff are friendly but clearly don't know quite what to do in the case of complaint. Comfy sofas but a lot too modern..A Pity
5 Aug 2011 22:51
As someone from out of the area, this pub is a little difficult to find, but well worth the effort, from the outside you get the impression that something a little special is contained within, and you are not disappointed, on entering the bar is bare wooden floors , menu boards on the wall, one of the most extensive whisky displays i have seen for a long time behind the bar, excellently kept ales, sadly i have lost my paper that i wrote the beers on , sorry, but all splendid ales, eat inside in the clean well kept bar, or outside under a gazebo/plastic marquee affair which whilst large kept the sun off us on a fabulous sunny day, and with only three tables "trackside" its a scramble to get in the sun.. Sat out in the garden is a treat next to the railway with trains passing not 15 meters from you, the food is a mixed offering, with the Memsahib having Goats cheese on bruschetta, fantastic.. for mains i had the pork pie and stilton ploughmans, good value for money, Memsahib had pork meatballs which she felt were bought in but nice, desert was Lemon tart, which i really enjoyed, The toilets were spotless and the staff fabulous, though the girl waiting on seemed to be a little out of sorts, sadly this pub is 100 miles from me so wont be a regular but when i'm in Nottingham next, I'll be back ...
Worth a detour for ... Independants like this need our support, and you wont be disappointed here
25 May 2011 18:59
Most Pubs wither in the face of a Wetherspoons opening in there town. and indeed a Wetherspoons has opened next door, however i feel the landlord here has relished the wetherspoons openeing and has risen to the challenge, providing a good range of real ale,beers and cider along with entertainment, a traditional dingy pub, but by golly its good!! Avoid on a friday and saturday night when it can be raucous, but my advice is avoid St Neots on those two nights not this pub by itself, apart from those two nights, good at any time..
For me New Years Eve speaks volumes, Wetherspoons shut before midnight as it was nearly empty, and the Pig and falcon was rammed.. and they are literally 25 yards apart..
28 Jan 2011 14:48
And...... About Turn... No longer called La Sella but back to being The Saddle??!! second hand info on this establishment now that it has changed hands again, and reverted to a good old fashioned Pub.
Beer is up to scratch, no news on what they serve, but i am lead to believe its worth a visit, a youngish crowd with a poker night..on a thursday i believe, Serious officinados of Poker can be located at The white Horse on a Tuesday night..
So Bravo the Saddle for reopening and going against national trends...
28 Jan 2011 14:36
Attended here whilst staying nearby with wife and daughter, excellent choice of Beer, cider and wine, a knowledgable and keen staff. I seem to recall three real ales on tap but i may be wrong it had been a hot long day and i needed cider!!
Food highly reccomended, quality very good , potion.. not as big as liked and service very good too.. A small pub just off the main road in Crockerton which is a small village that goes on forever...
19 Oct 2010 13:10
Two visits to this pub to form a strong opinion... A nice pub that has improved greatly since the post by chibloid just under two years ago... Firstly the beer, a nice selection with real ale on tap, kept well, a excellent selection of wines by the glass ( small and large) and by the bottle... a small selection of bottled beer,and the fabulous krabbies alcoholic ginger beer... Food served here is cooked by a Jamaican cook (so the bumpf says) and my choice on my first visit was curried goat.... goat cooked nicely.but the curry was underspiced, the yellow rice let the dish down as well, having had curried goat before this could be more full of flavour, our next visit saw us having sunday lunch, the meat was nicely cooked, the yorkshires were crisp and risen... and the veg was cooked well, i had fish pie as an alternative and was really please filled with fish and tasty too... main complaint, as outlined already over a year ago, not enough toast with the pate.....
Also of note they have an event called Tilfest here... local bands, local beer and supported by locals....
This is a pub on the rise.... good luck to them
4 Aug 2010 22:57
Great Pub... excellent everchanging guest beers all well kept ... Food brought down from upstairs is Pan-Asian, expensive but tasty, whereas the beer is well priced and served by knowledgable bar staff, very impressed.
8 May 2010 18:23
Always happy to update my thoughts and MTM is closer to the mark, there has been good money spent on this pub and it has paid off, a young clientelle and you feel a little out of place as an older patron but after saying that you dont feel threatened, The staff are welcoming and most importantly the beer has improved. The Indian restaurant is still attached. Lets be fair here this was a dire town centre pub stuffed in a 60's building now its a modern pub that feels welcoming .. Bravo..
13 Nov 2009 15:27
Bigmeup is not far wide of the mark... The beer selection is very limited.. the carpet is in need of refurbishment.. There is a menu board with specials on... a special to my mind changes ...these dont.. Steak is very much the order of the day, the landlord cooks each steak to order and the grill is used for just steak which produces a damn fine steak cooked to perfection.. The steak is cut to the size you require which is nice they weigh it and tell you how much it costs.. This is where it all unravels.. The price is not just high it is shockingly high, i wondered if Dick Turpin set the price as it was daylight robbery, however they were happy to cut my steak in half so it only (!!) cost 18 pounds,the steak comes with an "accompaniment" salad,chips,fried onion rings, basically all the usual suspects prepared in a kitchen by a Babboon, or at least a babboon could prepare this standard of poor accompaniements , all fresh from the freezer, except the salad thankfully. extra "sides2 come at an equally high price.
The service to table was provided by spotty oicks who have not the first idea of customer service and people skills, to have your food dumped in front of you with a grunt and no reply to my "thank you" is annoying. During the meal in the 4/5th empty restaurant the landlord chatted to the nearby table "all our food is sourced locally" quoth he.. "where is your steak from?" asked the punter... "Scotland" replied the landlord...Scotland really isn't local to Bedfordshire..but it is closer than Calcutta so he may have a point..
We were asked by the girl waiting at our table,if we wanted a desert. we asked whats home made her reply was fantastic"the Creme Brulee is homemade... all the other deserts are made in someone elses home" HILARIOUS... that will be called a factory then.. which brings me back to the fact a babboon could do the kitchen work, Whilst waiting our bil the landlord sallied forth and asked "are you not having pudding?" we replied "no" he looked diappointed and said loudly " what No roly-poly, no treacle pudding, no spotted dick??" to which we very dryly replied "no...as none of those are on the menu"
Clearly this establishment has gone past its sell by date , and in the words of Cromwell to the long parliament "Just go ..In the name of God Go"
13 Nov 2009 15:16
Man_ at_ the_ bar's comments about everybody at the saddle having a great time and looking forward to going back are all well and good.... When they do return they will suffer a little confusion as the saddle is now La sella.. (Italian for The saddle) The pub has closed and in its place a Italian restaurant (you knew it would be Italian from the name change) has opened, if fizzy Italian beer is your thing then fill your boots, Real ale they have none of... If fine italian dining is your thing with competative wine (or fizzy Italian beer)then this could be the one for you.. I like and would reccomend.
Tip of the day..Home made deserts= quality restaurant....deserts made off premises=slack chefing
13 Nov 2009 14:54
And out of the chaos of refurbishment comes ...clarity.. A nice Bistro/pub/resaurant now , done up in old fashioned style so pleasant and relaxing. excellent selection of beers on tap, very pleasant. nice to sit outside by the river on a warm day, food is now very good , the manager telling me that the "microwaves went in the skip on the refurb" and the food is good..if expensive, Its not a drinkers pub and doesnt profess to be, but its been done up and looks nice now.. bravo
8 Sep 2009 12:52
Well well.. a Wetherspoons that is a wetherspoons... Ale all very bog standard...nice selection though so i wont fault them.. Went on a Friday night early evening and have to say the service was quick.. Got a seat outside in the garden to be approached by "Ting Tong" selling knocked off smokes.. Call me old fashioned but i dont fancy the idea of buying knock off in a chain pub..The Toilets to be fair were fantastic... smelled just like a toilet that hasn't been cleaned for a fortnight should smell like , horrible !!
Clean the throne room and this gets a decent mark.. as it is, gagging whilst watering the horse looses marks big style
8 Sep 2009 12:43
Fantastic.... Food...Basic well priced ploughmans, pork pies, pasties and that is about that, home made pies, homemade bread, homemade chutney, home cured ham... Not a chip in sight...
Beer.... Fantastic... a fine selection of ale and cider... Thank God pubs like this still exist..
Top Marks..
31 Aug 2009 12:20
A fine pub/ restaurant with fantastic views over the bay from the gardens/restaurant... Good selection of beers on tap well kept with a good choice of wine as well... and the food is fantastic...seafood being the speciallity of the house and not over priced to boot... People come in and order crab and then take it out into the garden with all the required "tools" and beer and spend a number of relaxed hours eating.. and why not... Family run.. the only thing that we noticed that was a bit shoddy was the view towards the kitchen from the toilets..
31 Aug 2009 12:07
Internet... DVD... Unified Germany.. GM crops... All things that have happened since i last visited this pub 25 years ago.. And to be fair the pub has had a change of wallpaper.. some newer brighter lighting.. and a smoke free atmosphere since my last visit... On informing my drinking partners daughter we were going to the Marshals we were informed it is an old persons pub... It is an old persons pub... serving good honest well kept beers and with an atmosphere that only a pub comfortable with its own identity has.. Fancy some fizzy pish... then you will find ...errr...chain pubs near by ... want a pub where you can hold a conversation ,enjoy a beer in a convivial atmosphere you'd do a lot worse than having a bash at the Marshals..
31 Aug 2009 11:59
The Dartmoor Inn At Lydford., Lydford
Excellent food... at quite high end of the price market... After saying that you get what you pay for here.. The quality is excellent and packed with flavour... Very good wine menu but , i have to say, a limited beer and cider selection...
The Mem-Sahib and i stayed the night in this establishment and whilst the road noise is noticable the double double glazing compensates.. The rooms are fantastic...clean and the bed is so comfortable..Breakfast was unique... and good too!!
31 Aug 2009 09:10
Well what can i say .... It's rare that you visit somewhere and find a "locals" local that does its best to make you feel like a local... Great atmosphere ,social regulars. Well kept beer and they have a curry night on a thursday which,i am told, is fantastic value for money..
28 Jul 2009 13:09
George in the Tree, Balsall Common
Now the beer here is kept as well as can be expected for a chain pub.. Its a beefeater as pointed out by others... So average beer at slightly above average prices.. Your guaranteed a warm welcome as the ventilation in The George resembles that of a U-Boat that has been submerged for 24 hours, so its always close and sticky.. The food to be fair is not bad for a beefeater... had a very nice Mixed grill at a reasonable price by getting in before 7 when the full price menu kicked in,the waiting staff were very pleasant and helpful The bar staff clearly had sociability issues (why work in a pub if you dont like people?) The highlight of the visit is watching those people who think that Beefeater is the height of Posh Nosh....hilarious..
28 Jul 2009 13:04
No soul...No Heart.. Full of aggresive members of the travelling fraternity (why they are called travellers when they dont travel no where is a mystery)
Beer was awful..lad behind the bar really didnt give a toss, yapping to his mate..
Typical Wetherspoons..
There are some nice boozers in Wisbech.. This a'int one of them
28 Jan 2009 14:56
Closed for refurbishment at present...Hopefully some order out of the chaos will return..
28 Jan 2009 14:49
Its a Hotel.... so expect Hotel prices, The food is very good and if wine is your thing, you'll find one of the finest wine lists in the county.. If not East of England.
Beer not half bad.. but... its a Hotel
13 Aug 2008 20:00
Crown and Sceptre Inn, Torquay
Fine Ale well kept.. Small and compact "traditional" pub..
Ordering a half was greeted with "A half??.. I have a living to make !" Upgraded to a pint!! This is what pubs should be like, not been in when the Jazz is on but have been told its excellent..
A drinkers pub..without being a drunks pub..
13 Aug 2008 12:20
the best st neots has to offer??? I think not..
Its a chain pub so it will be the same as any other chain of Brewers Fayre up and down the land.. They do good Lunch time 2 for 1 meal deals, and whilst its distinclty average its not awful .. playing it safe .. this would be your choice..
19 Jul 2008 14:54
A locals pub ....rammed at the weekend.. Pizza delivery housed out the back ..as a result pizza and a pint go down well..
19 Jul 2008 14:52
Now closed.. awaiting development into more bloody houses no doubt.. a great pity..
19 Jul 2008 14:50
Plastic and loud.. very much a youff orientated pub.. A couple of guest pints usually on offer..sadly pulled by indifferent bar staff.. food slightly below average, though they have themed food evenings..
19 Jul 2008 14:37
Awful ....really awful..Poor beer..rotten decor..What a pub on Mars would be like...No atmosphere..One redeaming feature is the Indian restaurant attached on the side which is well worth a visit..The drinks are brought through from the pub and there is a slightly confusing two bill approach (one from the pub and one from the Indian.. If i were giving this marks for the Indian it would be 7 ...as its for the pub...Oh dear oh dear
23 Apr 2008 15:21
The Rugglestone Inn, Widecombe in the Moor
Excellent pub in stunning location...Fresh fish dishes..the food is excellent. Gets very crowded in the summer is probably best to ring ahead and book a table if you want to eat inside,
The drinks are another level.. The standard on tap fizzy rubbish.. However the real ale selection is always good with a couple of local guest ales on tap.. if you like your cider real..and i mean real..make sure you get a pint of rough scrumpy.. There are very few places now that when you order a pint of scrumpy the barman vanishes out the back and re-appears with it.. Its local and by God its good..not for the fizzy cider brigade though !! Should be a top tourist pub ...instead its a top pub...Eating here on a windy wet Dartmoor winter day is magical
23 Apr 2008 15:15
This really cannot be called a pub as it is really a restaurant,that said , the beer is of a high standard and the food is of an exceptional standard.. Crab on Bruschetta as a starter.. one of the best dishes i have ever had.. The main of Hare was fantastic..I'd go out of my way to find this hidden gem in the countryside.. The food quality is of a Michelin standard the waiting is good as well.. A fine choice of wines and Port..I'm not a family member..this is just a restaurant..or pub.. that has been turning out excellent food for years..
22 Apr 2008 21:21
The Tavern on the Green, Great Staughton
Ive eaten here and have to say the food is very good... Bordering on Bistro however with the clean look..Staff very good here too.. Beer usually a good selection on offer ...but the real ales could be kept better...
22 Apr 2008 21:11
Dont know what the food is like here now ..but its always been a little hit and miss..After saying that its one of only two Batemans houses in the area... and they serve a damn fine pint.. The XB was exceptionally well kept .. I shall return for food !!
22 Apr 2008 21:07
Nice pub not quite in the middle of no where but not far off .. Usually have a nice selection of real ale on tap.. food quite reasonable. Sunday lunch very nice ...
26 Mar 2008 12:47
Lovely interior decked out in a "cluttered traditional" look. We started with drinks before our meal. The Tim Taylors was a little below par but the wine ordered was good from the house selection.
The menu looked good whilst not over sized there was plenty of choice.
Sadly that was as good as it got. One starter was the filo pastry with asparagus and mushrooms in a Gruyere cheese melt..Sadly the filling was lukewarm.Looked nice but no taste of Gruyere. The other starter was Haddock on a Rissotto base. The rice was badly overcooked and cloying, i suspect reheated, The haddock was nice but lost in the sticky rice.
Mains were Rump of Lamb in a Mustard crust with crushed potatoes.Sadly the mustard had migrated to the potatoes and overpowered everything on the plate.The potatoes were old and not fresh. The meat was hidden from tasting by the overpowering mustard. It should be subtle.. not sledgehammer.
My main was pan seared Halibut with scallops in a champagne and saffron reduction. The first attempt, the fish was undercooked with raw fish on the skin side,apart from that for �17.95 i expected more than two fifty pence piece sized pieces of fish contained within a mess of undercooked fish and bone. I sent it back.The waitress returned and told me that Chef says it was cooked and that was how it should look!!Please please dont insult diners by taking them for idiots. The next attempt produced a tasy , cooked, fillet with a nice amount of fish, scallops cooked excellently,but a reduction that should be that ..reduced, this was a dish that swam in the champagne sauce and i could see no evidence or tatse of saffron..We forwent planned sweets and paid a bill of �63 for a really dire meal 3 glasses of wine a pint of T.Taylor and an orange juice and lemonade.
This was a fine pub/restaurant when last visited but i suspect has rested on its laurels and the chef is perhaps complacent in his approach to the food he serves.
Two final things.. I dont ,and i dont know many who do, like sitting with my right side being cooked on the radiator that was pressed against my table and when you go for a meal for two it is always customary to eat together..My rehashed main arrived 5 minutes after my wife had finished her main..
23 Mar 2008 14:41
The Bugle, Hamble
I dont mind paying extra for good ingriedients that have been cooked by a decent chef, but when the food has clearly been cooked by someone who has been told "use all of the fish" resulting in my Plaice with crushed potatoes being undercooked and the fish of a portion size that was ridiculous, the i have to say i object, It wasn't as if they had the decency to slap a large portion of potatoes on the plate, these were equally small and rubbish, any idiot can cook new potatoes and then beat them relentlessly with a ladle, shocking, The cheese platter was very good but �8 for a cheese platter with one of the listed cheeses missing without a word of explanation is bad.
The beer was standard pub price and variety, I liked the table i had right next to the disabled toilet, which when used by all and sundry who can't be arsed to go upstairs to the regular toilets is a treat.. the sound of someone grunting and farting their breakfast away only brightened my outlook of the food.. Someones having a laugh here.. and it's not the punters, i suspect that the regular Sailing-set go here as it's THE place to go, but by God surely they have brains to see whats happening and that they're being ripped off?? ... No? your probably right..
5 Aug 2011 23:10