BITE user comments - a1ex_e1
Comments by a1ex_e1
Oh what a great find this is. A sympathetically restored old Inn with a contemporary twist. Modern, artistic wallpaper complements a sympathetic restoration of the old fixtures and fittings. A great view can be had of the windswept high street in this picturesque town from the glazed window seat which portrudes from the front of the building. Sitting there, thinking of times of old yet relaxing in the warm atmosphere. The furniture is quite modern but comfortable and there are a number of interesting rooms along the stone corridor in which you can sit and socialise. The beer garden at the back in the lovely little courtyard compliments the good seating area outside the front. The beer is superb; a good selection of well kept real ale with some local choices. The staff are very friendly, welcoming and polite.
15 May 2011 09:21
Oh dear; what a disappointment! Every year we attend the Levellers festival in Burford and we found this pub last year. Stone flagged floors, sympathetic furniture, toby jugs hanging from the ceiling, no music, ploughman's lunches, a great pint of beer and a lovely landlord. But no more! The toby mugs have gone and in its place large clumps of wiring protrude from an untidy, cheap looking plaster board ceiling. New furniture has arrived together with a TV and loud rock music is played out at a terrific volume whilst the staff ignore requests to turn it down. The food is alright though overpriced. If the loss of atmosphere wasn't enough the beer has gone down hill also. The Wadworth Horizon I was given was the flat dregs of an old barrel and should certainly not have been given to a customer. The 6X which replaced it and which I had to ask twice for a disappointment. The whole ambiance of a traditional English pub in a picturesque Market Town has been completely destroyed and the staff are neither particularly friendly or competent either.
15 May 2011 09:10
It is disappointing to think that drinkers might be prevented from visiting this fine pub because of the plethora of negative reviews. The bouncers mentioned by pomona are a licensing requirement because of the bad reputation which the pub previously had. However, the owners could perhaps do more to make the pub seem more welcoming from the outside because we very nearly didn't go in. What a treat we would have missed! The new owners have clearly spent a considerable sum developing the pub in to a fine traditional but gastro venue. 5 real ales all with pumps containing descriptions of the beer on a luggage label tied to each. The barman was on hand to answer any further questions and when one beer ran out halfway through pouring he generously gave it me at no extra cost. The food looked lovely. Upstairs there are wooden banqueting tables and the kitchen; downstairs tables and chairs. The pub has its own newsletter advertising regular events. The pub was lit by candles with real fires and the mood was friendly and relaxed. I got the impression that outsiders and locals would be welcomed with an equal enthusiasm.
27 Mar 2011 09:50
A very fine pub. Beautiful ales with around 10 to choose from and a selection of ciders. Two very able staff were welcoming and very efficient. The Landlord has put money in to this pub and it shows. A very sympathetic extension means that there is plenty of seating; a lot more than at first glance. It was a pity that we weren't able to try the food... that will have to wait until next time.
23 Jan 2011 09:30
Pub looks very nice from the outside. Might have been helpful if signs along B1456 warned would be customers that the pub is closed on Saturdays. It was a long way to cycle and a steep hill to descend... for nothing but disappointment.
23 Jan 2011 09:25
Absolutely fantastic, i can not rate this Pub highly enough. Endearingly eccentric decor with beautiful, real beer and the friendliest Landlord, Landlady & clientele anywhere in Penzance.
29 Dec 2009 01:34
Disgusting cheap beer in a condemned building held together by string. What was once a decent Courage pub is now an absolute dive. There are a lot of much better pubs in the area to try!
29 Dec 2009 01:30
Great pub, lovely Real Ale, bit of an older crowd and could be slightly less cleekey to the outsider but why on earth is it closed on a Sunday evening at 5.30pm?
3 Aug 2009 13:44
This is the most well run Wetherspoon's Pub in Britain. The Real Ale is excellent as is the food. The staff are extremely efficient and very friendly. Went in on a busy Friday night and had a thoroughly enjoyable night although the toilets could do with an occassional clean.
3 Aug 2009 13:42
The last time i visited this pub the beer was excellent and the Sunday roast was very good as well. Unfortunately I discovered that standards have declined considerably after my last visit there yesterday. First of all my friend telephoned the pub in the morning to book a table for Sunday lunch. We then took at �20 round trip taxi ride to this country pub. Upon arrival we were greeted by cheap, tatty signs advertising extremely low priced meals interspersed with meals at more normal prices but absolutely no consistency between the two. Inside we were shown to a dirty table with a stained table cloth, soiled 'clean� cutlery and water damaged colour photocopies of the Sunday menu. The place was deserted which should have set the alarm bells ringing! Unfortunately, the waiter told us, the Beef and Lamb was off because they had already had rather a busy day; two tables of 6! All that was left was turkey which we ordered. The waiter then returned to tell us that the turkey was also finished and that we would have to have the normal menu despite numerous other meals being listed on the Sunday menu. Steak & ale pie at �6.95 was listed besides sausages and mash, ham egg and chips and other alternatives at prices ranging from �2.50 - several pounds. My friend ordered the steak & ale pie only to be told that that was off as well. My ham egg and chips was alright, although admittedly it arrived with one rather than the two eggs advertised, and at �2.50 wasn't badly priced. However, another friend's sausage & mash, also at �2.50, was more smash and grease whilst the advertised "100%" meat content was a vast overstatement. The only saving grace was the only real ale on offer, Harvey�s, which was well kept and the waiter's frequent apologies You might have thought we'd get a free round of drinks for our considerable disappointment... think again! The table who came in behind us walked out; we should have done the same. A normal pub would have warned us at the time of booking that something was drastically wrong in their kitchen� but a pub filled with Garden Gnomes (probably another cheap publicity stunt) anyway is far from normal� In a village which has already seen two of it's pub's close I don't think it will be long before this one closes also. In short horrible food, disgusting dining room, ridiculous prices but thankfully one good beer.
3 Aug 2009 09:31
The Cheshire Cheese, Temple
This is an absolutely terrific little gem of a pub well worth finding. The small but cosy Saloon Bar has been kept in the style in which it was built maintaining a warm atmosphere and a cross between an old fashioned pub and your most comfortable sitting room. This is complemented by a proper pub dining room upstairs and a more public bar downstairs (in the basement) complete with pool table. There is a good selection of well kept real ale; the newish Landlord takes the trouble to advise you against selecting a beer he thinks isn't quite right and has made a real effort in bringing in new choices and keeping them in a tit top condition; something that previous landlords failed miserably in doing. The food is first class; an ever changing menu with a daily special; proper old fashioned food with real mashed potato and good old fashioned puddings at very competitive prices considering the good sized portions you are given. Food arrives in a matter of minutes so it is an excellent choice for a quick lunch and you are always given the choice to pay for everything at the end. What really polishes things off is the service which is highly personable. Lunch orders are are taken at the table and drinks are brought to you. The Landlord, Landlady and staff are extremely friendly; a good source of local information and pleasant to while away the day with. The Landlord is a proper Landlord; "yes sir, thank you driver"; none of this indifferent "alright mate" which has to be endured in far too many pubs these days. In short, absolutely First Class; in fact far more worth visiting for a view of a traditional English Pub than the famous Cheshire Cheese of Fleet Street fame.
15 May 2011 09:44