BITE user comments - aquadave
Comments by aquadave
The Carpenters Arms, Chippenham
Beer range of day of visit was Adnams Broadside and Spitfire. The Adnams was a well kept pleasant pint. Visited on a Sunday, circa 1300 - managed to get a table next to roaring coal fire.
Food was reasonably priced considering it's location. Not overly sure about the quality though. The pastry of the steak & kidney pie had that "just microwaved" taste to it, and parts of the filling were stone cold.
Some of the back rooms appear to be undergoing renovation - so changes may be afoot.
31 Jan 2010 19:49
The Carpenters Arms, Chippenham
Beer range of day of visit was Adnams Broadside and Spitfire. The Adnams was a well kept pleasant pint. Visited on a Sunday, circa 1300 - managed to get a table next to roaring coal fire.
Food was reasonably priced considering it's location. Not overly sure about the quality though. The pastry of the steak & kidney pie had that "just microwaved" taste to it, and parts of the filling were stone cold.
Some of the back rooms appear to be undergoing renovation - so changes may be afoot.
31 Jan 2010 19:49
Good place, although gets very busy on weekends, especially with diners. Hardly surprising as the food is very good (although priced to match).
Great selection of beers, although my main annoyance was that once you've ordered your food the menus (with beer lists) disappear form the table - so you either need to memorise your "game plan" or ask for a menu back well in advance of needing your next beer.
Service generally good, and happy to book taxis for wafes and strays who have cut it to fine to walk back to the Railway station for the last train home... Looking forward to visiting again!
26 Sep 2009 12:17
Popped in for a pint on a walk back to the station. Typical beefeater type interior. One real ale on (Brakspear) but pint served was so cloudy that we turned around and left.
21 Aug 2009 11:05
Typical tourist trap pub. They don't need to try hard to get people through the door because of the location - so they don't.
Unkept interior, uninspiring food and if you're lucky one or two real ales - generally green king and of mediocre quality.
19 Aug 2009 20:19
Great location by the side of the Kennet & Avon Canal, with plenty of outside seating. Car park gets quite busy (guess people park up, have a meal then go for a walk) so it pays to get there early on busy days.
Three real ales on tap, Butcombe, Black Rat and Hobgoblin, all kept to a good standard. We had the Sunday Roast (beef) which as good - with an inspired selection of veg - certainly worth �7.95 each.
Quote convivial atmosphere, mix of holidaymakers, passing tourists and locals dropping in for a pint. Hope to return again soon - this time with a tent for a night stop over.
2 Aug 2009 17:29
Good range of real ales - well kept. However, not the most aesthetically pleasing location within which to while away an hour. Unless you like Victorian mosaic flooring anyway...
28 Jan 2009 23:12
Reasonably kept real ale which (judging by the pumpclips hanging from the bar) is mainly drawn from the Marstons stable (including locally brewed Jennings and fellow Marston's owned Ringwood Boondoggle).
A pleasant surprise for a pub that is essentially a village local. While we didn't eat the food looked good - well worth investigating next time we're in the area.
12 Oct 2008 15:40
Coalbrookdale Inn, Coalbrookdale
Popped in for a few pints - left wanting more. Lovely pub, convivial atmosphere, excellently kept beers served in straight sided ale glasses by experienced bar staff. Good range of real ales, with Wye Valley, Abbeydale and Three Tuns on at the time of visit.
Looking forward to going again in the future, want to try the food - and perhaps the B&B.
12 Oct 2008 15:35
Truly, truly awful. Came here for a pint, still have the nightmares. This *could* be a really great place given management interesting. The riverside location should by rights be a licence to print money.
However the owners have taken this to mean that as far as they are concerned they can sit back and let the money roll in without having to work.
The decor is somewhat interesting, a kind of hybrid between 1970s motel and a bad workingmens club, neon signs adorn the bar and the connected rooms, along with an excess of sticky carpets and woodwork that has seen better days.
Service itself was prompt, if firm, and real ale limited to a rather lackluster pint of Abbot Ale.
We left after one pint. The fact that this was over a year ago and the experience is still so vivid in my mind should be an indicator of how much of a missed opportunity this place really is.
7 Sep 2008 13:28
Excellent atmosphere, well kept beer and great pies! If you're looking for a posh nosh ale bar in the centre of Cheltenham look elsewhere but if you're after a centrally located pub for a good pint and wholesome pub grub whilst escaping from the madding crowd you won't be disappointed.
The only slight downside is that the pub is relatively small, so you may have a bit of a search on your hands for somewhere to sit!
29 May 2008 00:15
Welcoming pub definitely on the international "beer tourism" trail. Generates an eclectic mix of clientele on most nights, from locals to visitors from Europe and further afield. Recent visits of witnessed in-depth conversations of cigar smoking techniques, the American brewing industry and Welsh being spoken (between two Welsh nationals and a Belgian!). No two nights are ever totally the same.
A good range of beer is stocked, although if you're after the rare and obscure there are more specialist cafes in Belgium. Service is good, providing you allow for the fact that this place does get very busy - even out of the main tourist season. Fortunately the bar seems to be slightly outside of the main Bruges "tourist trail".
Food is minimal, being restricted to light snacks (cheese / meat / olives) only. However don't let this put you off one of the World's truly enchanting pub experiences.
21 Apr 2008 20:03
Visited here several times over the past six months since discovering it last summer. The pub is a relatively easy cycle along quiet (ish) lanes from Swindon,
On arrival, a large beer garden overlooking fields awaits at the back of the pub, ideal for propping up your bike, and sinking down a pint. Typically 2-3 real ales on, sourced from local breweries, including Cottage and West Berkshire. All kept well.
Quite a busy pub, with very supportive locals. We've sampled several meals there, and can only echo the previous comments with the food - the Nachos are superb!
Snug and cosy in the winter, although space (especially if you intend to dine) is at a bit of a premium.
21 Apr 2008 19:39
Not a bad Wetherspoon by any stretch. Sometimes you can get genuinely interesting guest ales on. Food is the usual wetherspoon fare, served quickly - bar staff good and generally quite chatty.
A safe and sound after work venue, and quite possibly the best place to drink in the Fleet Street end of town for sensible drinkers (beware the street does get "lively" after 2100, especially Friday / Saturday nights).
This place seems some kind of hybrid Wetherspoon / Lloyds, the ale range of 'spoons and the Friday and Saturday loud music of a Lloyds. Choose your time and day carefully if you're looking for a quiet pint with friends!
21 Apr 2008 19:26
A pub that appears to have a long standing within the rail enthusiast fraternity. Having visited in April 08, past comments about the interior quality of the pub (and the toilets) have not been heeded by the owners nor addressed.
There was an imaginative selection of 5 beers on hand-pump, Quadhop, Landlord as staple brews plus 3 guests. I tried a beer by Slater's and found quality was so-so, it certainly appeared to be a case of more emphasis on range than quality.
I left after one pint, finding the pub neither relaxing nor the place where would want to spend the night taking in beer. Whilst the pub is within easy walking distance of the station and the beer range is commendable - I would not hesitate to drink elsewhere.
21 Apr 2008 19:18
Upon visiting the Chough recently, a good selection of 5 cask ales from the Hidden range were available, kept to a reasonable - if not outstanding standard.
Decor seems little changed, although the sofas make a welcome "lounge" area. The toilets are badly in need of renovation - in fact the gents was closed, with the ladies room now relegated to "dual purpose". I'm not sure how clever an idea that is on a Saturday night..
Having said that, a great improvement on what went before, in an interesting building. If the Hidden brewery can build on this, this has the makings of an excellent pub.
21 Apr 2008 19:10
Upon visiting the Chough recently, a good selection of 5 cask ales from the Hidden range were available, kept to a reasonable - if not outstanding standard.
Decor seems little changed, although the sofas make a welcome "lounge" area. The toilets are badly in need of renovation - in fact the gents was closed, with the ladies room now relegated to "dual purpose". I'm not sure how clever an idea that is on a Saturday night..
Having said that, a great improvement on what went before, in an interesting building. If the Hidden brewery can build on this, this has the makings of an excellent pub.
21 Apr 2008 19:10
The Blowing Stone Inn, Kingston Lisle
Popped in on a Thursday night only intending to grab a pint - ended up staying for food. Four real ales on hand pump, two Ringwood, one Morland (Greene King) and one Plain Ales. Beer fairly well kept, but if I'm being picky the Ringwood was a little too close to the bottom of the barrel.
On to the food - belly of pork with apple, red cabbage and potato. Spot on, really good food for a cold winters night. Mains not cheap at �12-15 but the quality of the offering reflected this and the food certainly passed the "better than I could do" test.
Look forward to visiting again. And no issues with staff or service. A friendly, warm welcome and good, attentive service.
23 Dec 2010 22:31