BITE profile - beehave # beerintheevening.com

17 Jun 2012 19:48

17 Jun 2012 19:48

17 Jun 2012 19:48

The Half Moon Inn, Clyst St Mary

17 Jun 2012 19:48

This is a really lovely inn, with lovely food, lovely real ale and run by lovely people. It really is worth a visit on a Friday or Saturday night when, from all accounts, it is packed, like it was when we visited recently. We had a beautifully cooked steakn with all the trimmings, washed down with a couple of pints of Ferryman's - beautiful!

11 Jul 2011 20:32

The Magpie, Sunbury on Thames

I booked a table for eight of us last night. It really was an excellent evening - good ale, excellent,reasonably priced food and the service was great too. The place was heaving inside and out but the staff were doing a lovely job - I think the manageress has them well trained and pays particular attention to customer service.
We were waited on by the young assistant manager who was very friendly and efficient. We all agreed it was super food and a very pleasant place to spend the evening.
I'm looking forward to the next time I can find a reason to invite friends and family there.

9 Jul 2011 00:55

The Bull and Gate, Kentish Town

This is atill a lovely pub to have a drink in before and after football. What marks it out from other pubs is its fantastic, regularly changing real ales and ciders. Fantastic! I'm never disappointed.

17 Jan 2011 23:59

Really enjoyed my quick visit here before going to a gig at thr forum. Beer very good, great atmosphere and excellent service despite it being packed.

17 Jan 2011 23:49

The Prince Of Wales, Princetown

Visited this pub for the first time last week. It was a very misty, wet afternoon. Dartmoor was extremely bleak. Then I found The Prince of Wales pub. I walked in with trepidation, worried as t what I might find. It was brilliant! I was greeted ny an extremely friendly young barman who served up the most exquisite Jail Ale. I then had a couple of games of pool and more Jail Ale. I didn't have any, but the advertised food looked good too. I'd recommend this pub to anyone.

17 Aug 2010 20:32

The Cherub Inn, Dartmouth

Visited this pub for the first time last week. It's a cracker. Excellent ale and reasonably priced food. All served by very friendly and attentive staff. The place was absolutly buzzing. A real gem of a pub.

17 Aug 2010 20:02

Dodbrooke Inn, Kingsbridge

Chanced upon this pub when walking around Kingsbridge. Really friendly landlord, excellent real ale and cider, very pleasant atmosphere. Just what the doctor ordered!. I recommend this pub.

17 Aug 2010 19:57

The Pilchard Inn, Burgh Island

I visited this pub for the first time last week. It has a beautiful setting, the ale was fine, but the staff were useless. As someone else said: 'They don't want us here on the island'. In particular it was the rude girl who served me that I objected to. She has had a total and complete character bypass. She hadn't got a clue. She was an embarassment. If I ever go in there again I will make my feelings known from the start. These rude incompetents need to be told. Discgraceful of her employers to let her loose on the general public. Therefore I give it 3/10. (And that was because of the lovely view!).

17 Aug 2010 19:54

I am sorry to say that this pub has gone down hill rapidly since the end of January. The service is terrible and the two best bar staff have left. The manager, called Sam, needs to get a character inplant as she is so miserable all the time. No - this place is the pits since the two regular barmen went. I'll go back when they get a decent manager again. Rating now: 1/10

15 Apr 2010 17:46

The reason I like this pub so much is because of its excellent selection of real ales, the efficient and friendly service and the very chatty, friendly regulars. If what you say is true it is a tradegy. That will leave The Brewery Tap as the last bastion of good real ale in Brentford (unless someone can tell me different).
I love this pub.

12 Jan 2010 22:13

The Jolly Farmer, Staines

The real ale at The Goat is worth the visit alone. They now do a regularly changing guest ale along with the usual Bombadier and Youngs. Today I had a couple of pints of Twickenham Fine Ales 'Autumn Blaze'. Last week it was TEA, the week before I had Rebellion 'Smuggler'. It's all good and only �2.60 a pint. I recommend to everyone. The new landlady is doing a good job.

9 Oct 2009 23:09

The Hobgoblin, Staines

Went in Hobgoblin again last night - for the music. Second time in five weeks. Just as good as the first time. Good music, good atmosphere and EXCELLENT real ale. I had Wychwood 'Bountiful' and Itchen Valley 'Treacle Stout' - both superb, and served by very friendly bar staff. Lovely pub.

9 Oct 2009 23:03

The Swan Hotel, Staines

Back in the good old days (when I was a student in the late 770s) this was one of my favourite haunts. On a recent visit I was bitterly disappointed. It's very pricey and lacking the atmosphere of old. Not my sort of pub anymore so will not be revisiting.3/10.

27 Sep 2009 09:56

Went in there a couple of weeks ago to see some live bands playing. The place was packed and the atmosphere good, both inside and out. Everybody very friendly, bar staff fine BUT no real ale at all. All three handpumps were not being used. That was a major disappointment so I made do with one bottle of London Pride all evening. Such a shame as the rest of the evening was very good. Pubs like this need to get their act together so that ale drinkers aren't disappointed. Not everybody is content to drink lager or guiness etc. I'd go there again however, just for the music.

27 Sep 2009 09:52

The Bridge Tavern, Portsmouth

Visited this pub recently as I knew it was in the Good Beer Guide. I was quite disappointed though. Only Fullers/Gales ales on offer (the same old, same old). Very pricy and lacking proper pub feel. Staff not really interested. Such a shame as it could be a real gem in its harbourside location. Would like to see regularly changing guest ales, but I think food is the pub's main concern.

5 Sep 2009 00:10

Get over it 'twopintsoflarger'. I know he can have a bit of a humour by-pass at times, but the self same landlord runs a cracking pub with excellent real ales and lagers on offer (not forgetting the potent ciders too). I had a really decent chat to the friendly landlord the other day, so he's not miserable all the time. We're not all perfect are we? Still my favourite Brentford pub, especially on match days when we can all meet up with fellow Bees faithful. It's a haven for ale drinkers and should be proud of what it does. It's so refreshing not to be surrounded by pints of Fosters and Stella. I love the place. Keep them coming landlord!

5 Sep 2009 00:00

The Platform Tavern, Southampton

I need to stand up and defend my local. I was in there this evening for an early evening pint. The new mamager has introduced a regularly changing guest ale. Today it was Cottage Brewing 'Hot Dog' which was very enjoyable. This is alongside the two regulars (Bombadier and Young's). Everybody was extremely friendly. They have recently hired a couple more bar staf to add to the existing ones which makes the place much more efficient. I overheard one chap telling the new manager how good the food had been when he'd eaten there with his family a couple of days ago. I will continue to visit The Goat as I have had nothing but good experiences of the place over the last 10 months or so. Fair play to them, I think they are making a real effort.

4 Sep 2009 23:42

The Hobgoblin, Staines

We went to this pub last night specifically for the music. We had an excellent time. The pub was packed, the music was really great and there was a superb atmosphere. To make things even better we had a couple of pints of Itchen Valley 'Summer Breeze' which was delicious. That was one of four ales on offer. The two bar staff were very friendly and efficient too. In fact they added to the evening by their enthusiasm and general cheerfulness. I spoke to them before leaving to thank them for their hospitality and they told me that they always have four ales on, two of which are regularly changing guest ales. 10/10 to this pub for its efforts. I'll certainly be returning on one of their music nights (Sundays/Thursdays).

4 Sep 2009 23:28

Sorted out this pub from the 2008 Good Beer Guide for somewhere to have lunch before going to watch my beloved Brentford play Southampton. We were not disappointed.

What a lovely place it is. We were served excellent ale, from a decent selection, and had absolutely delicious food which was properly home made. The bar was busy but we were served immediately by very friendly staff. I strongly recommend this pub to anyone who likes good food and real ale.

I only hope that Southampton and Brentford are playing in the same division next season so that I have good reason to visit again!

31 Aug 2009 23:12

The Bloomsbury, Twickenham

I completely disagree with you 'bumblebee15'. You've got it totally wrong. I went there for Sunday lunch just two weeks ago and it was excellent. Will be visiting again soon to take my cousin and his family for lunch. Thoroughly recommend this as a pub and a carvery. I think the fact that it was absoluely packed on that Sunday, as it was last Friday evening and today, speaks volumes. Good value for money too: eat as much as you like for �8.95 at weekends and �7.95 during the week.

P.S. I went to the Goat a couple of years ago too and it was very poor. It's much better nowadays, especially with the new landlord who started a couple of weeks ago.

21 Jun 2009 21:36

Last October I went into this pub for the first time in ages, in fact at least 10 years. It was called the Five Oaks then. Now, as The Bloomsbury it is completely different. I was meeting my in laws who had booked it for a birthday gathering.

I have it say it was EXCELLENT. The staff were very friendly and efficient - nothing too much trouble. They made us very welcome. The food was first class, really very good. I stuck to Guiness as the only real ale was off, but never mind, I would recommend this place for a good meal.

12 Jan 2009 19:20

The Swan Inn and Lodge, Claygate

Used to go here about once a month for a drink and a Thai meal. All very reasonably priced and a friendly place. Juke box, real ale, Tv screens - I liked it. Then I went back after the refurb and was very disappointed. The pub atmosphere had gone and it is now more like a quite pricey restaurant. So I had a quick drink and left pretty sharpish.

Ditto - bring back real pubs and get rid of this gastro crap.

1 Jan 2009 13:22

The Beehive, Brentford

I've always liked the look of this pub from the outside - a big Victorian building with lots of character - so a few weeks ago I decided to pop in after football. I was rather disappointed as it's not as good inside as it is outside. Bar staff OK but could do better, Pride was too cold though and it was all a bit scruffy. This pub has bags of potential if it were to clean up its act and provide some decent ales. This could be the 'bees knees' with a bit of effort. (Sorry about that).

31 Dec 2008 15:56

The William IV, Leyton

I agree that it is a lovely Victorian pub. Enjoyed my pints in there very much. Also, I first sampled Brodies Wit in the Magpie and Crown, Brentford! It was absolutely the business! A very fine 3 pints indeed, pity I had to rush off. Well done with the brewing - keep it up.

31 Dec 2008 15:27

The Globe, Brentford

A lovely trasditional pub with great ale on offer. You don't have to pay �3.40 for a pint of Carling - you can always drink real beer and give the chemical, overpriced lagers a miss.London Pride, Discovery etc.

28 Dec 2008 01:07

Princess Royal, Brentford

I always like going in here pre match. Good atmosphere, packed out and usually very swift friendly service. Would like to see a couple of other hand pumped ales though to add to the Pride.

28 Dec 2008 01:03

The Old Suffolk Punch, Hammersmith

This is a great pub! Over the last year I have been in this pub on four occasions prior to attending the Apollo for various rock concerts. I have to say I feel I have discovered a gem. I didn't know it as the OSP, only the traditional Old Suffolk Punch. What a lovely pub.

It ticks all the boxes - pleasant traditional decor, excellent real ale, good food, excellent staff (the manageress is right on the ball and does a brilliant job), several TV screens which somehow don't interfere with conversation, easy walking distance to the Apollo. What more could you ask for? I'd recommend this place to anybody. Well done Greene King, well done Josie the manager.

19 Dec 2008 12:42

The Flower Pot Hotel, Sunbury on Thames

Yes, ok I agree to a certain extent and at least it's clean and tidy. In fact I went in there recently and had a good meal, even though it was very pricey. Unfortunately my first pint (Pride) was off so they exchanged it for Abbot which was fine. Coudn't complain about the service either - very good. It's still a restaurant though, and that's the part I'm not keen on.

16 Dec 2008 23:29

The Wheatsheaf on the Green, Esher

Brilliant pub. Always busy with a great atmosphere. Staff so helpful and on the ball - nothing too much trouble. Beer is first class (my favourite is T.E A.) and food is very good too. All in all a lovely English pub which I would recommend to everyone.

13 Dec 2008 21:33

Old Crown, Weybridge

Take it from me, this is a top family run pub. The beer (in this case Young's Winter Warmer) and food is excellent. The bar staff were magnificent - efficient, friendly and very welcoming. This pub is great in the summer, when you can sit outside in the terraced garden by the river, as well as the winter, when you can warm yourself in front of the open fire. Long live the English pub!

13 Dec 2008 21:29

The Prince Albert, Twickenham

Went in here this evening after the match, for the first time. What a GEM of a pub! What a fool I've been - I wish I'd got off my backside and tried this pub before over the many years I've been watching football in this lovely old town. This will become a regular for us from now on. Friendly landlord and staff, friendly customers of all ages and fantastic real ale - what a selection! I recommend this place to anyone who likes real, unpretentious pubs in England. 10/10.

13 Dec 2008 21:16

Went in this pub last night ( Friday) for the first time in about 25 years! I was very impressed with the bar staff, as I was served immediately by a friendly chap who really knew how to do his job, even though the pub and bar was heaving. Ken runs a good show as far as that is concerned. HOWEVER - as a proper real ale lover, and I mean proper, I really was disappointed with the London Pride. There was something about it that was not right. If I was scoring the pub for the Pride alone it would get 5/10. If I was a lager drinker scoring the pub as a whole and ignoring the Pride then it would get about 8/10. So my overall score will be about 6.5/10.

It is in this years Good Beer Guide but I'm not sure why. On last nights evidence it doesn't deserve to be. I have been to plenty of other pubs who are never in the guide where the ale is much better. Ken really needs to get this aspect of his pub sorted out. Try talking to the landlord of another Fullers pub, the Brewery Tap in Brentford.

I would recommend the Albert as a pub, but not if to real ale drinkers.

15 Nov 2008 10:30

The Fox And Hounds, Surbiton

Have popped into this pub several times over the spring and summer this year. The landlord, his staff and the regulars were all very friendly. On three occasions I took advantage of the advertised meal and pint - all for �6!Thoroughly recommend this pub, good home cooking, good service.

One thing I would recommend to the landlord is to offer another real ale or two to attract more of my friends and other proper ale drinkers to visit more often, though the Courage best on offer is very pleasant.

The place has recently been refurbished and has really cleaned up its act. 10/10 to the landlord for effort - really nice bloke too.

11 Nov 2008 00:57

The Brewery Tap, Brentford

A good, honest pub with excellent atmosphere. Excellent range of Fullers real ales (four when I went in last Tuesday) and usually a guest ale too. Friendly staff and regulars. Yes, drinks are a bit on the pricey side but food definitely is NOT - very reasonable.

Well worth a visit and, in my opinion, worth paying the extra for the ale as it is so damn fine!

31 Oct 2008 13:17

The Magpie, Sunbury on Thames

This pub continues to impress me. Took a couple of friends there last night and we were well impressed with the bar food. Really pleasant, friendly staff, good beer and wine. I'd recommend this place to all my friends.

31 Oct 2008 13:11

I have been a frequent visitor here over the years. On two occasions recently I've eaten here and enjoyed it both times with good food and service. However, a few weeks ago my 18 year old son and friend attemped to pop in for a quiet drink on Thursday afternoon. They were treated like criminals by one very rude Australian 'female' (I use the term loosely). This was because apparently it has a 21 and over policy. Shame on the Aussie as she let the pub, Green King and her nation down.

I suggest that staff at the magpie use their discretion and common sense when dealing with young people in the area who are obviously well mannered, well brought up (by me) and not trouble makers.

I will be visiting The Magpie again soon at which time I will point out the error of their ways.

Even so, I do rate this pub, especially if you're over 21!

29 Oct 2008 21:33

The Flower Pot Hotel, Sunbury on Thames

This pub could be very very good, but it's not. The refurb is far too trendy and is trying to pretend this is a restaurant. Lower Sunbury is in need of damn good PUBS. This is a missed opportunity. The atmosphere is that of a restaurant - i.e. no atmosphere. If you laughed out loud or talked too loudly (i.e. having a bit of fun) everyone else in the place looked round! What sort of pub is that?

I disagree with the person who said the ale is good. It's average and you have not much choice (Brakspear). Much better nowadays is The Goat in Halliford which has a good management team now and Youngs or Bombadier served perfectly.

29 Oct 2008 21:23

The White Horse, Sunbury on Thames

I like this pub. I'm not a frequent visitor but when ever I have been in I've received a very warm welcome from the staff and the regulars. It's a spacious, comfortable, traditional English pub - no frills - honest.

Recently spent a very pleasant evening there with my friends and my son's friends (they're only 18 yrs old) and were made very at home by everybody.

Will visit here more often.

29 Oct 2008 21:12

The Chainlocker and Shipwrights, Falmouth

Like its sister The Quayside, it serves very fine ale (Skinners and Sharps). It's very pleasant inside too and hasn't been done up in ages. Pleasant to sit outside in summer. Very friendly staff. Decent food. It's a good pub to go on a summer evening after a hard day at the beach or sailing.

29 Oct 2008 21:05

The Quayside Inn, Falmouth

Owned by same people as own Chainlocker. Much preferred it's old name of many, many years ago 'The Globe'. Beats me why compamies have to change pub names.

Don't like it inside as much now but sitting ouside in the summer is pretty good after a hard days graft at the beach.

It's biggest/only asset is the decent range of local real ales served (Skinners), but even this is less than in 2007 when they had seven on offer including two from Sharps. 2008 they had no Sharps and only 4 Skinners. This is a backward step for me and my group of ale drinkers.

Fortunatel The Chainlocker had some alternatives that The Quayside didn't, so I guess between the two b pubs it was OK.

Staff inexpereienced but did a good job and friendly.

29 Oct 2008 21:01

The Fox, Twickenham

Have popped in here several times recently, including one Sunday before going to watch Harlequins RL, when we treated ourselves to one of their roast dinners - excellent!

Tom the landlord and his staff are very friendly and helpful. The reral ale is excellent too - supplied by the very fine Twickenham Fine Ales.

Thoroughly recommend this pub. I also recommend the hire of the function room - have a word with Tom, he will sort you out.

29 Oct 2008 20:49

Visited The Goat again this evening on way home from work. It was just as good as previous night. Got just as warm a welcome from barman and regulars as I did last night.

Chap behind the bar, while very young, was extremely friendly and polite and was giving customers good service.This is rapidly becoming one of my favourite pubs.

I will try the carvery out again this weekend.

29 Oct 2008 20:40