BITE user comments - bigjim778
Comments by bigjim778
Oh dear! Whilst the new owners have not been tempted to knock any walls down, sadly the place has been refurbished in the dreaded 'contemporary' style. I do believe a charming fire place has gone from the Tap Room and flat screens have been installed in every room. Why oh why do people do this and in the process ruin the character of the pub? This was a gem - a genuine community pub with many original features - now it looks like any modern bar, complete with part-tiled floor taverna style.
31 Aug 2010 11:52
The Seven Stars, West Kensington
Well it looks like Fullers decided to cash in on this one for an undisclosed sum - it seems set to become a hostel or hotel. I never had the pleasure of imbibing here and judging by most of the comments its just as well! Shame though as good thirties pubs are quite rare and this looks good from the outside. No doubt it had been gutted ages ago, but I bet it was a stunner when new. RIP
23 Jul 2010 14:12
Well the good news is that this fabulous pub has now been sold and hopefully Leeds Brewery will take very good care of it. The not so good news is that elements of dreaded 'contemporary' feel have already started to creep in. Anyway, the beer is now at last very drinkable and it's had a good clean and tidy, so everyone that loves this pub needs to get down there and encourage the new owners to restore it to its former Edwardian splendour and hopefully without any 'contemporary' touches - it is in Hunslet after all!!
3 Jul 2010 18:04
Here we have a pub at the very heart of this stunningly picturesque North Yorkshire village - so what could possibly be wrong with it? Answer - almost everything! This seems to be an absolutely classic example of a once traditional country pub having once been looked after very competently by a big brewery or latterly pubco, but subsequently having been bought by a private individual who felt that what the pub needed was a 'contemporary feel'. The result must have made the former local regulars weep (I can't believe they still drink here) and casual visitors would find absolutely no reason to ever return. Although cask beer was available, the ambiance of this pub was in my view zero. Avoid until such time as a new owner decides to restore this pub to its former glory.
21 Jun 2010 19:26
In my view this is everything a community pub should be - ok the decor is a little jaded and tired, but the beer (John Smiths cask and Blacksheep) is good, as is the home cooked food and there's a very warm welcome from the landlord. It's obviously got a loyal following, particularly due to music nights, as I notice there is a large facebook fan base. I called in about 1.00pm on St Patricks day and it was positively buzzing with the Guinness flowing and a very lively crowd enjoying the Cheltenham Festival on several large flatscreens. The semi-seperate three room layout allows a slightly different atmosphere in each part of the pub and I noticed it caters happily with labourers and 'ladies who lunch' at one and the same time. Maybe at least some of the customers have shifted allegiance from the Myrtle Inn over the road in response to their new microwave menu. This pub is well worth a visit at any time of day I suspect.
17 Mar 2010 17:17
Dyneley Arms, Pool in Wharfedale
This is a Samuel Smith pub that burnt down completely in 2002, but has fairly recently undergone a full reinstatement at vast expense. In fact it's just won a commendation in the Leeds Architecture Awards. It really is incredible how much money this very strange brewery is willing to lavish on just one fairly indistinguished pub. They've done a superb job though, using the finest materials, and the views are spectacular. So why is it completely empty at lunchtime midweek? Answer - a pathetic menu of microwave meals. Enough said!
16 Mar 2010 16:44
It's so sad to see a fabulous pub like this slowly dying and so obviously in need of some TLC. This pub has suffered greatly since the demise of Tetley ownership and their very able design team. Although listed, I fear it may suffer the same fate as the nearby Rising Sun - boarded up and due for conversion into flats. Go and visit it before it's too late!
15 Mar 2010 19:26
It's always sad to hear that the service is terrible in any pub - especially when it's listed and has so many surviving original features. I believe this pub, the adjoining institute and the housing were designed by Charles Voysey for the Whitwood Colliery in 1904. Lets hope the service gets better and attracts more people to a building well worth a visit.
15 Mar 2010 18:59
Steve2905 - to compare Whitelocks with the Ship Inn is like comparing chalk and cheese! Yes of course it's cramped because its very old, listed and probably one of the finest 300 unaltered pubs in the whole of the UK. IMHO there is absolutely nothing special about the Ship Inn since some idiot removed the fabulous and enormous shipyard photos that used to adorn its walls.
13 Mar 2010 17:08
This is a gem of a pub which happily still retains its three room layout. It's a former Tetley pub that has some fine 30's features such as internal doors from the days when it was owned by the Melbourne Brewery. Not listed, but it really would be sad if the current owners are tempted to alter it in any major way, as pubs with seperate room layouts are getting quite rare. Always busy, very friendly staff - it's exactly what a 'local' is all about.
13 Mar 2010 16:55
This pub really is taking off under new management - the choice of beer is superb and the staff are warm and friendly. It's great that our fears proved unfounded when it became neglected and boarded up last year. The only major change seems to be on the food side - they used to do great home made sandwiches.
11 Mar 2010 11:06
This used to be a brilliant pub, particularly popular for its home cooking. Well, sadly due to a recent change of landlord it now has an extremely mediocre microwave menu - no sandwiches only damned panini's! An absolutely classic example of a landlord having absolutely no regard for his regular clientle - only what's easiest for him. Incidentally the menu has a striking resemblance to bog standard fayre from Sarah Brownridge, Tadcaster. Fortunately the Bay Horse Inn over the road still provides good home cooking as well as a decent pint of John Smiths cask.
11 Mar 2010 10:56
I've been wanting to say this for a long while - why oh why do the operators of a fabulous listed pub like this feel it necessary to fill it with 'contemporary shabby chic' tat that only serves to hide the many original features that are still present? This pub deserves better!
11 Mar 2010 10:37
I am reliably informed that this absolutely classic Yorkshire pub has now been sold and the new owners will shortly be bringing it back to its former glory. My only hope is that in their enthusiasm they are not tempted to give it 'a contemporary feel' - all it needs is lots of TLC and utter respect for its heritage.
11 Mar 2010 10:28
This pub really must be brought back into use as soon as possible and before it deteriorates any further - it's location is brilliant and really helps to 'make' Enfield Town centre. Any combination of hotel/bar/restaurant/pub use is ok in my book - but it needs to happen now. I wonder if the problem is connected to current ownership?
11 Mar 2010 09:59
This is a fantastic pub that is currently utterly ruined by the damned flat screen tv's in every room. They seem to be on all day, whether there's anything worth watching or not - and often tuned to different channels as well. I appreciate tv's might have a place for certain clientele at certain times - but why can't there be at least one room WITH THEM TURNED OFF???
11 Mar 2010 09:52
The Emmott Arms, Rawdon
Well, I speak as I find and the truth is that this is a Sam Smiths pub and as such suffers from all the issues that go with it - such as only Sam Smith products to drink, absolutely no music, not even a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' and very limited food. However my main problem is with the now sanitised and brand new interior - no clutter allowed, and hence little character in a pub well over 200 years old. Well done Humphrey Smith and his very odd brewery!
31 Aug 2010 12:05