BITE user comments - bromleyjon
Comments by bromleyjon
I have used the George on and off for about 30 years and love its old-world style - unfortunately it seems to attract all the smokers in Beckenham and it's like trying to drink in a kippering shed. Look forward to revisiting after the over-long-awaited smoking ban comes is. (Why does the health of the Scots and Welsh have priority over that of the English?)
9 Apr 2007 08:17
I finally tracked down this pub on my third attempt - you really need a map and compass to find it unless you live in the weird Bromley North Triangle. But it's certainly worth the effort. A good friendly backstreet pub, but I was impressed that the greeting given to first-timers like me was as friendly as to the obvious regulars. The beer wqas well-kept and the food excellent value.
16 Mar 2007 08:19
Had a really good value lunch here, with friendly service that would put most London pubs to sham.
7 Mar 2007 19:34
Vastly over-rated in the BITE reviews. This pub is shabby, dirty, and so full of cigarette smoke that one can hardly breathe. Customers are a wierd-looking bunch who give one really scary stares.
7 Mar 2007 19:23
Although I've lived in this area for 10 years I'd never come across this out-of-the-way pub until I read the reviews on BITE. It's a nice, old-fashioned sort of London backstreet pub with a good range of ales, when I visited in the afternoon it was quiet but with a nice friendly atmosphere. Only drawback is they don't do ffod.
25 Feb 2007 07:59
My wife and I were passing through Farnham recently to visit a sick relative and wanted to get a quick bite to eat and a drink. From the outside this looked a nice old-fashioned pub. We went into the bar area on the right-hand side and were quickly served by the landlord or manager. I had a pint of Hogsback TEA, a beer I'd not encountered before as I don't often visit this part of the country, and it was quite good. However, I thought that a charge of over �17 for a pint, a mineral water and two sandwiches was a bit steep. We were asked if we wanted to open a tab but I preferred to pay cash. The guv'nor disappeared shortly afterwards and was replaced by a barmaid who was polite and efficient (despite the rather off-putting nose ring) . My doubts about the value of the food were enhanced when it arrived - both my wife's brown and my white bread were from supermarket sliced loaves, something that I've rarely seen in London pubs for years. While my wife's was OK, if nothing special, mine was very dry, just on the verge of being stale. Unfortunately we were pressed for time and didn't have the time to argue about the quality of the food. Then, as we were leaving, the barmiad chased us out into the street and accused us of making off without paying, because the guv'nor had apparently forgotten to ring up my cash! Not a pub I'll be intending to visit again soon.
17 Feb 2007 16:03
Jane Austen mentions the Bell at Bromley in pride and Prejudice. If she could see it now she'd be turning in her grave!
8 Jan 2007 08:53
This pub continues to amaze me in that unlike many others which open with good service for the first few weeks and then tail off into indifferent and slipshod service, this has kept up a consistent high standard since it first opened. The staff are always well-turned out, polite and friendly, careful to serve customers as quickly as possible and in the right order, and always say a cheerful farewell as one leaves. Although its prices are at the high end for drinks and pub food, the food is always first-rate and there's an interesting range of daily specials. The secret I think is that the manager Sue takes a close interest in running the pub well - even though she oversees the kitchen she's visible in the bar every day - unlike the nearby Partridge where I've never seen anyone I could identify as the manager.
6 Jun 2006 18:12
This pub gets a couple of marks for its impressive decor, but it is completely let down by the very slipshod service and indifferent attitude of the staff. I was recently in here when the barman kept four customers waiting while he talked on the phone, then proceeded to deal with the customers in reverse order of their arrival! I won't be using this pub again for a very long while.
4 Jun 2006 09:38
This is still a friendly pub with good quick bar service, but the staff could usefully pay more attention to clearing the tables (especially in the back bar)and cleaning the ashtrays.
28 Nov 2005 12:27
I'm old enough to remember when the space occupied by Cooper's was the main Gent's Loo at Waterloo. It smelled better then.
2 Sep 2005 09:13
Quite a nice little pub with a quiet, comfortable atmosphere. Service can sometimes be a little slow - not because of crowds of customers but because the bar staff seem to be doing other things.
2 Sep 2005 08:47
Good points - cheap.
Bad points - characterless barn, tasteless food, surly staff.
2 Sep 2005 08:40
First visited this pub yesterday. Complete contrast to the Blacksmith across the road. Light and airy decor, good lively atmosphere, prompt and friendly service. Perhaps a bit bland, like a lot of chain pubs, but a welcome find at the end of Orpington High Street's pub desert.
2 Sep 2005 08:22
I visited this pub for the first (and probably only!) time yesterday. It was one of the most depressing pubs I've ever been in (in almost 40 years drinking). Being faced as you walk in with a huge notice declaring that "Drinks are served at the management's discretion, no apologies, decision is final" is hardly creating a welcoming atmosphere. The decor badly needs freshening up. The pub has recently been taken over by a new husband/wife team and I gather that there has been a history of trouble at the pub previously, so they have their work cut out to turn this pub round.
2 Sep 2005 08:10
The Anchor and Hope, Orpington
This pub appeared to be closed and derelict yesterday.
2 Sep 2005 07:53
The Swan and Mitre, Bromley
Now looking much fresher after re-opening following redecoration - you can see the colours in the carpet! Still good value and friendly staff, a nice place for a summer afternoon drink.
11 Aug 2007 10:04