BITE user comments - casemore
Comments by casemore
The Oakford Social Club, Reading
This is indeed an interesting place. Wouldn't be out of place in a hip area of London like Hoxton. Refreshing to find somewhere like this in Reading.
Great continental beer choice, although they did get rid of Leffe recently unfortunately. Guest ales change around regularly. Really good, reasonably priced food too. And a great, eclectic range of music, both pumped out and live.
One of the best 'non traditional' pubs I've been to and I feel privileged it's right on my doorstep.
3 Apr 2013 16:44
I don't know how this place has such a high rating.
For - great location, lovely building, nice to look at from the outside.
Against - absolutely no atmosphere, the only other people in there when I was there (a Friday evening) were a couple who were crying in each others' arms. The TV showing some god awful "modern pop" musak channel was blarring out. The barman served a really terrible, expensive pint of ESB and then disappeared out the back not to be seen again. To be fair, I think it was the bottom of the barrel (I'm referring to the pint) and modern day prices.
This could be an excellent place, and I love Fullers ales. But at the moment it's somewhat lacking.
3 Apr 2013 16:15
Don't know why the last comment said avoid especially when no good reason was given.
This is a decent pub, with good ales and a good wine selection. The staff are very friendly. You can take kids there in the day and they do very good roasts on a Sunday.
11 Oct 2006 13:17
The Prince of Wales Feathers, Warren Street
Bad conversion or not, SilkTork's comments are valid. Unpretentious place that is adequate for a pint or two. Nothing special but nothing offensive either. Was watching the FA Cup there on Saturday but we were kicked out afterwards due to it apparently not opening on a weekend normally due to lack of custom. Very odd but I know a few other pubs do this in the area.
Sorry to hear about Ye Olde Surgeon. That was a good pub, although can't comment on what it's been turned into.
24 Apr 2006 17:03
Yeah a good place. Nice atmosphere. What's more the service is excellent (the barmaids actually remember what you were drinking! Unheard of in most pubs in london) and barmaids were quite aesthetically pleasing too...
20 Apr 2006 17:09
One of the best pubs on the quayside (and Newcastle for that matter). It looks tiny when you walk in but venture back and the character of the place is revealed in cavernous "cellar style" back rooms.
27 Mar 2006 17:39
Just went here at the weekend on a reunion visit to Newcastle. Used to frequent this pub all the time as a student. But it is no longer "Archers", it's now called "Mr Lynch".
Quite impressed though. Still one pool table in there and now a range of some good beers. All bordering on boudoir with arty drapes and the like, but much of an improvement to the condition of the archers. Open til 2am on Friday and Saturdays too and has become more of a live venue by the looks of it.
27 Mar 2006 17:23
The Old Explorer, Oxford Circus
Just a big pub slap bang in the centre of shopperville. No real character but nothing especially offensive about the place that I've found. Go here if you just can't be bothered hunting out a good pub.
19 Dec 2005 16:53
Not a bad place, full of character if nothing else. Not too much room downstairs and a few of the beers on tap were mysteriously unavailable. But friendly enough.
6 Dec 2005 15:43
Couldn't agree more. Good location, lovely place, friendly staff, good home cooked food. Samuel Smiths is always a bonus too. Good for a winter's day watching the freezing Thames go by.
22 Nov 2005 11:10
Popped in on a quiet evening to ask for directions to some road. The staff and locals positioned around the bar were all extremely helpful and actually gave me the right directions. Shall go back at some point to sample the beer, but it was a warm and welcoming place on first impression.
20 Oct 2005 16:52
An alright pub. An improvement on the old All Bar One that it replaced (although these are generally getting better). A bit 'boudoir' inside but unusual enough to be inviting. Haven't tried the food.
13 Oct 2005 16:26
I'd have to disagree with the last two comments. After reading these I went there expecting a hell hole. Although we didn't have food (and much of the derision is based on the food) I found it was far different from the general opinion here. It was trendy, packed (Sat night), and there were a large variety of beer on offer - one to recommend is Staropramen Granat. It's not the best pub in the world by any means, but it's good enough. Hey, I'm even going to rate it '5'. There was even a pool room which was too busy to use. But surely any pub with a pool room deserves some credit?!
3 Oct 2005 23:59
This really is a great bar. Came here a few years ago, it was a bit more grungier but still good. Been done up since then (from fire as I read) and it's not lost it's character. Good selection of foreign lagers and ales. Good food menu and friendly staff. Tucked away so it attracts people who like a wander. Definitely going back when I'm next in Newcastle.
21 Sep 2005 23:35
Went to this pub for someone's birthday bash. Was early so had to wait at the bar. Delicious beer on tap, assortments of treats (kola cubes, wotsits, chubba chupps) behind bar, staff having fun, a good number of customers obviously enjoying themselves. The more time I spent looking around the better it got - original vinyl classic singles on the wall (Stranglers, On Golden Brown being but one), and the velcro wall league placing for the football so you know what's gone on that Saturday afternoon.
And then after that we had food served for the party - lovely pizza bits and REALLY GOOD fat chips in Hoegarten glasses. Superb.
If I haven't mentioned it already, the staff were excellent. Atmosphere in this place is electric to boot.
Definitely one of my favourite pubs in london. Despite living on the other side of the city I will be going back at the first opportunity.
1 Sep 2005 22:25
Not too bad inside if you like old man pubs. But the beer garden is fantastic. On a Saturday they'll pump some great music out there in the sun. Friendly atmosphere.
19 Jul 2005 18:35
Didn't try the food although the menu looked inviting. Nice place. Good to sit at the bar, chat with the friendly staff and work your way down the rather healthily stocked range of lagers and bitters. Good atmosphere to the place.
5 Jul 2005 13:28
I haven't been in for a while so I'm concerned by Peter Samsom's comments. It used to be a really good pub so I'm just hoping he caught it on a very bad day. If it's like days of old there's plenty of charm, character and real ale to have a great time.
14 Dec 2004 13:05
Nice out of the way pub, usually for the locals. Can chat to anyone there though and some nice ales on. Full of nooks and crannies to hide in.
26 Nov 2004 17:55
Good pub. Friendly staff and usually someone to have a game of pool with. One of those all afternoon lazy beer drinking places. Well stocked jukebox full of old cheesy classics
26 Nov 2004 17:51
A decent enough place. Quite characteristic from outside.
Some good ales in there and plenty of room. Is the local for a lot of companies nearby so gets rammed on a Friday evening with Carphone Warehouse employees.
26 Nov 2004 11:40
Couldn't agree more with Niall (29/08), could be a really nice pub and sure it once was (James 04/12). Tacky, featureless, smelly. One of those pubs with wooden floors that is always sticky from spilt beer. The only going for it is the Giant Jenga and Connect4
18 Dec 2003 16:06
Fox and Hounds, Caversham
Couldn't agree more with The Hermit and Pitonman. Since Kevin & Kerry took over a few years ago this pub has been transformed. It used to be completely unwelcoming with frosted glass windows. That's all been changed, the place was given a bit of a spruce (without ruining the character or turning it into a "Gastro-type" you find on any street), and Kevin has his own brewery (2 Bridges) beer in there regularly. Also offerings from many local and far breweries which change frequently.
They started doing food of sorts (interesting hot dogs) recently. Great quiz night on a Thursday. Open fire. Yes, there's horse racing and football on the telly and (shock horror!) "worker types" - but they make the place. If you want fine gastro dining and Simeon and Pippa with the children Tarquin and Rose in the corner, you should go elsewhere. What you will get is a friendly welcome, lots of conversation and some quality ales.
The best pub in Caversham, and one of the best in the Reading area.
4 Apr 2013 12:42