BITE user comments - cynthiaxuk
Comments by cynthiaxuk
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham
Called in here when spending a Saturday afternoon in Nottingham for football and to visit the city.
Very cramped inside when heaving with people, but charming and cavernous - with a good patio area - so enough space for weekend lunch if you squeeze yourself in.
I had a dark ale from Nottingham Brewery which I liked, but not sure what it was called. The food was good-sized portions, and my rating of 9 may well be solely to one of the most inventive dishes I've ever had: a roast beef yorkie wrap. I thought it would be a toad in the hole type thing, but it really is a wrap (as if tortilla) but out of yorkie pud! Excellent! My companions had the Hunter Chicken and Beef and Ale pie (which is more of a pasty than pie), respectively, and were both happy enough. They each had 2 or 3 pints of the Nottingham Pale Ale, so happy with that too.
I didn't have enough time to visit the castle above, but recommend visitors do that and call in here!
21 Mar 2010 11:02
One for the love-to-hate or hate-to-love file. It's true it's rather down and out, but having been here a few times it's not the worst place to go in town.
The best thing about it is the black cat who must live there and always comes out to greet passers-by on the pavement. If it's sunny, he'll roll around a bit for you. Positively minutes of fun...
23 Dec 2008 15:13
A lovely local, with nearly always a good variety of people from age 20 to 70, and everything in between. Lots of space, and room around the back of the bar if you need it; the tables out front are fab all year round, although they of course attract the smokers, so one often has to walk through a very thick cloud of cigarette smoke to get in.
A great place for going in on your own, meeting friends or even having an informal business meeting (which I've done on more than a few occasions!). Still keen to try to the food, which I�ve not yet done!
Thanks to Kevin and staff for making the place to welcoming.
23 Dec 2008 14:59
The Fighting Cocks, Kingston Upon Thames
I went here a couple of nights ago to catch up with an old friend whose band was playing later. Small place, standard drinks. Good music overhead, and lovely and helpful staff!
Didn�t seem at all pretentious, though I could see why some might say it could seem a bit cliquey, due to the rocker aspect. However, I was also very aware of the variety of people who were drinking here, including one woman (for quite some time) who looked as if she�d come straight from teaching a children�s church Sunday school class.
It's mentioned below that the loos were in bad condition, but as someone VERY nitpicky about such things, I thought the ladies room was absolutely fine. Although the lock on the stall door is a bit fiddly, and possibly dangerous for someone to easily get locked inside!
I didn't stay for the bands, but the venue is positively minuscule. Not a place for one who�s claustrophobic or has a problem getting up close and personal with strangers!
This was my first time venturing into town centre Kingston, and would definitely go here again if I was in the area.
23 Dec 2008 14:39
A fab local - always a great atmosphere and always a smile from behind the bar.
The food menu always looks interesting, but I've yet to test it out - soon! The Sunday roast is meant to be great but the two times I've tried, they've run out so best to book ahead just in case!
Hardly worth mentioning in winter, but the garden round the back is great as well.
They're also excellent supporters of the local community and activities - full marks all round to Vic and co!
20 Dec 2008 23:48
The Drapers Arms, Peterborough
Visiting the town on a Thursday afternoon/early evening (semi-frequent visitor) and having wandered round the town simply trying to find a place for pub grub that wasn't full of people looking to pull, I ran out of options so ended up here.
It was heaving busy, and I found the lone empty table in the place right at the front. Great, I thought, so I could look out and watch the world go by and so my late-arriving friend could find me easily...
It was definitely one of those places where you know you're not in your own town because everyone stares as you walk through the place. I thought maybe I'd somehow got a big black spludge of something on my face without realising it, but no. Really off-putting...
Despite all the people, the service was quick enough at the bar. However, my meal seemed to take an absolute age and just when I was thinking of going up to ask about it or try to cancel the order, a couple of blokes pulled up in a car out front and came in straight to my table and told me I would have to move because they were going to set up as a band in 5 minutes. They had no interest whatsoever that I was sat and settled with all of my shopping bags, waiting for a meal with no other empty tables in the place. I had to leave all my things on their own and try to find another place to sit. When I got back, they had already started moving my table and the chairs away with all of my things in them. Can�t say I was happy about this at all, after a long day and wander about trying to find a place for a quiet, low-key little pub meal (quiet? Not a place in town!), still waiting for food and now faced with having nowhere to sit to eat it.
Why couldn�t someone have mentioned this to me earlier when I�d put in my food order and gave my table number?
One of the staff tried to help but sadly I was in no mood by that point. Luckily, someone nearby left so I took their table just as my meal arrived, but was unhappy and uncomfortable with where I'd moved/felt stuck. Rushing through the food after waiting so long and now being stressed about the flaff about, I was rather disgruntled about the whole experience.
The food was fine � the usual chain pub fayre � but very messy and I�d only been given one thin napkin and didn�t feel comfortable leaving all of my things on their own to go ask for another (no one who worked there ever passed by to ask for help).
I didn�t feel my expectations were overly-high going in, and maybe got the place on a bad night, but all in all, I wouldn�t go here again when visiting PE unless � <i>maybe</i> � I was with a group of locals who didn�t attract stares and/or who looked as if they were looking for someone to desperately chat them up.
20 Dec 2008 23:40
Finally, a place that's recognised that there is a good mix of people in the area with proper jobs who need a nice, relaxing evening out.
Good ambience (a table towards the back makes a great place for a quiet liaison), nice wine and a well-stocked and eclectic jukebox that isn�t painfully loud. It�s a great place to go on your own for a quiet one or with friends for a good catch-up. In the times I've been in, it�s mostly a mix of 30-50somethings, a bit trendy but by no means pretentious.
The chap behind the bar is always lovely and friendly; although the last time I was in, he was busy doing other things and the Irish girl working seemed a bit put out whenever I asked for something. She spent most of the time chatting to a couple of guys who were sat at the bar, so perhaps she didn't like being interrupted. I�ll assume this is a one-off.
They also offer an extensive Thai menu, of which I�ve only tried a handful of things � all were good and not ridiculously-priced.
I�ve never been in on a match day, so cannot attest for the atmosphere then. They also boast of a nice patio garden, but I always seem to forget to go there when the weather�s nice, so haven�t seen it.
Overall, their recent(ish) refurbishment and other changes have made a huge difference in all respects.
9 Jan 2007 14:34
I'm surprised to not see more and current reviews here.
Overall, a great local. Brilliant atmosphere on (home) match days and a good place to sit and watch away matches (or other teams) without someone's cigarette or elbow in your face.
Spacious, comfy chairs, friendly staff, good screens and your standard choice of drink.
I've heard it used to have a bad reputation for safety and hooligans hanging about, but I don't see any of that these days. Don�t let the big, scary-looking bouncers put you off (unless you�re the type who goes round looking for trouble � in which case, please don�t even come here!).
A small group of locals always seem to be hanging about no matter what time of the day it is - a bit off-putting when everyone turns round and stares at you like you've just come off a spaceship - but you get that anywhere, so you just have to get over it.
They always seem to be trying out new ways to use the back room (ie bands, etc), none of which I've attended, but I've picked up the leaflets and it seems well enough. They don't have much trade when the football's not on, and have probably lost some since supporters no longer need to make the trek up Blackstock Road to the stadium.
Although I'm sure they've considered it, bringing in food would be excellent and could really help to boost trade and bring in other types of people during the slower periods. Only one of the other local pubs serves food (Thai), so some decent pub grub would be great - especially a nice Sunday Roast, which you can't even get around here!
9 Jan 2007 14:11
Charters Bar, Peterborough
I have been here a lot over the past year, as meet with a group of Peterborough United fans/friends pre-match (amiable away fans welcome too - and very family friendly).
A great range of ales and the Thai food (made in the restaurant upstairs) is very flavourful, if you fancy it.
The interior is unique and there is a huge seated garden area (along with a smaller beer bar) for when the weather's nice.
Some complain about it getting too busy on match days - but if you call in early enough to ensconce, this really isn't a problem.
There is nothing overtly 'sport fan' about it to the average eye, so it is definitely recommended for all types of people at any time of the day or week - save 17.30-19.30 on some Tuesdays and 12.30-14.30 on some Saturdays during the footy season!
21 Mar 2010 11:11