BITE user comments - davetheaddick
Comments by davetheaddick
What a gem, it is small and the majority of downstairs is taken up by the bar and during the after work rush by people trying to be served., although the wait never seemed too long. Most importantly there are 24 beers. I think that it was 16 keg beers from all sorts of places around the world plus 8 real ales. Whilst we were there a couple of barrels finished but they were quickly replaced. We went to the theatre and then popped back for last orders and I think that about 6 beers had already been changed for something different. Just a word of note on the day that we were there that this is a craft beer pub and there is no mainstream mass produced beers. Across the road is the Cider Tap which is very similar but only sells cider.
28 Sep 2012 10:53
I�ve lived in the area for years and can not believe that it has taken me so long to find this place.
The real ale is well kept and on my few recent visits there have been 3 to 5 �guest� beers and a couple of more commonly found ales. There is also reasonable number of lagers and ciders.
I�ve only ate in here once and the food was a decent sized portion and well priced.
It is well worth a visit and a far better option than the tourist�s pub in the town centre.
The pub also appears to be well embedded in the local community with quiz nights, live bands (the couple that we have been in the pub for have been of a high standard), a knitting club to mention a few.
16 Jul 2012 16:51
Having not been back for a while, I was very pleased to see the standard of beer has imporved and is now back to a very high standard and it is easily the best pub in the area.
10 May 2012 14:46
Like previous reviewers the standards have unfortunately slipped, I visited on Saturday for the first time in a few months. The beer was acceptable but frustratingly the selection was only 5 beers as the others were off.
The bar staff at times seemed more interesting in texting rather than serving drinks and come closing time it was more like drinking in a Weatherspoons with the staff appearing desperate to get everyone out by 11.15 rather than the previous pleasant requested and everyone leaving happily.
22 Sep 2010 11:23
We visited during late April, the Tribute and Proper Job were both well served. Unfortunately, the champions league games then started and dispite the pub being empty it was impossible to talk to each other due to the noise. I could fully understnad this is in the summer when it is busy but with a handful of people in the pub it seems a bit excessive.
3 May 2010 20:18
Visited here last weekend. The beer was great especially the 'Roasted Nuts'. Being from outside the area this was a more than plesent surprise. We also ate and the food was excellent with the chef being able to deal with a fod allegy that one of our party had.
24 Jan 2010 20:00
Can't believe that this is the same pub that has been run intot he ground since Terry left. Rer-visited for the 1st time since the refurbishment Youngs Special was on and was above average. Hopefully it will saty this way and New Eltham will finally have a pub to go to.
20 Aug 2009 09:28
Great pub and good food although it does get busy at lunchtime but I suppose that is a good sign. Food adn drink are reasonable prices espically for the area.
16 Jul 2009 17:50
A more than acceptable ShepNeame pub, larger than most similar Mews pubs in the area. Normally most of the brewery's beers are on.
16 Jul 2009 17:48
Still one of my favourite pubs in Belgravia, it is small and can be full of American tourist but the beer is decent a normal 4 ales are on.
16 Jul 2009 17:45
The Ramblers Rest, Chislehurst
Went there for the 1st time is years last week. The staff were struggling to pour the beer (apparently due to the temperture, it was a hot day). The beer did take ages to settle but it was worth the wait. Due to the weather the beer garden was packed but overal a decent experience.
16 Jul 2009 17:42
The Queens Arms, South Kensington
We visited here on Monday before going to the Albert Hall, a great find based on BITE reviews. There was only Pride adn IPA on, but made up for this with Sierra Nevade on draught plus various other beers. Also had 3 ciders on tap. Prices were as to be expected for the area but far better value for money than in the Albert Hall.
8 Jul 2009 08:55
Only just found this but what a treat. On my first first they had a mini beer festival with about 20 different beers, second time around it was the beers within the pub, 6 of them on hand pums. Last week they had 6 differnt handpump beers plus 8 'brewery beers' on gravity. Additionally they do a selction of world beers, but the bitters and ales have been enough for me so far.
8 Dec 2008 11:14
I visited for the first time last week on the way to football; the Standard had run out of ales again. Twice out of 2 visits this football season, so we wandered around the corner. We more than pleasantly surprised, 6 ales on offer, of those we tried they were all well kept.
This must be one of the last proper pubs in the area with 2 bars which have the added bonus of being clean and not with sawdust on the floor.
Worth a visit as better than the Sun in the Sands and has beer so obviously better than the Standard.
26 Sep 2008 09:50
We visited the The Bickley (as it has been renamed) on Sunday. The beer was well kept although unfortunately, only Bombardier was on and no sign of any other hand pump ales. There was 12 in our party and the food was on first impressions on the expensive side (compared with other pubs in the area) but the size of the portions and the quality made it very apparent why this was the case. We will definitely be visiting again.
14 Jul 2008 16:01
This place is falling apart rapidly. It used to serve 4 well kept hand pump beer but the quality is going down hill and the staff are poor. On my last visit there was typically 20 minutes wait and the place was only half full.
5 May 2008 19:10
I was there last Friday after a meeting around the corner. I tried to goto the Grouse and Claret but it is sadly closed. The beer was pleasant enough and of a decent quality although my overall opinion is rather clouded as they managed to run out of 3 different pump bitters and Guinness by 7pm on a Friday nigth and I was then told that they would not be changing it until the morning.
25 Feb 2008 21:35
The Grouse and Claret, Belgravia
I went there last Friday for a quick beer after lunchtime and was gutted to find this place closed and boarded up.
25 Feb 2008 21:32
I visited there on Saturday night for the 1st time (despite walking past hundreds of times before) having been recommended by a friend. The pub has obviously been recently refurbished and this has been very tastefully done and is complete with an open fire which was more than welcome on a cold February night as was the landlord. There was a selection of Archer�s, London Pride, Wadworths 6X and Pedigree. There was also a couple of lagers but I did not take much notice what they were. My two companions had London Pride and one of the lagers. Given that we popped in for a quick pint and stopped for 3 it gives a good idea how much of a pleasant surprise this pub is. Hopefully, it does not slowly change to be similar to the majority of other pubs in Eltham.
18 Feb 2008 13:53
I've heard a rumour that the Grenadier has closed. I've not been there for a few months but if it has closed this is terrible news. This is by miles one of the best pubs in Central London
8 Feb 2008 14:55
I went here a few months ago after sitting a professional exam around the corner. After 8 hours of still in an exam I was more than ready for a beer (or 6) and this was a haven. The place was very busy with people out side o the street but the beer was a decent standard.
3 Dec 2007 16:37
The Royal Standard, Blackheath
I only visit the Standard on football days and on my last visit I was more than pleasantly surprised. The big pizza oven had disappeared and the place had been more than tied up. It has lost a bit of it traditional pub feel and is more of a bar/caf� feel however, the beer was of more than an acceptable standard and quality and 4 real ales were available. Hopefully this level will be maintained as most of the other pubs in the area are dreadful.
29 Nov 2007 14:49
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The Hare and Billet, Blackheath
I’ve always liked this pub mainly as it is slightly off the beaten track from those along the main Blackheath drag. On previous visit the beer and service has always been a bit hit and miss. However, this this my first visit since it has been refurbished, it had 8 real ales on hand pull with the option of a straight glass or a jug, plus 2 ciders on hand pull. In addition there were 4 nitro beers plus a selection of local (Meantime and Camden) lagers and a couple of European beers plus Guinness. The food was excellent and there is now a dedicated dining area to the rear of the pub with table service in the evening. The one downside was it is on the expensive side at around £4 a pint but in my opinion it is worth it. The added bonus was when a barrel run out a different beer replaced it. Such a pleasant change from Doombar and London Pride which other pubs regularly serve up.
19 Nov 2013 14:04