BITE user comments - degodier
Comments by degodier
Lovely old fashioned pub right in the middle of nowhere, although not far from South London. Our sat nav tried hard to take us down a gated public byway but we eventually found it! Obviously popular, I went to recce this prior to taking a large group of hungry cyclists in next month for Sunday lunch. The lady I spoke to did not normally take bookings of that size as the pub is apparently always packed on a Sunday. I can well believe it. However, she was very helpful and after some discussion we came to a good agreement. We then had a lunch, which was piping hot, tasty and plentiful. I can't wait for the cycle ride in February!
27 Jan 2012 11:39
I'm giving this a 10 as it surely doesn't deserve the poor rating it seems to have- the newly extended bit is great and the food was very good. Chatty waitress and friendly locals. Great for dog walkers and cyclists. Lovely spot and very attractive.
1 Jan 2012 19:02
The Skimmington Castle, Reigate Heath
I took a bunch of cyclists up here for roast lunch in November. It was excellent, although squashed! The pub was packed but I had reserved a table so we were ok- book ahead! The lunch was scrumptious- although this probably also had something to do with being famished and a couple of hours cycling in the November air! The land-lady (?) I'm guessing here- was a bit harassed and was not quite as friendly as she might have been- but she warmed up in the end! I will be leading another pub ride to here in 2012! Great location, and lovely outside in summer.
1 Jan 2012 18:59
The Sportsman 'Time Well Spent', Mogador
I have been visiting the Sportsman for 25 years as a walker, rider & cyclist. While the position can hardly be bettered, and the garden is lovely in summer, the food can and does fluctuate with management changes. The extension and refurb has been done beautifully and the menu is good. However, I decided to write with a negative after the last visit we made- hopefully the management may sit up and notice after the last 3 reviews! We visited on a Friday night in December with a couple of friends; the wait was long, the food was pretty poor; they got the order wrong for my partner, who had ordered a burger. When it eventually came, it had been deep fried! The chef was obviously panicking! Ugh- absolutely horrible. Our turkey was ok- the usual-a-bit-too-dry that is often found in pubs- but the gravy had been strangely flavoured with something like carroway or aniseed, not nice. We won't be eating there again until improvements are seen on here- although it's ok for a overpriced sandwich on a rest stop if walking or doing something else on the heath!
1 Jan 2012 18:31
I went here on Christmas Day with my partner and I am afraid it wasn't up to much. The change of management has not done it any favours. For �65 a head I expected more than dried turkey and a strangely bitter gravy- I think it had burnt at some point. The staff were friendly but clearly there were not enough- what seemed to be the Manager and 1 other. Two Christmases ago we came here and it was excellent, hence the re-booking. Slow service. The veg was ok. The starter of mushroom was unimaginative and not very tasty. The turkey roast was poor, and the dessert was pretty grim! Oh dear. Shan't be going back- but for a place opposite Wakehurst it would do for a basic lunch. Pretty place, too.
28 Dec 2011 15:25
We visited this pub by chance on a Saturday afternoon after a long and tiring walk- ready for a warm welcome and some good food. We got neither! The downtrodden lady behind the bar looked cowed by the chef/manager, who had a really unpleasant attitude- our friendly overtures were met with arrogant hostility- perhaps he had had a bad day, but really! We ended up just having a sandwich (the place was empty- no surprise) I wanted a bit more time to choose as I wasn't sure about the limited choice but felt bullied into choosing the goats cheese and bacon. (When I asked if it was good- with a smile I might add- I got a sneering 'I can't believe you just asked a chef that' in reply!!) Well, it wasn't good. In fact I can say without hesitation that it was possibly the worst sandwich I have ever had. Apart from the sand one my daughter gave me aged 4. Anyway, two thick, cold wheels of goats cheese, greasy flabby bacon, soggy bread. Ugh. Pretty pub though. It might be nice with a change of manager!
2 Jul 2011 09:54
We visited this homely pub on a Saturday night. It is clearly frequented by locals as well as tourists, which is always a good sign. The landlord was chatty and friendly, the two ladies serving were very busy but had time for a smiling enquiry about our food. The prices were reasonable and the food piping hot and tasty- though not haute cuisine! Good pub grub though.
2 Jul 2011 09:43
We had an exceptionally nice evening meal here on a Saturday night. We had been rained on all day while walking in the Brecon Beacons so were ready for some good food- we were not disappointed. Attractive to look at outside and in, the Abercrave gave us a lovely welcome. Though it was a expensive by pub standards- we paid �60 for both of us, no booze for me and only one dessert, it was worth it. Attentive smiling staff, lovely presentation, and delicious, with a varied and interesting menu. It was certainly the best pub we visited of the three we tried in the area, we would definitely go back.
2 Jul 2011 09:40
We visted this pub last Saturday night; it was early evening so the pub was pretty empty but we saw most of the tables had reserved signs on them, and by the time we left it was filling up. The staff were friendly and polite, and the food was very tasty and really hot (I burnt my tongue!) I had the fish pie with cheesy top mash, my only criticism was that they had not listed the shellfish in the ingredients on the menu, which may have been a nasty suprise for some! It wasn't for me however, I enjoyed it, and the greens were excellent- crisp and buttery. My partner had the burger, which was very nice- the chips were a bit soggy. The food is tasty but not five star- we would definitely go back for good honest pub grub.
7 Feb 2011 17:47
Nice pub, very attractive, we had the BBQ, which was �10 and we had loads of nice fresh food! We went after the races and there was a wedding on- everyone seemed to be mixing fairly freely, but England had just played which might have had something to do with it! Friendly staff, will definitely go back.
13 Jun 2010 16:06
We tried this pub on a Saturday night after having read some good reviews. We were not disappointed! A charming English pub, run by an equally charming Manager, who was friendly, jovial and helpful. We had tempura prawns with chilli dip and then fish & chips (we were in a fishy and unadventurous mood!) which were both flavoursome, piping hot and fresh as a daisy. Yummy. There was plenty more on the board to tempt us on our next visit, which we will definitely be doing. After some good natured banter about my partner being a lager drinker, the manager explained that he really should try some of the ales, an opinion which was shared by the friendly locals! We will indeed. Looks like a lovely place for a nice walk and Sunday lunch, so we will be trying the beer soon!
28 Apr 2010 20:20
The Hare and Hounds, Lingfield
My partner & I visited this establishment on Saturday night. On the good side, the welcome was warm and the decor rather wonderful and quirky. The menu was intricate but over fussy, leaving nothing at all for those with a simpler palate, children for instance or those just wanting something basic. I appreciate some of the dishes were adventurous and imaginative and the management should be applauded for attempting such things, but should not forget customers who may not enjoy it. The place was busy and service was ok, although the young lad we had did nothing at all when we complained other than shrug his shoulders and say 'it was manic in the kitchen'. Paying around �8 for a starter and �15- �20 for a main is on the high side, especially for a pub, so I expected more. (Not to mention �3.50 for a takeaway loaf of the admittedly delicious bread) My course, which was slow roasted flame grilled beef over mediterraean veg and olive tapenade would have been superb had someone very heavy handed got to it with the coarse sea salt, leaving it incredibly salty- the same treatment was meted out to the peas, ham and chips in my partner's food. Also, the beef was pretty tough. We may have just picked an off night but we won't go back, there are far better places out there.
18 Apr 2010 20:36
The Old Plough House Inn, Duloe
We had a super meal here last Friday eve- the staff were friendly and welcoming, the food good and sensibly priced and the ambience very nice- we would recommend the fish and chips which were the real McCoy- fragrant, golden and quite delicious!! I had local sea bass and king prawns- some of the best I've tasted anywhere. Thumbs up!
7 Jun 2009 21:03
The Old Plough House Inn, Duloe
We had a super meal here last Friday eve- the staff were friendly and welcoming, the food good and sensibly priced and the ambience very nice- we would recommend the fish and chips which were the real McCoy- fragrant, golden and quite delicious!! I had local sea bass and king prawns- some of the best I've tasted anywhere. Thumbs up!
7 Jun 2009 21:02
We visited this pub a couple of weeks ago to find a very expensive menu, but decided to go for it anyway as the interior was nice and the service looked good. The food was terrible- it would have been bad enough at a reasonable price but at �15-�25 for a main course it was shocking. The chef needs shooting- or taking back to school. We will not be returning!
3 Jun 2009 21:14
We went here on the first hot Sunday of the year picked from this site. (The highest rated one being refurbished.) The menu and prices were good, service quick, smiley and courteous. The food was very good indeed! I had a thai prawn wrap, my partner had a burger and his daughter had the lasagne. Gorgeous crispy chips, piping hot and plentiful basic salad as an accompaniment. Very impressed given the prices!! Would definitely go back again.
3 Jun 2009 21:07
The Skimmington Castle, Reigate Heath
Went up the other day at luchtime and we had a nice though slightly pricey lunch, outside in the spring sunshine. I'm going back!!
19 Apr 2009 15:11
Friendly chef, nice interior although rather empty when we went, and the young man behind the bar had obviously been partying too hard as he spoke really loudly!! Good food although my great aunt didn't take to the African peanut/ sweet potato stew and hardly touched it. It would have been nice if the staff (and don't forget it was empty) had offered her something else/noticed she hadn't eaten it. Good spot for a vist to the Long Man.
19 Apr 2009 15:08
My partner and I went here on Saturday night on the recommendation of the Good Pub guide 2009. The staff when we were arrived were welcoming and attentive. We sat in the bar as the restaurant was fully booked. Nice interior but the food IMHO was overpriced, around �6/7 for a simple starter- prawn cocktail, and �15 for liver and onions. I ordered pate, they didn't have the one on the menu so they offered an alternative of chicken&pork pate. When it came it was the first slice off the block, so it had a type of crust or jellified 'edge' to it, which wasn't to my taste, but worse was to come! Although it had a wonderful flavour whoever had made it wasn't fussy about the chicken that went in it, so we had to pick lumps of cartiledge (feet?!) out. Double yuk. After a few mouthfuls we gave up as it was rather revolting. When our plates were cleared I mentioned this to the manager (?) to be met with a smile and the assurance he would tell 'them'. I would have thought an apology and a deduction off the bill would be more to the point. Anyway, next was the liver- artistically arranged, wonderful gravy, great onions, ok mash- but the liver (we'd asked for medium) was too soft and sqidgy but worse, had grim patches of chewy 'ugh' which you had to either swallow in a hideous lump (me) or spit (my partner). It actually ended up putting us both off and we were left feeling nauseated. Urghhhhh!!!!!
I don't know whether we were really unlucky or what, but we won't be returning. You never know, you might be luckier!!
19 Apr 2009 15:04
My friend, two children of 11 and 2 dogs arrived yesterday at the Crown after a very hot circular walk from the book Short Pub Walks in Surrey. We were greeted by the charming and friendly host Paul and an equally welcoming young lady. It is a beautiful old building with a sweet higgledy piggledy cottage garden. We ordered fish & chips, chicken nuggets and chips for the children and two cheese platters for ourselves. I asked if he could do a ploughmans and so Paul produced a wonderful plate of salad with all the usual ingredients plus extra trimmings of watermelon and orange. They were very generous helpings of delicious cheeses (so much so the dogs ate as much as we did) and the fish and chicken were wolfed down- nice crispy batter and clearly not mass-produced dubious-meat-content variety either. We finished with a high quality vanilla icecream with treacle tart, although by this stage I needed to lie down we'd eaten so much. We need more of these 'olde English' pubs with personal service and I left feeling I'd made a friend. On the way out I fell in a flowerbed- not for obvious reasons- but squatting down to untangle my dog's lead from the table leg I whacked my head on the bottom of the table and fell inelegantly and hilariously (according to my children's and friend's unseemly laughter) backwards into one of the flowerbeds. I didn't realise but my treasured pair of Ray Bans slipped off my head into the plants which I didn't discover til I was back home. I rang the pub and left a message and Paul waited in well after closing time for me to arrive and collect them. Well worth a visit!
29 Jul 2008 09:56
As usual, people only bother to write something on these sites if they are narked! So I thought I would say in defence of the Bridae Bar, I like the fact that guys have to make an effort- it's not a time warp, just a policy that goes a long way to making it a cool, smart place to be. The staff are always friendly (don't you guys bother to read the policies?!)and the service is as quick as anywhere where it's heaving on a Friday & Saturday night! The music is great- really fab dance tunes- we hit the floor and don't stop. Yes, ok, there are drunks- but there are everywhere, the doormen seem to do a good job. We love it. Well done Bridge Bar- and as we are ladies of more than 35 it's great to be made to feel comfortable and have a chance of not dancing with a bunch of 16 year olds. I can't imagine why other businesses haven't bought into the 30-plus clubbers scene, it's a goldmine. Long may it continue.
5 Jul 2008 19:41
The Drummond Arms, Albury
I took 10 cyclists here for Sunday lunch today and it was a treat. We ended up being fortunate enough to choose a 'hog roast' day and it was absolutely delicious. We arrived at 10 ish to start our ride and the hog was already slowly turning over the oak fire (gave a beautiful smokey oak flavour to the meat), the very friendly manager (?) told us it had been on since 5 am. The service was very good indeed, the staff friendly and smiling and the décor and ambiance excellent. We will definitely be back. Book on a Sunday as it was packed.
3 Feb 2013 18:17