BITE user comments - ferners
Comments by ferners
I'm writing this from the back terrace of The Chequers, the view from which I've uploaded. The building and location mean this pub should be stellar, alas it's far from so. All ales off apart from Bombardier, which I should've gone for as this Guinness is fizzy. A huge rack of boring lagers and gimmicky spirits I can't believe sell well.
The interior has a layout which could be interesting and cozy but instead is awkward and unwelcoming, with a Sky Sports TV that's utterly unsuitable for the space. The barmaid was polite enough, but I didn't feel welcomed.
This place needs a real wake-up or there'll be no pubs in this village in a few years.
7 Apr 2013 16:57
Smithy's Wine Bar, Kings Cross
Ah, Smithy's. As a local worker, this is one of about three 'default' places for works drinks, the others being the Euston Flyer (God help us) and the Betjeman Arms (good, but pricey).
It's always been over-priced for beer, but then the clue is in the designation 'wine bar', which is really what most of the punters come in for, and they arrive by the drove most nights. What ale they do have (invariably TT Landlord and Sharp's Doom Bar) is moderately well kept, but not top flight. The bar staff are really variable with an apparently high turnover, from smiles with Ps and Qs right through to downright surly. The building is worth a quick pint though: really very interesting, although you're on your own: there's no information about it.
My main rating is for the drinking only. As for the restaurant, that's awful: the food is OK for lunch, and they do lunchtime offers, but good stops there. Some of the staff are unfathomably rude, and, echoing 'scarter451' below, unable to apologise. Meals arrive incomplete and take twice as long as they should to arrive (15 mins for sausage and mash?). One waitress is unable to communicate and sees every comment and question as a personal attack. And beware any voucher: the 'R-in-the-month' Ts+Cs attached to them mean the end discount is tiny and has to be fought for; they exclude drinks, VAT and service (which is added automatically). The 'caff' round the corner is quicker, friendlier and more reliable. 2/10.
24 Mar 2011 10:50
Excellent pub. Visited on a clear, cold week day in early March 2011 for a pint and some late lunch, and walked in to a very friendly welcome from the young barman - obviously well brought up! The fire in a huge old inglenook at the end of the very quiet, cosy bar was blasting away, which was very welcome given the crisp weather. It looks to be a bit of a 'flagship' Adnams house, in a very good way that is, and as such had things like Oyster and Lighthouse on. Lighthouse went down very well, and it was a shame I was driving.
The staff and chef/landlord were excellent and the barmaid took a particular shine to my mother's rather eccentric dog - the liberal giving of pre-placed chews from a tub on the bar seem to be the order of the day.
[NB: I've given this pub 10/10 for beer, given that's what this site's about. Food was by and large excellent, with a gorgeous grilled cod, but let down to 7/10 by an *exceptionally* hot lemon meringue pie. This was the only blip.]
24 Mar 2011 10:16
The Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds
It's a hotel rather than a pub, of course (I've been a resident as it happens -- quite nice, but glad we were on a deal...). The lounge makes for a very pleasant meeting place in Bury.
One touch I do like: as Bury's principal old coaching inn, dominating the main square, one would rather expect it to sell the 'home brew', Greene King. Well, turns out the head barman has an exclusive preference for the Sole Bay competition, Adnams! Must've been a kick in the teeth for GK's local rep...
28 Apr 2010 16:34
The Ship and Whale, Rotherhithe
Lovely, welcoming, comfy pub. Very competent barmaid got us our two pints and packs of crisps in short order, and we sat up at the long bench by the big windows and had a pleasant break on our Sunday evening walk. We only stayed for one, but plan to return to sample the food soon. I also don't understand the comment on sofas - there were a few in one cosy corner of the bar...
NB: This pub sits smack on the Thames Path on the east shore of the Rotherhithe peninsula - ideal 'halfway' point between Greenwich and Tower Bridge.
28 Apr 2010 16:10
The Pilot Inn, North Greenwich
Not bad, not bad at all. A beautifully preserved slice of Victorian Greenwich peninsula, and if you don't mind a stroll it's a lovely hidden alternative to the wallet rape taking place in the O2 arena down the road.
Very busy when we went, but we found a table and they weren't in the least bit bothered about the huge (very soppy) dog we brought with us. Food was fine, although I'd stick to pub staples like steak and chips etc. Can't remember what beers they had on but he did pride himself on a wide range and it certainly went down nicely.
25 Mar 2010 14:31
Visited and eaten here three or four times over the last five years, and it's got much better in recent months (echoing other reviews below). The beer is perfectly serviceable, and the main improvement has been in the food. Could do with a slightly more welcoming attitude from the staff - lovely once you get them going, but as usual you have to talk first.
Lovely spot. Wish they'd been able to rehabilitate an old barge that used to be moored outside as some sort of 'terrace', but it's been towed away.
25 Mar 2010 14:09
Oh Lord. Been a long time since I even throught about looking at someone in the wrong way in a pub, and I'm a fairly amiable chap who'll drink pretty much anywhere. Luckily I was with Australians (including my girlfriend) so rough wasn't a problem ;) Beer (Bombardier) was fine. It's a bit of a pit, and the loos are abysmal. Shame - could be a nice pub. The sepia prints of Charlton FC point to a happier time when football wasn't automatically accompanied by thugs and idiots.
I think the sign on the telly said it all: "LEGAL Sky/Setanta costs �[thousands] per year. You are required to purchase two drinks when sport is being shown. If you don't like it, p*ss off to another pub where they like showing sport for free." O-kaay!
25 Mar 2010 14:04
The Butt and Oyster, Chelmondiston
I visited the Butt and Oyster about three weeks ago for Sunday lunch. We sat in the bar and had a lovely time - very relaxed and informal, easy going and comfortable - and what a view! My roast lamb was excellent, with very tasty vegetables too. Adnams Broadside was marvellous.
I've been there a couple of times in the last 18 months or so, and have been very happy. The restaurant 'bit' is perhaps a little more stuffy, but still pleasant, and I've never encountered the staff or food problems others have. Yes, it does get busy, and it's worth bearing this in mind, but is it any wonder with a location like this? It's true there was something of a 'golden age' around the early 90s (owing as much to the locals as the management - God bless ya Pete!), and maybe it did suffer more recently, but I wasn't there, so...
Just one general point: I shouldn't need to consider how difficult it is to run a pub (or any other business) before I'm somehow 'qualified' to comment on its quality. If it's well run, any thought of how hard it must all be will become redundant. Yes it's tough, but as a landlord mate (of a *very* busy Bristol pub) once said to me, "no-one forced me to get a pub!".
25 Mar 2010 12:39
The Woolpack, Ipswich
The Woolpack changed hands in Summer/Autumn 2013 and I can only say that the reviews below are now out of date! New landlady apparently pushed owners Punch hard on full refurb and her efforts have paid off, the pub's got a really nice cosy, friendly feel to it and couldn't feel less like a 'Punch Tavern'.
Always have four, usually five, cask ales on at anyone time, including Adnams Bitter (permanent), and when I visited Fuller's London Pride, Oakham Citra, Woodforde's Wherry and Sharp's Doom Bar. All beautifully kept by a cellarman who knows his stuff. I've also seen TT Landlord, Adnams Broadside, Crouch Vale Brewer's Gold. Strong regular drinking trade.
Excellent food - I've eaten here two or three times and enjoyed the Woolpack burger and a tasty pork cutlet special, plus great roast beef on a Sunday. Really friendly staff, nothing's too much trouble. Overdue for a BITE reassessment!
10 Feb 2015 00:39