BITE user comments - gilesd
Comments by gilesd
My first visit - basically a chain foody pub, but the food was good, and reasonably priced. More importantly, they sell Staropramen on draught - excellent! And mind your head when you go to the gents - unless you're below about 5'5"!
Overall, a nice atmosphere, attentive staff, quite pleasant decor, good food & drink. If you're after a sensibly-priced food pub in the area, you won't go far wrong here. Didn't get the impression it was much of a "locals" pub, though.
14 Feb 2006 17:19
The Leather Bottle, Hemel Hempstead
Most impressed on my first visit - proper old pub with loads of character. Really good value proper food (which tasted good too!). Mind the ceiling, however!
31 May 2005 12:24
Well it did re-open - and what a difference! Basically just shinier. And now it's even noisier than before, as the carpet's all gone. Er, didn't think it could get worse, but guess what?
15 Nov 2004 16:42
The Full House, Hemel Hempstead
Typical Wetherspoon's place - cheap, and full of local bums.
However, if you're in Hemel, certainly stop for a pint - just to check out the amazing internal architecture/decor. I believe it used to be a cinema, and is well worth checking out.
For that reason alone, it's one of the better Wetherspoon's I've been to, and will be going back sometime.
8 Jul 2004 13:05
Nice location - right on the canal. As a result, get there early if you want a seat in the garden in decent weather! Good selection of beers - and the food is pretty good too (though a little expensive for standard chain-pub-type stuff)
8 Jul 2004 13:01
Went there last night for the first time in years - and was pleasantly surprised! Cheap pool table (though not much room!), two dartboards, free jukebox, friendly barstaff - looks like a nice garden too (didn't try due to a monsoon!)
8 Jul 2004 12:59
The Bricklayer's Arms, Marble Arch
Must admit don't remember an awful lot about this one - think it was the last one on a small pub-crawl, so should try it again! Remember having a pint of Kronenbourg, and seeing a strange sign saying "toilets at first floor".
4 Jul 2004 09:05
The Carpenters Arms, Marble Arch
Went there on Friday night - I must admit the music was a little loud (but not so loud you couldn't hold a conversation) - there was a great atmosphere, though - mainly because the barstaff seemed to be enjoying themselves so much! (but still served you quickly) Will definitely be back!
4 Jul 2004 09:02
Nice locals pub - and found a great little hidden booth (right behind the bar) - perfect for a few pints with a small group of friends. (or a slightly larger group of small friends)
4 Jul 2004 09:00
Great place - loads of character - disappointed not to see many of the Handlebar Club there on Friday, though! The food looked really good - must try some next time.
4 Jul 2004 08:54
Enjoyed a very nice pint of Lowenbrau in there on Friday - great place. Lots of Swedes - though disappointed that the barstaff were male! The mad landlady wasn't difficult to spot - most entertaining! Will definitely be back.
4 Jul 2004 08:53
Slug and Lettuce, Canary Wharf
Just what you'd expect - noisy & expensive. Don't think I'll bother again.
24 Jun 2004 13:00
The Tattershall Castle, Embankment
Visited for the very first time yesterday - I've always used the Queen Mary. Must admit next time I'm in the area, I'll be coming here again. Food is fairly standard stuff, with a couple of quid added on for location! I had the pasta, and I must admit it was pretty good. Had a very nice pint of 1664 Blanc - which I've never previously seen. Look forward to coming back on a sunnier day, and sitting on the deck, watching the Eye go round very slowly!
24 Jun 2004 12:56
I'd always meant to go here, and finally did yesterday! I therefore can't comment on whether the refit has "ruined" it - I thought it seemed a nice place. Huge - I kept getting lost. Had one of their curries, which was quiet reasonable (less than �6). Will definitely go there again on a nicer day - the outside bit looks like a good place to waste an afternoon!
24 Jun 2004 12:52
Good place to watch footy, from what I recall. Didn't have any problems with barstaff, so they can't have been that bad when I was there.
Impressed with food - had the all day breakfast. Plenty of it, for a sensible price. Perfect before pub crawl or footy match down the road!
16 Jun 2004 11:44
Went in there over the Easter weekend - and it's got bigger! How'd they do that without me noticing?! Hopefully might be a bit quicker getting served in the busy summer evenings with the extra bar - looks quite nice. Same old problems with the bogs though - despite them being brand new ones!
14 Apr 2004 11:33
Lovely little place - and a great pint of Guinness!
One mystery - the guy behind the bar looked very familiar, and yet I'd never been there before?!
10 Apr 2004 22:43
Very pleasant - much like almost all Sam Smith's establishments.
29 Mar 2004 08:41
Great looking building - looks like it got forgotten when the surrounding area got redeveloped, and they've just left it there in the middle of the road! (well that's how it looks from Blackfriars Bridge)
I'd always meant to pop in - unfortunately, I have to agree with Lawrence though - I went on a Saturday afternoon recently, and have not met such a rude barman in years! Sadly, I'll have to leave it a while before returning.
29 Mar 2004 08:28
The Warwick Castle, Maida Vale
Nice place - and considering the area, reasonably priced too. And I agree with the last post - don't tell everyone about it! One little mystery - on previous visits, I've felt compelled to whisper, as everyone else seemed to! (I've not been in the evening!) Looking forward to visiting in the summer, and whiling away a few hours out the front.
24 Mar 2004 18:48
Thanks, Dan - as a result of your review, went for a pint there on my first visit to Manchester, last weekend. Great little pub - an old guy on the steps outside unlocked the door to let us in! Smallest bar I've ever seen, but a couple of little rooms meant there was sufficient seating space (on a Saturday afternoon to watch rugby too!) Very reasonable prices, and the bar-staff brought the beer to the table! Excellent - will be my first port of call on any future visit to Manchester.
24 Mar 2004 18:38
Nice old pub - seem to remember a wonky old ceiling upstairs, where there's a large-screen TV. Did once have a food disaster there - they do standard chain-pub type cheapo menu, and I ordered a medium steak. Never again. It was still alive, I think!
24 Mar 2004 17:00
Got asked to leave recently, before even being served! Smelly place, frequented by the dregs of life.
23 Mar 2004 15:19
I've made many visits to Bournemouth, and this is still the only pub I can find worth visiting! Only complaint is that they don't play enough Irish music! Having been to Dublin several times, this is the most "Irish" pub I've been to over here for quite some time.
8 Mar 2004 16:12
Maybe I was a little harsh - I went there last night, and paid �1.50 for a pint of Carlsberg Export! Marvellous. And the music wasn't bad, actually - though at 30, I'm clearly far too old to frequent the place!
4 Feb 2004 11:20
Following the comments on the site, decided to visit it this lunchtime. Much bigger than I expected - very much geared towards lunchtime trade; tables everywhere. Unfortunately, a large group had the foresight to pre-book a load of tables (and presumably their food too), just after we got there. This meant we had to wait over 30 mins for our food! Might have been a one-off, will give it another go (or book next time!) Probably a good pub in the evenings.
23 Jan 2004 14:39
Toad at The Emporium, High Wycombe
Possibly not quite as bad as The Litten Tree in the same road. Quite good for watching footy. If you want a proper pub, walk towards the railway bridge for another 50 yards or so & go in The Bell.
23 Jan 2004 14:35
Well what do you expect by the name? Trying to think of something positive to say... nope, can't think of anything. You can't get the one real ale they stock if it runs out, 'cos no-one's qualified to change a barrel, you can't wear trainers, shorts, or non-collared tops (even if it is 80F outside). And the bogs are a half-mile trek upstairs. Basically unsuitable if you're of an adult age.
23 Jan 2004 14:33
Great place to waste a weekend afternoon - sat outside people-watching. Only trouble is they charge London prices! And Pimms is for girls, anyway.
11 Dec 2003 13:40
The Royal Standard of England, Beaconsfield
Visited for the first time in years recently. A great selection of beers & lagers, and I must say the food and service was excellent. And car-parking never likely to be a problem!
6 Jun 2006 12:36